DDT Around The World – October 2023

November 1, 2023

A messy edition this time around because I wrote most of this up a week ago before going on holiday. Then in the last seven days came the usual landslide of upcoming bookings and match announcements for the following month that I tried to catch up on. That is why some of the graphics below are outdated.

Anyway, this month Konosuke Takeshita is in the same position as he was last month in the whole Don Callis storyline. AEW has really taken a beating with reviews and criticism for their TV shows lately and rightfully so. Thankfully Takeshita got to have a few matches on the indies so he can do his thing more often. Maki Itoh was part of GCW’s visit to Japan so while this article is supposed to be everything DDT related that happens outside of Japan, this still finds a way to be included here. Miyu Yamashita did another group of bookings in America and Miu Watanabe got to join her for a bit. Yamashita also unintentionally made her on-screen WWE debut when she was seen sitting behind the commentary desk on an episode of NXT. May God have mercy on her for having to hear Booker T’s commentary that close in person. Closing out the month was CDK getting to torment the wrestling community in Thailand again.

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Videos

Konosuke Takeshita In AEW Playlist


AEW “DYNAMITE ANNIVERSARY”, 04/10/2023
Stockton Arena, Stockton, California, USA

1. Kenny Omega & Chris Jericho Vs Konosuke Takeshita & Kyle Fletcher (w/ Don Callis)


LLL “THE HANDS OF FATE”, 20/10/2023
The Oriental Theater, Denver, Colorado, USA

1. Lilith Grimm Vs Miyu Yamashita


AEW “RAMPAGE”, 27/10/2023
Liacouras Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

1. Kyle Fletcher Vs Konosuke Takeshita

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Results


AEW “WRESTLEDREAM”, 01/10/2023
Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle, Washington, USA

1. Sammy Guevara, Will Ospreay & Konosuke Takeshita (w/ Don Callis) defeated Chris Jericho, Kenny Omega & Kota Ibushi when Guevara pinned Jericho (22:10).

The month kicked off with AEW’s latest PPV being a put together as a tribute to the late Antonio Inoki. For Takeshita, his part on the show was to team up with Sammy Guevara & Will Ospreay to defeat Chris Jericho and The Golden Lovers. Takeshita hit a wall when he went face to face with Kota Ibushi and the two more or less cancelled each other out. The result instead went to Guevara who pinned Jericho after Callis struck Jericho with a baseball bat behind the referee’s back.


AEW “DYNAMITE – ANNIVERSARY”, 04/10/2023
Stockton Arena, Stockton, California, USA

1. Kenny Omega & Chris Jericho defeated Konosuke Takeshita & Kyle Fletcher (w/ Don Callis) when Omega pinned Fletcher with the One-Winged Angel (15:15).

A few days later Takeshita and Guevara were meant to team up again to fight Jericho & Kenny Omega. However Guevara was not medically cleared to compete so Takeshita teamed up with Kyle Fletcher instead. Omega got Takeshita out of the way with a Snap Dragon Suplex, leaving everything open for The Golden Jets to finish off Fletcher.


WARRIOR “WARRIOR WRESTLING 31”, 06/10/2023
Bendix Arena, South Bend, Indiana, USA

1. Konosuke Takeshita defeated Storm Grayson (w/ Frank The Clown) with the Powerdrive Knee (16:09).

Takeshita was back to being a babyface when he returned to Warrior Wrestling. Anybody going against a wrestler accompanied by Frank The Clown would be a babyface no matter what. Storm Grayson needed Frank’s interference to have a chance of winning. Frank pulled the referee out of the ring, got Takeshita to chase him around the venue and grabbed Takeshita’s leg back in the ring to stop his momentum. Grayson followed up by relying an exposed turnbuckle to damage Takeshita’s groin thanks to a missed Helluva Kick and then follow up with a kick between the legs. Takeshita however blocked a second Low Blow, threw Grayson away with the Rollover German Suplex and then pin him with the Powerdrive Knee. Given the way Takeshita was selling the low blow after the match, it does make me wonder if he got an injury that kept him away from the ring for pretty much the rest of the month.


GCW “TO LIVE AND DIE IN TOKYO”, 10/10/2023
Shin-Kiba 1st RING

1. Maki Itoh defeated Jimmy Lloyd with the I.S.D. (9:36).

GCW returned to Japan and Itoh was along for the ride. On night one she took on Jimmy Lloyd by herself and took every big move he threw at her. She kicked out of Piledrivers and even a One-Winged Angel. She fought back violently by using a pizza cutter and also smashing a lighttube over Lloyd’s head. Itoh pulled off the upset by dropping Lloyd with the Itoh Suicide DDT.


SPARK “RISING HEAT WEST”, 11/10/2023
LA Dojo, Carson, California, USA

1. Spark Joshi World Title: Billie Starkz defeated Miyu Yamashita (c) with a Title Belt Attack (15:36).
*Miyu Yamashita fails in V2. Billie Starkz becomes the 2nd Spark Joshi World Champion!

Yamashita’s reign as Spark Joshi World Champion came to an end not that long after she became an international triple crown holder. Xtinguish leader Billie Starkz relied on Sumie Sakai’s interference to hit Yamashita with the title belt and become champion.


GCW “THE WRLD ON GCW”, 12/10/2023
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Effy, Allie Katch & Maki Itoh defeated Kikutaro, Kikutaro (Abdullah Kobayashi) & Kikutaro (Jimmy Lloyd) when Effy, Katch & Itoh all pinned Kikutaro with a Triple Kokeshi Headbutt (8:20).

Night two of GCW’s Japan tour brought them right into Korakuen Hall. Itoh’s match here was a more lighthearted affair because she teamed up with Bussy to take on not one, not two but three Kikutaros! Itoh did a full Nick Gage style entrance with the crowd. She then used a bull rope with Effy to crotch all three Kikutaros with some added rope burn for extra damage. Itoh attacked the original Kikutaro with a pizza cutter until she realised she couldn’t cut through his mask. She and Bussy then unmasked the other two revealing they were Jimmy Lloyd and Abdullah Kobayashi! The original Kikutaro was then triple teamed with Effy, Allie Katch & Itoh all hitting Kokeshi Headbutts on him at the same time for the finish.


SPARK “RISING HEAT EAST”, 14/10/2023
Engelwood Neighborhood Center, Orlando, Florida, USA

1. Miu Watanabe defeated KiLynn King with the Tear Drop (14:09).
2. Miyu Yamashita defeated Jessie with the Skull Kick (13:13).

Things went off better for the Tokyo Joshi Pro side at SPARK’s next show. Jessie tried to match Yamashita kick to kick but fell to the Skull Kick like so many others.

Miu Watanabe scored a big win over KiLynn King, spinning her powerful opponent around with the Giant Swing in the process. She just about kicked out of the King’s Curse, stunned King with the Laserbeam and pinned her with the Tear Drop.


LLL “THE HANDS OF FATE”, 20/10/2023
The Oriental Theater, Denver, Colorado, USA

1. Miyu Yamashita defeated Lilith Grimm with the Skull Kick (?:??).

Yamashita didn’t have to worry about Heidi Howitzer in Lucha Libre & Laughs this time around. Her opponent instead was Lilith Grimm.


AEW “RAMPAGE”, 25/10/2023 (Aired 27/10/2023)
Liacouras Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

1. Konosuke Takeshita defeated Kyle Fletcher with the Wagamama (11:17).

From tag partners to opponents. Takeshita and Fletcher last fought each other one on one in Manchester almost four years ago. Now they fight again this time on American TV. Takeshita used the Wagamama version of his Powerdrive Knee that involves pulling down his kneepad and striking the opponent with the exposed knee. After the match Fletcher attacked Takeshita with a chair in an act of frustration but was stopped by Powerhouse Hobbs and Don Callis. Callis then convinced Fletcher to join his side.


SETUP “SETUP EP.16”, 28/10/2023
The Circus Studio, G Village, Bangkok, Thailand

1. SPW Champion Of Singapore & Gatoh Move One And Only Title & SETUP Thailand Openweight Title Unification Match: Shivam (S/c) defeated Masahiro Takanashi (T/c) and Kappa Rockstar (?:??).
*???
2. Dramatic Dream Match: Chris Brookes defeated Monomoth with the Praying Mantis Bomb (?:??).
3. IWA Japan SETUP World Tag Team Titles: Chris Brookes & Masahiro Takanashi defeated Anont Alonzo & Mister Suchart when Brookes pinned Alonzo after the Thrust Kick & Praying Mantis Bomb with Takanashi (?:??)
*THE GOOD DEAL fail in V?. CDK become the 11th IWA Japan SETUP World Tag Team Champions!

CDK went and caused a lot of havoc in Thailand at the end of the month. Chris Brookes defeated Monomoth in what was advertised as the main event Dramatic Dream Match but cheated to do so. He gave Monomoth a Low Blow before finishing him off with the Praying Mantis Bomb. CDK then demanded an impromptu tag title match against SETUP’s tag champions THE GOOD DEAL. They beat the champs to win the IWA Japan SETUP World Tag Team Titles.

Earlier in the show Masahiro Takanashi lost his SETUP Thailand Openweight Title in a 3 Way Match. His original match against Paksa was changed on short notice to a 3 Way Match with Shivam and Kappa Rockstar. Shivam ended up winning the match and all of the championships involved in it.


REPUBLIC OF LUCHA “ROL VI VI VI: LA NOCHE DE WALPURGIS”, 30/10/2023
Republic Of Lucha, South Pasadena, California, USA

1. Penta el Zero Miedo & Konosuke Takeshita defeated Sami Callihan & Shun Skywalker when Penta pinned Skywalker with the Fear Factor onto a stack of chairs (?:??).

