DDT “KING OF DDT 2025 1ST ROUND” Results

May 6, 2025

DDT “KING OF DDT 2025 1ST ROUND”, 06/05/2025
Tokyo Korakuen Hall
??? Fans – Unannounced

0. Dark Match – 3 Way Tag Match: MJ Paul & Ilusion defeated Toru Owashi & Tomomitsu Matsunaga and Yuni & Kazuma Sumi when Ilusion pinned Sumi with a Rope-Assisted School Boy (5:31).
0. Dark Match: Jun Akiyama & Danshoku Dieno defeated MAO & Kazuki Hirata (w/ KIMIHIRO) when Dieno submitted Hirata with a Strong Chicken Wing Sleeper Hold (8:25).
1. King Of DDT 2025 – Round 1: Yuki Ueno defeated Antonio Honda with the Blackout Sleeper (15:05).
2. King Of DDT 2025 – Round 1: Daisuke Sasaki defeated Akito with the Crossover Face Lock (4:44).
3. King Of DDT 2025 – Round 1: KANON defeated Shunma Katsumata with the Cobra Twist 2.0 (9:16).
4. King Of DDT 2025 – Round 1: Yukio Naya defeated Daichi Sato with The World’s Best Back Drop (12:33).
5. King Of DDT 2025 – Round 1: Hideki Okatani defeated To-y with the Vertical Drop Brainbuster (11:58).
6. King Of DDT 2025 – Round 1: HARASHIMA defeated Chris Brookes with the Somato (0:22).
7. King Of DDT 2025 – Round 1: Takeshi Masada defeated Yuya Koroku with the Masada No Chikara KOBU Mukimuki (12:10).
8. King Of DDT 2025 – Round 1: Kazusada Higuchi defeated Shinya Aoki with the Claw (15:34).

Kazusada Higuchi sent a message loud and clear in the opening round of this year’s King Of DDT tournament. He has reached a complete recovery! The final match of the 1st Round pitted Higuchi against Shinya Aoki over two and a half years after their KO-D Openweight Title bout against each other. The rematch featured grappling from Aoki, Higuchi no selling his head hitting off the corner post, the Aoki Clutch being kicked out of and a costly mistake from Aoki after that. He gave Higuchi a Headbutt that only hurt himself, giving Higuchi the opening to clamp on the Claw and make Aoki tap out! Higuchi said he only focused on fighting Aoki and hasn’t thought about anything beyond that. He described Aoki as being frighteningly strong. Aoki admitted he felt relieved after the match because Higuchi is refreshingly strong. It is the strength of somebody regaining the ground he lost. A reporter pointed out this is the first time in a while Aoki has lost to the same fighter twice in a row. Aoki knew who the reporter is talking about and compared Higuchi to Hayato Sakurai. Aoki is also now looking to the future as an unemployed man because he is no longer under contract to ONE FC. He might follow Sayaka Unagi’s example and put together his own independent event.

Meeting Higuchi in the next round will be Takeshi Masada. He avenged the D GENERATIONS CUP final loss to Yuya Koroku thanks to his perfect calculations of how it would go this time. Koroku targeted the arm so Masada focused on leg based attacks including Dropkicking a chair into his opponent at ringside. He was also able to break out of the Modified Triangle Lancer and caught Koroku with the Masada No Chikara KOBU Mukimuki to get the win. Masada said it is one of the new formulas he came up with since the DGC so he has Koroku to thank for that. He said Higuchi has a great Japanese spirit but so does he and he will bring it out to show everyone in DDT for the next round. Koroku is really disappointed his tournament is over already but he knows he’s been through lower lows than this. He will go on as he is now.

A record was broken on today’s show. HARASHIMA defeated Chris Brookes in just 22 seconds, the fastest time ever in King Of DDT history! Brookes got the jump on HARASHIMA with a Dropkick during the entrances and quickly went for the Praying Mantis Bomb. But HARASHIMA popped out of the move and fired a short range Somato at Brookes before hitting the full on version for the shock three count! HARASHIMA said he responded calmly to the ambush and just went with his gut resulting in a perfect victory against the KO-D Champion. He hasn’t given up on winning the title again and every fan who came to the show today all know it is possible.

To-y’s hopes of finally getting to face Brookes one on one were already extinguished at this point because he was already eliminated by Hideki Okatani. There was a little bit of help from MJ Paul and Ilusion but To-y fought against the odds and almost won with the Kojima In Wonderland. Okatani hit back with the Vertical Drop Brainbuster and that was enough for him to advance to Round 2. Afterwards he said To-y is as hot headed and annoying as ever. Okatani will next face HARASHIMA. He said HARASHIMA is not an ace but a corpse fighting against the times.

There are not a lot of heavyweights in the tournament this year and now even less so when one knocked out another in the 1st Round. Yukio Naya put Daichi Sato through his paces, beating him down while withstanding the young wrestler’s return strikes. Sato kept it up though and soon Naya was breaking down. A High Kick followed by a Rolling Elbow and a Brainbuster gave Sato a nearfall. Naya turned things around with Knee Butts and Elbow Strikes before putting his opponent away with The World’s Best Back Drop. Naya said Sato will grow in DDT just like he did and the next time they fight, Sato should try to surprise him even more. Sato was thankful to compete in the tournament so soon after joining the company. His goal is to become the face of DDT’s heavyweight division but he’ll need to surpass Naya first.

One of the first round matches was a little bit awkward because it pitted MAO’s current tag partner against his ex-tag partner. KANON looked to have gotten the better of Shunma Katsumata when he put him in the Cobra Twist 2.0. Katsumata wouldn’t submit though despite having no way to escape. It led to a situation on the ring apron where Kazuma Sumi wanted to throw in the towel but Yuni wouldn’t let him. They had a tug of war over the towel until they lost their grips and accidentally threw it into the ring. This happened right when Katsumata tapped out anyway so it was still a valid win for KANON. Katsumata gave his approval to KANON afterwards because he thinks he is now on the right path. KANON said he has a lot of respect for ShunMao which is why Strange Love Connection will do things differently from MAO’s other team. He also called himself the “Yukio Naya Killer” because he has never lost to Naya in singles matches. They just so happen to be facing each other in the next round.

Akito wanted to make quick work of Daisuke Sasaki and grabbed him by the leg as he entered the ring. That advantage was ruined when Ilusion got into the ring to distract Akito by flipping him off. Akito turned back and continued going for Sasaki’s legs but a counter attack led to Sasaki trapping him in the Crossover Face Lock for the submission victory. Akito admitted he was arrogant when he said this year’s tournament might be his last chance to win King Of DDT and the KO-D Title. He has a lot to think about but he wants to be involved in the main storyline of DDT within the next year. Sasaki originally said he wanted this to be a Hair Vs Hair match but in honor of Akito’s effort he decided not to go through with the stipulation. His Round 2 match though? He wants is to be Hair Vs Hair because he gets joy in life by making his next opponent miserable.

That next opponent is Yuki Ueno. He was taking on a sentimental favorite in this year’s competition because Antonio Honda was competing on behalf of the injured Masahiro Takanashi. While Honda did pull out the Shining Gongitsune, he also used his serious techniques to try and win including the Octopus Hold, the Tenzan Tombstone Driver and the Diving Fist Drop. Unfortunately Honda ran out of steam after Ueno hit him with a Dropkick followed by the WR. He was almost counted out for a KO but got back to his feet at nine. Ueno ended up putting him in the Blackout Sleeper to choke him out for the win. Ueno promised to carry Honda’s feelings with him for the rest of the tournament as he begins his path to win back the KO-D Title and make DDT even more fun and interesting. He noticed that even though DAMNATION T.A is usually a gloomy group, Sasaki has been having more fun lately…

There were two non-tournament dark matches in the pre-show. One of them was to continue showing how Danshoku Dieno is taking pro wrestling seriously for his upcoming match with Minoru Suzuki. He proved this by trying to stop Kazuki Hirata from dancing. MAO tried to get Jun Akiyama to dance by offering him the Hirata GO! glasses but Akiyama gave him the Exploder Suplex instead. He then heard the fans chanting for him to put the glasses on so he did so. But just when he started to dance, Dieno made Hirata tap out to a Crossface Chicken Wing and the match ended.

The other dark match was meant to include Soma Takao but he was feeling unwell and was replaced by Tomomitsu Matsunaga. He and Toru Owashi worked together as best as they could in the 3 Way Tag Match but in the end DAMNATION T.A got the win over NωA Jr when Ilusion used the ropes for a leveraged pin on Sumi after Low Blowing him.

Yet again NωA Jr.’s show opening performance was hijacked by KIMIHIRO and the Strange Love Connection. This time Sumi tried to fight back by challenging KIMIHIRO to a rap battle but he quickly lost his flow and ran out of the ring feeling really embarrassed.


