Video – “Research Group” Presents Battle Royal From 2013

January 17, 2025


DDT “RYOGOKU PETER PAN 2013”, 18/08/2013
Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan
9,000 Fans – Super No Vacancy Full House

2. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title – “Research Group” Presents Battle Royal: Komyo (c) Vs Yoshihiko Vs MIKAMI Vs Michael Nakazawa Vs Tomomitsu Matsunaga Vs Kazuki Hirata Vs Gorgeous Matsuno Vs DJ Nira Vs Rion Mizuki Vs Yuto Aijima Vs Mitomi Masayuki Vs Shuji Ishikawa Vs Seiya Morohashi Vs Akihiro


DDT “INTO THE FIGHT 2024 TOUR IN NAGANO” Results

February 4, 2024

DDT “INTO THE FIGHT 2024 TOUR IN NAGANO”, 04/02/2024
Nagano Act Hall
220 Fans – No Vacancy

1. Hideki Okatani defeated Rukiya with a Modified Neck Lock (10:00).
2. Sanshiro Takagi, Yoshitatsu & Yukio Naya defeated Chris Brookes, Takeshi Masada & Kazuma Sumi when Yoshitatsu pinned Sumi with the This Is My WWE (10:10).
3. Daisuke Sasaki & KANON defeated Yuki Iino & Akito when Sasaki submitted Akito with the Crossface Lock (17:22).
4. Special Tag Match: Yukio Sakaguchi & Antonio Honda defeated Kazuki Hirata & Kazusada Higuchi when Sakaguchi pinned Hirata with the God’s Right Knee (17:21).
5. Nagano Specialty Special 6-Man Tag Match: Jun Akiyama, Toru Owashi & Akihiro defeated Danshoku Dieno, Makoto Oishi & Tetsuya Endo when Akihiro pinned Oishi with the Reincarnation (15:29).
6. Special Tag Match: Yuki Ueno & Shunma Katsumata defeated HARASHIMA & Soma Takao when Ueno pinned Takao with the BME (17:51)

Yuki Ueno & Shunma Katsumata used today’s main event to show their intent that The 37KAMIINA are at the center of DDT right now. Katsumata did a dive off of the entrance gate onto their opponents and did another dive out of the ring to wipe out HARASHIMA. Ueno went on to pin Soma Takao with the BME. They told the Nagano fans that they will have even more championship belts with them the next time they come back here. Backstage Ueno hyped up his KO-D Openweight Title defence against Danshoku Dieno while Katsumata promised to finally beat Kuroshio TOKYO Japan at the same show on 14th February. Ueno said he cannot be the kind of KO-D Champion that Dieno, HARASHIMA or Konosuke Takeshita all were but he will stand across the ring from Dieno as his own type of great champion.

The “Hero Of Nagano” Toru Owashi (who admitted he isn’t actually local because his hometown Saku City is a fair distance away from Nagano Act Hall) was in the semi-main event but may of had his spotlight stolen by Akihiro. It was Akihiro who scored the pin by doing its Reincarnation finisher on Makoto Oishi. Meanwhile Jun Akiyama was more concerned about avoiding his face being pressed into Dieno’s backside. That is what happened to Tetsuya Endo when Akihiro gave him a Top Rope Frankensteiner across the ring.

It’s only a few more days until Yukio Sakaguchi’s retirement match to today he wanted to do something a little bit different. He appeared for his tag match wearing a costume identical to Antonio Honda! He wanted to just have fun but Kazuki Hirata still found a way to annoy him and get angry as the match progressed. Honda dedicated his Gongistune spot to Sakaguchi’s upcoming retirement. Hirata then offered Sakaguchi a pair of Hirata GO! Glasses so they could dance together one last time. He accepted them, they danced to the music and then Hirata tried pinning Sakaguchi with the Miracle One Shot Cradle. Sakaguchi kicked out and hit Hirata with the God’s Right Knee for the win.

After the match Hirata called Sakaguchi a scary person who bullied him a lot but he can’t help but feel lonely now that Sakaguchi is retiring. He will never forget seeing him dressed like Honda today and dancing along with him. Sakaguchi praised Kazusada Higuchi for how strong his Chops were today, he thanked Honda for always telling good stories and he admitted to Hirata he had fun today. He brought up Hirata winning the MVP Award during the Japan Indie Grand Prix Awards and asked if Hirata will use the prize money to treat him to a meal? Hirata had to tell him the award did not include any prize money.

Today was the first time in a long, long time that Akito and Yuki Iino were teaming together without any trace of Pheromones around to get in the way. However Iino has no memory of their time together in ALL OUT. Akito asked him before the match if he remembers being in that unit? Iino asked what was that because he is a member of BURNING and that is all he thinks about. That answer was still good enough for Akito to put his complete trust in him again. However DAMNATION T.A were able to redirect things and make Iino Spear Akito by accident, leading to Daisuke Sasaki tapping out Akito with the Crossface Lock while Iino and KANON got into a fight outside the ring.

This Is My WWE is the name of Yoshitatsu’s Diving Knee Kick finisher. Don’t let The Rock find out about that. Sanshiro Takagi attacked both Chris Brookes & Takeshi Masada with a Double Stunner after the match. He then taunted Masada by pouring mousse over his head and rubbing his hair with it.