This match was originally meant to be Takeshita and The Lucha Brothers teaming up against Shun Skywalker and La Rebellion. Well that didn’t happen. For a variety of reasons from Rey Fenix being injured and La Rebellion recently splitting up (I think? All I heard about the NWA PPV was it included a comedy scene where a bunch of wrestlers did cocaine on camera which is both the least NWA thing ever and also the most NWA thing ever), the match was changed to Takeshita & Penta el Zero Miedo taking on Skywalker & Sami Callihan. The match featured the unexpected inclusion of actor Jason Segel when Callihan found him in the crowd, threw Penta onto his lap and then Super Kicked them. Takeshita and Penta used some good teamwork together on Skywalker, leading to Penta crashing him through a bunch of chairs with a Package Piledriver for the win.

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Iron Man Title In USA


But wait, there’s more. The Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title was taken to America this month too thanks to Hiromu Takahashi. The New Japan wrestler won the belt just before his company’s return to the USA so he was obligated to bring it with him. He was targeted by Danny Limelight during the show but made it out safe and sound as champion. It wasn’t until Takahashi was back at his hotel room when he was completely defenceless. Sumie Sakai snuck into his room with a referee and they found Takahashi sleeping on his bed. However the ref noticed that Takahashi’s iPhone was lying on his chest so he treated it as a pin, counted to three and declared Yellow iPhone 14 as the new champion! Sakai immediately grabbed the phone and pinned it on the floor to win the title. Her celebration was quickly cut off when Takahashi rolled her over with a School Boy to get the belt back and send everyone out of his room. At the time of writing Takahashi is back in Japan with the title but is still getting ambushed backstage at New Japan shows by other wrestlers who want to be the Iron Man Champion.

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Upcoming Appearances


GCW “PLEASE, BUDDY”, 03/11/2023
Pop’s Nightclub, Sauget, Illinois, USA

1. Maki Itoh Vs Shazza McKenzie

This was a match originally booked by GCW back in May but was changed into a multiple woman free for all. Itoh and Shazza McKenzie have only wrestled each other in those kind of scramble matches so if plans don’t change again then there first singles match will take place here.


DAIKAIJU PRO “VOL. 1 – THE KAPPAS WALK AMONG US”, 04/11/2023
White Eagle, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA

1. Shoko Nakajima Vs VENY

America gets the first time ever Shoko Nakajima Vs VENY match. The two met in the ring for the first time earlier this year in DDT for one of Saki Akai’s 10th Anniversary celebration matches. Their next meeting is in somewhere very different, the new Daikaiju Pro group.


GCW “¿SI OR NO?”, 04/11/2023
Center Stage, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

1. Maki Itoh, Effy & Allie Katch Vs Jordan Oliver, Davey Bang & August Matthews

The match in Japan worked out for them so Itoh is now teaming up with Effy & Allie Katch to form the unbeatable force known as… Maki Death Bussy! Their opponents is also a trio of teams mashed up together. Jordan Oliver, Davey Bang & August Matthews are going by the name Young, Dumb & Bros.


EVE “FRIDAY NIGHT’S ALRIGHT FOR FIGHTING”, 10/11/2023
Big Penny Social, Walthamstow, London, England

1. International Princess Title: Max The Impaler (c) Vs Kasey

The relationship between TJPW and EVE extends even further with Max The Impaler’s arrival in England. EVE has been given permission to have Max defend the International Princess Title against their upcoming opponent Kasey. The winner will next have a title defence in Japan against Shoko Nakajima.


GCW “GOING AND GOING”, 17/11/2023
Washington Hall, Seattle, Washington, USA

1. Maki Itoh & Nick Gage Vs X

Not a guarantee that Maki Death Kill are teaming up just because they get advertised together.


HOODSLAM “RED”, 18/11/2023
Continental Club, Oakland, California, USA

1. Maki Itoh Vs X

Itoh returns to Hoodslam. I hear things in their shows are getting a bit out of control over there lately.


EVE “WRESTLE QUEENDOM”, 19/11/2023
The Dome, Tufnell Park, London, England

1. EVE Title: Miyu Yamashita (c) Vs Safire Reed

Yamashita will have become a year long EVE Champion by the time her next appearance and title defence on their shows takes place. The next big challenger being built up for her is Safire Reed, the winner of this year’s SHE-1 tournament. Reed got to beat two of Yamashita’s previous EVE opponents to get here too. She has wins over Emersyn Jayne and Alex Windsor.


LLL “DEEP HURTING”, 22/11/2023
The Oriental Theater, Denver, Colorado, USA

1. 3 Way Match: Lilith Grimm Vs Maki Itoh Vs Stormi Renee

Grimm gets another crack at a TJPW talent in Lucha Libre & Laughs, this time against Itoh. It’s a Triple Threat match though with Stormi Renee also in the mix.


SPW “VIVA LA LUCHA!”, 24/11/2023
Foo Chow Building, Singapore

1. Queen Of Asia Title: Alexis Lee (c) Vs Yuki Kamifuku

A second chance for Yuki Kamifuku. She fought Alexis Lee in Singapore Pro Wrestling for the Queen Of Asia Title back in January this year but lost. Since then Lee also successfully defended the title against Saki Akai.


GCW “WRESTLECADE WEEKEND”, 24/11/2023
Benton Convention Center, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA

1. Maki Itoh Vs Kenzie Paige

Now here’s something interesting. Kenzie Paige is currently the NWA World Women’s Champion. Does that play into this match against Itoh in any way shape or form? Or does GCW just ignore that and tell her that Itoh is going over, sister!


BLACK LABEL PRO “SLAMILTON”, 02/12/2023
Berwyn Eagles Club, Berwyn, Illinois, USA

1. Rachel Armstrong Vs Maki Itoh

In another era that image above would be a King Of Trios team. Instead Itoh’s appearance in Black Label Pro is fighting against Rachel Armstrong.


GCW “WHAT IS YOUR CHOICE?”, 03/12/2023
Roulette Intermedium, Brooklyn, New York, USA

1. Maki Itoh Vs X

You know what would be a fun idea? Sayaka Unagi is booked on GCW’s other show that weekend. Put her and Itoh in a match together for old time’s sake.


DREAMWAVE “UPRISING”, 08/12/2023
Knights of Columbus, LaSalle, Illinois, USA

1. Shazza McKenzie Vs Miyu Yamashita

A rematch from ROH earlier this year. Fingers crossed we get the same result.


DREAMWAVE “GOOD AS GOLD”, 09/12/2023
Knights of Columbus, LaSalle, Illinois, USA

1. Miyu Yamashita & Emi Sakura Vs Zayda Steel & Zamaya

Well, well, well, what do we have here? Yamashita and Emi Sakura in the same ring on the same team at the same time? They were on opposite sides once before and that was on a DPW show during the summer. Now we get to see how they will fare when they on the same page. Zayda Steel & Zamaya could be in for a rough night if their opponents gel together really well.


SKYFIRE PRO “NAVIDAD NIGHTMARE”, 10/12/2023
Bay City Brewing Co., San Diego, California, USA

1. Shota Vs X

Shota is heading back to America for an end of year tour. First stop for him is at Skyfire Pro Lucha Libre in San Diego.


TOKYO JOSHI PRO/PRESTIGE “COMBAT PRINCESS USA”, 14/12/2023
Globe Theatre, Los Angeles, California, USA

1. Miyu Yamashita & Maki Itoh Vs Masha Slamovich & Killer Kelly

Free WiFi and Pom Harajuku have been added to the show.


PANDEMONIUM PRO “HOLIDAY IN LA”, 17/12/2023
Don Quixote, Los Angeles, California, USA

1. Vinnie Massaro Vs Shota
2. Mike Bailey Vs Miyu Yamashita

Shota will also be on the same Pandemonium Pro show that’s hosting Yamashita versus Mike Bailey. He takes on indy journeyman Vinnie Massaro.


CIRCLE 6 “KING OF THE DEATHMATCHES”, 30/12/2023
Don Quixote, Los Angeles, California, USA

1. MAO Vs X

Circle 6 is one of the messier deathmatch promotions going on in the scene right now but MAO likes wrestling there so he’s going back to party with them for New Year’s.


DDT “SAKI AKAI 10TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR IN KORAKUEN!!” Results

August 13, 2023

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

0. Dark Match: Yuya Koroku defeated Rukiya with the Modified Triangle Lancer (7:14).
1. Special Single Match: KANON defeated Hideki Okatani with the Vietnam Driver II (8:04).
2. Diya Diamond Presents 6-Man Tag Match: Jun Akiyama, Yukio Naya & Yusuke Okada defeated Kazusada Higuchi, Yuki Ishida & Takeshi Masada when Naya pinned Masada with the World’s Best Back Drop (9:19).
3. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title – marcheur Presents Battle Royal: Naruki Doi defeated Sanshiro Takagi (c), HARASHIMA, Yuki “Sexy” Iino, Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno, Antonio Honda, Akito and Kazuma Sumi (14:37).
3a. Naruki Doi eliminated Sanshiro Takagi (c) with a Cradle (6:58).
*Naruki Doi becomes the 1,573rd champion.
3b. Antonio Honda eliminated Kazuma Sumi by Ring Out (11:41).
3c. Naruki Doi (c) eliminated Antonio Honda by Ring Out (11:59).
*V1 for Naruki Doi.
3d. HARASHIMA eliminated Yuki “Sexy” Iino and Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno by Double Ring Out (13:24).
3e. Naruki Doi (c) eliminated HARASHIMA by Ring Out (13:54).
*V2 for Naruki Doi.
3f. Naruki Doi (c) eliminated Akito with the Bakatare Sliding Kick (14:37).
*V3 for Naruki Doi.
4. Jemile Fran Presents Special 6-Man Tag Match: Yuki Ueno, MAO & Toy Kojima defeated Kyusei Sakisama, Chris Saint Laurent & Martha when Ueno pinned Sakisama with a Cradle (9:58).
5. KO-D Tag Team Titles: Yuji Hino & Makoto Oishi defeated Daisuke Sasaki & MJ Paul (c) when Oishi pinned Paul with the Jikiden Tornado Clutch (11:13).
*DAMNATION T.A fails in V1. Ω becomes the 78th KO-D Tag Team Champions!
6. DDT Extreme Title – Weakness Explosion!! Activation Conditions Are Up To You! Fall & Escape = Ghost & Balloon Explosion Death Match: Kazuki Hirata (c) defeated Yukio Sakaguchi with the Miracle One Shot Cradle from a huge balloon explosion (14:27).
*V2 for Kazuki Hirata.
7. Nivea Body Wash Presents Saki Akai Debut 10th Anniversary Match Vol. 2 ~ Special 6-Woman Tag Match: Saki Akai, Maya Yukihi & Asuka defeated Takumi Iroha, Rina Yamashita & Shoko Nakajima when Akai pinned Nakajima with the Quetzalcoatl (19:01).