DDT “SENDAI NEW LEGEND 2025 ~SASA KAMABOKO~” Results

May 4, 2025

DDT “SENDAI NEW LEGEND 2025 ~SASA KAMABOKO~”, 04/05/2025
Miyagi Yume Messe Miyagi
??? Fans – Unannounced

1. Hideki Okatani defeted Kazuma Sumi with the Vertical Drop Brainbuster (6:43).
2. 3 Way Match: Toru Owashi defeated Danshoku Dieno and Yuni when Owashi pinned Yuni with La Magistral Cradle (7:45).
3. Daisuke Sasaki, MJ Paul & Ilusion defeated Makoto Oishi, Akito & Yukio Naya when Sasaki submitted Oishi with the Crossface Lock (10:36).
4. Special Tag Match: Kazusada Higuchi & Yuya Koroku defeated Jun Akiyama & Kazuki Hirata when Higuchi submitted Hirata with the Claw (10:41).
5. SCHADENFREUDE International Vs The 37KAMIINA!: Yuki Ueno, Shunma Katsumata & To-y defeated Chris Brookes, Antonio Honda & Takeshi Masada when Ueno pinned Honda with a Japanese Leg Roll Clutch (14:41).
6. Special Tag Match: MAO & KANON (w/ KIMIHIRO) defeated HARASHIMA & Daichi Sato when MAO pinned Sato after the Alien Love Call (14:27).

The King Of DDT 2025 is beginning in two days time so this show was the last chance for everyone to get ready for the tournament. KANON felt the need to act as a shield for MAO against the barrage of kicks from HARASHIMA & Daichi Sato. Once he collapsed he was filled with regret he wasn’t able to protect MAO more. But Strange Love Connection rebounded and used their new tag finisher called the Alien Love Call to win. The move is KANON’s Modified Facebuster but with MAO joining in to add more rotation to the victim taking it. After the match MAO told the Miyagi fans he will be back as soon as next week because the Best Of The Super Jr. tour will be stopping by and he’ll be competing on it. He wants DDT fans to come see the show to make his match more of a rivalry against New Japan.

Tension is building up between Yuki Ueno and Antonio Honda for their 1st Round match. During their faceoff in Match #5 Honda gave Ueno the Tenzan Tombstone Driver and tried to pin him with the Japanese Leg Roll Clutch. However Ueno reversed the move and used it to pin Honda instead. Earlier in the match SCHADENFREUDE International brought in a kid from the crowd to take part in their tower spot on To-y. The other members of The 37KAMIINA felt the need to join in too.

For the second day in a row the Strange Love Connection interrupted NωA Jr.’s opening performance and took it over so KIMIHIRO could rap for the audience.


King Of DDT 2025 Press Conference

May 2, 2025

DDT “KING OF DDT 2025 1ST ROUND”, 06/05/2025
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

0. Dark Match – 3 Way Tag Match: MJ Paul & Ilusion Vs Toru Owashi & Soma Takao Vs Yuni & Kazuma Sumi
0. Dark Match: Jun Akiyama & Danshoku Dieno Vs MAO & Kazuki Hirata (w/ KIMIHIRO)
1. King Of DDT 2025 – Round 1A: Antonio Honda Vs Yuki Ueno
2. King Of DDT 2025 – Round 1B: Daisuke Sasaki Vs Akito
3. King Of DDT 2025 – Round 1C: KANON Vs Shunma Katsumata
4. King Of DDT 2025 – Round 1D: Yukio Naya Vs Daichi Sato
5. King Of DDT 2025 – Round 1E: Hideki Okatani Vs To-y
6. King Of DDT 2025 – Round 1F: Chris Brookes Vs HARASHIMA
7. King Of DDT 2025 – Round 1G: Takeshi Masada Vs Yuya Koroku
8. King Of DDT 2025 – Round 1H: Shinya Aoki Vs Kazusada Higuchi

With the King Of DDT about to begin next week a press conference was held at Kanda Myojin Cultural Center yesterday featuring all 16 participants giving their opinions on their opening round matches. Yuki Ueno said his plan is to win the tournament and become KO-D Openweight Champion again. DDT will become a wild and fun place to be with himself at the centre. Antonio Honda is entering as the replacement for Masahiro Takanashi so he was at a loss for words at first. He will be getting into the ring with something big on his mind and will fight with all of the gratitude, respect and prayer for the people who have helped him.

Akito is entering the tournament for the first time since 2021. He explained he missed out on the last couple of tournaments not because his behind the scenes job became bigger but because DDT’s roster has grown so much that he just couldn’t make the cut. He thinks this may be his last chance to win King Of DDT which could then become his last chance to win the KO-D Title. A drunk Daisuke Sasaki changed the subject by saying when people think of him against Akito, they think Hair Vs Hair! Sasaki suggested he gets to shave every person he beats bald until he wins the tournament. Akito declined. If it was every single match in the tournament he would let the idea happen but just doing it for Sasaki Vs Akito isn’t worth the bother. Honda said he is already bald so the rule doesn’t worry him if he has to fight Sasaki in Round 2.

It’s also been a while since Shunma Katsumata took part in King Of DDT. He remembers how important the first round is so if he can get past it he knows he will win the whole thing. He has lots of friends taking part too so if they all advance to the later rounds together they can all win it too. KANON doesn’t understand Katsumata’s point but said this tournament will be meaningful for him now that he has fully joined up with DDT. He will be part of this while MAO is competing in the Best Of The Super Jr. He will aim to win and stand next to MAO as somebody worthy to team with him.

Young Daichi Sato has loudly declared his goal is to win the KO-D Title while he is still in his second year of high school. Winning the King Of DDT will be his quickest way to achieve that goal. Yukio Naya has said 2025 is going to be make or break for him. He hasn’t accomplised anyhing yet this year which means the timing is right for him to win the tournament and become KO-D Champion. Sato’s chances of making his dream come true are going to be low as long as Naya is still here!

When it was Hideki Okatani’s turn to speak he kept silent for a long time. When he finally did say something it was just “I’ll do my best.” To-y has had many singles matches with Okatani but never won any of them. When Okatani was injured To-y waited for him to come back so to hear him just say he’ll do his best leaves To-y feeling disappointed. He’ll just have to beat him and then in the next round face an opponent who will actually be hyped up to fight him. Somebody like Chris Brookes or one of his friends in The 37KAMIINA. That prompted Brookes to say something but all he put out was he will win as the KO-D Champion and nominate his next challenger afterwards.

HARASHIMA was uncharacteristically angry at To-y’s comments because it means To-y assumes Brookes will beat HARASHIMA in Round 1. So now HARASHIMA wants himself and To-y to win their matches so HARASHIMA can beat up To-y in Round 2! Brookes calmed things down by reminding everyone that HARASHIMA is the strongest wrestler in DDT so Brookes will have to be at his best against him. He then noticed the fancy looking suit that To-y was wearing and asked him how much it cost? To-y said he spent 70,000 yen on it. Brookes then asked how did he get the money to pay for it because he remembers the lines in Sapporo for To-y’s autograph were really short. To-y said he has a credit card and buy anything with it. The suit was already bought in advance so if To-y wins the tournament then he clear the debt off his card!

The D GENERATIONS CUP match between Takeshi Masada and Yuya Koroku hasn’t escaped either of their minds. Koroku’s dream now is to fight for the KO-D Title again and this time win it. He remembers his win over Masada in the DGC 1st Round was a close one so this time he is going to face him with all of his might. Masada has been eliminated from Round 1 two tournaments in a row now so Koroku doesn’t understand his feelings. This match will be the most Masada has ever committed to win just so he can reach Round 2.

It’s been a month since Kazusada Higuchi has returned from injury and he feels he’s been rebuilding his skills one step at a time. He will concentrate on each and every match in front of him, the first being against Shinya Aoki. It doesn’t matter to Aoki if this is a tournament match or not. He is just excited he gets to fight Higuchi one on one and wants to beat him by submission if it’s possible.


DDT “DDT HARU NO KEN FESTIVAL ~STILL GOING ON IN UENO~” Results

April 23, 2025

DDT “DDT HARU NO KEN FESTIVAL ~STILL GOING ON IN UENO~”, 23/04/2025
Tokyo Ueno Park Outdoor Stage
??? Fans – Unannounced

1. Daisuke Sasaki, Hideki Okatani & Ilusion (w/ MJ Paul) defeated Yukio Naya, Tomomitsu Matsunaga & Yuya Koroku when Sasaki submitted Matsunaga with the Crossface Lock (9:36).
2. O-40 Title: Antonio Honda defeated Toru Owashi (c) with a Crushed La Magistral Cradle (10:55).
*Toru Owashi fails in V1. Antonio Honda becomes the 7th O-40 Champion!
3. Special Tag Match: Chris Brookes & Takeshi Masada defeated Jun Akiyama & Daichi Sato when Masada pinned Sato with the Masada No Chikara KOBU Mukimuki (9:48).
4. Staggered Entry Tag Rumble: MAO & KANON defeated Shunma Katsumata & Yuni when MAO pinned Katsumata after the Lariat + McEnroe (22:22).
Order Of Elimination: HARASHIMA & Kazuma Sumi, Kazusada Higuchi & Yuki Ishida, Danshoku Dieno & To-y, Akito & Kazuki Hirata, Shunma Katsumata & Yuni.
5. Keigo Nakamura Send Off Match ~ Special Single Match: Yuki Ueno defeated Keigo Nakamura with the Jul.2 (17:32).
6. Emergency Match: Shinya Aoki defeated Keigo Nakamura by Referee Stoppage with a Shoulder Lock (1:11).

