New Year’s Tag Changes, January Updates, Great Nita Returns, Tanaka Gets Title Shot

December 30, 2019

“NEW YEAR’S EVE WRESTLING 2019 ~TOSHIWASHURE! SHUFFLE TAG TOURNAMENT”, 31/12/2019
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Round 1A: Daichi Hashimoto & Akito Vs Konosuke Takeshita & Hideyoshi Kamitani
2. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Round 1B: Yasufumi Nakanoue & Yuki Iino Vs Yukio Sakaguchi & Kazuki Hashimoto
3. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Round 1C: HARASHIMA & Yuya Aoki Vs El Lindaman & Yukio Naya
4. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Round 1D: Yuji Okabayashi & Antonio Honda Vs Daisuke Sekimoto & Chris Brookes
5. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Round 1E: Ryuichi Kawakami & T-Hawk Vs Soma Takao & Kota Sekifuda
6. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Round 1F: Brahman Kei & Naomi Yoshimura Vs Tetsuya Endo & Takuya Nomura
7. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Round 1G: Yuko Miyamoto & Daisuke Sasaki Vs Yuki Ueno & Takuho Kato
8. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Round 1H: Takumi Tsukamoto & Kankuro Hoshino Vs Toshiyuki Sakuda & Shunma Katsumata
9. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Round 2: Winners Of Match 1A Vs Winners Of Match 1B
10. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Round 2: Winners Of Match 1C Vs Winners Of Match 1D
11. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Round 2: Winners Of Match 1E Vs Winners Of Match 1F
12. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Round 2: Winners Of Match 1G Vs Winners Of Match 1H
13. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Semi Final: X & X Vs X & X
14. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Semi Final: X & X Vs X & X
15. New Year’s Eve! Defeat Hunger! Very Funny! Special 6-Man Tag Match: Abdullah Kobayashi, Danshoku Dieno & Super Sasadango Machine Vs Tatsuhiko Yoshino, Drew Parker & Mizuki Watase
16. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Final: X & X Vs X & X

There is a flu going around this week and it hit the Big Japan roster pretty hard. A number of wrestlers had to pull out of shows this week either due to the flu or high fevers. Ryuji Ito, Isami Kodaka, Ryota Hama, Brahman Shu, Orca Uto and Yuki Ishikawa are all out of the New Year’s Eve show. This means five teams had to be changed with one team entirely getting replaced. The changes are as follows:

Konosuke Takeshita & Orca Uto -> Konosuke Takeshita & Hideyoshi Kamitani
Ryota Hama & Yuki Ueno -> Yuki Ueno & Takuho Kato
Brahman Brothers & Naomi Yoshimura -> Brahman Kei & Naomi Yoshimura
Isami Kodaka & Yuki Ishikawa -> Takumi Tsukamoto & Kankuro Hoshino
Ryuji Ito & Shunma Katsumata -> Toshiyuki Sakuda & Shunma Katsumata

DDT “NEW YEAR SPECIAL GIFT! ALL SEATS 2,000 YEN BOX OFFICE!! 2020”, 03/01/2020
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title – Time Difference Battle Royal: Toru Owashi (c) Vs Kazuki Hirata Vs Yuki Iino Vs Antonio Honda Vs Saki Akai Vs Gorgeous Matsuno Vs Mizuki Watase Vs Yukio Naya Vs Keigo Nakamura
2. Kazusada Higuchi & Yukio Sakaguchi Vs Mad Paulie & Hiroshi Yamato
3. New Year! Special 3 Way Match: Sanshiro Takagi Vs Danshoku Dieno Vs Super Sasadango Machine
4. HARASHIMA & Shinya Aoki Vs Masahiro Takanashi & Makoto Oishi
5. MAO Triumph Match: MAO Vs Shunma Katsumata
6. New Year! Special Worldwide Match: Masato Tanaka Vs Chris Brookes
7. Tetsuya Endo & X Vs Konosuke Takeshita & Akito
8. KO-D Tag Team Titles: Daisuke Sasaki & Soma Takao (c) Vs Yuki Ueno & Naomi Yoshimura

This is the match order for the first DDT show of 2020.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TOKYO JOSHI PRO ’20”, 04/01/2020
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Sena Shiori Debut Match: Sena Shiori & Makoto Kiryu Vs Haruna Neko & Mina Shirakawa
2. Shoko Nakajima Vs Hyper Misao
3. Saki Akai Vs Yuki Kamifuku
4. Aja Kong, Raku & Pom Harajuku Vs Yuna Manase, Mina Shirakawa & Mirai Maiumi
5. Natsumi Maki Return Match: Natsumi Maki Vs Sareee
6. Mizuki Vs Thunder Rosa
7. International Princess Title: Maki Itoh (c) Vs Hikari Noa
8. Princess Tag Team Titles: Rika Tatsumi & Miu Watanabe (c) Vs Nodoka Tenma & Yuki Aino
9. Princess Of Princess Title: Yuka Sakazaki (c) Vs Miyu Yamashita

And this is the match order for the first Tokyo Joshi Pro show of 2020.

DDT “NEW YEAR DRAMATIC ITABASHI SERIES 2020”, 05/01/2020
Tokyo Itabashi Green Hall

1. Kazusada Higuchi & Yukio Sakaguchi Vs Hiroshi Yamato & Keigo Nakamura
2. MAO Vs Makoto Oishi
3. O-40 Title: Gorgeous Matsuno (c) Vs Danshoku Dieno
4. KO-D Tag Team Titles: Daisuke Sasaki & Soma Takao (c) Vs Keisuke Ishii & Kazuki Hirata

The newly established team of Kazusada Higuchi & Yukio Sakaguchi are ready to cause havoc in DDT. Higuchi thinks the place just hasn’t been the same without him.

DDT “ROJO PRO WRESTLING IN HANDMADE IN JAPAN FES WINTER (2020)”, 11/01/2020
Tokyo Big Sight West 1.2 Hall

1. Falls Count Anywhere 4 Way Tag Match: Shunma Katsumata & Yuki Iino Vs Yuki Ueno & Naomi Yoshimura Vs Makoto Oishi & Yukio Naya Vs MAO & Keigo Nakamura

A new year and a new chance to take up a visit to the arts & crafts festival.

DDT “WRESTLE SHIOKONBU! 2020”, 12/01/2020
Osaka City Suminoe Maikon Hall

1. Akito Vs Tomomitsu Matsunaga
2. Kazusada Higuchi & Yukio Sakaguchi Vs Yuki Iino & Yukio Naya
3. Saki Akai “Okibariyasu” 7 Match Series – 3rd Match: Saki Akai Vs Rina Yamashita
4. DDT Extreme Title: HARASHIMA (c) Vs Pokotan (w/ Danshoku Dieno)
5. Yuni Kid Wrestler Graduation Countdown! Osaka Specialty 6-Man Tag Match: Konosuke Takeshita, Shunma Katsumata & Makoto Oishi Vs Yuki Ueno, Naomi Yoshimura & Yuni

Yuni will say farewell to his childhood as he gets ready for full-fledged pro wrestling training.