It came a couple of days early but Saki Akai celebrated the 10th anniversary of her debut pro wrestling match in DDT. With her retirement coming up later this year, Akai is getting several matches dedicated to her decade in the business and today gathered together a lot of women she has attachments with. In the main event Akai teamed up with Maya Yukihi & Asuka, two women who have been her biggest opponents in DDT over the last two years. Their opponents were a trio of wrestlers who all debuted in the same year as Akai. It was the first time Takumi Iroha, Rina Yamashita & Shoko Nakajima all teamed together. Iroha & Yamashita quickly thought up a move where they gave Nakajima a Double Splash Mountain onto Akai. Asuka Moonsaulted onto Iroha & Yamashita outside the ring and Akai rolled out of the way from Nakajima’s Diving Senton. Akai then hit the Rookie Award and pinned Nakajima with the Quetzalcoatl.

Akai thanked the other wrestlers for accepting her invitation, knowing how busy all of their schedules are. She wanted to show the fans all of the wonderful friends she made outside of DDT over the years. She knows they will all continue to shine a light on pro wrestling when she’s gone so everyone should keep watching them. She isn’t sure how many more matches she has left until her retirement but she is going to hone her strength and run all the way to the end. Asuka said she wished the three of them had teamed together sooner and wonders if they could have chased after one of the KO-D championships together. Yamashita overheard that idea and told them they should do it anyway, even if it’s for the KO-D 10-Man Tag Team Titles. Her advice to Akai is to be greedy from this point until the end because she isn’t finished yet. Yukihi feels lucky she got to do her rivalry with Akai in DDT because she didn’t expect Akai’s retirement announcement to come when it did. Akai described all of the women are a fun loving group of people with good hearts.

Kazuki Hirata’s bizarre ideas to even the playing field against his opponents are working for him. The DDT Extreme Champion is normally scared of having to fight Yukio Sakaguchi but this time he got to turn the tables against him. Hirata’s stipulation for the match was to add ghosts and balloons whenever there was a kickout or rope break. Sakaguchi hates the sound of balloons bursting and also fears ghosts so we got the unlikely sight of Sakaguchi being submissive to Hirata and fleeing in fear whenever a ghost chased after him! Sakaguchi tried to fight his fears and found his spots to kick the hell out of Hirata. But by this point there were three ghosts in the ring haunting him with one popping a gigantic balloon right in his face. The fright made Sakaguchi walk right into the Miracle One Shot Cradle and Hirata got the win.

Once all of the ghosts vanished, Sakaguchi calmed down and handed the Extreme Title over to Hirata. He then attacked him a little bit and walked off. Hirata got on the microphone, said he was feeling mentally exhausted and now wants to know who his next challenger is. Naruki Doi walked out carrying the Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title he won earlier in the show. Doi said his title win makes him feel more absorbed into DDT and he now wants to win the Extreme Title to become fully immersed in the company. He especially wants to beat Hirata for the belt because Hirata is the DDT wrestler who best expresses what the company is all about. Hirata refused but Hisaya Imabayashi ignored him. A double title match between Hirata and Doi will take place on 9th September. If Doi loses the Iron Man Title before that date then the match will just be for the Extreme Title. Hirata then tried to pin Doi to win the Iron Man Title but only got a two count. Doi chased him back to the locker room.

The KO-D Tag Team Titles aren’t ready to settle down with a team yet. DAMNATION T.A’s reign ended in their first defence, losing the belts to Ω. The champions tried to isolate Makoto Oishi and also get KANON involved to interfere for them. Yuji Hino came in to make a difference but his attempt to Fuckin’ BOMB MJ Paul was cut off by Daisuke Sasaki. That left Oishi to deal with Paul by himself. Paul threw Lariats at him but Oishi caught him with the Jikiden Tornado Clutch for the flash pinfall and title change. Hino praised Oishi for winning the KO-D Tag Titles under his own strength, calling it a miracle. Oishi was too exhausted to respond so Hino encouraged the audience to give him a round of applause.

KANON then entered the ring demanding a title shot but not as a member of DAMNATION T.A. There is another wrestler out there he considers a mentor. Hino thought he meant TAKA Michinoku but KANON said it is actually someone else because TAKA is busy. KANON’s partner is going to be Minoru Fujita! Imabayashi granted the request and booked the title match for 9th September. KANON helped Oishi back up to his feet, shook his hand… and then gave him a Clothesline before leaving.

Before Match #4 could begin it was announced that Chris Brookes & Masahiro Takanashi were not at the show because they were both too hungover to wrestle. Then “The Rose Of Versailles” began to play and what appeared to be NEO Biishiki-gun walked out. Martha was there but instead of Yukio Saint Laurent we got Chris Saint Laurent instead. Also Sakura Hirota was nowhere to be seen, seemingly replaced in the match by Kyusei Sakisama. Despite their appearance looking weirder than usual, they were still NEO Biishiki-gun through and through. The 37KAMIINA had to deal with the unit’s antics. “Saint Laurent” jabbed an injection needle into Yuki Ueno’s neck, Martha was a nuisance towards MAO and Toy Kojima ended up suffering a Kancho attack involving Martha’s mop. “Sakisama” used the Academy Award finisher on Ueno but her glamorous pin was reversed and Ueno posed on top of her for the three count instead. The 37KAMIINA celebrated with their sponsored prize after the match until all of NEO Biishiki-gun gave them Kancho attacks and took the prizes for themselves.

Doi won the Iron Man Title pretty early in the Battle Royal. In fact him pinning Sanshiro Takagi to become champion was the first elimination in the match. Doi then had to fight through the rest of the field to survive. He still got caught up in the Pheromones experience with Kazuma Sumi, fell for Antonio Honda’s Gongitsune joke and outsmarted HARASHIMA. All that was left for him was a battle with Akito that ended with the DOI 555 and the Bakatare Sliding Kick. Doi promised to raise the value of the Iron Man Title then immediately had to fight off Sumi. That was when he realised the title is defended 24/7. He will stick to his promise anyway even if there’s a risk of him losing it in another company. Rukiya then tried to pin him so Doi kicked him away.

The 2nd match was overshadowed by the appearance of Evolution from All Japan. During the week Suwama told Tokyo Sports he had tickets for this show and was going in order to confront Jun Akiyama over a grudge held going back to Akiyama’s time as AJPW president. Suwama sat in his seat along with other Evolution members Hikaru Sato & Dan Tamura to see Akiyama’s team beat Kazusada Higuchi, Yuki Ishida & Takeshi Masada. Then after the match Evolution approached the ring, throwing aside Yuya Koroku and Rukiya who were trying to block them. Naya then wanted to stand in Suwama’s way but Suwama said he isn’t here for him. Suwama asked “useless former president” Akiyama why he is going to do an Exploding Death Match soon when he hated the idea of Suwama doing one six years ago? He then challenged Akiyama to come to Yoyogi on 8th September when AJPW is running a show there. He can even bring along Takagi so they can do a big Evolution Vs DDT match! Akiyama called the idea crazy but agreed to do it. He then told Suwama to stop making decisions without the AJPW president’s approval! Backstage Sato told DDT to send their icons like Dieno or HARASHIMA because as a former KO-D Openweight Champion and winner of a DDT General Election himself, he thinks he should be a DDT icon too. Tamura said he wants Yusuke Okada to come over because they have unfinished business from Okada’s time in AJPW.

KANON is sticking with the Vietnam Driver II as his new finisher, using it to beat Hideki Okatani in their first singles match against each other. KANON said the match left him more tired than he expected but that’s probably because of the summer heat. Okatani didn’t like the result and warned KANON he will beat him the next time they meet.

Koroku and Rukiya probably thought their dark match was the only physicality they would both experience today. Then Evolution came along and beat them up later in the show. In the match itself Rukiya tried to win with a Running Elbow Strike but Koroku took him down into a Modified Triangle Lancer to win by submission.

Chris Brookes has been appointed as the sales manager for “DDT BIG BANG 2023” at Ota Ward Gymnasium on 9th September. Also announced was Mei Suruga being at the 30h September show in Kyoto KBS Hall. That show is part of Akai’s countdown towards her retirement.