Today was Keigo Nakamura’s farewell match before he starts his indefinite excursion overseas. His send off match was against Yuki Ueno and he had most of the D GENERATIONS wrestlers all around ringside watching him on. Ueno won the match as expected but Nakamura’s day was not over yet. Ueno had a special present to give Nakamura and it was one more match, this time against his mentor Shinya Aoki! The bonus match didn’t last long because Aoki quickly put Nakamura in a Shoulder Lock and the ref stopped the match to stop Nakamura from fainting. After that match Nakamura told everyone he will do his best and come back stronger. He does not know how many years he will be gone for but he wants everyone to please keep supporting him.

The new tag team Strange Love Connection has already gotten themselves a new member. A Tag Rumble took place where the winners would get a wish granted for them. MAO & KANON won the match then were greeted by a voice from heaven asking for their wish. MAO asked to be paid five times more than he’s getting now but the voice told him that would be impossible. He then asked for 80% of the money made from their portrait sales but that’s impossible too. MAO then thought about it and asked if his rapper friend MC KIMIHIRO can join Strange Love Connection? KIMIHIRO is better on the microphone than MAO or KANON. That way whenever the team gets to close out the show, KIMIHIRO can do it for them. The voice granted the wish but not until the start of May because DDT is going to Sapporo before then and the airfare to there is expensive. MAO already has a plan in mind. Strange Love Connection want to steal NωA Jr.’s opening act performance from them!

The O-40 Title had not been defended since Toru Owashi won it last October and he really wanted to get rid of it. He claimed that nobody has stepped up to challenge him and all of his acrylic stand merch has sold out so there was no point in him being champion anymore. However Daisuke Kiso told everyone Owashi’s merch hadn’t sold out so he still has a reason to be a fighting champion. Owashi went out and tried to directly sell his stands to the crowd until Honda followed him and fought him back to the ring. Back in the ring the Gongitsune spot led to Kiso and Yukinori Matsui accidentally embracing each other to romantic music. Honda rolled up Owashi for a nearfall. Owashi then went for La Magistral Cradle but Honda blocked it and pinned him down for the three count to win the O-40 Title! Honda put the message out that he wants everyone over 40 years old to challenge him, including Stone Cold Steve Austin. He promised to defend the belt until it becomes the O-80 Championship!


DDT “DDT GOES LAS VEGAS!” Results

April 19, 2025

DDT “DDT GOES LAS VEGAS!”, 18/04/2025
Pearl Theater At Palms Casino Resort, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
??? Fans – Unannounced

1. Starboy Charlie defeated Yuni with the Shooting Starboy Press (8:58).
2. 3 Way Tag Match: Daisuke Sasaki & Ilusion defeated Mizuki Watase & Shota and Dan The Dad & Kody Lane when Sasaki submitted Dan with the Crossface Lock (13:07).
3. Special Single Match: Santana Jackson defeated Antonio Honda with the Moonwalk DDT (9:37).
4. wXw Unified World Wrestling Title: 1 Called Manders (c) defeated Yukio Naya with the Lariat (9:33).
*V3 for 1 Called Manders.
5. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Nick Wayne, Shunma Katsumata & Kazuma Sumi defeated Gringo Loco, Marcus Mathers & Tyler Bateman when Wayne pinned Bateman with the Wayne’s World (13:37).
6. Special Single Match: Shinya Aoki defeated Timothy Thatcher with the Aoki Clutch (9:20).
7. DDT Universal Title: Minoru Suzuki (c) defeated Yoshihiko with the Gotch-Style Piledriver (15:10).
*V1 for Minoru Suzuki.
8. Special Single Match: KONOSUKE TAKESHITA defeated MAO with the Raging Fire (17:24).

With all of the wrestling going on in Las Vegas this week, DDT were in the thick of it holding their latest USA show with The Collective. The lineup was not DDT at its fullest with half the roster remaining in Japan to continue running shows over there. What Vegas did get though was still a mix of the weird and wonderful you can find in pro wrestling. DDT still gave fans something they weren’t going to get anywhere else in Vegas this week.

In the main event Konosuke Takeshita returned to DDT to test out just how much MAO has grown without him. MAO has recently made a similar decision that Takeshita went through a few years ago and that is to leave The 37KAMIINA to move in a new direction. MAO’s path is a little different though and he used what tricks he could to go against Takeshita’s world class abilities. At one point he hit Takeshita square with the Iai Kick but Takeshita collapsed out of the ring. Takeshita did big damage back by dropping MAO on the ring apron with the Wicked Driver. MAO gambled it all by going for a Phoenix Splash but Takeshita got out of the way. He moved so quick that he got in position to throw an Elbow Stike at MAO in midair but the wild shot missed. It didn’t matter though because Takeshita remained on the attack and pinned MAO with the Raging Fire.

After the match MAO got to give a speech but felt bad about it because losers shouldn’t talk. However he has a dream to tell the fans and it is to “Make DDT Dramatic Again”. He invited everyone back out to end the show but had more to say backstage. He is going to follow in Takeshita’s footsteps by attacking New Japan! To give more back to DDT his goal is to win the Best Of The Super Jr. and then take the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title! Meanwhile Takeshita told reporters about all of the opponents he has fought this week with more to come tomorrow. He cannot go back on his triple contracts now. He also gave advice to MAO and that is to cherish the people who support you because they are the ones who will protect you in the end. With that, he will look forward to seeing how MAO will do in May

Las Vegas got to witness the fight of the century! In the middle of what is part of the most bizarre schedule of matches anyone has taken for WrestleMania Weekend ever, Minoru Suzuki fought Yoshihiko with the DDT Universal Title on the line. All throughout the buildup Suzuki didn’t believe in Yoshihiko’s powers and thought the match was a joke. So when the match began he had fun kicking and throwing the doll around while the audience reacted in horror to the violence put on display. Yoshihiko even produced a crimson mask, getting blood gushing from its face. However things took a turn when all of a sudden Yoshihiko grabbed Suzuki and fought back with submission holds. Suzuki was at the risk of getting outgrappled and soon found himself getting bumped around the ring. But in the end he countered Yoshihiko’s Reincarnation into the Gotch-Style Piledriver, spinning around in circles before hitting the move to make it more powerful. After winning the match, Suzuki shook Yoshihiko’s hand before throwing it out of the ring. Backstage he asked the reporters if Americans are stupide because they made such a big fuss over a doll. He then brought up his singles match with Danshoku Dieno happening on 25th May, insinuating that he wants it to be a Universal Title match. Yoshihiko made no comment backstage.

Something that was completely different from the rest of the card could be seen in Match #6. Shinya Aoki and Timothy Thatcher kept most of their match to the mat with grappling exchanges and submission holds. When the action brought them back to their feet, Aoki hit a dive out of the ring but Thatcher returned fire back inside with a Piledriver. Aoki got the better of him in the end though when he applied the Full Nelson and pulled Thatcher down into the pinning manoeuvre that is now called the Aoki Clutch. Thatcher had no answer to it and was counted for three.

People were flying everywhere in the 6-Man Tag Match. Gringo Loco threw his body around with high risk moves and Marcus Mathers did the same. Kazuma Sumi got to stretch his feet out a little bit and do some more high flying of his own than we’re used to seeing him on regular DDT shows. Nick Wayne was also chomping at the bit to get things done but at times it put him at odds with Sumi & Shunma Katsumata. That was only a blip though and the trio remained strong, ending with Wayne pinned Tyler Batemen with the Wayne’s World.

Big beefy brutes collided over the wXw Unified Title. It’s a belt that 1 Called Manders recently won in Germany and brought with him to Vegas for a few title defences. Yukio Naya got to be one of the challengers but couldn’t knock the cowboy off his throne with strikes and Choke Slams. Instead Manders took Naya’s best shot and took him down with the Lariat to keep his championship. The two earned each other’s respect and Manders raised Naya’s hand as he was heading to the back.

Anton, are you okay? Are you okay? Are you okay, Anton? Antonio Honda couldn’t believe what he was seeing. Just the sight of Santana Jackson moving like Michael Jackson was enough to make his knees quiver and his mind unfocused. It must have been why he injured his knee again when trying to do a dive. Honda had the courage to tell everyone a Gongitsune story in English about the time Gone went to Vegas to see Caesars Palace but wound up at Caesars Penis instead. It was all a trick to cheap shot Jackson, who fled beneath the ring. When he returned he had become the werewolf from Thriller and he gave Honda the Moonwalk DDT for the victory.