Max Heart Final, Ueno Picks Dieno, Momono Coming To GanJo, TJPW USA Lineup

January 30, 2024

DDT “INTO THE FIGHT 2024 TOUR IN NAGANO”, 04/02/2024
Nagano Act Hall

1. Hideki Okatani Vs Rukiya
2. Sanshiro Takagi, Yoshitatsu & Yukio Naya Vs Chris Brookes, Takeshi Masada & Kazuma Sumi
3. Daisuke Sasaki & KANON Vs Yuki Iino & Akito
4. Special Tag Match: Yuki Ueno & Shunma Katsumata Vs HARASHIMA & Soma Takao
5. Special Tag Match: Yukio Sakaguchi & Antonio Honda Vs Kazuki Hirata & Kazusada Higuchi
6. Nagano Specialty Special 6-Man Tag Match: Jun Akiyama, Toru Owashi & Akihiro Vs Danshoku Dieno, Makoto Oishi & Tetsuya Endo

Yoshihiko has gotten itself into trouble after getting double booked this weekend. It will be travelling to Europe with MAO to wrestle in France and England. However DDT had also booked Yoshihiko for their show in Nagano this Sunday. It’s too late to change plans so DDT is pulling their other battle doll Akihiro out of storage to take Yoshihiko’s place. The company has strictly warned Yoshihiko not to double book itself like that again. However MAO is defending his friend because their European dates were booked well in advance and MAO has been promoting them online since December so DDT had plenty of time to avoid this scenario.

DDT “INTO THE FIGHT 2024 TOUR IN SHINJUKU”, 07/02/2024
Shinjuku FACE

1. Kazuki Hirata & Danshoku Dieno Vs Chris Brookes & Masahiro Takanashi
2. Jun Akiyama, Yoshitatsu & Soma Takao Vs Toru Owashi, Akito & Kazuma Sumi
3. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Yuki Ueno, MAO & Shunma Katsumata Vs Kazusada Higuchi, Yukio Naya & Makoto Oishi
4. Special Tag Match ~ DDT Vs AJPW: Takeshi Masada & Rukiya Vs Ryuki Honda & Yuma Anzai
5. DDT Extreme Title Next Challenger Match: Hideki Okatani Vs MJ Paul
6. KO-D Tag Team Titles: Daisuke Sasaki & KANON (c) Vs Tetsuya Endo & Yuki Iino
7. Yukio Sakaguchi Retirement Match: Yukio Sakaguchi Vs HARASHIMA

The DDT Extreme Title picture has a new direction after Shunma Katsumata regained the championship over the weekend and two potential challengers approached him. Hideki Okatani wants to rekindle his rivalry with Katsumata over the title from last year. However MJ Paul has also stepped forward wanting a title shot, even going through the effort to write a letter to declare his challenge. A fight broke out between everyone over the situation so a decision was made to have Okatani and Paul fight each other in a No. 1 Contender’s Match.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “THE 4TH “FUTARI WA PRINCESS” MAX HEART TOURNAMENT”, 10/02/2024
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Shino Suzuki Vs Haru Kazashiro
2. Yuki Kamifuku, Nao Kakuta & Mahiro Kiryu Vs Raku, Pom Harajuku & Ram Kaichow
3. Moka Miyamoto Vs Kaya Toribami
4. Mizuki Vs Zara Zakher
5. Shoko Nakajima & Hyper Misao Vs Wakana Uehara & HIMAWARI
6. Miyu Yamashita & Toga Vs Ryo Mizunami & Yuki Aino
7. International Princess Title: Yuki Arai (c) Vs Juria Nagano
8. “Futari wa Princess” Max Heart Tournament – Final: Rika Tatsumi & Miu Watanabe Vs Suzume & Arisu Endo

The Max Heart Tournament could get its first two-time winner if Daydream beats Daisy Monkey in the final. The tournament winners usually move on to challenge for the Princess Tag Team Titles and Rika Tatsumi previously made a suggestion that Miu Watanabe can do two title matches at “GRAND PRINCESS ’24”. Watanabe would go along with the idea even if she isn’t super enthusiastic about it. Suzume & Arisu Endo keep finding ways to get shots at the top teams, Daydream included, but it always ends in failure for them. Will this turn out differently?

Juria Nagano is making sure to do as much as she can in the ring before her graduation in April. Her big goal is to win a championship or tournament. She couldn’t do it in the Max Heart Tournament so now she wants to challenge Yuki Arai for the International Princess Title. Nagano sees Arai as a wrestling senpai to surpass rather than some big celebrity.

The next foreign wrestler to enter Tokyo Joshi Pro is Zara Zakher from the California wrestling scene. She is 22 years old and only been wrestling for a year but her talent and potential as a breakout prospect leads her over to TJPW. Mizuki has been selected to be her opponent for her Korakuen Hall debut.

The opening match is going to give either Shino Suzuki or Haru Kazashiro their first singles win.

Ryo Mizunami and Ram Kaichow are both paying a visit here again.