The 3rd opponent in Saki Akai’s series is Rina Yamashita. She has been making waves lately as a death match wrestler.

DDT “WRESTLE TOROROKOBU! 2020”, 13/01/2020
Osaka City Suminoe Maikon Hall

1. Saki Akai Vs Makoto Oishi
2. Hiroshi Yamato Vs Akito
3. Yuni Kid Wrestler Graduation Countdown! Special Tag Match In Osaka: Tetsuya Endo & Yuni Vs Toru Owashi & Yuki Ueno
4. KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles: Konosuke Takeshita, Shunma Katsumata & Yuki Iino (c) Vs Kuishinbo Kamen, Antonio Honda & Kazuki Hirata
5. DISASTER BOX Vs DAMNATION!: HARASHIMA & Naomi Yoshimura Vs Daisuke Sasaki & Mad Paulie

Oh shit what if Yuni joins DAMNATION when he’s old enough?

GANBARE☆WRESTLING “GANBARE☆ONITA OYA☆PRO WRESTLING RAISING A FLAG”, 13/01/2020
Osaka City Suminoe Maikon Hall

1. Special 3 Way Match: Miss Mongol Vs Ultimate Spider Jr. Vs Shuhei Washida
2. Special Single Match: Thunder Rosa Vs Itsuki Aoki
3. Special Single Match: Chris Brookes Vs Shinichiro Tominaga
4. Ganpro Special Tag Match: Keisuke Ishii & Yumehito Imanari Vs Shuichiro Katsumura & Kouki Iwasaki
5. Scramble Bunkhouse Street Fight 6-Man Tag Death Match: The Great Nita, Ken Ohka & Hiroaki Moriya Vs Kenichiro Arai, Guts Ishijima & Shota

Due to other commitments of the legal kind, Atsushi Onita is unable to wrestle on this show. However he already went and gotten his replacement. He found The Great Nita wandering around the Indian Ocean and heard Nita wanted to celebrate the new year in Japan. So Onita invited him to visit and take his place in the main event. This will be the first wrestling match for The Great Nita since August 2017.

Yukio Naya met with Onita and asked if he could be part of the next Bakuha Koshien show on 28th March. Onita will consider it if Naya renames himself Taiho III after his grandfather Taiho Koki.

DDT “SWEET DREAMS! 2020”, 26/01/2020
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. KO-D Openweight Title: HARASHIMA (c) Vs Masato Tanaka

In the D-Ou Grand Prix, the final block match between HARASHIMA and Masato Tanaka ended in a time limit draw. Out of this result Tanaka qualified for the final and ended up winning the tournament. But he will not consider DDT fully conquered until he can beat HARASHIMA. The KO-D Openweight Champion feels the same and is putting the title on the line for the chance to beat Tanaka.

GANBARE☆WRESTLING “GANBARE☆JOSHI PRO WRESTLING 2020”, 02/02/2020
Tokyo Oji BASEMENT MON☆STAR

1. GanJo Vs DDT Wrestling Classroom Full Battle – Count-Up Fall Match: X Vs Cherry
2. Special Singles Match – Jacket Match: HARUKAZE Vs Yuu
3. GanJo Vs DDT Wrestling Classroom Full Battle – 2 Count Fall Match: Moeka Haruhi Vs Banny Oikawa
4. GanJo Type Lariat Pro Wrestling: KEIKO, Beauty Suzuki & Eagle Washida Vs Shigeko Deluxe, Miss Mongol & Kokoro Suzuki
5. GanJo Vs DDT Wrestling Classroom Full Battle 6-Woman Tag Team Elimination Match: Moeka Haruhi, HARUKAZE & X Vs Cherry, Yuu & Banny Oikawa

Daisuke Kiso wanted the main event to definitively decided which team is better so he made it an Elimination Tag Match.

The 2 Count match was made to even the playing field between Moeka Haruhi and the less experienced Banny Oikawa.

Both HARUKAZE and Yuu will be wrestling in judo jackets because HARUKAZE wants the match to be entirely about grappling and groundwork.

The Count-Up Fall Match adds up the pinfall counts a wrestler makes. The first to reach their total count up to a predetermined number wins. Cherry’s opponent will be revealed on the day of the show. The mystery wrestler is hinted to be very beautiful and will also be a regular for Ganbare☆Wrestling in 2020.

Keisuke Ishii, Shigehiro Irie, Shota, Shuhei Washida and Shin Suzuki were all meant to be on the show but now they will not be there. Luckily a bunch of “joshi” replacements were quickly found.


BASARA’s December Show, Endo’s Homecoming, New Year’s 1st Round

December 6, 2019

BASARA “BASARA 114 ~BANQUET~”, 17/12/2019
Shin-Kiba 1st RING

1. FUMA, Yusuke Kubo, Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi & X Vs Takumi Tsukamoto, Yasu Urano, Masato Kamino & Daiki Shimomura Or Takato Nakano
2. Isami Kodaka Vs Daiki Shimomura Or Takato Nakano
3. Ryota Nakatsu & Naoki Tanizaki Vs Daichi Kazato & Tsutomu Oosugi
4. Takanashi Appears In The Turnabout Pro Wrestling Trial!: Gouma Ryu Vs Banana Senga Vs Masahiro Takanashi
5. IRON FIST TAG Titles Next Challenger Decision Match: Minoru Fujita & Ryuichi Sekine Vs Fuminori Abe & Takuya Nomura

The winner of the Daiki Shimomura Vs Takato Nakano match on 15th December will get to decide if they want to be in the 8-Man Tag Match or the singles match against Isami Kodaka. The loser will be put in the match the winner did not pick.

DDT “TETSUYA ENDO’S LOCAL TRIUMPH! D-OU GRAND PRIX 2020 PURSUIT BATTLE”, 21/12/2019
Miyagi White Cube

1. Yuki Iino Vs Keigo Nakamura
2. Masahiro Takanashi & Antonio Honda Vs Toru Owashi & Kazuki Hirata
3. 3 Way Match: Soma Takao Vs Akito Vs Mizuki Watase
4. Chris Brookes & Makoto Oishi Vs Yuki Ueno & Naomi Yoshimura
5. DDT Megatonweight Match: Bull James Vs Yukio Naya
6. Tag Match Of The Tohoku Hero & Gorgeous Matsuno: HARASHIMA & Gorgeous Matsuno Vs Danshoku Dieno & Hiroshi Yamato
7. Tetsuya Endo Local Triumph! Shiraishi Special 6-Man Tag Match: Daisuke Sasaki, Tetsuya Endo & Mad Paulie Vs Konosuke Takeshita, Shunma Katsumata & Jinsei Shinzaki

One week before the D-Ou Grand Prix final, DDT will be heading to Tetsuya Endo’s neck of the woods with Jinsei Shinzaki as the special main event guest.