A 3 Way Match pitted DAMNATION T.A against two teams that were very different from each other. Mizuki Watase & Shota were teaming up as a Ganbare☆Pro adjacent pair while Dan The Dad & Kody Lane were along for what sounded like a fun vacation the whole family could enjoy. Too bad Daisuke Sasaki wanted to drink beer and Ilusion kept swearing at everybody. Dan also lost his temper at Shota for standing on the top turnbuckles for too long like a bold boy. Dan & Lane hit some big moves including a Topé Suicida Doomsday Device onto a pile of wrestlers outside the ring. But Ilusion caught Dan with the Swanton Bomb and Sasaki ran in to give him the Crossface Lock for the submission win.

It was like a mirror match in the opener. Both Yuni and Starboy Charlie tried to match each other flip for flip to impress the fans. Charlie won out on the contest thanks to the Standing Corkscrew Moonsault and also the Shooting Starboy Press.


Guide To DDT In Las Vegas

April 16, 2025

DDT “DDT GOES LAS VEGAS!”, 18/04/2025
Pearl Theater At Palms Casino Resort, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

1. Yuni Vs Starboy Charlie
2. 3 Way Tag Match: Daisuke Sasaki & Ilusion Vs Mizuki Watase & Shota Vs Dan The Dad & Kody Lane
3. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Nick Wayne, Shunma Katsumata & Kazuma Sumi Vs Gringo Loco, Marcus Mathers & Tyler Bateman
4. Special Single Match: Antonio Honda Vs Santana Jackson
5. Special Single Match: Shinya Aoki Vs Timothy Thatcher
6. Special Single Match: KONOSUKE TAKESHITA Vs MAO
7. wXw Unified World Wrestling Title: 1 Called Manders (c) Vs Yukio Naya
8. DDT Universal Title: Minoru Suzuki (c) Vs Yoshihiko

Bright lights, the sound of money being lost everywhere and of course there’s an impersonator nearby. DDT has come to Las Vegas for WrestleMania Week! Things really feel different with the show this year as many of DDT’s main roster are not making the trip out of Japan. Instead they are going to run more shows side by side with the group going to America. It means a lot of big names you come to expect from DDT are missing and the people brought in to fill those gaps seem a bit random at first. Some start to make sense the more you think about it but if you look at the card above it kind of looks like bits and pieces from other shows all being grouped together into something else. I still bet it will be a good time and if you want to know what’s going on with everything, you’ve come to the right place. You won’t get any gambling tips from me though. I’m already gambling my Switch 2 money to the Fortune Cup machines as you read this.

When and where is the show taking place?

The two shows will be held at the Pearl Theater found inside Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. “DDT GOES LAS VEGAS!” is taking place on Friday, 18th April at 3pm local time. “DDT VS TJPW VS GCW” is taking place on Saturday, 19th April at 2pm local time.

Where can I watch it online?

Both “DDT GOES LAS VEGAS!” and “DDT VS TJPW VS GCW” will air live on Triller TV with English commentary through the TrillerTV+ subscription service. The on-demand versions of both shows will be available to watch on Wrestle Universe a few weeks after the live broadcast.

Is this a proper DDT show?

Ehhhhhhh…… There’s a lot missing. When it comes to expanding into the USA, CyberFight thinks Tokyo Joshi Pro has become the better bet. I don’t think you will get the full DDT experience compared to their shows in Japan or even their recent previous American shows. It will be entertaining and mostly looks unique compared to anything else happening this week but I can’t say this looks like a complete DDT experience. Maybe treat it as a sampler if this is your first time watching the product.

Look at it this way. I’m playing Promoter Mode on Fire Pro Wrestling and I’m trying to remake DDT. A lot of the roster I want too book isn’t unlocked yet and I spent so much money on the couple of star wrestlers I love that I have to make do with who’s available in the Freelance section to fill out the rest of the card. I might end up discovering some new wrestlers I like in the process but the whole package just never seems right. This show kind of feels like that. DDT is always open to becoming a mish-mash of different styles and philosophies which is probably why some of the matches here look like they could have been booked on some of the other prominent shows happening in Vegas.

Got any non-wrestling tips for visiting Las Vegas?

Every casino looks closer to each other than they appear so be prepared to walk a lot. Even in real life The Sphere looks like it is CGI’d into the background when you see it from a distance. I like Secret Pizza in The Cosmopolitan but would not rely on it at all for a full meal. Pin-Up Pizza on the strip is the same quality as Sbarro so only go near it if you really want the novelty of eating a gigantic slice. If you’re going to see Penn & Teller at the Rio Casino, get there early to get a close up look at an old timey magician’s stage while Penn plays jazz music with his band. You might also get to be part of an inside joke that happens during the show. Tape Face is a really fun show to loosen up at. BattleBots Destruct-A-Thon is enjoyable but a little too Medieval Times for my tastes. It is also closer to pro wrestling than some of the actual pro wrestling shows happening this week.

Will The Steiner Brothers be at the show?

No.

———————————————————————–


1. Yuni Vs Starboy Charlie

We open up with two heartthrobs in the making being pitted against each other. Yuni is part of NωA Jr. (New Wrestling Idol Jr.), a pop idol unit that’s been given the task by DDT to go and win a Best Newcomer category at a famous music awards ceremony by the end of the year. All three members of the group will be at this show so you may get a singing performance from them. Starboy Charlie isn’t singing yet but it might be in his future if The Crush Boys project he is involved in with Chigusa Nagayo ever decides to take the musical route. These two boys might just end up being two peas in a pod.

Yuni – See this 17 year old? Yuni made his pro wrestling debut at 8 years old when he and his mom convinced Sanshiro Takagi to let him try out for DDT. How did DDT get away with this at the time? Well it turns out the mom is a retired dancer from a popular idol group in the 90’s so the family is already in show business. Yay nepotism! Now fully ingrained in the business and at an age where DDT won’t get into trouble when he takes a bump, Yuni wants to live his dream of becoming a cool wrestler with loads of high flying moves in his arsenal.
Moves To Watch Out For: Phoenix Splash, Sky Twister Press, Moonault, Spinning Headscissors

Starboy Charlie – Currently making waves on the indies as one half of The Crush Boys with Titus Alexander. Charlie is more familiar with the other side of CyberFight where he has wrestled several tours in NOAH and once challenged for the GHC Jr. Heavyweight Title. Yes, he still wrestles in the denim dungarees. I still remember Jim Ross joking that the kid thinks he’s like Jerry Lawler in Memphis when he pulls the straps down.
Moves To Watch Out For: Shooting Star Press, Standing Corkscrew Moonsault, Kip Up into an Overhead Kick


2. 3 Way Tag Match: Daisuke Sasaki & Ilusion Vs Mizuki Watase & Shota Vs Dan The Dad & Kody Lane

A 3 Way Tag Match like this always looks like it’s thrown together but it makes a little bit of sense here. Two of the three teams are more likely to appear in Ganbare☆Pro rather than DDT. DAMNATION T.A is the odd one out although a previous version of the group did get into a feud with GanPro in 2017 that nearly put the promotion’s entire existence in jeopardy. Mizuki Watase has travelled to Las Vegas before and has gone through the problems such a trip would give anyone. Hopefully he’s better prepared this time. Dan The Dad & Kody Lane have toured in GanPro before so this isn’t unusual territory for them. They are also already an accomplished tag team called Home Cookin’.