BASARA “BASARA 241 ~TAKAGARI 22~”, 10/02/2024
Tokyo Takashimadaira Kumin Center

1. Lil’ Kraken Vs Masahiro Takanashi
2. Ryuichi Sekine Vs Takato Nakano
3. Isami Kodaka & Minoru Fujita Vs Takumi Tsukamoto & SAGAT
4. FUMA, Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi & Daichi Kazato Vs Masato Kamino, Tsutomu Oosugi & Banana Senga
5. IRON FIST Tag Team Titles: Ryota Nakatsu & Kazusada Higuchi (c) Vs KUBITO & Yasu Urano

Masahiro Takanashi is going over to BASARA for a match against Lil’ Kraken.

GANBARE☆JOSHI “GANJO EMERALD DRAGON ’24”, 12/02/2024
Tokyo Takashimadaira Kumin Center

1. Special Single Match: Riara Vs Kizuna Tanaka
2. Ram Kaichow & Sumire Natsu Vs Kaho Kobayashi & Banny Oikawa
3. Alex Lee & Yoshiko Hasegawa Vs Yappy & JC Storm
4. Special Single Match: YuuRI Vs Mio Momono

Last year at “WRESTLE SEKIGAHARA II” there was a joshi tag match with YuuRI and Mio Momono on opposite teams. Now they get to fight each other in Ganbare☆Joshi one on one!

An international tag match gathers together Alex Lee from Bosnia & Herzegovina, Yoshiko Hasegawa from Japan, Yappy from the Philippines and JC Storm from America. Storm is currently in Japan to wrestle for Ice Ribbon.

DDT “NEPPA OVER FLOWERS 3 ~TOTONOI TO YOU~”, 14/02/2024
Shinjuku FACE

1. Hideki Okatani, Yuni & Ilusion Vs Takeshi Masada, Kazuma Sumi & Rukiya
2. ~Kazuki Hirata’s Sauna Room?~: Kazuki Hirata Vs Makoto Oishi Vs Kazusada Higuchi Vs Yukio Naya
3. ~Toy Kojima’s Sauna Room~: Toy Kojima Vs Masato Tanaka
4. ~Shunma Katsumata’s Sauna Room~: Shunma Katsumata Vs Kuroshio TOKYO Japan
5. ~Mao Inoue’s Sauna Room~: MAO Vs Chris Brookes
6. KO-D Openweight Title ~Yuki Ueno’s Sauna Room~: Yuki Ueno (c) Vs Danshoku Dieno

A request was made by Yuki Ueno to defend the KO-D Openweight Title against Danshoku Dieno. He wanted his next challenger to be the most interesting person in DDT since the championship is more than just about who is the strongest. There is already a singles match between them booked for The 37KAMIINA’s produce show in Shinjuku FACE. To make his point even clearer, Ueno convinced DDT to turn that match into a KO-D Title bout because it does not matter to him where it takes place. This will be the first KO-D Title match held in front of an audience in around 8 years. Dieno warns Ueno that there’s a reason why the company never wants him to win that championship even if he symbolises the spirit of DDT more than anyone else. The entire direction of the KO-D Title will change if Dieno gets his hands on it!

Kazuki Hirata gets to keep his spot on the show despite turning down The 37KAMIINA’s offer to join their unit. He now has his mind set on creating his own stable and he is searching for potential members.

DDT “PRO WRESTLING WINTER FESTIVAL 2024 IN JOETSU DAY 2 – INTO THE FIGHT 2024 TOUR IN NIIGATA”, 18/02/2024
Niigata Dúo CEREZO

1. Daisuke Sasaki & KANON Vs Yuki Iino & Rukiya
2. Chris Brookes & Takeshi Masada Vs HARASHIMA & Akito
3. Kazuki Hirata Vs Toy Kojima
4. Special Tag Match: Jun Akiyama & Yoshitatsu Vs Tetsuya Endo & Makoto Oishi
5. Special Single Match: Danshoku Dieno Vs Super Sasadango Machine

Does Toy Kojima take it personally that Hirata turned him down along with the rest of the sauna boys? Does Hirata take it personally that Kojima is the reason he is no longer the Extreme Champion? If there are any sore feelings between them coming out of the weekend, it’s best to settle them as soon as possible.

GANBARE☆PRO “GANPRO 2024 DESIRE”, 23/02/2024
Yokohama Radiant Hall

1. YuuRI & Riara Vs HARUKAZE & Banny Oikawa
2. Ken Ohka, Mizuki Watase & Tyson Maeguchi Vs Keisuke Ishii, Soma Takao & Shinichiro Tominaga
3. Shota Vs Munetatsu Nakamura
4. Yuna Manase Return Match: Yuna Manase & Yumehito Imanari Vs Sayaka Unagi & Minoru Fujita
5. EVE International Title: Yuu (c) Vs Yoshiko Hasegawa
6. Spirit Of Ganbare World Openweight Title: Shuichiro Katsumura (c) Vs Takuya Wada

The rest of the Ganbare☆Pro and GanJo roster fills up the Yokohama card.

DDT “INTO THE FIGHT 2024 TOUR IN YOKOHAMA”, 23/02/2024
Yokohama Radiant Hall

1. Tetsuya Endo & Yuki Iino Vs Kazusada Higuchu & Kazuma Sumi
2. Daisuke Sasaki & KANON Vs MAO & Kazuki Hirata
3. Special Single Match: Yoshitatsu Vs Soma Takao
4. KO-D 10-Man Tag Team Titles: Chris Brookes, Masahiro Takanashi, Antonio Honda, Takeshi Masada & Mecha Mummy (c) Vs Maya Yukihi, Ram Kaichow, Rina Yamashita, Sanshiro Takagi & Akito

If there is anyone out there who ever thought Yoshitatsu and Soma Takao should have a match together then mark 23rd February down on your calendar right now.