Akai Explains Her Choices, Suwama Coming To DDT Looking For Akiyama

August 10, 2023

GANBARE☆JOSHI “GANJO BATTLE GAREGGA ’23”, 11/08/2023
Tokyo Itabashi Green Hall

1. Miyako Matsumoto Vs Banny Oikawa
2. Ice Ribbon Offer Match: Ibuki Hoshi & Kaho Matsushita Vs Yappy & Tsukina Umino
3. Yoshiko Hasegawa Vs Sayaka Unagi
4. Sumire Natsu & Riara Vs Maya Yukihi & Alex Lee
5. ICEx∞ Title: YuuRI (c) Vs Ami Manase

The first time the ICEx∞ Title is defended in Ganbare☆Joshi takes place tomorrow. The Ice Ribbon schedule is doing wonders for YuuRI’s progress lately.

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

0. Dark Match: Yuya Koroku Vs Rukiya
1. Special Single Match: Hideki Okatani Vs KANON
2. Diya Diamond Presents 6-Man Tag Match: Jun Akiyama, Yukio Naya & Yusuke Okada Vs Kazusada Higuchi, Yuki Ishida & Takeshi Masada
3. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title – marcheur Presents Battle Royal: Sanshiro Takagi (c) Vs HARASHIMA Vs Naruki Doi Vs Yuki “Sexy” Iino Vs Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno Vs Antonio Honda Vs Akito Vs Kazuma Sumi
4. Jemile Fran Presents Special 6-Man Tag Match: Chris Brookes, Masahiro Takanashi & Sakura Hirota Vs Yuki Ueno, MAO & Toy Kojima
5. KO-D Tag Team Titles: Daisuke Sasaki & MJ Paul (c) Vs Yuji Hino & Makoto Oishi
6. DDT Extreme Title – Weakness Explosion!! Activation Conditions Are Up To You! Fall & Escape = Ghost & Balloon Explosion Death Match: Kazuki Hirata (c) Vs Yukio Sakaguchi
7. Nivea Body Wash Presents Saki Akai Debut 10th Anniversary Match Vol. 2 ~ Special 6-Woman Tag Match: Saki Akai, Maya Yukihi & Asuka Vs Takumi Iroha, Rina Yamashita & Shoko Nakajima

The main event is now sponsored by Nivea. They have done a few sponsorship deals with CyberFight events every now and then thanks to Saki Akai. A few years ago she tweeted about what her skincare routine looks like as a pro wrestler which included the use of Nivea products. The tweet went viral, the company saw it and the two parties made contact with each other to do some business together.

In an interview on DDT’s website, Akai brought up the reasons why she chose the wrestlers in her main event. Her and Shoko Nakajima debuted around the same time and actually trained together despite Akai belonging to DDT and Nakajima being attached to the still in development Tokyo Joshi Pro. Akai knows how much TJPW separates itself from the rest of the joshi scene so she wanted to see Nakajima experience what it is like to wrestle with people from other promotions. Rina Yamashita is Akai’s favourite wrestler to have matches with, either as partners or opponents. She is excited to see where Yamashita’s career will go next. When Akai briefly got to wrestle in Stardom back in 2014, Takumi Iroha was the only person in the locker room to greet her. Akai became a fan of hers over the years and wanted to be in the same ring with her. Maya Yukihi is somebody Akai credits for making her the wrestler she is today because of how many times they wrestled each other in the first half of last year. Last but not least, Akai calls Asuka a genius who everyone can see is strong but also works very hard. Akai thinks the atmosphere created in her matches is wonderful and that she has everything important needed to be a wrestler.

All Japan wrestler Suwama told Tokyo Sports yesterday he will be attending this show in order to confront Jun Akiyama. Back in 2017 Suwama took part in an Explosion Death Match with Atsushi Onita. Akiyama was the AJPW president at the time and he criticised Suwama for taking part in the match. So when Suwama heard about Akiyama accepting a challenge from Onita to take part in a similar death match next month, it drove him mad. Suwama is even blaming his failure to win the Triple Crown a few days ago on Akiyama’s hypocritical decision. He got himself a ticket for Korakuen Hall this Sunday to see where the old man Akiyama has been isolating himself all this time.

DDT “FIGHTING BEER GARDEN – DAY 1”, 16/08/2023
Tokyo Ueno Park Outdoor Stage

1. Yusuke Okada Vs Rukiya
2. Daisuke Sasaki, MJ Paul & KANON Vs Toy Kojima, Yuya Koroku & Takeshi Masada
3. The Scariest Event In History! Ghost Story New Numabukuro Death Match: Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno Vs Saki Akai Vs Yuni Vs Hideki Okatani Vs Kazuma Sumi (Ghost Story Reading Artist: Hisaya Imabayashi)
4. Blindfold Hidden Breast 4 Way Death Match: HARASHIMA Vs Kazuki Hirata Vs Antonio Honda Vs Yuki “Sexy” Iino
5. Special Tag Match: Yuki Ueno & X Vs MAO & Pokotan
6. YOROKOBI BREWERY Infomercial Match: Yuji Hino, Yukio Sakaguchi & Soma Takao Vs Kazusada Higuchi, Yukio naya & Yuki Ishida
7. Special Tag Match: Chris Brookes & Masahiro Takanashi Vs Shigehiro Irie & Jun Akiyama

A few of DDT’s young generation take on DAMNATION T.A.

DDT “SOMA TAKAO LOCAL TRIUPMH! MEMORIES OF SUMMER VACATION 2023 TOUR IN OTA-KU”, 19/08/2023
Tokyo Ota Ward Industrial Plaza PiO Small Exhibition Hall

1. Jun Akiyama, Saki Akai & Antonio Honda Vs Kazusada Higuchi, Yuki Ishida & Rukiya
2. Masamune & Yukio Naya Vs Hideki Okatani & Kazuma Sumi
3. DAMNATION T.A Vs The 37KAMIINA!: Daisuke Sasaki & MJ Paul Vs Yuki Ueno & Toy Kojima
4. Special Tag Match: Soma Takao & Shota Vs Yukio Sakaguchi & Kazuki Hirata

Special guest Masamune teams up with Yukio Naya for the first time. The pair will go against Hideki Okatani & Kazuma Sumi.

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

1. Osaka Specialty Special Tag Match: Sanshiro Takagi & Tsutenkakka Vs Akito & Kazuma Sumi
2. BURNING Vs Harimao!: Jun Akiyama & Kotaro Suzuki Vs Kazusada Higuchi & Yuki Ishida
3. Special Tag Match: Chris Brookes & Takeshi Masada Vs Shigehiro Irie & HARASHIMA
4. Special Single Match: Daisuke Sasaki Vs Yuki Ueno
5. Electric Explosion Bat & Board 6-Man Tag Death Match: Atsushi Onita, Yoshi Tatsu & Toy Kojima Vs Yukio Sakaguchi, Hideki Okatani & Soma Takao

Before Onita gets his death match with Akiyama, he has another one to deal with coming up first. The type of death match happening in Osaka is an Electric Explosion Bat & Board 6-Man Tag Death Match. The explosions will be rigged to use three times more ammunition than the normal amount.

GANBARE☆PRO “TOKOROZAWA PARK TOWN SHOPPING STREET 2023”, 26/08/2023
Saitama Tokorozawa Park Town Shopping Street Special

1. GanPro Specialty Mixed 6-Man Tag Match: Shuichiro Katsumura, HARUKAZE & Riara Vs Shinichiro Tominaga, YuuRI & Yoshiko Hasegawa
2. ROMANCE DAWN Vs Japan-Australia Giant Duo: Shota & Soma Takao Vs Hartley Jackson & Gota Ihashi
3. Fresh Ariyama Presents Special 6-Man Tag Match: Ken Ohka, Keisuke Ishii & Seiya Morohashi Vs Tatsuhito Takaiwa, Mizuki Watase & Munetatsu Nakamura

The annual Ganbare☆Pro outdoor show held over at Tokorozawa street is set for the end of the month.

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

1. Current Blast Death Match: Atsushi Onita Vs X

Shigehiro Irie and Shinya Ishida will both be on the show along with Minoru Suzuki.


DAMNATION Vs 37KAMIINA Getting More Volatile, Akai’s Anniversary Plans Grow, Onita Gets His Match With Akiyama

August 2, 2023

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

1. Special Single Match: Aja Kong Vs Super Sasadango Machine
2. Suzume Vs Runa Okubo
3. 3 Way Match: Hyper Misao Vs Haruna Neko Vs HIMAWARI
4. Hikari Noa & Nao Kakuta Vs Mahiro Kiryu & Toga
5. Mizuki, Shino Suzuki & Haru Kazashiro Vs Yuki Arai, Raku & Pom Harajuku
6. Rika Tatsumi & Miu Watanabe Vs Moka Miyamoto & Kaya Toribami
7. Shoko Nakajima & Yuki Aino Vs Miyu Yamashita & Arisu Endo

Both Yuki Kamifuku and Wakana Uehara will not be on the show due to other priorities that day. Kamifuku is attending an event in Fujisawa City while Uehara is performing on a stage show.

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

1. Keisuke Ishii Vs Munetatsu Nakamura
2. GanJo Vs JTO!: Yoshiko Hasegawa & Riara Vs Misa Kagura & HisokA
3. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Yumehito Imanari, Mizuki Watase & Tyson Maeguchi Vs Shota, Soma Takao & Shinichiro Tominaga
4. Special Single Match: Ken Ohka Vs Koji Doi
5. Spirit Of Ganbare World Tag Team Titles: Shuichiro Katsumura & Takuya Wada (c) Vs Hartley Jackson & HARUKAZE
6. Spirit Of Ganbare World Openweight Title: Isami Kodaka (c) Vs YuuRI

The long delayed Spirit Of Ganbare Tag Team Title belts have finally been completed and are being sent over to Ganbare☆Pro in time for this weekend’s show. The belts will be presented to Shuichiro Katsumura & Takuya Wada on the day as part of a contract signing ceremony with Hartley Jackson & HARUKAZE for their title match later in the show.