Daisuke Sasaki – Here is the grimiest heel you’re ever going to find in DDT. Dirty, drunk and depressed, Daisuke Sasaki is the leader of DAMNATION T.A because this way of life is a “Total Addiction”. He has the talent to reach bigger heights and has achieved success in DDT but every time there is a setback it sends him tumbling back down into despair. Despite putting himself in a self-fulfilled cycle of destruction you can never really count him out of the running.
Moves To Watch Out For: Crossface Lock (sometimes set up with La Mistica), Crossover Face Lock (Gargano Escape), Sasaki-Style Hurricanrana, Diving Elbow Drop

Ilusion – This young masked wrestler started off his career leaning as a heel but showed traces of babyface behaviour when he wanted to join SCHADENFREUDE International. It all turned out to be a ruse he planned with DAMNATION T.A to betray his new friends and leave them with broken hearts. Now Ilusion is just a prick to everyone outside of DAMNATION T.A, flipping off his opponents and cheating like hell.
Moves To Watch Out For: Swanton Bomb, RE:VISION1 (Modified Angels Wings), Missile Dropkick, Giving everyone middle fingers

Mizuki Watase – A former comedian turned pro wrestler and he is freshly back from a ruptured Achilles tendon. He speedran his rehabilitation and made it back to the ring in only 4 months which sounds absolutely crazy when you think about it. He wants to make up for lost time which is why he is putting in four times the amount of effort needed.
Moves To Watch Out For: Venetian (Wrist-Clutch Michinoku Driver), Running Elbow Butt, Back Drop, Hanori Tiger Suplex

Shota – A reliable handyman both inside and out of the ring. Shota has spent the last few years working as a freelancer to do what’s best for himself after spending so many years putting other people in the business first. He still helps out from time to time and likes to wrestling across the indies scenes in both Japan and America. I’m under suspicion that he still helps out CyberFight as a talent scout of some sort from time to time.
Moves To Watch Out For: Gannosuke Clutch, Frog Splash, Sharpshooter

Dan The Dad – Your father’s favorite wrestler. He sometimes has to wrestle the match while drinking his morning cup of joe from his World’s No. 1 Dad mug. He also isn’t afraid to dish out punishment the old fashioned way by whipping the opponent’s behind with his belt. He got involved at last year’s DDT show in Philadelphia where his open challenge was answered by the psycho mascot Chiitan.
Moves To Watch Out For: Baby On Board (Backpack Stunner), You’re Grounded (rope draping Flatliner)

Kody Lane – Wherever Dan The Dad goes, “The Southern Flamingo” is never that far behind him. Although usually they just see each other all the time in Glory Pro anyway. The two travelled together to Japan for a GanPro tour two years ago and they are familar with each other either as partners or opponents. In the ring though Lane loves nothing more than to springboard or slingshot himself off of the ropes.
Moves To Watch Out For: Diving Senton to a bent over opponent, Jay Driller, Top Rope Springboard Moonsault, Waffle Stomp (Elevated Double Stomp to a bent over opponent in the corner)


3. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Nick Wayne, Shunma Katsumata & Kazuma Sumi Vs Gringo Loco, Marcus Mathers & Tyler Bateman

Not much to say here other than throw a few high flyers into the ring with a couple of bases and let them all do their thing. Nick Wayne is calling over from AEW to get some ring time before he heads over to New Japan for the summer. Shunma Katsumata & Kazuma Sumi are the other two members of NωA Jr. Maybe they can convince Wayne to be their fourth man. Gringo Loco, Marcus Mathers & Tyler Bateman are all going to try and ruin the other team’s day.

Nick Wayne – It’s been said before that Nick Wayne is a young wrestler who has the world at his feet. That’s all well and good but he really needs to get moving because maybe his father figure in AEW doesn’t have what’s best in mind for him. The son of the late Buddy Wayne toured with DDT in the past to get himself ready for his move to the big leagues. Now the next time he returns to Japan it will be for the Best Of The Super Jr tournament. There will come a day when Wayne is watching over the wrestling scene as a grizzled veteran with hundreds of matches under his belt while still only being in his mid twenties. But he needs to start making his moves sooner rather than later.
Moves To Watch Out For: Wayne’s World (Sprinboard Flying Cutter), Inverted Hurricanrana, Snap Dragon Suplex, Fisherman Suplex

Shunma Katsumata – Nobody in DDT loves saunas as much as this guy. Don’t let his hobby or his eternally youthful looks fool you though. Katsumata can get crazy violent whenever he wants even when his weapons of choice turn out to be Lego and party poppers. That kind of behaviour took its toll and put him on the shelf for a year. So when he came back he traded in the Lego for a microphone to become part of NωA Jr.
Moves To Watch Out For: ¡Hasta la vista! (Lightning Spiral), Totonou Splash (straight Diving Body Press), Aufguss (Diving Foot Stomp to a standing opponent)

Kazuma Sumi – Where does DDT find so many young wrestlers to train and debut quickly? Well the quiet part is they usually attract trainees who dropped out of other company dojos. Kazuma Sumi is one such example because he originally trained with Dragongate before bouncing over to DDT. One year after his debut he was taken under the wing of former DDT mainstay MIKAMI and adopted one of his most successful moves… the School Boy! There’s an alternate reality where he should be doing Swanton Bombs off of ladders instead but we don’t live in it.
Moves To Watch Out For: Lionsault, Standing Moonsault, School Boy

Gringo Loco – Do you need an opponent to be the yin to your high flyer’s yang? Then go get “The Base God”. Gringo Loco left his mark in DDT last November when he unexpectedly won the DDT Universal Title during a series of shows in Seattle. He defended the belt around North America a little bit before losing it once he actually had a title match in Japan. This match will be Loco’s return to DDT, doing what he does best.
Moves To Watch Out For: Base Bomb (Spinning Sit Down Power Bomb), Olympico Slam (Inverted Angle Slam), Gorilla Press Driver, Gringo Cutter

Marcus Mathers – It’s looking like Marcus Mathers is one of the early standouts among the WWE ID class. IWTV is also currently counting on him as their Independent World Wrestling Title. He made one previous appearance in DDT as part of GCW’s Japan tour last August. His big viral spot was crying crocodile tears with Maki Itoh during their match. That might not work here. The guy’s a pretty good spot monkey but that stuff doesn’t get over with WWE’s online fanbase unless it happens inside a WWE ring.
Moves To Watch Out For: 450° Splash, Cutter, Blue Thunder Bomb, 999 (Diamond Dust)

Tyler Bateman – Vegas is a familiar haunt for Tyler Bateman so you may see him a couple of times throughout the week, particularly in the Shooting Star Fest series of shows. He thinks pretty highly of himself and is often introduced as “The God Damn Man”. He finds his moments to strike when the opponent’s guard is down. The big move to watch out for is when he goes for Death From Above, a falling Forearm Smash he usually hits immediately after his opponent kicks out of a pin.
Moves To Watch Out For: Death From Above (Falling Forearm Smash to a grounded opponent), This Is A Kill (Tombstone Piledriver), Love Kill (Northern Lights Bomb)


4. Special Single Match: Antonio Honda Vs Santana Jackson

This is it! Antonio Honda’s love of classic American pop culture has brought forward the perfect opponent for him. Why is he Wanna Be Startin’ Something’ to get into a fight with a living, breathing Michael Jackson impersonator? It will be kind of like fighting The Man In The Mirror. If you think a match like this is going to be Bad then I advise you can go Beat It over to the concession stand…… Thriller.

Antonio Honda – He has almost two decades of experience under his belt while his knees behave like he’s gone through four. Antonio Honda went through several phases of an unlikely pro wrestling career, settling into this weird mix of tranquil slapstick with hints of Memphis wrestling hidden beneath. Honda is the poster child of high risk equals high failure because he injures his knee in a clumsy way in almost every match he’s in. The pain is so bad he threatens to retire every time unless he gets to tell the story of Gon The Little Fox, a child’s tale that he then turns into a filthy joke. But it’s all a ruse so he can poke people in the eyes while his hand is in the shape of Gon. Honda loves classic American pop culture too so DDT went and found him the perfect opponent for his visit to Vegas.
Moves To Watch Out For: Octopus Hold, Diving Fist Drop, Bionic Elbow, Gongitsune/Gon The Fox (makes a fox out of his hand, says a lewd joke and pokes people in either the eyes or the nipples).

Santana Jackson – How’s this for a double life? A Michael Jackson tribute act in Vegas who moonwalks moonlights as a pro wrestler with the same gimmick. Genius! Santana Jackson usually goes viral for doing Moonwalk DDTs or replicating the baby balcony spot in Hardcore Matches. Think of an MJ cliche and he’s probably done it in the ring. Honda is going to have the time of his life against this guy. Although believe it or not, Santana is not the first Michael Jackson impersonator to wrestle in DDT. Someone by the name of Michael Okamoto beat him to the punch around 17 years ago.
Moves To Watch Out For: Sleepwalk DDT, King Of Pop Elbow Drop, Rope Walk Arm Drag, Dancing like Michael Jackson


5. Special Single Match: Shinya Aoki Vs Timothy Thatcher

Are we sure this wasn’t meant to be booked for Bloodsport? I mean are we really, really sure? Okay then. DDT has somehow become the pro wrestling home for MMA fighter Shinya Aoki. He certainly made the most of it so far. His opponent is someone you couldn’t find in DDT at all yet is still a fitting match for him. If Timothy Thatcher is going to feel a thrill from going hold to hold against Aoki, we’re not going to see it on his face. He’s there to win or accept total defeat from trying.