DDT “INTO THE FIGHT 2024”, 25/02/2024
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Kaisei Takechi Debut Match ~ Special 6-Man Tag Match: Yuki Ueno, Shunma Katsumata & Kaisei Takechi Vs Tetsuya Endo, Hideki Okatani & Takeshi Masada.
2. DDT Universal Title: MAO (c) Vs Hikaru Machida

The 37KAMIINA are on Kaisei Takechi’s side for his debut. He will team with Ueno & Katsumata for his big first match. Facing them is a trio mixing three wrestlers together. Tetsuya Endo, Hideki Okatani & Takeshi Masada will put the newcomer through his paces.

DDT “JUDGEMENT 2024 ~27TH ANNIVERSARY 5 HOUR SPECIAL~”, 17/03/2024
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Tsubasa Suzuki Debut Match: Tsubasa Suzuki Vs X
2. DDT Extreme Title: Shunma Katsumata (c) Vs Winner Of 7/2 Next Challenger Match
3. Special Single Match: KONOSUKE TAKESHITA Vs Yuma Aoyagi
4. KO-D Openweight Title: Yuki Ueno (c) Vs X

The very next KO-D Title match was supposed to be at DDT’s 27th Anniversary show until Ueno made his request to fight Dieno. The winner of that headlines Korakuen the next month.

The winner of Okatani Vs Paul faces Katsumata for the Extreme Title here too.

DDT “DDT GOES PHILADELPHIA!”, 04/04/2024
Penns Landing Caterers Auditorium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

We have talent announcements for Wrestlemania Week. Announced so far for DDT’s USA show are Yuki Ueno, MAO, Kazuki Hirata, Konosuke Takeshita, Tetsuya Endo, Daisuke Sasaki, Chris Brookes, Shunma Katsumata, KANON, Takeshi Masada and Yoshihiko.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW LIVE IN PHILLY”, 05/04/2024
Penns Landing Caterers Auditorium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

TJPW are sending over 14 women to Philadelphia for Wrestlemania Week. They are Miyu Yamashita, Yuki Aino, Shoko Nakajima, Rika Tatsumi, Mizuki, Maki Itoh, Miu Watanabe, Yuki Kamifuku, Hyper Misao, Nao Kakuta, Raku, Pom Harajuku, Suzume and Arisu Endo. All 14 of them will be at “GCW VS TJPW” the next day too.

 


DDT “DDT TV SHOW! #5” Results

May 30, 2020

DDT “DDT TV SHOW! #5”, 30/05/2020
DDT TV SHOW Studio
0 Fans

1. Kazusada Higuchi, Yukio Sakaguchi & Saki Akai defeated Chris Brookes, Mizuki Watase & Yukio Naya by TKO when Sakaguchi used the Modified Sleeper Hold on Watase (9:41).
2. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title: Antonio Honda defeated Danshoku Dieno (c) by Disqualification when Dieno gave the referee a Low Blow (8:11).
*No title change due to Disqualification.
3. DAMNATION VS ALL OUT!: Daisuke Sasaki & Soma Takao defeated Shunma Katsumata & Yuki Iino when Takao pinned Iino with a Running Elbow Butt (13:18).
4. Jun Akiyama defeated Hideki Okatani with a Crab Hold (4:24).
5. Konosuke Takeshita & Akito defeated Yoshihiko & Akihiro by Referee Stoppage when Takeshita ripped Akihiro’s arm off (9:35).
6. KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles: Tetsuya Endo, T-Hawk & El Lindaman (c) defeated HARASHIMA, Yuki Ueno & Naomi Yoshimura when Endo pinned Ueno with the Shooting Star Press (16:17).
*V2 for #DAMNHEARTS.

One week to go until “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2020” and everything is set for the big weekend. Tetsuya Endo is now all clear to challenge for the KO-D Openweight Title. Today’s main event was changed into an official KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles defence when DISASTER BOX asked for it. Yuki Ueno wanted the most motivation possible for his first match back in two months. El Lindaman accepted on his team’s behalf but only DISASTER BOX understood that challenging twice in a row means there is also a big risk attached. #DAMNHEARTS had already beaten them once before and they wouldn’t agree to a second chance under normal circumstances. T-Hawk dodged the Somato from HARASHIMA but was Clotheslined out of the ring by Naomi Yoshimura. Lindaman got rid of Yoshimura with a German Suplex and then held Ueno up for Endo to hit him with the Handspring Overhead Kick. Endo got a nearfall with the Swivel Torture Rack Bomb then hit the Shooting Star Press while his teammates held the rest of DISASTER BOX back.