DDT “MEMORIES OF SUMMER VACATION 2023 TOUR IN YAMAGATA”, 06/08/2023
Yamagata Big Wing

1. Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno Vs Akito & Makoto Oishi
2. Kazuki Hirata & Kazuma Sumi Vs Yukio Sakaguchi & Hideki Okatani
3. Daisuke Sasaki & KANON Vs Yuji Hino & Rukiya
4. Yuki Ueno, MAO & Toy Kojima Vs HARASHIMA, Yusuke Okada & Yuya Koroku
5. Yamagata Specialty Special Tag Match: Kazusada Higuchi & Yuki Ishida Vs Yukio Naya & Keisuke Goto
6. Special Tag Match: Chris Brookes & Takeshi Masada Vs Shigehiro Irie & Jun Akiyama

Good luck to Kazuki Hirata having to fight Yukio Sakaguchi more so than usual this month because they have a DDT Extreme Title match coming up.

GANBARE☆JOSHI “GANJO BATTLE GAREGGA ’23”, 11/08/2023
Tokyo Itabashi Green Hall

1. Ice Ribbon Offer Match: Ibuki Hoshi & Kaho Matsushita Vs Yappy & Tsukina Umino
2. Miyako Matsumoto Vs Banny Oikawa
3. Sumire Natsu & Riara Vs Maya Yukihi & Alex Lee
4. Yoshiko Hasegawa Vs Sayaka Unagi
5. ICEx∞ Title: YuuRI (c) Vs Ami Manase

I was wondering why Yoshiko Hasegawa was missing from the lineup. Turns out there was one more match left to announce and it’s her against Sayaka Unagi!

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

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

The summer is nearing its end and so too is this year’s Tokyo Princess Cup. Four women are left standing and two of those will be next to fall. Miyu Yamashita is trying to win the tournament for the first time after a decade of trying, Yuki Arai is benefitting from adding Saki Akai’s Rookie Award finisher to her moveset, Rika Tatsumi is in the middle of one hell of a run and Yuki Kamifuku is showing everyone just how successful she can be when she puts her mind to it.

Mizuki & Mahiro Kiryu are the two women teaming together to fight NEO Biishiki-gun.

Match #4 is made up of the four women who were knocked out in the Quarter Finals.

The 6-Woman Tag Match in Match #2 is entirely made up of the 2023 class.

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

0. Dark Match: Yuya Koroku Vs Rukiya
1. Jun Akiyama, Yukio Naya & Yusuke Okada Vs Kazusada Higuchi, Yuki Ishida & Takeshi Masada
2. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title – Battle Royal: Sanshiro Takagi (c) Vs HARASHIMA Vs Naruki Doi Vs Yuki “Sexy” Iino Vs Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno Vs Antonio Honda Vs Akito Vs Kazuma Sumi
3. Special Single Match: Hideki Okatani Vs KANON
4. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Chris Brookes, Masahiro Takanashi & Sakura Hirota Vs Yuki Ueno, MAO & Toy Kojima
5. KO-D Tag Team Titles: Daisuke Sasaki & MJ Paul (c) Vs Yuji Hino & Makoto Oishi
6. DDT Extreme Title: Kazuki Hirata (c) Vs Yukio Sakaguchi
7. Saki Akai Debut 10th Anniversary Match Vol. 2 ~ Special 6-Woman Tag Match: Saki Akai, Maya Yukihi & Asuka Vs Takumi Iroha, Rina Yamashita & Shoko Nakajima

Akai’s next 10th Anniversary match will feature her teaming with Maya Yukihi & Asuka. They were two of her recent big opponents here in DDT. Their opponents all debuted in 2013, the same year as Akai. Takumi Iroha & Rina Yamashita were already announced and this past weekend Shoko Nakajima was revealed to be the third woman on the team.

Hirata found a way to beat HARASHIMA. He’s also beaten Sakaguchi once before but as Extreme Champion he will come up with any stipulation that will tip the scales in his favour. Otherwise Sakaguchi is going to kill him and take his title!

Makoto Oishi has convinced Yuji Hino to go after the KO-D Tag Team Titles with him. Maybe Hino would be better off teaming with Yukio Naya for the match but Oishi being such a caring father for his children convinced Hino to stick with him.

DDT “FIGHTING BEER GARDEN – DAY 1”, 16/08/2023
Tokyo Ueno Park Outdoor Stage

1. The Scariest Event In History! Ghost Story New Numabukuro Death Match: Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno Vs Saki Akai Vs Yuni Vs Hideki Okatani Vs Kazuma Sumi (Ghost Story Reading Artist: Hisaya Imabayashi)
2. Blindfold Hidden Breast 4 Way Death Match: HARASHIMA Vs Kazuki Hirata Vs Antonio Honda Vs Yuki “Sexy” Iino
3. YOROKOBI BREWERY Infomercial Match: Yuji Hino, Yukio Sakaguchi & Soma Takao Vs Kazusada Higuchi, Yukio naya & Yuki Ishida
4. Special Tag Match: Chris Brookes & Masahiro Takanashi Vs Shigehiro Irie & Jun Akiyama

The Fighting Beer Garden shows now has a craft beer sponsor.

DDT “SOMA TAKAO LOCAL TRIUPMH! MEMORIES OF SUMMER VACATION 2023 TOUR IN OTA-KU”, 19/08/2023
Tokyo Ota Ward Industrial Plaza PiO Small Exhibition Hall

1. Special Tag Match: Soma Takao & Shota Vs Yukio Sakaguchi & Kazuki Hirata
2. Jun Akiyama, Saki Akai & Antonio Honda Vs Kazusada Higuchi, Yuki Ishida & Rukiya
3. DAMNATION T.A Vs The 37KAMIINA!: Daisuke Sasaki & MJ Paul Vs Yuki Ueno & Toy Kojima

The recent actions of Konosuke Takeshita has fired up the rivalry between DAMNATION T.A and The 37KAMIINA. The one here is a rematch from the end of June when Daisuke Sasaki & MJ Paul beat Yuki Ueno & Toy Kojima to win the vacant tag titles.

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

1. Osaka Specialty Special Tag Match: Sanshiro Takagi & Tsutenkakka Vs Akito & Kazuma Sumi
2. BURNING Vs Harimao!: Jun Akiyama & Kotaro Suzuki Vs Kazusada Higuchi & Yuki Ishida
3. Special Tag Match: Chris Brookes & Takeshi Masada Vs Shigehiro Irie & HARASHIMA
4. Special Single Match: Daisuke Sasaki Vs Yuki Ueno
5. Current Blast Death Match: Atsushi Onita, Yoshitatsu & Toy Kojima Vs Yukio Sakaguchi, Hideki Okatani & Soma Takao

Sasaki has a few singles matches against different members of The 37KAMIINA this month. Yuki Ueno keeps being told by Takeshita to follow his lead and Sasaki has become a big supporter of that idea.

DDT “MEMORIES OF SUMMER VACATION 2023”, 27/08/2023
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Saki Akai Debut 10th Anniversary Match Vol. 3 ~ Special Single Match: Danshoku Dieno Vs Saki Akai
2. Special Single Match: Daisuke Sasaki Vs MAO
3. HARASHIMA Debut 22nd Anniversary Match: HARASHIMA Vs X

Sasaki also has to face MAO. He might start regretting taking Takeshita’s side in the matter just because of how much extra ring work it’s giving him.

Akai asked Danshoku Dieno for a singles match to call back memories of the Extreme Title bout from 2016. Their match back then featured a stipulation that nobody was allowed to cry or else they would lose. It was a match that Akai learned a lot and still thinks about after all this time. Dieno understands how much it means to her and will not be using his “Dandy” persona for that reason.

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

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

A lot of people are gathering together to wrestle among the bright lights of Izu Granpal Park. Not only is Shinya Aoki showing up but Pheromones will be joined by a mystery wrestler.

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

1. Pheromones Vs Subjugation Final Match! Special Single Match ~ Dissolution Contra Vice President: Yuki “Sexy” Iino (w/ Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno) Vs Akito
2. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Yukio Sakaguchi, Saki Akai & Hideki Okatani Vs Yuko Miyamoto, Isami Kodaka & Ram Kaichow
3. Special Tag Match: KONOSUKE TAKESHITA & Daisuke Sasaki Vs Yuki Ueno & MAO
4. Current Blast Death Match: Atsushi Onita, Yoshi Tatsu & Toy Kojima Vs Sanshiro Takagi, Jun Akiyama & Yusuke Okada
5. KO-D Openweight Title: Chris Brookes (c) Vs Shigehiro Irie

Sick of his demands being ignored, Atsushi Onita took it upon himself last week to crash a training session at the DDT dojo and confront Jun Akiyama. Apparently Onita got in touch with Kojima and demanded to find out when Akiyama was in the building. Kojima told him but didn’t actually expect he would show up. Onita told Akiyama the names of many famous wrestlers who fought him in Explosion Death Matches then asked why is he the only person who refuses to take part? Onita also reminded Sanshiro Takagi he was promised this match would happen. Akiyama accepted the challenge and both sides decided their teams. Onita will team with Yoshi Tatsu & Toy Kojima while Akiyama & Takagi will add Yusuke Okada to their team.

Is the team of Ueno & MAO enough to beat Takeshita & Sasaki? We’re heading into dangerous territory here as tensions raise higher and higher.