Proceeds from the show will be donated to Shiraishi City for those who were affected by Typhoon Hagibis.

“NEW YEAR’S EVE WRESTLING 2019 ~TOSHIWASHURE! SHUFFLE TAG TOURNAMENT”, 31/12/2019
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Round 1A: Daichi Hashimoto & Akito Vs Konosuke Takeshita & Orca Uto
2. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Round 1B: Yasufumi Nakanoue & Yuki Iino Vs Yukio Sakaguchi & Kazuki Hashimoto
3. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Round 1C: HARASHIMA & Yuya Aoki Vs El Lindaman & Yukio Naya
4. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Round 1D: Yuji Okabayashi & Antonio Honda Vs Daisuke Sekimoto & Chris Brookes
5. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Round 1E: Ryuichi Kawakami & T-Hawk Vs Soma Takao & Kota Sekifuda
6. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Round 1F: Brahman Shu or Brahman Kei & Naomi Yoshimura Vs Tetsuya Endo & Takuya Nomura
7. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Round 1G: Yuko Miyamoto & Daisuke Sasaki Vs Ryota Hama & Yuki Ueno
8. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Round 1H: Isami Kodaka & Yuki Ishikawa Vs Ryuji Ito & Shunma Katsumata
9. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Round 2: Winners Of Match 1A Vs Winners Of Match 1B
10. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Round 2: Winners Of Match 1C Vs Winners Of Match 1D
11. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Round 2: Winners Of Match 1E Vs Winners Of Match 1F
12. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Round 2: Winners Of Match 1G Vs Winners Of Match 1H
13. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Semi Final: X & X Vs X & X
14. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Semi Final: X & X Vs X & X
15. New Year’s Eve! Defeat Hunger! Very Funny! Special 6-Man Tag Match: Abdullah Kobayashi, Danshoku Dieno & Super Sasadango Machine Vs Tatsuhiko Yoshino, Drew Parker & Mizuki Watase
16. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Final: X & X Vs X & X

The first two rounds are drawn. The semi-final match-ups will be randomly determined on the night.


New Year’s Eve Teams Picked

November 22, 2019

“NEW YEAR’S EVE WRESTLING 2019 ~TOSHIWASHURE! SHUFFLE TAG TOURNAMENT”, 31/12/2019
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Round 1: X & X Vs X & X
2. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Round 1: X & X Vs X & X
3. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Round 1: X & X Vs X & X
4. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Round 1: X & X Vs X & X
5. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Round 1: X & X Vs X & X
6. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Round 1: X & X Vs X & X
7. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Round 1: X & X Vs X & X
8. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Round 1: X & X Vs X & X
9. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Round 2: X & X Vs X & X
10. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Round 2: X & X Vs X & X
11. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Round 2: X & X Vs X & X
12. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Round 2: X & X Vs X & X
13. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Semi Final: X & X Vs X & X
14. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Semi Final: X & X Vs X & X
15. New Year’s Eve! Defeat Hunger! Very Funny! Special 6-Man Tag Match: Abdullah Kobayashi, Danshoku Dieno & Super Sasadango Machine Vs Tatsuhiko Yoshino, Drew Parker & Mizuki Watase
16. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Final: X & X Vs X & X

The teams have been drawn. They are:

Yuki Ishikawa & Isami Kodaka
Ryota Hama & Yuki Ueno
Yuko Miyamoto & Daisuke Sasaki
Takuya Nomura & Tetsuya Endo
Ryuichi Kawakami & T-Hawk
El Lindaman & Yukio Naya
Yasufumi Nakanoue & Yuki Iino
Kota Sekifuda & Soma Takao
Daichi Hashimoto & Akito
Yuji Okabayashi & Antonio Honda
Yuya Aoki & HARASHIMA
Ryuji Ito & Shunma Katsumata
Kazuki Hashimoto & Yukio Sakaguchi
Daisuke Sekimoto & Chris Brookes
Orca Uto & Konosuke Takeshita
Brahman Brothers & Naomi Yoshimura

Yuki Ishikawa & Isami Kodaka want to do death matches for the entire tournament. They are calling their team Death Match 4.6 because they represent the 4th and 6th generation of Japanese death match wrestlers. Kodaka promises to bring along a barbed wire board while Ishikawa will bring what he can from the Big Japan dojo.

Yuki Ueno is happy to team with an over 200kg super heavyweight in the form of Ryota Hama.

Yuko Miyamoto & Daisuke Sasaki have taken the team name LaLaToo. The name comes from a well known theatre in Sapporo that hosts transsexual stage shows.

Takuya Nomura wanted to call his team Nomura Army so he chose it without Tetsuya Endo’s permission. Endo accepts the name and will let Nomura make all of the decisions.

Ryuichi Kawakami has been told that his face is similar to T-Hawk’s so it must be good luck that they were drawn together. Their team name is W-Hawk.

Yukio Naya thought he was teaming with T-Hawk but he gets El Lindaman instead. Naya says he will do his best with Lindaman.

Yasufumi Nakanoue & Yuki Iino don’t know each other so they will go to Starbucks together and once they become good friends they can figure out what to call their team.

Kota Sekifuda brought along a stuffed toy lizard and had it perched on his shoulder. Since Soma Takao is from DAMNATION and Sekifuda likes lizards, Takao decided their team will be called HachuNATION.

Daichi Hashimoto & Akito have nothing in common. So after some brain storming they figured that Hashimoto debuted in ZERO1 and Akito’s first match was against Shinjiro Otani. So they are calling themselves Team Shinjiro Otani, or Otani-ism for short.

Yuji Okabayashi & Antonio Honda are called Los Angeles because it is also the Japanese title for “Death Wish 2”. Both of them are fans of the actor Charles Bronson. They told the rest of the teams to learn the synopsis of the movie in preparation for a match against them.

Yuya Aoki & HARASHIMA sees the BJW Jr. Heavyweight Champion and the KO-D Openweight Champion teaming together.

Ryuji Ito & Shunma Katsumata debuted on 29th April, 20 years apart. Obviously that means their team name should be named Team 4.29. Katsumata is nervous to team with Ito but he hopes to absorb as much death match knowledge as he can from him.

Kazuki Hashimoto & Yukio Sakaguchi previously teamed together at the 2015 New Year’s Eve show. They were eliminated in the first round. Hashimoto does not want that to happen again. If it does he will be hiding from Sakaguchi in the locker room.

If Daisuke Sekimoto is teaming with Chris Brookes does that mean he can join Schadenfreude?