#DAMNHEARTS got an extra few shots in on DISASTER BOX after the match. Lindaman reminded them about the big risk they accepted. Now it’s time for the other tag belts to be defended. T-Hawk & El Lindaman want to challenge for the KO-D Tag Team Titles at “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2020”! Yoshimura accepted the challenge. Meanwhile Endo got confirmation that he is guaranteed to face Masato Tanaka for the KO-D Title on 7th June. He promised #STRONGHEARTS will take the KO-D Tag Title belts from Nautilus and he will take the KO-D Title from Gold’s Gym! Endo wants everyone to know that Saitama Super Arena is not his end goal. His end goal is for #DAMNHEARTS to monopolize all of the championships and make pro wrestling even hotter!

If having #STRONGHEARTS around wasn’t enough for DDT to handle, now there’s another invading force coming in, one a little more closer to home. The Kongoh stable from Pro Wrestling NOAH entered the ring before the main event and their leader Kenoh demanded to see Sanshiro Takagi. Kenoh hates Takagi! He hates that Takagi is the president of NOAH. He believes Takagi wants DDT to take over NOAH so Kenoh swears to protect NOAH from him. Takagi came out and told him they are in a DDT ring. He can complain all he wants but if it bothers him that much they should fight over it. As the president of NOAH, Takagi orders Kenoh to fight him in DDT! Kenoh shouted that he will! DDT and Kongo will face off at “WRESTLE PETER PAN” next weekend.

An eye for an eye. An arm for an arm. ALL OUT came out for revenge on Yoshihiko & Akihiro in a violent clash. The battle dolls were ambushed by Shunma Katsumata & Yuki Iino during their entrance. Konosuke Takeshita & Akito joined the beating and brought Yoshihiko into the ring to finish it off. Akihiro came to the rescue and the dolls gave Takeshita a Double Canadian Destroyer. They then went to German Suplex Akito but he switched positions with Katsumata’s help. Takeshita then grabbed onto them to deliver a quadruple stacked German Suplex! Akito dragged Yoshihiko over to the stage and tied him in knots before hanging the rolled up doll from the banners. Akito then forced Yoshihiko to watch on as Takeshita ripped off Akihiro’s arm! The referee stopped the match by TKO and Takeshita celebrated with his new trophy. He blamed Yoshihiko for all of the physical and mental anguish ALL OUT has suffered over the last month. Now it has suffered like they have. Takeshita challenged Yoshihiko to one more match next week to settle the score. It will be a Last Man Standing match!

The younger generation of DDT wrestlers have shown themselves eager to get in the ring with Jun Akiyama. The rookie Hideki Okatani jumped out of the starting blocks hitting Running Elbows. Akiyama took the wind out of his sails with a Body Slam onto the floor outside. Okatani tried to regain ground with more Elbow Strikes and even went for a Northern Lights Suplex but Akiyama cut him off with a Guillotine Choke. Akiyama let go just to knee Okatani in the head. There was enough in the rookie to kick out of the pin but when the Crab Hold was locked in it was all over once Akiyama moved it to the centre of the ring.

Soma Takao pinned Yuki Iino in the DAMNATION Vs ALL OUT tag match but the story to focus on was what happened afterwards. Daisuke Sasaki’s interview was interrupted by an attack from Shunma Katsumata in his Super Hardcore form. A confused Sasaki shouted about how Katsumata looked like he came from a wedding while he was being attacked. He then called for the police or Batman to save him. Katsumata beat him up with chairs and gave him a Pedigree onto the chair covered with toy blocks. He then raised the DDT UNIVERSAL Title over his head.

Let’s try this Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title match again! Early in the bout, Antonio Honda put Danshoku Dieno in a tight Hammerlock. Dieno sounded like he was about to say “Give Up” but instead said different phrases that rhymed with it. Honda then tried palm reading to see Dieno’s fortune. He found out Dieno’s pro wrestling luck is the worst! Dieno put Honda in a Sleeper Hold and almost made him pass out. Honda’s arm fell two times but on the third it popped up with a Gongitsune puppet on his hand. The match suddenly paused and the WRESTLE UNIVERSE audience were given time to vote on Twitter what they wanted to happen next. Either a) Dieno could listen to Gongitsune, b) Dieno told his own story or c) the referee gets attacked for some reason. The audience voted for b) and Dieno told his own Gongitsune story. But when he went for the Sweet Chin Music sneak attack, Honda dodged it and it hit Yukinori Matsui in the groin instead! For some reason Dieno and Honda agreed to attack Matsui together. Matsui fought them off with a Double Lariat but when he went to leave, Dieno gave him a Low Blow. A badly hurt Matsui disqualified Dieno but he remains the champion.

More antics happened straight away when Makoto Oishi entered the ring and gave Stunners to Dieno and Matsui. He demanded an Iron Man Title match because he can give Dieno a lively challenge. Dieno told Oishi he’s been waiting for him all this time and on 7th June they will settle 10 years of history between them. He went for a handshake but Oishi spat in his face instead.

Unfortunately due to a right ankle injury he suffered during training, MAO is currently out of action. The good news is he will recover in time to wrestle on 7th June. The bad news is the Right To Challenge Gauntlet he currently possesses expires before that date. Today’s show was the last chance it could be used. MAO threw a hissy fit over the decision and said he wants to give the Gauntlet to Mike Bailey if he can’t use it. Hisaya Imabayashi told him that was impossible. MAO has no other friends so he doesn’t know what to do. Imabayashi then struck him a deal. He gives up the Gauntlet and it becomes invalid. In return a new Gauntlet will be active after “WRESTLE PETER PAN”. When MAO comes back he will be put in the match where the new Gauntlet is on the line. MAO agreed to the deal. He then found out he will team with Asuka to take on HARASHIMA & Naomichi Marufuji for his return match! MAO likes that idea. Since Bailey can’t be in DDT for now, maybe MAO teaming with Asuka will be the next best thing.