Shinya Aoki – If you were never around for even the immediate post-glory years of Japanese MMA then you missed a magical time. Shinya Aoki played a role in it as this little asshole who would come out to the Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo theme song and then rip his opponents apart with submission holds. It was wonderful. He unexpectedly turned to DDT in 2018 and gradually made himself at home by winning several championships including DDT’s main belt, the KO-D Openweight Title. Thankfully for everybody and their arms his personality had mellowed out by then and he has found wrestlers to get along with. His skills on the mat are still unmatched to this day and his mind for fighting is his most valuable weapon. Even his biggest doubters in wrestling couldn’t help but be impressed to see him develop the humble little Full Nelson Hold into a nigh-on unbreakable pinning manoeuvre.
Moves To Watch Out For: Sleeper Hold, Full Nelson Hold, European Clutch, Topé Suicida

Timothy Thatcher – In Europe he was once the housewive’s favourite but nowadays you can find him tangling with WWE ID recruits. No nonsense to a fault, Timothy Thatcher takes to the mat like no one else and braces for his opponent’s strikes the same way a brick wall would. You may think DDT would be the most uncharacteristic place for a guy like Thatcher to wrestle in but the company has always embraced wrestlers with catch style or MMA related backgrounds. It goes all the way back to their very beginning with the late Koichiro Kimura. So there’s sort of a legacy he can fit into.
Moves To Watch Out For: Fujiwara Armbar, Butterfly Suplex, Enzuigiri, European Uppercut


6. Special Single Match: KONOSUKE TAKESHITA Vs MAO

Nothing is stopping the Konosuke Takeshita hype train! The man has been on a roll lately and he may not be done just yet. He has some old business to deal with back in DDT where he tests how much his former allies in The 37KAMIINA have grown without him. MAO has certainly found ways to progress up the card and make himself feel a level above what he was before. But he might be in for a rude awakening if Takeshita doesn’t budge to his antics anymore.

Konosuke Takeshita – No matter where his career in AEW and now New Japan will take him, Takeshita will always have a home in DDT. He is gradually taking over the wrestling world while holding contracts with those three companies. Once he was part of a unit of sauna loving wrestlers called The 37KAMIINA until he left to chase his biggest dreams. That journey so far has evolved him into “The Alpha” you see today. He has done everything there is to do in DDT and only comes back to fight opponents he wants to fight. So you know this match matters to him when you see who his opponent is.
Moves To Watch Out For: Raging Fire (Spinning Falcon Arrow), Powerdrive Knee/Wagamama (V-Trigger style Knee Strike), German Suplex, Blue Thunder Bomb, Takeshita Line (Leaping Clothesline from the ropes)

MAO – Lives by the motto “Fucked up wrestling for a fucked up world!” so you can’t say he’s out of place in 2025. He was scouted by DDT as a teenager when they found his Youtube videos of him doing wrestling moves at home and outdoors. Just like Takeshita, MAO was part of The 37KAMIINA but very recently decided to leave the unit to move in a fresh direction. He has been immature for his entire career but in recent times developed an unshakeable confidence in his abilities and wrestling philosophy. MAO feels at his most alive during Falls Count Anywhere style situations. Putting him in an environment like Las Vegas is just asking for trouble.
Moves To Watch Out For: Iai Kick (Powerful Thrust Kick), Cannonball 450° (450° Splash), Michinoku Driver, Whirlwind Kick


7. wXw Unified World Wrestling Title: 1 Called Manders (c) Vs Yukio Naya

All of a sudden we’ve got an extra title match on our hands! Straight from Germany the wXW Unified World Wrestling Title will be defended in Las Vegas a few times this week. If all goes to plan, 1 Called Manders will put the belt on the line against his scheduled DDT opponent Yukio Naya. Manders is having a breakthrough year, one that I can’t help but wonder if Naya could have gotten in the past if things had turned out differently for him.

1 Called Manders – Previously known for being part of The Second Gear Crew in GCW and the surrounding indies, Manders went his own way and his hard work over the last few years is now paying off. His feud on the indies with Mad Dog Connelly consisting of Dog Collar and Texas Bull Ropes matches found its audience and received great acclaim online. Then a lengthy trek to Europe this year rewarded him with more success, particularly in Germany where he won the fabled 16 Carat Gold tournament and soon after that took the vacant wXw Title. He’s your man if you like your wrestling to be hard hitting with a bit of grit.
Moves To Watch Out For: Lariat, Stampede Slam, Chops

Yukio Naya – The Heavyweight division is something DDT has been trying to boost up for the last few years. Yukio Naya is someone they’ve had high hopes for in the past due to his lineage coming from a famous family of sumo wrestlers. His grandfather was the 48th yokozuna, his father was kicked out of the sport in disgrace and his three younger brothers are all currently active up and down the divisions. Sumo was never the road that Naya wanted to take though and instead he was directed towards pro wrestling by Satoru Sayama. Development was slow but when DDT became his home he eventually started to piece things together. He is in no way a finished product but through sheer determination it may someday finally all click into place for him. Watch out if he does because he can run you over easy.
Moves To Watch Out For: The World’s Best Back Drop, Choke Slam, Knee Lift


8. DDT Universal Title: Minoru Suzuki (c) Vs Yoshihiko

There’s going to be a few bruised egos in Vegas this week over a sex doll getting more bookings than some of the wrestlers coming to town. I’m not even making a crass joke at someone’s expense, Yoshihiko really has a couple of non-DDT matches going on as well as possibly getting the main event of this show! It is facing the one man who isn’t playing along with the joke though. Minoru Suzuki currently holds the DDT Universal Title and wants to travel the world defending it against all comers. So a sex doll suddenly appearing nearby wherever he goes is just an unfunny prank to him that is better off ignoring. With that being said have you seen what Suzuki’s schedule for this week looks like? This genuinely will end up being one of the more entertaining matches. Yoshihiko just needs to figure out how to make its dark power have an effect on Suzuki even a little bit. It’s almost as if it’s just an inanimate object…

Minoru Suzuki – The “Pirate King” of pro wrestling recently returned to DDT when Yuki Ueno used the Universal Title as a piece of treasure to lure him into a match. Ueno’s plan backfired spectacularly and now Suzuki holds DDT’s second most important championship. Since it is an international title, Suzuki now comes to America looking for anyone brave enough to challenge him. He has seen it all in his travels across the wrestling world but even he cannot believe who was first to answer his call. He’s going to show up to the event expecting to fight somebody because he isn’t buying that he’ll be headlining a wrestling show against a Dutch Wife.
Moves To Watch Out For: Gotch-Style Piledriver, Rear Naked Choke, Heel Hook, Slaps

Yoshihiko – The Grave Digger Doll From Hell has been a mysterious force in DDT for almost two decades now. It first showed up as the brother of Muscle Sakai, constantly replacing him in matches whenever Sakai suffered gun-related injuries backstage (it’s a long story). Yoshihiko vanished after that only to reappear years later as Danshoku Dieno’s surprise tag team partner. Over time the doll’s powers have only gotten stronger. It gained the ability to transform into powerful wrestlers such as The Great Muta, The Undertaker and Hulk Hogan. You can rip it limb from limb and it will survive. You can drive over it with a car and it will survive. You can throw it off a building and it will survive. To fight Yoshihiko is almost like fighting yourself. Only then can you discover your true talent as a pro wrestler.
Moves To Watch Out For: Reincarnation (multiple rotations into a Hurricanrana), Canadian Destroyer, Yoshihiko Destroyer (multiple Canadian Destroyers in a row)

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DDT/TOKYO JOSHI PRO/GCW “DDT VS TJPW VS GCW”, 19/04/2025
Pearl Theater At Palms Casino Resort, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

1. Mizuki, Hyper Misao, Yuki Aino, Raku & Pom Harajuku Vs Miu Watanabe, Suzume, Arisu Endo, Yuki Arai & Shino Suzuki
2. Yuki Kamifuku & Wakana Uehara Vs Brooke Havok & Sandra Moone
3. Rika Tatsumi & Antonio Honda Vs Kidd Bandit & Shota
4. 3 Way Match: MAO & Yoshihiko Vs Jimmy Lloyd & Alec Price Vs Jack Cartwheel & Kazuma Sumi
5. Special Tag Match: 1 Called Manders & Maki Itoh Vs Yukio Naya & Microman
6. Special Tag Match: Mance Warner & Shunma Katsumata Vs John Wayne Murdoch & Matt Tremont
7. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Daisuke Sasaki, Ilusion & Dark Sheik Vs Super Crazy, Marcus Mathers & Shoko Nakajima
8. Special Tag Match: KONOSUKE TAKESHITA & Masha Slamovich Vs Shinya Aoki & Miyu Yamashita

I made the Fire Pro comparison earlier but holy hell does this card look like I random selected everything on my save. Now don’t get me wrong, the lineup we have so far is so nutty looking that I’m looking forward to it. This isn’t even the full line up yet. Out of all the shows happening this week this may end up being the one with the most amount of never seen before and never seen again matches ever. I can’t do a proper preview of this justice so just join me in confusion at the sight of Super Crazy and Shoko Nakajima are doing double team moves together, Manders punting Microman into the third row and Yoshihiko taking Jack Cartwheel’s WWE ID deal away from him.

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There will be other chances to see a few DDT wrestlers in action across Philadelphia that week. Mainly MAO. You are going to get a lot of MAO. Yoshihiko is in demand quite a bit too.