Orca Uto & Konosuke Takeshita likes saunas and Orca Uto is a “heat wave master” so they are Team Are You All Set.

Last but not least, Naomi Yoshimura is stuck with The Brahman Brothers. He thinks it is ridiculous that he has to team with them but he may as well go along with their antics. His wrestling style is straightforward so maybe adopting their chaotic style will be beneficial to him.


Washida Has The Flu, Nakajima’s Return Match, New Year’s Wrestler List

November 14, 2019

GANBARE☆WRESTLING “EIGHT PILLARS DRAGON CASTLE 2019”, 16/11/2019
Aichi NGK Sports Plaza 3rd Stadium

1. Ganbare☆Wrestling Vs DEP All Out Battle Special Single Match: Shin Suzuki Vs Takaya Shibayama
2. Special Tag Match That Is Obsessed With The Distant Night Sky: Shuichiro Katsumura & Shinichiro Tominaga Vs Masked Mystery & Shota
3. Ganbare☆Wrestling Vs ~Barren Twitter’s Perfect Match~: Ken Ohka & Kouki Iwasaki Vs Kengo Takai & Intelligence Sensational Grand Passion Mask #4
4. Pocchari Joshi World Tryout: Yumehito Imanari Vs Nightshade
5. Ganjo Special Tag Match: Moeka Haruhi & HARUKAZE Vs Kaho Kobayashi & Konatsu
6. Independent World Jr. Heavyweight Title – Monthly Young Communication November Issue For Only Two People ~The First Time In Nine Years~: Keisuke Ishii (c) Vs Michio Kageyama

Shuhei Washida has the flu and is too sick to wrestle this weekend. Shin Suzuki takes his place.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “FALL TOUR ’19 ~BEST REGARDS~”, 23/11/2019
Shin-Kiba 1st RING

1. Shoko Nakajima Triumphant Return Special Tag Match: Yuka Sakazaki & Shoko Nakajima Vs X & X

When Shoko Nakajima returns from Mexico she teams with Yuka Sakazaki for a Miraclians reunion. Losing the Princess Of Princess Title to her is water under the bridge.

“NEW YEAR’S EVE WRESTLING 2019 ~TOSHIWASHURE! SHUFFLE TAG TOURNAMENT”, 31/12/2019
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

The team selections will take place on 22nd November.

The Big Japan wrestlers entering the tournament are Ryuji Ito, Daisuke Sekimoto, Yuji Okabayashi, Daichi Hashimoto, Ryota Hama, Ryuichi Kawakami, Yasufumi Nakanoue, Takuya Nomura, Orca Uto (what the hell kind of name change is that?), Yuya Aoki, Kazuki Hashimoto, Kota Sekifuda and Yuki Ishikawa.

The DDT wrestlers are Konosuke Takeshita, HARASHIMA, Daisuke Sasaki, Tetsuya Endo, Soma Takao, Yuki Ueno, Naomi Yoshimura, Yuki Iino, Antonio Honda, Yukio Sakaguchi, Yukio Naya, Akito and Shunma Katsumata.

But wait there’s more. There are wrestlers being booked who are labelled as outsiders. They are Chris Brookes, Yuko Miyamoto, Isami Kodaka, The Brahman Brothers, T-Hawk and El Lindaman.


Hitchiking Hirata, The Pocchaminator

August 9, 2019

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TOKYO JOSHI 2019 SUMMER ~SUNSHINE CARNIVAL~”, 10/08/2019
Tokyo Itabashi Green Hall

1. Yuki Kamifuku Vs Makoto Kiryu
2. Miu Watanabe Vs Unagi Himawari
3. Rika Tatsumi & Hikari Noa Vs Yuki Aino & YUMI
4. Natsumi Maki Vs Raku
5. Sakisama & Misao Vs Miyu Yamashita & Mirai Maiumi
6. Yuka Sakazaki Vs Pom Harajuku
7. Shoko Nakajima, Nodoka Tenma & Maki Itoh Vs Mizuki, Yuna Manase & Mina Shirakawa

A contract signing for the two title matches in Osaka next month will take place before this show begins.

DDT “CRY TO THE FIRE! 2019”, 10/08/2019
Hiroshima Aster Plaza Multipurpose Hall

1. Soma Takao, Nobuhiro Shimatani & Hiroshi Yamato Vs MAO, Mizuki Watase & Yukio Naya
2. Konosuke Takeshita & Shunma Katsumata Vs Makoto Oishi & Masahiro Takanashi
3. The Last Time Was Only A Signing Event, Danshoku Dieno Will Wrestle In Hiroshima For The First Time In A Year And Two Months 3 Way Match: Danshoku Dieno Vs Akito Vs Antonio Honda
4. Kazuki Hirata Marunage Match: Toru Owashi & Kazuki Hirata (w/ Sanshiro Takagi) Vs Kenshin Chikano & Rey Paloma
5. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title: Yukio Sakaguchi (c) Vs Yuki Ueno
6. Hiroshima Specialty! Special 6-Man Tag Team Match: Daisuke Sasaki, Tetsuya Endo & Mad Paulie Vs HARASHIMA, Naomi Yoshimura & Kazusada Higuchi

At the time of writing, Kazuki Hirata has spent at least half a day hitchhiking from Tokyo to Hiroshima. The last time I checked his Twitter account he was resting at a service station in Gifu. He’s been picked up by at least four different cars so far.

GANBARE☆WRESTLING “GANBARE MONSTER RED 2019”, 10/08/2019
Tokyo Itabashi Green Hall

1. East Japan Vs West Japan Full War!: Keisuke Ishii & Shuhei Washida Vs Takeshi Okada & Ryutaro Watanabe
2. Iwasaki Vs BJW All Out Match First Round: Kouki Iwasaki Vs Akira Hyodo
3. Jinjiryu! Ganjo Vs Actwres girl’Z All Round Fight Round 3: Moeka Haruhi & HARUKAZE Vs Miyuki Takase & Ayumi Hayashi
4. Ganpro Army Vs Real GUTS Army: Yumehito Imanari Vs X
5. Ganpro Army Vs Real GUTS Army: Miss Mongol Vs Shota
6. Ganpro Army Vs Real GUTS Army: Ken Ohka Vs Masked Mystery
7. A Phantom Dream! Single Match Of Fate!: Shuichiro Katsumura Vs Minoru Fujita

The big August weekend for Ganbare☆Wrestling is here.