Eruption are now bouncing back from their failed plan to take over DDT’s main event scene. Their win in the opener was also a preview of their tag match against the NEO Itoh Respect Army next week. Chris Brookes got to tangle with both Yukio Sakaguchi & Saki Akai. A motivated Mizuki Watase went after Sakaguchi but his Back Drop was countered into a Sleeper Hold. Brookes & Yukio Naya were taken out by the rest of Eruption while Sakaguchi sent Watase to sleep.

After last week’s setback, Seigo Tachibana returned at some point during the show again demanding to be booked. Imabayashi told him he wouldn’t because he couldn’t beat Okatani last week. Tachibana threatened him into giving another match. Suddenly Nobuhiro Shimatani entered the room also demanding to be booked! He lost 15kg in weight since his last DDT appearance and thinks he deserves to be here more than Tachibana does. The two were about to fight when Imabayashi told them they can have a match on Day 1 of “WRESTLE PETER PAN”. Tachibana then admitted he thought that show was today.


News Comes As Restrictions Get Lifted

May 26, 2020

I hope everybody out there is feeling well and finding ways to cope with the sad news about Hana Kimura. Dylan from the Eastern Lariat podcast tweeted a magazine photo of the time when an 8 year old Kimura won the Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title, which I think was her only connection to DDT. There would have been a working relationship between her and Sanshiro Takagi in WRESTLE-1 as well back when Takagi was part of its management.

There’s a quick story I want to tell. When I last went to Tokyo in 2016 I got to see a Sendai Girls show with a group of friends in Korakuen (the 8th April one). Kyoko Kimura was wrestling in the opener and Hana was there as her ringside attendant. This was only a few weeks after her pro debut and it was her only role on the show. I didn’t think anything of it at the time. The next day I spoke to an American expat and talked about the show. Before I even finished a sentence he cut me off and asked “Was Kyoko Kimura’s daughter there? She is going to be a star!”

DDT “DDT TV SHOW! #5”, 30/05/2020
DDT TV SHOW Studio

1. Jun Akiyama Vs Hideki Okatani
2. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title: Danshoku Dieno (c) Vs Antonio Honda
3. DAMNATION VS ALL OUT!: Daisuke Sasaki & Soma Takao Vs Shunma Katsumata & Yuki Iino
4. Yoshihiko & Akihiro Vs Konosuke Takeshita & Akito
5. #DAMNHEARTS Vs DISASTER BOX!: Tetsuya Endo, T-Hawk & El Lindaman Vs HARASHIMA, Yuki Ueno & Naomi Yoshimura

Figures from past and present are returning as Japan opens up again. The #STRONGHEARTS pair of T-Hawk & El Lindaman rejoin Tetsuya Endo to protect him from losing before his big title match. Yuki Ueno has spent all of this time during the pandemic looking after the Dropkick Bar. He gets to wrestle again for the first time in almost two months.

The second battle doll Akihiro came back in Yoshihiko’s time of need to defeat ALL OUT. The feud isn’t over yet when revenge is on offer.

Third time’s the charm for Danshoku Dieno Vs Antonio Honda.

Two thirds of the next DDT UNIVERSAL Title match face off in tag action.

Hideki Okatani showed his stuff by fighting Seigo Tachibana to a time limit draw in the match that took place after the last episode ended. Jun Akiyama should have lots to teach him.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW PPV SHOW ~ZENRYOKU YELL~”, 31/05/2020
OPENREC.tv

1. Hikari Noa Vs Sena Shiori
2. Hyper Misao Vs Mahiro Kiryu
3. Yuka Sakazaki & Mizuki Vs Shoko Nakajima & Suzume

The main event is confirmed to be The Magical Sugar Rabbits against Shoko Nakajima & Suzume.

GANBARE☆WRESTLING “HIMITSU 2020”, 03/06/2020
???

1. 4 Vs 4 Survival Tag Match: Keisuke Ishii, Yumehito Imanari, Shinichiro Tominaga & Kouki Iwasaki Vs Shuichiro Katsumura, Shota, Washi Sakurai & X

At last Ganbare☆Wrestling gets to have a go at an empty arena match. Here’s a neat concept for the match. We have two teams with 4 wrestlers each. When the match begins two wrestlers from each side are selected to wrestle a tag team match. When a wrestler is defeated by normal means they are replaced by a new teammate and the tag match continues. To win the match, a team must eliminate three of their opponents.

As you can see, one team has a mystery wrestler advertised. I’m surprised to see Ken Ohka or Moeka Haruhi aren’t involved. Haruhi being there would have meant all members of THE HALFEE were in the match on the same side. This is the only match of the show too.