If Eruption are still the KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Champions coming out of their All Japan appearance at the end of this month then their match against Yuko Miyamoto, Isami Kodaka & Ram Kaichow will be a title match.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW CITY CIRCUIT ’23 ~NAGOYA PERFORMANCE~”, 18/09/2023
Nagoya International Conference Center Event Hall

1. Saki Akai & Yuki Arai Vs X & X

This will be the final time Reiwa AA Cannon will team together, just two months before Akai retires.

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

1. Current Blast Death Match: Atsushi Onita Vs X

Minoru Suzuki will be on the show. This is happening the same day as the Bullet Train match with Takagi by the way. How else were they making it to Nagoya?

“MASAHIRO TAKANASHI 20TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW”, 19/09/2023
Shinjuku FACE

1. Special Exhibition: Masahiro Takanashi Vs KUDO
2. Yukio Sakaguchi, Isami Kodaka & Ken Ohka Vs MAO, Daiki Shimomura & Munetatsu Nakamura
3. Special Single Match: Mei Suruga Vs Minoru Suzuki
4. Chris Brookes Vs Masahiro Takanashi

No way was KUDO going to miss Masahiro Takanashi’s big show. He isn’t in ring shape to do a full wrestling match so Takanashi decided KUDO will face him in a 5 minute exhibition instead.

Saki Akai will also be on the show.


DDT “SUMMER VACATION 2023” Results

July 30, 2023

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

0. Dark Match: Yuni defeated Kazuma Sumi with the Phoenix Splash (5:22).
1. Minoru Fujita & MJ Paul defeated Soma Takao & Rukiya when Paul pinned Rukiya with the Death Valley Bomb (8:24).
2. Special Tag Match: Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno defeated Akito & Naruki Doi when Iino pinned Akito after the Muscular Sexy Driver (12:15).
3. Yuji Hino, Makoto Oishi & Yukio Naya defeated Jun Akiyama, Yusuke Okada & Yuya Koroku when Hino pinned Koroku with the Fuckin’ BOMB (8:07).
4. Yukio Sakaguchi 50th Birthday Match ~ Special 6-Man Tag Match: Yukio Sakaguchi, Saki Akai & Hideki Okatani defeated Shuji Ishikawa, Thanomsak Toba & Masahiro Takanashi when Sakaguchi pinned Toba with the God’s Right Knee (11:26).
5. Chris Brookes, Antonio Honda & Takeshi Masada defeated Kazusada Higuchi, Kotaro Suzuki & Yuki Ishida when Brookes pinned Ishida with the Praying Mantis Bomb (11:49).
6. DDT Extreme Title – Super Fierce Battle! Hirata’s Miraculous Allies Gather! No Touch Captain’s Fall & 2 Count Hall Handicap Death Match: Kazuki Hirata (C/c), Broom, Kokeshi Doll, Chair, Yakitori, Baby Doll, Watch Dog, Cold Spray & Toru Owashi Doll defeated HARASHIMA (C) when Hirata pinned HARASHIMA with the Miracle One Shot Cradle (13:21).
*V1 for Kazuki Hirata.
7. Special 6-Man Tag Match: KONOSUKE TAKESHITA, Daisuke Sasaki & KANON defeated Yuki Ueno, MAO & Toy Kojima when Sasaki submitted Ueno with La Mistica Crossover Face Lock (17:44).

A new direction for Konosuke Takeshita now sees him stand across the ring from his friends in The 37KAMIINA. If that’s not weird enough, he decided to become an ally with Daisuke Sasaki and DAMNATION T.A to further his agenda. Takeshita got his moments to fight Yuki Ueno, MAO & Toy Kojima throughout the main event. Sasaki & KANON were there to back him up for a triple submission spot. Ueno & Kojima had Sasaki beaten with the My MADMAX but Takeshita came back with a big rally. He used a Double German Suplex to throw both MAO & Kojima at the same time then hit Ueno with the Zahi. Sasaki then lined Ueno up for La Mistica Crossover Face Lock to win the match.

Afterward Takeshita again advised Ueno to start following him if he really wants to carry DDT on his back. Even Sasaki agreed with him and said he would support anybody who has Takeshita’s approval. If Takeshita tells Ueno to do something like join DAMNATION T.A then Ueno should have no other choice but to do it. By this point Shunma Katsumata was in the ring using a crutch to move around. Sasaki suddenly attacked him and knocked the crutch away until MAO chased him out of the ring. MAO lost his temper at Takeshita for doing nothing to stop Sasaki and not helping Katsumata afterwards. He understands now that Takeshita is The 37KAMIINA’s enemy from this point forward! Takeshita said he is going back to America but will return to DDT for the Ota Ward Gymnasium show on 9th September. He expects to hear an answer from Ueno by then. Ueno said he wants to team up with MAO to take on Takeshita & Sasaki on the show.

It was a Handicap Match for the ages when Kazuki Hirata gathered together his own army of inanimate objects to fight against HARASHIMA. It was part of a collection of rule stipulations the DDT Extreme Champion came up with to ensure his defence was going to be a fair fight, otherwise HARASHIMA was going to destroy him without much effort. Another rule was Hirata only needed a 2 Count pin to win. First HARASHIMA fought a Kokeshi Doll and almost got outwrestled by it. A Chair somehow put HARASHIMA in a Cross Armbreaker submission. HARASHIMA hesitated trying to fight a Baby Doll because nobody wanted to see him attack something cute like that. He instead played a Watch Dog toy game that bit his finger, giving Hirata a 1 Count nearfall with a roll up. The next fighter to enter was a Yakitori chicken skewer. HARASHIMA ate it, causing Hirata to attack him with a Broom out of anger for his fallen comrade. Hirata climbed the top rope with the Broom to do a Kiki’s Delivery Service Dive but it was blocked by HARASHIMA’s boots. HARASHIMA did a Falcon Arrow onto a pile of the objects for a nearfall. He went for the Somato but Hirata blocked it with the Broom and used the Miracle One Shot Cradle to win with a 2 count pinfall.

When the match was over HARASHIMA congratulated Hirata for beating him by wrapping the Extreme Title around his waist. Hirata thanked him and said no matter what the rules were, today he was able to beat HARASHIMA! He now feels like he can beat anybody. As soon as he finished saying that, Yukio Sakaguchi appeared and entered the ring. Hirata immediately offered to give up and forfeit his title to Sakaguchi. It was declined because Sakaguchi didn’t want to look like he is bullying Hirata. He wants to challenge him instead because winning the Extreme Title for the first time in his career would be a good birthday present for himself. Hirata’s cries of refusal were ignored by Hisaya Imabayashi and the match was made for 13th August. Sakaguchi then told Hirata “What’s mine is mine, what’s Hirata’s is mine.”

Chris Brookes paid his first visit to Korakuen Hall since winning the KO-D Openweight Title. There was no Shigehiro Irie appearance on the show so the new champion was in a 6-Man Tag Match with two of his buddies Antonio Honda & Takeshi Masada. Their attempt to pull off a triple team pose on Kotaro Suzuki failed when Honda overshot his jump and fell onto the canvas. Suzuki then interruped the Gongitsune speech. Later in the match he tried to interrupt it again but his own partners Kazusada Higuchi & Yuki Ishida pleaded with him to let Honda proceed. The match continued from there and Brookes pinned Ishida with the Praying Mantis Bomb to win. Backstage Brookes acted like the Shukan Puroresu reporter was spreading rumours about Irie being scared of Brookes.

As mentioned a little bit earlier, Yukio Sakaguchi celebrated his birthday this week, turning 50 years old. Today he teamed with the rest of Eruption to take on a team of three opponents who all have ties to him. Shuji Ishikawa was a former rival, Thanomsak Toba trained with him and Masahiro Takanashi used to be his stablemate in Shuten-dōji. Speakin of that unit, KUDO was at ringside for the match too. He presented Sakaguchi with a gift of alcohol before the match. Sakaguchi picked up the win for Eruption by using the God’s Right Knee on Toba.

After the match everyone including KUDO raised each other’s hands in the ring. Then all of a sudden two unexpected guests appeared. It was Isami Kodaka & Yuko Miyamoto! The tag team known as Yankee Two Kenju were carrying bouquets and said they were here to wish Sakaguchi a happy birthday. Sakaguchi did not believe them and knew they had another reason for showing up. Kodaka dropped the facade asked if he and Miyamoto could get a shot at the KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles? Sakaguchi was fine with the idea while Hideki Okatani was suddenly all fired up to pick a fight with Miyamoto. Yankee Two Kenju then revealed the third person on their team is going to be Ram Kaichow! Eruption accepted the challenge knowing full well they already have a title defence coming up in All Japan on 27th August. They are confident they will win that so their match against the Triple Six team on 9th September will have the titles on the line if they are still the champions by then.

It’s time for Ω to go take a fresh route and reevaluate their goals. Yuji Hino needed a bounce back win after losing the KO-D Title and found it here by teaming with Makoto Oishi & Yukio Naya. After defeating the BURNING team of Jun Akiyama, Yusuke Okada & Yuya Koroku their plans became more clear backstage. Oishi gets upset every time he sees Hino without a championship so he should go fight for the KO-D Tag Team Titles. Hino liked the idea and started to think about teaming with Naya again. However Oishi meant himself and Hino should be the team. Hino wasn’t sure because he thinks Oishi should take the rest of the summer off to be with his family. Oishi then said his eldest son sent him a message about wanting to see his dad win a championship. Hearing that cheered Hino up and he agreed to chase after the tag titles with Oishi. It was later confirmed Ω will face Sasaki & MJ Paul for the titles on 13th August.

Like many other people Naruki Doi wanted nothing to do with the Pheromones match. However Akito is desperate to build up momentum for his singles match against Yuki Iino so he was able to convince him to take part. Danshoku Dieno also taunted Doi by telling him his reputation would be tainted if he ran away from Pheromones. Doi picked up the courage to fight them head on but Akito ended up getting isolated and beaten two on one.