GANBARE☆WRESTLING “GANBARE MONSTER GREEN 2019”, 11/08/2019
Tokyo Itabashi Green Hall

1. Ganpro Five Big Matches Of Scorching Heat: Shuhei Washida Vs Ryotaro Watanabe
2. Ganpro Five Big Matches Of Scorching Heat: HARUKAZE Vs Cherry
3. Ganpro Five Big Matches Of Scorching Heat: Keisuke Ishii Vs Chikara
4. Ganpro Five Big Matches Of Scorching Heat – Iwasaki Vs BJW All Out Match Second Round: Kouki Iwasaki Vs Ryuichi Kawakami
5. Independent World Jr. Heavyweight Title – Ganpro Five Big Matches Of Scorching Heat: Shuichiro Katsumura (c) Vs Takeshi Okada
6. GWC 6-Man Tag Team Titles: Ken Ohka, Yumehito Imanari & Miss Mongol (c) Vs Kenichiro Arai, Masked Mystery & Shota

Nothing new to add here either. Maybe Kouki Iwasaki can impress enough against the Big Japan wrestlers to get some BJW bookings in the future.

DDT “DRAMATIC I WILL DO IT 2019”, 11/08/2019
Kumamoto Ryutsujoho Hall

1. MAO Vs Mizuki Watase
2. Masahiro Takanashi Vs Hiroshi Yamato
3. DAMNATION Vs W Yukio!: Mad Paulie & Nobuhiro Shimatani Vs Yukio Sakaguchi & Yukio Naya
4. DAMNATION Vs ALL OUT!: Soma Takao & Tetsuya Endo Vs Akito & Shunma Katsumata
5. Danshoku Dieno & Makoto Oishi (w/ Yoshihiko) Vs Toru Owashi & Kazuki Hirata
6. Naomi Yoshimura Marunage Match: Naomi Yoshimura & Yuki Ueno Vs Kazusada Higuchi & Kodai Nozaki
7. Burn, The Country Of Fire! Fight, DDT! Kumamoto Specialty Special 4 Way Match: Konosuke Takeshita Vs HARASHIMA Vs Daisuke Sasaki Vs Antonio Honda

Luckily for Hirata he does not have to hitchhike his way from Hiroshima to Kumamoto.

BASARA “BASARA 103 ~BURNING SWORD~”, 11/08/2019
Tokyo Itabashi Green Hall

1. Daiki Shimomura Vs Daichi Kazato
2. Aiseki Tag Vs Aijin Tag: Fuminori Abe & Ikuto Hidaka Vs Takato Nakano & Masato Kamino
3. Ryota Nakatsu & Akiyori Takizawa Vs Takumi Tsukamoto & Yasu Urano
4. Sakigake!! Iron Family Tag Match To Reconfirm Their Bonds: FUMA & Yusuke Kubo Vs Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi & SAGAT
5. Union MAX Title: Ryuichi Sekine (c) Vs Isami Kodaka

Ryuichi Sekine won the Union MAX Title back in May. He is only getting his first defence now three months later.

DDT “WRESTLING TOKOTSU 2019”, 12/08/2019
Fukuoka Hakata Sazanpia

1. Shunma Katsumata Vs Hiroshi Yamato
2. 4 Way Match: Toru Owashi Vs Yuki Ueno Vs Yukio Sakaguchi Vs Lowther
3. Tetsuya Endo & Nobuhiro Shimatani Vs Yuto Aijima & Azul Dragon
4. Danshoku Dieno, Makoto Oishi & Kazusada Higuchi Vs Antonio Honda, Kazuki Hirata & Mizuki Watase
5. Daisuke Sasaki, Soma Takao & Mad Paulie Vs Masahiro Takanashi, MAO & Yukio Naya
6. Pokotan Marunage Match: Chair Vs Chair (Special Referee: Pokotan)
7. Hakata Specialty! Seimon Special Tag Match: Konosuke Takeshita & Akito Vs HARASHIMA & Naomi Yoshimura

The latest tour ends with a stop in Hakata.

DDT “IT IS DRAMATIC YEAH 2019”, 18/08/2019
Aichi Nagoya City Kashiwajima Sports Center

1. Hiroshi Yamato Vs Nobuhiro Shimatani
2. Toru Owashi & Naomi Yoshimura Vs Mizuki Watase & Yukio Naya
3. Biwajima Specialty! Kishimen, Hitabushi, Doteni, Miso 4 Way Match: Mad Paulie Vs Makoto Oishi Vs Masahiro Takanashi Vs Yuki Ueno
4. Shunma Katsumata Marunage Match – Toy Block Hardcore Match: Shunma Katsumata Vs MAO
5. Konosuke Takeshita & Akito Vs Antonio Honda & Intelligence Sensational Grand Passion Mask #4
6. Nagoya Specialty! Special 6-Man Tag Match: Daisuke Sasaki, Soma Takao & Tetsuya Endo Vs HARASHIMA, Kazuki Hirata & Kazusada Higuchi

Yukio Sakaguchi and Saki Akai will not be on the show because they will be at a New Taiwan Pro Wrestling show that day.

GANBARE☆WRESTLING “POCCHARI JOSHI PRO WRESTLING – P2 TRAINSPOTTING”, 20/08/2019
Shin-Kiba 1st RING

1. Special Poccha Libre Match ~American Drag Queen Vs Miss Jumbo~: Beauty Suzuki vs Himeka Arita
2. Pocchari Great Mothers Vs Mad Slender Army ~ Rainup War Without Jingi 2nd Season: Miss Mongol & Hamuko Hoshi Vs Moeka Haruhi & Banny Oikawa
3. Keiko Takeshita International Friendly Match – Keiko Beyond The Heart: Yumehito Imanari Vs Konosuke Takeshita
4. Pocchaminator Mana Connor Chronicles: Mana Connor (Yuna Manase) Vs Pocchaminator (P-800)

Yumehito Imanari is promising an “Innovative Invention Experiment” on the show called πMAX Digital Theater. Fans in attendance will be wearing special glasses to watch an extra large screen that is so immersive you will feel like you are inside a womb again. He is using this technology to screen one of Yuna Manase’s DVDs. Those who see it will feel like they are being wrapped around in Manase’s motherhood.

Manase doesn’t get what Imanari is trying to do, she is only focusing on her match. And er… at least I think it is a match. The set up is the main event features the Pocchaminator, a cyborg from the year 2050 that has traveled back in time to kill people who have a BMI value above a certain level on behalf of major advertising agencies. The resistance is led by one person. Not Yuna Manase but Mana Connor! If she cannot stop the P-800 then there is no future for Pocchari Joshi Pro!

Konosuke Takeshita’s mother Keiko is a special ambassador on the show. She will oversee the match between Imanari and her son. Imanari hopes that Keiko will show as much love for him as she does for her own son.