DDT “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2020 DAY 1”, 06/06/2020
DDT TV SHOW Studio

1. Soma Takao & Mad Paulie Vs Keigo Nakamura & Hideki Okatani
2. Keisuke Ishii & HARUKAZE Vs Hiroshi Yamato & Saori Anou
3. DDT Yuru-chara No. 1 Battle In Niigata: Super Sasadango Machine Vs Pokotan
4. DDT UNIVERSAL Title – Hardcore 3 Way Match: Daisuke Sasaki (c) Vs Isami Kodaka Vs Shunma Katsumata

The new plan for “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2020” is to hold it under the DDT TV SHOW format across two days. It’s not the mega show it is going to be but under the current circumstances it keeps DDT chugging along as light appears at the end of the tunnel.

Daisuke Sasaki wanted his next title defence to be easy and violent. That is why he nominated Shunma Katsumata to be his next challenger. The twist is the sudden appearance of Isami Kodaka getting involved. Kodaka heard about DDT’s new UNIVERSAL Title and wanted to add it to his ever growing list of accomplishments.

I bet the DDT roster are happy to see Saori Anou again.

DDT “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2020 DAY 2”, 07/06/2020
DDT TV SHOW Studio

1. Tokyo Joshi Pro 6-Woman Tag Match: Yuka Sakazaki, Miyu Yamashita & Shoko Nakajima Vs Rika Tatsumi, Nodoka Tenma & Yuki Aino
2. Yukio Sakaguchi & Saki Akai Vs Chris Brookes & Maki Itoh
3. Super Sasadango Machine Remote Produce Match: Toru Owashi Vs Antonio Honda
4. DDT Extreme Title – Celebration! Release Restriction Rules: Shinya Aoki (c) Vs Yukio Naya
5. KO-D Openweight Title: Masato Tanaka (c) Vs Tetsuya Endo

Endo is so close to his final goal. He tripped up once before but reclaimed the KO-D Challenger Sword and just has to avoid a direct defeat one more time. Once he does that, Masato Tanaka will be there waiting for him with the KO-D Openweight Title held tightly in his grip.

The state of emergency in Tokyo has been lifted and the restrictions across Japan are easing off. Shinya Aoki will use the uplifting news as inspiration for his next DDT Extreme Title defence. Yukio Naya is stepping up as the challenger.

This show is taking place on Nodoka Tenma’s birthday! She is happy to spend the day fighting against the three strongest wrestlers in Tokyo Joshi Pro. Her team with Yuki Aino & Rika Tatsumi is called Bakuretsu Dragon.

BASARA “BASARA 129 ~BANQUET~”, 14/07/2020
Shin-Kiba 1st RING

1. IRON FIST Tag Titles: Tsutomu Oosugi & Banana Senga (c) Vs Gouma Ryu & Ryuji Ito
2. Union MAX Title: Fuminori Abe (c) Vs Isami Kodaka

BASARA are playing it safe and have cancelled their last remaining show in June. Instead their first show back will be in July at Shin-Kiba 1st RING. Normally this is the Banquet all you can drink show but that system will be suspended and the seating rearranged to accommodate social distancing. For now they are numbering the show #129. The last BASARA show that took place was #126 (I’m amazed I’ve been able to keep track of the chapter numbers for so long). If that sticks then it means #127 & #128 are forever lost to the cancellations.

The two title matches that were originally going to take place in April are now finally going to happen in July. Fuminori Abe must be chomping at the bit to prove his worth as Union MAX Champion by now.


Video – “DDT TV SHOW! #4” Digest Highlights

May 25, 2020

DDT “DDT TV SHOW! #4”, 23/05/2020
DDT TV SHOW Studio
0 Fans

1. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title: Danshoku Dieno (c) Vs Antonio Honda
2. Akito & Yuki Iino Vs Kazusada Higuchi & Yukio Naya
3. Jun Akiyama Vs Mizuki Watase
4. DDT UNIVERSAL Title – 3 Way Match: Daisuke Sasaki (c) Vs Chris Brookes Vs Naomi Yoshimura
5. Konosuke Takeshita Vs Yoshihiko
6. Special Tag Match: Masato Tanaka & HARASHIMA Vs Tetsuya Endo & Soma Takao
-. KO-D Openweight Title: Masato Tanaka (c) Vs Shinya Aoki


DDT “DDT TV SHOW! #4” Results

May 23, 2020

DDT “DDT TV SHOW! #4”, 23/05/2020
DDT TV SHOW Studio
0 Fans

1. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title: Danshoku Dieno (c) Vs Antonio Honda ended in a No Contest (10:19).
*No successful defence for Danshoku Dieno.
2. Akito & Yuki Iino defeated Kazusada Higuchi & Yukio Naya when Akito submitted Naya with the Figure 4 Leg Lock (9:35).
3. Jun Akiyama defeated Mizuki Watase with the Exploder Suplex (11:21).
4. DDT UNIVERSAL Title – 3 Way Match: Daisuke Sasaki (c) defeated Chris Brookes and Naomi Yoshimura when Sasaki pinned Yoshimura after the Praying Mantis Bomb from Brookes (11:47).
*V2 for Daisuke Sasaki.
5. Yoshihiko defeated Konosuke Takeshita with the Reincarnation (22:21).
6. Special Tag Match: Masato Tanaka & HARASHIMA defeated Tetsuya Endo & Soma Takao when Tanaka pinned Takao with the Sliding D (15:07).
-. KO-D Openweight Title: Masato Tanaka (c) defeated Shinya Aoki with the Sliding D (8:26).
*V4 for Masato Tanaka.