PANDEMONIUM PRO “THE HOUSE ALWAYS WINS”, 17/04/2025
Fremont Country Club, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

1. Masha Slamovich Vs MAO

MAO is taking on the crazy schedule of wrestling 8 matches in just over 48 hours. He first match of the trip at Pandemonium Pro is already putting the pedal to the metal because his opponent is Masha Slamovich! The woman is one of the toughest people you will find in either TNA or GCW and just the kind of person who likes to match crazy with crazy.


CIRCLE 6 “MAYHEM AT THE MUSEUM”, 17/04/2025
The Punk Rock Museum, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

1. Bestia 666 Vs MAO

Around the same time MAO is fighting Slamovich he also has a match with Bestia 666 at a Circle 6 show. They’re only like a 10 minute drive away from each other so which will happen first?


WEST COAST PRO “VEGAS VACATION”, 17/04/2025
Meet Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

1. MAO Vs Jiah Jewell

Forget about LSU Vs Ole Miss. Louisiana Vs Osaka? Now there’s a real sports rivalry! Although I can’t find Modesto on the map of Louisiana and any cajun I ask tells me the only place I’ll find a Modesto over there would be in the craft beer aisle. Jiah Jewell is another crazy opponent for MAO to fight.


GCW “JOSH BARNETT’S BLOODSPORT XIII”, 17/04/2025
Pearl Theater At Palms Casino Resort, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

1. Charlie Dempsey Vs Shinya Aoki

Look, I’m not saying I want to see Aoki break Charlie Dempsey’s arm and flip him off afterwards. It’s just that if you’re going to call this Bloodsport then give us a bloodsport. Dempsey’s dad would understand that.


BZW “VIVA LAS VEGAS”, 17/04/2025
Swan Dive, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

1. BZW Tag Team Titles: MAO & Yoshihiko (c) Vs Marcus Mathers & Alec Price

If you haven’t heard, MAO & Yoshihiko have a side story going on where they are the tag team champions of Banger Zone Wrestling in France and Belgium. BZW are among the more obscure wrestling companies that decided to run a show in Vegas this year but at least they’re taking a good swing at it. The champs were originally meant to face The Gahbage Daddies for the belts but Cole Radrick is unfortunately out of action. Alec Price was able to get Marcus Mathers in as a substitute so wacky times are still a go-go.


PRIDESTYLE “OUT OF THIS WORLD”, 18/04/2025
Swan Dive, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

0. Yoshihiko’s Super Special Open Challenge: Yoshihiko Vs X
1. G-Sharpe Vs MAO

MAO is also taking in favours from the Nevada based promotions during the week. There is a heel unit in PrideStyle named The Cartel de Los Villanos who have called MAO in to deal with one of their enemies G-Sharpe. While that is going on, Yoshihiko will also be there on the pre-show looking to put out an open challenge.


GRAPHOUSE “FOR VEGAS, BY VEGAS”, 18/04/2025
Fergusons Downtown, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

1. Lazarus Vs MAO

By the looks of things MAO ends his run of Vegas shows with one of the local promotions called GrapHouse. His opponent Lazarus is being advertised as the W4TN Champion but I’m not sure if the title will be on the line. Lazarus is also nicknamed “The Cannibal Cryptid”. Sounds about right. Also I think the venue is near Fremont Street so MAO should find a way to do a Moonsault off of Vegas Vic.


GCW “CLUSTERF*CK FOREVER”, 19/04/2025
Pearl Theater At Palms Casino Resort, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

1. Clusterfuck Match: Yoshihiko Vs X

Almost anyone and anything could show up at GCW’s annual Clusterfuck match that usually draws the non-WWE side of the week to a close. Yoshihiko has been confirmed to take part in the match for a second year in a row. Last year it made it all the way to the final three. Former TJPW wrestler Sayaka Unagi is also being advertised to take part. Can you imagine the kind of eye opening things Unagi would do in Vegas?


Video – “BAKA GAIJIN + FRIENDS VOL. TWENTY ONE”

April 16, 2025


BAKA GAIJIN + FRIENDS “VOL. 21: THE BEGINNING OF THE END”, 15/04/2025
Tokyo ARENA Shimokitazawa
??? Fans

1. Antonio Honda Vs Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi
2. Ram Kaichow & Chie Fukukaichow Vs Great King Ueki & Munek
3. Special Single Match ~Goodbye Keigo~: MAO Vs Keigo Nakamura
4. BK-G Openweight Title – Triple Threat Match: Chris Brookes (c) Vs Mr. Bueno Vs Mr. Malo


BAKA GAIJIN + FRIENDS “VOL. 21: THE BEGINNING OF THE END” Results

April 16, 2025

BAKA GAIJIN + FRIENDS “VOL. 21: THE BEGINNING OF THE END”, 15/04/2025
Tokyo ARENA Shimokitazawa
??? Fans

1. Acoustic Guitar Death Match: Antonio Honda defeated Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi with a Backslide Pin (11:50).
2. Ram Kaichow & Chie Fukukaichow defeated Great King Ueki & Munek when Fukukaichow pinned Munek with a School Boy (7:14).
3. Special Single Match ~Goodbye Keigo~: MAO defeated Keigo Nakamura with the Iai Kick (14:04).
4. BK-G Openweight Title – Triple Threat Match: Mr. Malo defeated Chris Brookes (c) and Mr. Bueno when Malo pinned Bueno with a Cradle (17:50).
*Chris Brookes fails in V2. Mr. Malo becomes the 2nd BK-G Openweight Champion!

There are always alliances to be made and broken in a Triple Threat Match. Add in multiple language barriers and the whole thing becomes a lot more difficult. Chris Brookes tried to set up double team moves with Mr. Malo but they couldn’t figure out what to do. So Mr. Bueno tried to join Brookes’s side only for more confusion to break out, leading to Brookes suffering multiple attacks to his groin. Malo took advantage of the situation by blinding Yukinori Matsui with his poncho so he could give Brookes another Low Blow. Daisuke Kiso then came out as Matsui’s replacement only for Malo to throw him at the other wrestlers. Matsui returned as the match broke down into a free for all. Malo blinded him again and smashed a glass bottle over Brookes’s head for a nearfall. Bueno hit Brookes with the Rolling Glove, then climbed the bar counter to do a Flying Body Press. But when he landed the move on Brookes, Malo suddenly cradled Bueno for the three count to win the match and become the new BK-G Openweight Champion!

After the match Malo in a deep voice called himself today’s star of the show. There is a word in Mexico he can compare Baka Gaijin to and that word is Tonto. The wrestlers are tonto, the audience are tonto and everything in this space is tonto. Viva tonto! He walked off with the title belt, leaving everyone else in Baka Gaijin feeling a little sad to end the show.

Things are going to be different for a few DDT wrestlers now that Keigo Nakamura is going away on an excursion. MAO asked while they were wrestling who will now come pick him up whenever he misses the last train? He then reminisced over memories of his own excursions while he was beating Nakamura up. MAO ultimately wished him luck and said goodbye before he pinned Nakamura with the Iai Kick. Nakamura thanked MAO and told the fans he is going to challenge himself overseas.

Things still aren’t right with Takayuki Ueki and Munetatsu Nakamura. They showed up still possessed by evil spirits and were introduced again as Great King Ueki and Munek. There were changes afoot for Chie Koishikawa as well because she showed up with Ram Kaichow wearing the same makeup. So if Ram is the president that means Chie is her vice president. That’s right, she became Chie Fukukaichow! The two of them stopped Ueki & Munek from kidnapping a fan, foiling their plot to get free drinks poured for them at the bar. The villains tried using magic on their opponents by summoning an invisible wall but it backfired when Ueki ran into it. Chie then pushed Munek into the wall and pinned him with a School Boy to win. But just when it seemed like the day was saved, Ueki used his magical vase to capture Ram’s soul and turn her body into a rambling slave. Before the three left, Ueki threatened that he, Munek and Ram will take Baka Gaijin + Friends to the depths of hell!

Before the first match began, Antonio Honda revealed to Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi that it will be an Acoustic Guitar Death Match. Honda had a guitar with him and said it is allowed to be used as a weapon. However he told Hiroshi that they had to build the match up to using the guitar because even in Big Japan you don’t just immediately hit your opponent with a lighttube. So they wrestled the match as normal until Honda got to the Gongitsune spot. Hiroshi noticed that Honda sounded sadder than usual so he asked if anything happened to him lately? Honda broke down and said his heart was recently broken. He wished he didn’t have a heart because then it wouldn’t hurt so much. Hiroshi passionatly told Honda that having hearts makes humans do what they want and change the world. The speech turned into a song where Honda played the guitar and Hiroshi sang along to it. Then when the song ended Honda hit Hiroshi in the stomach with the guitar and rolled him up in a Backslide Pin for a three count.