I thought this show was just supposed to be a Trainspotting parody…

DDT “OSAKA OCTOPUS 2019”, 01/09/2019
Osaka Edion Arena #2

1. Yukio Sakaguchi, Mizuki Watase & Yukio Naya Vs Yasu Urano, Antonio Honda & X
2. HARASHIMA & MAO Vs Jun Masaoka & Kohei Kinoshita
3. Osaka Octopus Cup Battle Royal: Masahiro Takanashi Vs Kazuki Hirata Vs Mad Paulie Vs Saki Akai Vs Asuka Vs Yuni Vs Puma King
4. DD Army Vs ALL OUT!: Danshoku Dieno & Maku Donaruto Vs Akito & Shunma Katsumata
5. DAMNATION Vs DISASTER BOX!: Shuji Ishikawa & Tetsuya Endo Vs Yuki Ueno & Naomi Yoshimura
6. O-40 Title: Sanshiro Takagi (c) Vs Ken Ohka
7. KO-D Tag Team Titles: Daisuke Sasaki & Soma Takao (c) Vs Jiro Kuroshio & Kazusada Higuchi
8. KO-D Openweight Title: Konosuke Takeshita (c) Vs Shinya Aoki

The mystery wrestler will reveal themselves at the 25th August Korakuen Hall show. Whoever it is, they approached DDT to be booked for “OSAKA OCTOPUS 2019”.

DDT “MASAHIRO TAKANASHI BOX OFFICE ~FOLLOW ME, THE DREAM IS STILL AHEAD~”, 15/09/2019
Tokyo Ryogoku KFC Hall

1. Ryogoku Gauntlet Tag Match: Antonio Honda & Riho Vs Hoshitango & Kazusada Higuchi Vs Emi Sakura & Cherry Vs Yusuke Inokuma & MAO Vs Toru Owashi & Kazuki Hirata Vs Konosuke Takeshita & Gorgeous Matsuno Vs Saki Akai & Mei Suruga
2. Kagetora & Yukio Sakaguchi Vs HARASHIMA & Yuki Ueno
3. Masahiro Takanashi Vs Danshoku Dieno

How long has it been since Yusuke Inokuma wrestled in DDT? He did show up at last year’s Masahiro Takanashi produced show but he was there as Yoshihiko’s handler. Last match I found him in was for the final Union Pro event in 2015.


GANBARE☆WRESTLING “LAST DANCE IS FOR ME 2019” Results

July 17, 2019

GANBARE☆WRESTLING “LAST DANCE IS FOR ME 2019”, 17/07/2019
Shin-Kiba 1st RING
141 Fans

1. If It Fights, It Is a Man! The Gate Of Confrontation Has Finally Been Opened!!: Ultra Soki & Yuta Suzuki defeated Kouki Iwasaki & Shuhei Washida when Soki pinned Washida with the Nishime Otoshi (10:55).
2. Kochoranbu! Ganjo Vs Actwres girl’Z All Round Fight Round 2: Moeka Haruhi & HARUKAZE defeated Momo Tani & Ayumi Hayashi when Haruhi pinned Tani with the 79.5MHz (10:38).
3. Great Conflict That Is Not Over Yet! Momota Family Vs Naoshi Sano: Naoshi Sano defeated Chikara with an Axe Bomber (11:15).
4. Ganpro Vs P.P.P. Full Battle: Keisuke Ishii defeated Mitomi Masayuki with the High Angle Double Arm DDT (10:32).
5. Independent World Jr. Heavyweight Title: Shuichiro Katsumura (c) defeated Hiroshi Yamato with the Ninja Choke (19:22).
*V2 for Shuichiro Katsumura.
6. GWC 6-Man Tag Team Titles – 20th Champions Decision Match: Ken Ohka, Yumehito Imanari & Miss Mongol defeated Guts Ishijima, Masked Mystery & Shota when Mongol pinned Shota with a Cross Body (13:06).
*GPW become the 20th GWC 6-Man Tag Team Champions!

Miss Mongol thanked Ken Ohka & Yumehito Imanari for giving her the opportunities to wrestle even at her age. Before the show took place Mongol contacted Atsushi Onita for permission to close out the show the same way he used to. Onita gave her his blessing but after she did it, the Real GUTS Army attacked them. Shota said today’s result was a fluke and he demanded some rematches to take place on 10th and 11th August. Guts Ishijima won’t be at the 10th August show because he already has a booking with 666. Shota promised to bring along a replacement.

Minoru Fujita approached Shuichiro Katsumura after the semi-main and asked for a match with him. Fujita originally promised he would never come back to Ganbare☆Wrestling but he really wants to wrestle Katsumura. They agreed to have a match on 10th August but the Independent World Jr. Heavyweight Title will not be on the line.

Naoshi Sano beat Chikara clean then challenged Mitsuo Momota to a match. However Momota had another idea. It is clear that he and his son cannot beat Sano so rather then fight him again, they should all team up instead! That would be a better way for them to study Sano’s strength. Sano and Chikara were both puzzled by the idea but Momota convinced them to try it out.

Ken Ohka had some big news for Kouki Iwasaki. Next month he is going to have a couple of opponents from Big Japan coming in! Iwasaki faces Akira Hyodo on 10th August and Ryuichi Kawakami on the 11th!

Ohka and Shuhei Washida attempted to Bottle Cap Challenge before the show began but they both failed. So they changed the rules into a water drinking contest. Washida beat Ohka.


“NEW YEAR’S EVE WRESTLING 2018 ~TOSHIWASHURE! SHUFFLE TAG TOURNAMENT” Results

December 31, 2018

“NEW YEAR’S EVE WRESTLING 2018 ~TOSHIWASHURE! SHUFFLE TAG TOURNAMENT”, 31/12/2018
Tokyo Korakuen Hall
1,242 Fans – No Vacancy

1. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Round 1: Daisuke Sekimoto & Yuki Iino defeated Ryota Hama & Antonio Honda (w/ Jaki Numazawa) when Sekimoto submitted Honda with a Scorpion Lock (6:26).
2. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Round 1: Yuji Okabayashi & Yukio Sakaguchi defeated Takuya Nomura & Kazuki Hirata when Okabayashi submitted Hirata with the Argentine Backbreaker (6:57).
3. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Round 1: Yuko Miyamoto & Konosuke Takeshita defeated Brahman Kei & Masahiro Takanashi (w/ Brahman Shu) when Miyamoto submitted Takanashi with a Cross Armbreaker (5:53).
4. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Round 1: Takayuki Ueki & Mike Bailey defeated Great Kojika & Sammy Guevara when Ueki pinned Kojika with a School Boy (6:44).
5. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Round 1: Yuya Aoki & MAO defeated Tatsuhiko Yoshino & Tetsuya Endo when Aoki pinned Yoshino with a Modified Backslide Pin (7:37).
6. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Round 1: Daichi Hashimoto & Daisuke Sasaki defeated Yoshihisa Uto & Sanshiro Takagi (w/ Hideki Suzuki) when Hashimoto pinned Takagi with the Shining Wizard (1:22).
7. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Round 1: Yasufumi Nakanoue & Kazusada Higuchi defeated Minoru Fujita & Soma Takao when Higuchi pinned Takao with a Cradle (5:38).
8. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Round 1: Masashi Takeda & HARASHIMA defeated Ryuji Ito & Yuki Ueno when Takeda pinned Ueno with a One Man Conchairto (6:50).
9. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Round 2: Yuji Okabayashi & Yukio Sakaguchi defeated Daisuke Sekimoto & Yuki Iino when Sakaguchi pinned Iino with the God’s Right Knee (9:50).
10. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Round 2: Yuko Miyamoto & Konosuke Takeshita defeated Takayuki Ueki & Mike Bailey when Miyamoto submitted Ueki with a Heel Hold (9:21).
11. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Round 2: Daichi Hashimoto & Daisuke Sasaki defeated Yuya Aoki & MAO when Sasaki submitted Aoki with the Cross Facelock (9:14).
12. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Round 2: Yasufumi Nakanoue & Kazusada Higuchi Vs Masashi Takeda & HARASHIMA ended in a Time Limit Draw (10:00).
12a. Sudden Death – 1 Count Fall: Masashi Takeda & HARASHIMA defeated Yasufumi Nakanoue & Kazusada Higuchi when HARASHIMA pinned Higuchi with a Jackknife Pin (0:41).
13. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Semi Final: Yuji Okabayashi & Yukio Sakaguchi defeated Daichi Hashimoto & Daisuke Sasaki when Okabayashi pinned Hashimoto with the Golem Splash (10:07).
14. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Semi Final: Yuko Miyamoto & Konosuke Takeshita Vs Masashi Takeda & HARASHIMA ended in a Time Limit Draw (15:00).
14a. Sudden Death – 1 Count Fall: Yuko Miyamoto & Konosuke Takeshita defeated Masashi Takeda & HARASHIMA when Takeshita pinned HARASHIMA with a Rolling Leg Clutch (1:54).
15. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Final: Yuko Miyamoto & Konosuke Takeshita defeated Yuji Okabayashi & Yukio Sakaguchi when Takeshita pinned Sakaguchi with the Fable (13:10).

The annual New Year’s tradition of a massive inter-promotional tournament in Korakuen Hall is back again. The teams all contained one Big Japan wrestler and one DDT wrestler although a few had an extra wrestler aiding them from ringside one way or another. Let’s get through this marathon.

Round 1

Muscle Wolf Vs Hama Ton
Antonio Honda was able to poke Daisuke Sekimoto in the eyes with Gongitsune but Yuki Iino was one step ahead and countered Honda with a nipple pinch when the attack was aimed at him. This is the point where Ryota Hama thinks his team lost the match. From there Sekimoto gave Honda an Atomic Drop and then submitted him with a Scorpion Deathlock. Jaki Numazawa was in Hama & Honda’s corner for the match. He blames himself for the team losing.

Bald & Blonde Vs ☆Team Nomura☆
Takuya Nomura came out dressed like Kazuki Hirata. The two were about to dance for their entrance when Yukio Sakaguchi immediately attacked Hirata. Nomura stood up to his opponents with his kicks but his momentum was purposely stopped by Hirata so he could tag in. Hirata’s knock out chop worked against Yuji Okabayashi although it took a few moments for it to take effect. Nomura & Hirata got to do their dance but unbeknownst to them, Okabayashi & Sakaguchi got up behind them also wearing Hirata Go glasses! The bald and blonde wrestlers beat up their opponents along to the music until Okabayashi submitted Hirata with the Argentine Backbreaker. Nomura said he doesn’t remember anything after he put on the glasses. He also never learned Hirata’s dance and blames that for the loss. On the bright side, Hirata thinks there are infinite possibilities for them together as a team. He hopes they work together again so he can harness that power to beat Sakaguchi!

Nishinari Elite Yankee Konosuke And Joshi Pro Wrestling’s Strongest Man Vs Toryumon Refugees
This year Yuko Miyamoto has been promoting himself as the strongest Joshi wrestler in Japan. In the opening round he was going to prove it by transforming himself into Shinobu Kandori! He entered to Kandori’s song “GET IT BACK” and wore an identical costume to hers. Maybe she would have found it funny but she was too busy losing her shit at a Brazilian She Hulk over at the RIZIN show during this time. Masahiro Takanashi and the Brahman Brothers also paid a tribute of their own to their mentor Ultimo Dragon by entering to his music. Brahman Shu was also wearing an Ultimo Dragon mask. The usual Brahmans plunder came out like their suitcase and bowling ball. Konosuke Takeshita threw the briefcase at Takanashi then handled the Brahmans while Miyamoto scrambled with Takanashi. Miyamoto rolled Takanashi into a Cross Armbreaker for the submission victory. He and Takanashi then gave the Brahmans a taste of their own medicine by doing the bowling ball spot on them. Backstage Takanashi & Brahman Kei begged Shu/Dragon for forgiveness. Kei/Dragon demanded they become Toryumon trainees againt and pay the tuition fees along with it.

Japan-US 4 Dimensional Combination Vs Team Let’s Go
Takayuki Ueki & Mike Bailey got along great, screaming “Let’s Go!” at everyone and each other for the entire match. Bailey was also wearing his own Ueki’s style shirt with his name on it. Sammy Guevara gave both of them the middle finger and The Great Kojika did the same later. Kojika got into a strike exchange with Bailey until Ueki snuck in a School Boy to pin him. Kojika enjoyed teaming with Guevara and wants to do it again next year. Guevara asked Kojika how old he was. Kojika said he was 60…

2nd Generation Party Boys Vs Cherry Boys On The Run
Tetsuya Endo wasn’t eager to team with Tatsuhiko Yoshino. He had to be encouraged down to the ring by Yoshino and Kota Sekifuda. During the match MAO put Endo in a Crab Hold and Endo couldn’t move. Sekifuda got into the ring and along with the audience taught Endo how to reach the ropes. Endo tried to follow the instructions but MAO dragged him back into the centre and Yoshino had to break up the hold. When Yoshino got tagged in the match became more cheeky when he pulled down the back of Yuya Aoki & MAO’s tights, exposing their backsides. Endo & Yoshino would end up having the back of their tights pulled back too. Aoki put an end to the match by backsliding Yoshino into a pin and bridging over on top of him for the pin. Endo told Yoshino he would be muting him on Twitter because of what happened.

Super Fighting Three Musketeers Vs Black Tri-Stars
This was weird. Daichi Hashimoto & Daisuke Sasaki came out doing a mashup act of The Three Musketeers: Daichi’s father Shinya Hashimoto, Masahiro Chono and Keiji Muto. They were supposed to fight Yoshihisa Uto & Sanshiro Takagi with Hideki Suzuki in their corner but they were nowhere to be found. Instead the Black Tri-Star Gundams appeared! They circled around Korakuen Hall until they finally attacked. Sasaki grabbed their cannon and struck them with it. Hashimoto then channeled Muto and his chronic knee pain to hit the Shining Wizard and win the match. The Black Tri-Stars fled but not before attacking Mita Sayoko at the commentary table along the way.