Busy day for Masato Tanaka. He went into today’s episode of DDT TV SHOW focused on meeting his closest challenger Tetsuya Endo in a tag match. With the help of a Reverse Hurricanrana from HARASHIMA, Tanaka knocked out Endo with the Sliding D. The duo then picked apart Soma Takao until the inevitable victory.

A revived Endo tried to confront Tanaka after the match but he was suddenly interrupted by Shinya Aoki! He came out to cash in his Right To Challenge Gauntlet for a KO-D Openweight Title shot right away! From the start Aoki targeted Tanaka’s arm and used a Key Lock to put his opponent in immediate danger. Tanaka escaped the ring after a rope break and challenged Aoki to come fight him outside. Aoki avoided being ambushed with a chair and again went after Tanaka’s left arm. It was a valuable tactic that cut off Tanaka whenever he tried to fight back. It took one opening for Tanaka to beat Aoki. He used a pin to break out of a Cross Armbreaker and then struck Aoki with the Sliding D. The surprise was enough to keep Aoki down for the three count! The two bowed to each other after the match.

Another Right To Challenge Gauntlet has been vanquished. One more is left but there is also the KO-D Challenger Sword held by Endo. It was decided by Hisaya Imabayashi that Endo’s title shot will take place at “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2020 DAY 2” on 7th June! Endo said he does not care about MAO being the last remaining Gauntlet holder, he is entirely focused on hunting Tanaka to win the KO-D Title! Tanaka said whether it is Endo or MAO kneeling in front of him, he will continue to hold the KO-D Title until he goes to Saitama Super Arena!

Yoshihiko has made a clean sweep through ALL OUT! The final battle in the “ALL OUT, All Dead” campaign saw the doll defeat Konosuke Takeshita in a mighty conflict. Takeshita swung Yoshihiko round in circles, Yoshihiko did the Styles Clash, Takeshita did an Avalanche Brainbuster to the outside. There was nothing either wrestler wouldn’t do to win. That includes relying on others. The other ALL OUT members interfered to help out their partner. They then ganged up on Yoshihiko after the referee got accidentally knocked out. All looked lost when suddenly the lights went out. When they came back on Yoshihiko was joined by another battle doll. It was the return of Akihiro! Together they sent ALL OUT packing and left Takeshita begging for mercy. They gave him a Double Canadian Destroyer. Yoshihiko had the match won but it picked Takeshita back up and gave him the Reincarnation to win with authority. The lights went out again as the two dolls stared down at their defeated enemy.

MAO was pulled from the show at the last minute because of an injury so the DDT UNIVERSAL Title was now being defended in a 3 Way Match. At first Daisuke Sasaki and Chris Brookes only wanted to fight each other so Naomi Yoshimura couldn’t get a look in. From there it was a scramble to get the win. Brookes gave Yoshimura the Praying Mantis Bomb but Sasaki threw him out of the ring and stole the three count to remain as champion.

Brookes called the result a load of shit. Sasaki taunted him by saying he will never get the UNIVERSAL Title back. He then gave Brookes a Low Blow and threw him out again. Sasaki announced his next challenger will be Shunma Katsumata because he wants to have a Hardcore Match and also Katsumata is the weakest member of ALL OUT. Katsumata came out carrying a baseball bat covered in toy blocks. He admitted he has never beaten Sasaki but if “Super Hardcore Shunma” even has a 1% chance of winning, he will take it. Suddenly Isami Kodaka made his return to DDT and entered the ring. He has won all of DDT’s main championships but this UNIVERSAL Title is new to him. Sasaki accepted Kodaka’s challenge and told Katsumata he had no need for him anymore. Katsumata struck Sasaki with the bat causing a fight to break out between the three of them. Imabayashi calmed everyone down and decided they will have a Hardcore 3 Way Match for the title. Sasaki wasn’t conscious at this point so everyone assumed he’d be okay with it. Meanwhile Brookes is pissed off he can’t get a one on one match with Sasaki for the title.

Ambushing Jun Akiyama with his own Jumping Knee Attack is a good way to show you’re taking a match seriously so well done Mizuki Watase. Trying to beat him with a Front Necklock also takes some balls. In the end though Akiyama hit his own Knee Strikes and won with the Exploder Suplex. It will take some time but Akiyama hopes to train the DDT wrestlers to put more weight and soul into their Elbow Smash exchanges.

Yuki Iino threw his weight around in Match #2. He hit a Double Spear to Kazusada Higuchi & Yukio Naya. Then when Akito put Naya in the Figure 4 Leg Lock, Iino hit him with a low level Spear leading to Naya tapping out.

Lately whenever Danshoku Dieno and Antonio Honda fight over the Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title their matches just seem to fall apart. This time Honda channeled the power of Gongitsune to possess other people. Dieno could resist it by putting his hands over his ears but for people like Hideki Okatani, Keigo Nakamura, Daisuke Kiso and Hisaya Imabayashi they could not be as fortunate. Honda’s plan backfired when the Gongitsune group turned on him, forcing him to be possessed by his own power! Together they all ganged up on Dieno until the room went dark. Dieno woke up in his own home. It was just a nightmare. Or was it? When he left the room we found out Okatani was hiding underneath the covers, still possessed by Gongitsune…