Meanwhile Back In Japan, TJPW Golden Week Title Matches, Namba’s Dream Coming True

April 14, 2025

I’m going to be travelling to Las Vegas tomorrow and it’s going to be a long trip ahead. You will know I have arrived safe and sound when the guides for the DDT and Tokyo Joshi Pro shows get posted. That should be on Tuesday night Vegas time but if more things get announced or even changed it will have to wait until Wednesday morning. I’ll try to at least stay up to date with the show results for the rest of the week but show reports may take a while because I’m still meant to be on holiday. Enjoy the week and let it all seep in!

DDT “KANDA MYOJON CULTURAL EXCHANGE CENTER PRESENTS LAS VEGAS SERIES ~JITSUGETSU~”, 19/04/2025
Tokyo Kanda Myojin Hall

1. KANON Vs Yuki Ishida
2. Kazusada Higuchi & Akito Vs Yuya Koroku & Keigo Nakamura
3. Hideki Okatani & MJ Paul Vs Toru Owashi & Tomomitsu Matsunaga
4. Special Tag Match: Chris Brookes & Takeshi Masada Vs HARASHIMA & Daichi Sato
5. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Yuki Ueno, To-y & Mikosee Vs Danshoku Dieno, Soma Takao & Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi
6. DDT Extreme Title: Super Sasadango Machine (c) Vs Kazuki Hirata

The cards for the DDT shows going on in Japan while the Las Vegas tour is going on have been finalized. The local mascot Mikosee joins forces with The 37KAMIINA to complete the lineup.

DDT “KANDA MYOJON CULTURAL EXCHANGE CENTER PRESENTS LAS VEGAS SERIES ~NESHIN~”, 20/04/2025
Tokyo Kanda Myojin Hall

1. 3 Way Match: Danshoku Dieno Vs Toru Owashi Vs Yuki Ishida
2. Hideki Okatani & MJ Paul Vs KANON & Tomomitsu Matsunaga
3. Special Single Match: Kazusada Higuchi Vs Soma Takao
4. Special Single Match: HARASHIMA Vs Keigo Nakamura
5. Twilight Rouge Cup Battle Royal: Chris Brookes Vs Yuki Ueno Vs Akito Vs Kazuki Hirata Vs To-y Vs Yuya Koroku Vs Takeshi Masada

Seven people will take part in the Twilight Rouge Cup. Meanwhile HARASHIMA and Keigo Nakamura have their last singles match together for a while.

DDT “DDT HARU NO KEN FESTIVAL ~STILL GOING ON IN UENO~”, 23/04/2025
Tokyo Ueno Park Outdoor Stage

1. Daisuke Sasaki, Hideki Okatani & Ilusion Vs Yukio Naya, Tomomitsu Matsunaga & Yuya Koroku
2. Special Tag Match: Chris Brookes & Takeshi Masada Vs Jun Akiyama & Daichi Sato
3. O-40 Title: Toru Owashi (c) Vs Antonio Honda
4. Staggered Entry Tag Rumble: Shunma Katsumata & Yuni Vs MAO & KANON Vs HARASHIMA & Kazuma Sumi Vs Kazusada Higuchi & Yuki Ishida Vs Akito & Kazuki Hirata Vs Danshoku Dieno & To-y
5. Keigo Nakamura Send Off Match ~ Special Single Match: Yuki Ueno Vs Keigo Nakamura

Once the American trip is done it’s back to work with another show at Ueno Park. It includes a rare defence of the O-40 Title that Toru Owashi won last October. He hasn’t defended it yet so he has to put it on the line against Antonio Honda.

The winners of the Tag Rumble will apparently get a wish granted as their prize.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “GOLDEN WEEK FAN APPRECIATION DAY 「EAST」”, 03/05/2025
Saitama Kasukabe Fureai Cube

1. VPW Women’s Title: Yuki Kamifuku (c) Vs Viva Van

In December 2023 Viva Van came to TJPW as a challenger for Yuki Kamifuku to defend the Queen Of Asia Title against. Next month the rematch will happen this time with the VPW Women’s Title on the line. Van is a Vietnamese-American wrestler so it will mean a lot to her to win a championship from Vietnam Pro Wrestling.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “GOLDEN WEEK FAN APPRECIATION DAY 「WEST」”, 05/05/2025
Osaka Edion Arena #2

1. SETUP All Asia Women’s Title: Raku (c) Vs Nor ‘Phoenix’ Diana
2. Princess Tag Team Titles: Shoko Nakajima & Hyper Misao (c) Vs Matcha & Alexis Lee

When Matcha and Alexis Lee both come back to Japan they will team up as an “All Southeast Asian Team” challenging for the Princess Tag Team Titles. I also heard Sayuri Namba refer to them as SEA Storm but I don’t know if it will be their official team name. They will face either Kyoraku Kyomei or Ober Eats for the belts depending on which team wins the title match this week in Vegas.

GANBARE☆PRO “SUICIDE SQUAD 2025”, 05/05/2025
Yokohama Radiant Hall

1. Moeka Haruhi, Yuna Manase & Banny Oikawa Vs YuuRI, Nanami & Kirari Wakana
2. Shuichiro Katsumura & Hartley Jackson Vs Toru Sugiura & Dragon Libre
3. Yumehito Imanari, Keisuke Ishii & Shinichiro Tominaga Vs Yuki Kanzaki, Munetatsu Nakamura & Daisuke®️
4. Shota Kawakami 1st Anniversary Match: Shota Kawakami Vs Shota
5. HARUKAZE’s Last Match Before Her Hiatus: Ken Ohka Vs HARUKAZE
6. Spirit Of Ganbare World Tag Team Titles: Shigehiro Irie & Mizuki Watase (c) Vs Yasu Urano & PSYCHO

The SOG World Tag Team Titles haven’t been defended since last November because of Mizuki Watase’s injury. Both he and Shigehiro Irie want to make up for lost time and start fighting in tag title matches again. Yasu Urano & PSYCHO have stepped up to be their first challengers. They believe Watase is not being honest about his recovery and is not wrestling at 100%. The sooner this match happens, the better their chances are to win the tag titles.

There is only one person HARUKAZE believes she can beat in a fair fight and she is desperate to finally win one match before her wrestling career is put on hiatus. So she’s breaking the emergency glass and picked Ken Ohka to be her final opponent!

The Ganbare☆Joshi match will feature Nanami from Diana and Kirari Wakana from Ice Ribbon.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “SAYURI NAMBA’S DREAM COME TRUE SPECIAL”, 14/06/2025
Shin-Kiba 1st RING

1. LEONA Vs X
2. Mizuki & Suzume (w/ Sayuri Namba) Vs X & X

Namba is starting to put her special show together. She has opted to be in the corner for Mizuki & Suzume in the main event tag match. The opponents as well as the ring announcer for the main event have not been decided on yet.

The show will also have LEONA from Dradition taking part in a match. He and Namba were classmates in the same university so they both know each other from before they entered the pro wrestling industry. One of Namba’s dreams was to announce LEONA for a match so it will come true after all.

DDT “CHARISMANIA II”, 18/06/2025
Shinjuku FACE

1. GREATEST WRESTLING MATCH EVER: Dick Togo Vs Daisuke Sasaki

For the second “CHARISMANIA” show Daisuke Sasaki most wants to have a singles match against his mentor Dick Togo.

The rest of DAMNATION T.A will be on the show. That means Hideki Okatani, MJ Paul and Ilusion.


King Of DDT 2025 Brackets

April 6, 2025

DDT “KING OF DDT 2025 1ST ROUND”, 06/05/2025
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. King Of DDT 2025 – Round 1A: Antonio Honda Vs Yuki Ueno
2. King Of DDT 2025 – Round 1B: Daisuke Sasaki Vs Akito
3. King Of DDT 2025 – Round 1C: KANON Vs Shunma Katsumata
4. King Of DDT 2025 – Round 1D: Yukio Naya Vs Daichi Sato
5. King Of DDT 2025 – Round 1E: Hideki Okatani Vs To-y
6. King Of DDT 2025 – Round 1F: Chris Brookes Vs HARASHIMA
7. King Of DDT 2025 – Round 1G: Takeshi Masada Vs Yuya Koroku
8. King Of DDT 2025 – Round 1H: Shinya Aoki Vs Kazusada Higuchi

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DDT “KING OF DDT 2025 2ND ROUND”, 10/05/2025
Shinjuku FACE

1. King Of DDT 2025 – Round 2: Winner Of Match 1A Vs Winner Of Match 1B
2. King Of DDT 2025 – Round 2: Winner Of Match 1C Vs Winner Of Match 1D
3. King Of DDT 2025 – Round 2: Winner Of Match 1E Vs Winner Of Match 1F
4. King Of DDT 2025 – Round 2: Winner Of Match 1G Vs Winner Of Match 1H

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DDT “KING OF DDT 2025 FINAL!!”, 25/05/2025
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. King Of DDT 2025 – Semi Final: X Vs X
2. King Of DDT 2025 – Semi Final: X Vs X
3. King Of DDT 2025 – Final: X Vs X