Saki Akai entered the ring after the match wanting to speak to Dieno. She reminded him of the singles match they had for the Extreme Title back in 2016. It’s a match that stuck with her ever since because Dieno taught her how wrestlers show their struggles with a human touch. However Akai still wonders if that lesson is true. She thinks pro wrestling is a dream job and wants Dieno to definitively prove her otherwise by facing her one more time before she retires this November. Dieno said Akai has a problem that hasn’t been solved yet and accepted her challenge. The match will take place on 27th August.

DAMNATION T.A overwhelmed Soma Takao & Rukiya in the opening match starting with a surprise attack. Takao found the energy to fight back against Minoru Fujita until the match switched over to Rukiya against Paul. Rukiya’s volley of Elbow Strikes were cut off with a Lariat and Paul pinned him with the Death Valley Bomb.

In the pre-show dark match Yuni defeated Kazuma Sumi one on one. He avoided the Lionsault, kicked out of a Brainbuster and pinned Sumi with the Phoenix Splash.

Shoko Nakajima was revealed to be Takumi Iroha & Rina Yamashita’s tag partner for the 6-Woman Tag Match against Akai, Asuka & Maya Yukihi on 13th August. The match is part of Akai’s retirement tour. She is teaming with her two recent rivals in DDT against a team of opponents who all debuted in 2013, the same year as her.


GANBARE☆JOSHI “GANJO FIGHTING SPIRITS ’23” Results

July 16, 2023

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

1. GanJo Three Big Singles Match: Sumire Natsu defeated Riara with the Shining Wizard (10:32).
2. Banny Oikawa Comeback Match: Cherry & Alex Lee defeated Miyako Matsumoto & Banny Oikawa when Cherry submitted Oikawa with the Sakuran Bokari (10:20).
3. GanJo Three Big Singles Match: SAKI defeated Yoshiko Hasegawa with the Power “Zu” Ram (11:27).
4. Makoto & Asuka defeated Ami Manase & Marika Kobashi when Makoto pinned Manase with the Death Valley Bomb (16:59).
5. GanJo Three Big Singles Match: YuuRI defeated Misa Kagura with the Swanton Bomb (11:15).

As Ganbare☆Joshi begins to grow, so too does YuuRI’s success at winning matches. She scored a significant victory today by beating her old JTO classmate Misa Kagura in the main event of the latest GanJo show. With this momentum, YuuRI will be heading over to Ice Ribbon tomorrow to challenge Totoro Satsuki for the ICEx∞ Title. She told the fans she is going to win the title in the afternoon and then show up at the evening’s Ganbare☆Pro show as a champion! Backstage Kagura said she is aiming to win the ICEx∞ Title this year too. She will win it from YuuRI!

A Super Kick & Death Valley Bomb combo from Asuka & Makoto put Ami Manase down for the count. This may also be the last time we see Marika Kobashi in GanJo for a while because she is visiting England in August to spend the rest of her summer studying.

Yoshiko Hasegawa Vs SAKI was a match between two former wrestlers who made their starts in Actwres girl’Z. SAKI won the match but Hasegawa refused to shake her hand afterwards. She explained backstage that shaking hands like that would end her story with SAKI. She wants to get stronger and face SAKI again to keep that story going. When SAKI heard that was the reason, she asked if she can bring in wrestlers from her Color’s unit to turn this situation into a promotional rivalry against GanJo.

One of of Ice Ribbon’s former wrestlers returned to the ring at this GanJo show. Banny Oikawa had her comeback match teaming with Miyako Matsumoto, the woman responsible for convincing her to enter GanJo. Sadly Oikawa’s big return was spoiled by Cherry & Alex Lee. Cherry used her Sakuran Bokari submission hold to make Oikawa give up and lose the match. Still, Oikawa is committed to the return and announced she will be back in GanJo for their 11th August show. She wants to work her way up to GanPro so she can wrestle in mixed gender matches.

In a battle of the night life hostesses Sumire Natsu defeated Riara. The match consisted of Natsu pouring a bottle of champagne over her opponent and also attacking her with a whip until the referee stopped her. Natsu knocked the ref down but that led to Riara grabbing the whip and using it to fight back. However Natsu regained control of the match and pinned Riara with the Shining Wizard. Then after the match Riara unexpectedly asked Natsu if she wanted to form a tag team together! Natsu didn’t give her a straight answer. Instead she said pro wrestling and the entertainment business both value connections so they will meet again some day.

Yuna Manase appeared at the beginning of the show, thanking the fans for making up the biggest attendance yet for a GanJo show.


Video – “BAKA GAIJIN + FRIENDS VOL. SIX”

July 12, 2023

BAKA GAIJIN + FRIENDS “VOL. SIX: THE ART OF SELF DESTRUCTION”, 04/07/2023
Tokyo ARENA Shimokitazawa
??? Fans

1. Special Tag Team Match: MAO & Chie Koishikawa Vs Takayuki Ueki & Mecha Mummy
2. Special Single Match: Minoru Fujita Vs Rina Yamashita
3. Antonio Honda Vs Shota
4. Special Single Match: Masahiro Takanashi Vs Asuka


TOKYO JOSHI PRO “SUMMER SUN PRINCESS ’23” Results

July 8, 2023

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “SUMMER SUN PRINCESS ’23”, 08/07/2023
Tokyo Ota Ward Gymnasium
1,222 Fans

1. Juria Nagano Comeback Match: Suzume & Arisu Endo defeated Moka Miyamoto & Juria Nagano when Endo submitted Nagano with the Camel Clutch (11:43).
2. Mahiro Kiryu, Haruna Neko, HIMAWARI & Shino Suzuki defeated Kaya Toribami, Toga, Haru Kazashiro & Runa Okubo when HIMAWARI submitted Kazashiro with a Half Crab Hold (11:07).
3. Ryo Mizunami & Nao Kakuta defeated Yuki Kamifuku & Asuka when Kakuta pinned Kamifuku with the Shiden Kai (10:11).
4. DEFY Women’s Title: Vert Vixen (c) defeated Hikari Noa with a Vertical Drop Brainbuster (9:42).
*V6 for Vert Vixen.
5. 3 Way Tag Match: Shoko Nakajima & Hyper Misao defeated Aja Kong & Raku and Max The Impaler & Pom Harajuku when Nakajima pinned Harajuku with the Diving Senton (9:32).
6. Nyla Rose defeated Miu Watanabe with the Beast Bomb (8:01).
7. EVE Title: Miyu Yamashita (c) defeated Sawyer Wreck with the Skull Kick (11:51).
*V7 for Miyu Yamashita.
8. Sakisama & Mei Saint-Michel defeated Yuki Arai & Wakana Uehara when Sakisama pinned Uehara with the Academy Award (12:24).
9. International Princess Title: Rika Tatsumi (c) defeated Yuki Arai with the Missile Hip (15:11).
*V4 for Rika Tatsumi.
10. Princess Of Princess Title: Mizuki (c) defeated Maki Itoh with the Cutie Special (24:29).
*V3 for Mizuki.

The history between Mizuki and Maki Itoh that begun under the original Itoh Respect Army seven years ago reached its dramatic peak in Ota Ward Gymnasium today. Mizuki successfully defended the Princess Of Princess Title in the main event, stopping Itoh from winning the title in her fourth attempt. The champion had the injured Yuka Sakazaki in her corner while Itoh came out singing “Brooklyn The Hole” in English. Itoh’s focus was to use variations of the DDT both inside and out of the ring. Mizuki did her own big moves outside the ring including the Cutie Special and a Flying Cross Body. Submission holds couldn’t finish the job either with both the Itoh Deluxe and Crossface Lock proving fruitless. Mizuki dealt a big blow by landing the Diving Double Stomp onto Itoh’s back. Itoh clung onto Mizuki and was able to deliver one last Headbutt in resistance but Mizuki fired back with a Spinning Back Elbow and pinned her with the Cutie Special.

After the match Mizuki said she never believed Itoh when she said she wanted to forget their history together and that the Itoh Mizuki knew is dead. They walked the same path together and Mizuki always looked up to Itoh as her rival. Itoh however said Mizuki doesn’t understand how Itoh feels. She doesn’t like to talk about the past because when they were together, Itoh saw Mizuki become stronger and win championships with someone else. It made Itoh jealous and she looks back on their time together a a black piece of history. It is only right now in the middle of Ota Ward that Itoh now believes she is on the same level as Mizuki. For that reason Mizuki now has her respect and she wants to continue fighting with her. The two shook hands and gave each other a hug. Itoh left the ring so Mizuki could close out the show.

The burning momentum of Yuki Aino wasn’t enough to take the International Princess Title from Rika Tatsumi. She showed a lot of power by using the Side Suplex outside the ring as well as one over the ropes from the ring apron! Tatsumi tried to smother her out with the Dragon Sleeper but Aino powered out of it with a slam. Tatsumi found a way to put her into another Dragon Sleeper but Aino reached the ropes. Aino withstood a Hip Attack and caught Tatsumi in the middle of a second one but Tatsumi wriggled her way into hitting the Twist Of Fate. She then got the win by hitting the Missile Hip. Tatsumi gave her opponent credit for shining as brightly as she did. She hopes the fans will look forward to more matches between them in the future. Aino said the result proves she is not ready to hold a title belt yet. But she had fun in the match because she was able to burn every last bit of energy she has.

NEO Biishiki-gun were back to give their opponents a hard time. That was shown when Mei Saint-Michel danced in the ring to distract the referee while Sakisama attacked Wakana Uehara on the outside. Saint-Michel later dropped her metal tray over Uehara’s head to break up a Sleeper Hold. Yuki Arai pulled out a surprise by using Saki Akai’s finisher the Rookie Award on Sakisama. NEO Biishiki-gun regained their composure and Sakisama hit the similar looking Academy Award to pin Uehara and win the match. Sakisama did not like hearing reporters compare the two moves during her post-match interview because she is one of a kind. In Arai’s interview, she explained that Akai taught her the move but she never got the chance to use it when they teamed together. She felt today was as good a time as any to start using the move because she thinks Sakisama bares a resemblance to Akai. She intends to keep using it more often.

Perhaps Miyu Yamashita didn’t realize just what she was getting into when she decided to put her EVE Title on the line against Sawyer Wreck. The Spirit Of EVE ruleset used for the title match allowed the fight to be taken outside the ring because there are no countouts. The rules also permitted the wrestlers to use weapons under certain circumstances, which Wreck gladly took advantage of. She attacked Yamashita with chairs and slammed her through a pile of them with a Death Valley Driver over by the stage entrance. Back in the ring Yamashita did her best to deflect the chair with kicks. Wreck was able to defend herself from one Skull Kick but a second one reached its target and gave Yamashita her seventh successful EVE Title defence.

The originally planned match for Nyla Rose didn’t take place because of Sakazaki’s injury. So when Rose found out her new opponent was Miu Watanabe she steadily gained weight to make it more difficult for Watanabe to lift her! As soon as the AEW wrestler arrived in Japan she loaded up on pork cutlet curry and sashimi at the nearest Cocoichi curry house. The plan just about worked. Watanabe was able to give her the Giant Swing but only for one rotation. She also wasn’t strong enough to deliver the Tear Drop. Rose took advantage and landed the Beast Bomb to win. Watanabe did leave a positive impression on Rose though. Rose said that even though Watanabe lost, she definitely has something that could open the door into a new world for her.

No Tag Rules were a last minute addition to the 3 Way Tag match. The time for Aja Kong and Max The Impaler to meet again was just about to begin when Hyper Misao got on the microphone to big up Kyoraku Kyomei’s chances of winning. Both Kong and Max ignored her so she sprayed both of them in the face. Kyoraku Kyomei then stole Kong’s steel can as well as Raku’s pillow but Kong attacked them to reclaim the items. Kong even hit Shoko Nakajima with the pillow while Raku hit Pom Harajuku with the can! Kong and Max were on an even level whenever they got the chance to fight each other. They briefly joined forces against Kyoraku Kyomei only to turn on each other. Misao brought out the Hyper Mobile to crash into everyone outside the ring while Nakajima pinned Harajuku with the Diving Senton to win. Kong took her anger out after the match by attacking the Hyper Mobile, damaging it to the point where it is now unusable! Kyoraku Kyomei are thinking about crowdfunding a new one or at least convince CyberFight to get a bicycle sponsorship. Kong & Raku said they’d rather crowdfund a new steel can and pillow for themselves.

It was a clean sweep of successful title defences throughout the whole show. Vert Vixen was the first one on the board by defending the DEFY Women’s Title against Hikari Noa. The challenger used the Running Neckbreaker Drop that’s been winning matches for her recently but it didn’t get her the result this time. The Last Supper cradle didn’t work either. Instead Vixen pinned Noa with a Vertical Drop Brainbuster. She said the match was like a war but she was able to fight and defend her championship. Noa said she was very happy to be chosen by Vixen for a title match. They’ve teamed together during Vixen’s previous visit to Japan and Noa always wanted to have a title match with somebody she considers to be a tag team partner.

Flashy entrances were provided by both teams in Match #3. VENYU were accompanied by two dancers leading them down to the ring while Nao Kakuta looked dressed to party with Ryo Mizunami. The match started with a bang when Asuka Moonsaulted onto everyone outside the ring. Yuki Kamifuku then put on Mizunami’s entrance gear to taunt her but was reduced to apologising once Mizunami got her hands on her. VENYU gave Kakuta the Magic Killer but Kakuta kicked out at two. She then dodged a Double Big Boot leading VENYU to collide with each other and then get wiped out with a Double Spear from Mizunami. Kakuta then scored the win by pinning Kamifuku with the Shiden Kai.

Five of the eight wrestlers in the 8-Woman Tag Match all only just debuted this year. The match was also Haruna Neko’s return match from a knee injury. Her scratching the wrestlers from the other team led to Mahiro Kiryu apologising to everyone for it. Shino Suzuki and Haru Kazashiro started off before Kiryu and Kaya Toribami took over. Toga cut off HIMAWARI’s momentum with what is fast becoming her signature Elbow Strike. Runa Okubo joined in with her classmate for a Double Dropkick. But HIMAWARI turned the tables and locked Kazashiro in a Half Crab hold for the submission victory.

Juria Nagano was back in action after being gone for six months with a broken finger. The decision was made to have Nagano team with Moka Miyamoto because they were opponents on last year’s show. Nagano went back to using her Karate offence while relying on Miyamoto to make up for the holes in her game. Suzume used her speedy mobility to run circles around her opponents, keeping them in position for Arisu Endo to hit a Missile Dropkick on Miyamoto. Endo then put Nagano in the Camel Clutch, submitting her to give Daisy Monkey the win. Nagano said she’s been trying to build up her stamina to get ready for the match. Her goal is to win a match by herself again as soon as possible.

The Up Up Girls (Pro Wrestling) performed their new song “Rxck it Now” at the beginning of the show. Their new 5th member Uta was also introduced to the audience. her thing on the microphone is to review a different ice cream every show. Today’s recommendation is chocolate coffee flavour.

At the beginning of the show Sayuri Namba found out that voice actress Rica Matsumoto was doing special guest commentary today. Namba was so excited to find out the voice of Ash/Satoshi from Pokémon was here that she wore the character’s signature cap during the show opening announcements.

Aja Kong Vs Super Sasadango Machine was announced for the Niigata show on 5th August.

A team series challenge was recorded at an outdoor amusement park recently. It will air on PPV through Wrestle Universe on 27th July.


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

July 4, 2023

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1. Current Blast Death Match: Atsushi Onita Vs X

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

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


BAKA GAIJIN + FRIENDS “VOL. SIX: THE ART OF SELF DESTRUCTION” Results

July 4, 2023

BAKA GAIJIN + FRIENDS “VOL. SIX: THE ART OF SELF DESTRUCTION”, 04/07/2023
Tokyo ARENA Shimokitazawa
??? Fans

1. Special Tag Team Match: MAO & Chie Koishikawa defeated Takayuki Ueki & Mecha Mummy when MAO pinned Mummy with a Swanton Bomb (11:24).
2. Special Single Match: Minoru Fujita Vs Rina Yamashita ended in a Time Limit Draw (20:00).
3. Shota defeated Antonio Honda with a Cradle (6:11).
4. Special Single Match: Asuka defeated Masahiro Takanashi with a Michinoku Driver II (13:08).

No injury was going to keep Chris Brookes away from his own show! The latest adventures of Baka Gaijin + Friends placed Brookes in the ring announcer role, introducing all of the wrestlers and playing host to the crowd. He was also in good enough shape to get involved in the main event, interfering after a ref bump to help Masahiro Takanashi get the advantage on Asuka. The two on one attack by CDK caused MAO (in Drew Parker cosplay, more on that later) to run in and help Asuka even the odds. MAO and Brookes were soon out of the picture and the main event became a fair fight again. Asuka dropped Takanashi on the floor with a Michinoku Driver II to win the match.

A musical performance by Antonio Honda in the middle of the show was interrupted by the unexpected appearance of Shota from Ganbare☆Pro. He walked into ARENA Shimokitazawa to promote “WRESTLE SEKIGAHARA II” taking place this weekend. Honda at first allowed Shota to stand next to him but it was just to hit him with his guitar! Honda then took off his clothes revealing his wrestling gear underneath and challenged Shota to a match right away. Honda grabbed the show poster and gave Shota papercuts. However he ended up hurting his knee while charging the length of the room and tripping over the mat. He turned it into a Gongitsune attack but Shota turned the move back against him and rolled him up for the three count.

Normally Minoru Fujita and Rina Yamashita would both be up for a fight that would tear any room they are in apart. But the bar their match took place in today was very small and packed with people. They fought each other anyway but did so carefully through the crowd so they could get outside and have all the space they needed for a brawl. Given this is a Baka Gaijin show that means taking the fight up to the roof and standing over the glass ceiling. Thankfully they realized how dangerous that was and decided to arm wrestle over the glass before returning indoors. The match continued and they had a little bit of space to use a chair as a weapon. But the time limit eventually expired, ending the match in a draw. The two kept slapping, pushing and rolling into each other as they left the room in a huff.

The opening match was another chance for Chie Koishikawa to dress up as Brookes and pretend to wrestle like him. Her tag partner MAO took things one step further by showing up in full Drew Parker cosplay! He even had paper cutouts of darts that ended up getting jammed up his wig for a fake blood spot. Takayuki Ueki gave him a DDT afterwards for extra damage. However Ueki being the mad scientist he is made a mistake of feeding liquid to Mecha Mummy, causing the robot to malfunction and attack everybody with its Mecha Fist. Koishikawa stopped Mummy’s rampage with a Jumping Knee and then fired the Mecha Fist back at it. MAO then hit a Parker like Swanton Bomb to get the three count. However Ueki had the last laugh by revealing he collected some of MAO’s DNA during the match and will use it to modify Mecha Mummy into being more MAO-like in the future!

The next Baka Gaijin show will take place on 22nd August.