Team Katagi Vs MudNATION
Yasufumi Nakanoue carried a wooden sword to the ring and acted like Kazusada Higuchi’s mentor for the match. Nakanoue tried to strike Soma Takao with the sword but he moved and Higuchi took the blow. Minoru Fujita grabbed the sword and tried to attack Higuchi. Higuchi also moved out of the ring and Takao got hit. That allowed Higuchi to cradle Takao for the three count. Both Fujita & Takao said they couldn’t hear each other during the match and would have needed subtitles to communicate better.

Team A Line Vs Crazy Smile
Yuki Ueno got in the death match mood by dressing up like Ryuji Ito and asking for the match to be held under Hardcore rules. On the other side, Masashi Takeda wore one of HARASHIMA’s ring jackets for his entrance and wanted to wrestle a normal match. Chairs were brought into the ring anyway and were used a lot. Ueno didn’t hesitate to hit his DISASTER BOX leader HARASHIMA with a chair but that meant HARASHIMA also would not hold back when the roles were reversed. Takeda wasn’t able to hit the Reverse U-Crash, Ueno countered it into a Cradle for a nearfall. Takeda instead placed a chair on top of Ueno’s face then hit it with another chair to keep Ueno down for the pin count. Ito & Ueno admitted they did not communicate with each other much before the show. They only shared 4 or 5 direct messages with each other. If they team up again they promise to message each other more.

Round 2

Muscle Wolf Vs Bald & Blonde
Big lads collided a bunch to kick off the second round. In the dying seconds of the match Sakaguchi hit Iino with the God’s Right Knee to get the win. Iino thinks he pulled a muscle in his leg after doing the Spear. However he says he learned a lot teaming with Sekimoto and will use it to win the KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles in DDT on 3rd January. Iino and Sekimoto also promised to keep in touch through DMs.

Nishinari Elite Yankee Konosuke And Joshi Pro Wrestling’s Strongest Man Vs Team Let’s Go
Ueki came up with the perfect plan to counter Miyamoto’s Shinobu Kandori tribute. He came out dressed as Aja Kong! Bailey also joined in by having his face painted like Kong’s. The Kandori Vs Kong match up was historically accurate until Ueki lost his temper and pulled out his gun. Ueki then crotched himself on the top rope and Miyamoto submitted him with a Heel Hold. Ueki admitted that Miyamoto really is the world’s strongest male Joshi wrestler.

Cherry Boys On The Run Vs Super Fighting Three Musketeers
Hashimoto continued the Muto tribute by putting Aoki in the Figure 4 Leg Lock. Sasaki was put in danger after MAO dove onto him. However Sasaki avoided Aoki’s Tiger Suplex and trapped him in the Cross Facelock. Aoki fought to reach the ropes but Sasaki rolled him back into the centre and made him tap out. MAO felt regretful because their elimination from the tournament means the Cherry Boys’ youth has come to an end and they now have to become adults. Maybe it’s not all bad though. MAO heard that a 23 year old’s sex drive is bigger than an 18 year old’s. So maybe he can still work hard when he reaches the ripe old age of 23…

Team Katagi Vs Crazy Smile
The first time limit draw of the show happened here. This time HARASHIMA got into Takeda’s state of mind by wearing Takeda’s entrance gear to the ring. He held Higuchi in place for Takeda to stick a bundle of bamboo skewers into his head. Higuchi then got revenge by sticking skewers in HARASHIMA’s head. They scrambled for a pin but the 10 minute time limit was reached. The match restarted with One Count Pinfall rules to determine the winners. Higuchi went for the Doctor Bomb but HARASHIMA countered it into a Jackknife for the one count victory. Backstage Higuchi took responsibility for the “scandal” of his team losing. He is blessed to have a “big brother” like Nakanoue looking over him. Nakanoue then told him the team was disbanded and he walked out of the room, leaving Higuchi all alone.

Semi Finals

Bald & Blonde Vs Super Fighting Three Musketeers
The semi final lottery paired Okabayashi & Sakaguchi against Hashimoto & Sasaki. Things kicked off literally with Sakaguchi and Hashimoto laying into each other with kicks. Okabayashi blasted Sasaki with a Lariat then added another Lariat with the God’s Right Knee to combo Hashimoto. Sakaguchi kicked Sasaki away while Okabayashi pinned Hashimoto with the Golem Splash. Sasaki blamed Hashimoto for drawing a Muto Kitty on his shirt instead of the Muto Bear. He then came up with an idea to go drink at Seiji Sakaguchi’s house. Hashimoto tried to follow him but he still had Muto’s knee pain to deal with.

Nishinari Elite Yankee Konosuke And Joshi Pro Wrestling’s Strongest Man Vs Crazy Smile
Miyamoto ditched the Shinobu Kandori jokes and wrestled as his normal self for the rest of the show. Takeshita also wore custom made Yankee gear to match with his tag partner. Another time limit draw happened this time with 15 minutes not being enough to get a result. Sudden death did not immediately begin because the draw happened minutes before 2018 ended and 2019 would begin. The locker room emptied out for the countdown and everyone celebrate the New Year! Overtime then began and HARASHIMA went for the Somato on Takeshita. Takeshita moved and HARASHIMA crashed into the corner. Miyamoto then hit a Somato to HARASHIMA from behind and Takeshita used a Rolling Leg Clutch to pin HARASHIMA for the one count! Takeda & HARASHIMA both had fun teaming together. Takeda was praised for the big success he is currently achieving. HARASHIMA hopes to reach a similar level in 2019. Takeda also talked about Abdullah Kobayashi who was originally supposed to team with HARASHIMA on this show before suffering a shoulder injury.

Sumo Hall Announcements

The first big news of 2019 is DDT and Big Japan announcing a Sumo Hall double header happening this November. DDT runs Sumo Hall on 3rd November and Big Japan has their show on the 4th. Both Sanshiro Takagi and Eiji Kosaka acted like they didn’t expect the other to make their announcement. Yukinori Matsui went ahead with setting up the ticket sales for both shows anyway. Both companies see the situation as friendly competition. They would like to make hundreds of millions of yen this year but may need something like a donation from Floyd Mayweather to make that happen.

Final

Bald & Blonde Vs Nishinari Elite Yankee Konosuke And Joshi Pro Wrestling’s Strongest Man
Is this definitely the first pro wrestling match of 2019 around the world? Let’s go with that until somebody says otherwise. With no time limit, a winner must be decided definitively. Takeshita got rid of Okabayashi with a German Suplex followed by a Somato from Miyamoto. Sakaguchi aimed the God’s Right Knee at Takeshita but it was blocked and turned into a Reverse Implant Driver. Takeshita ended the night by hitting the Fable on Sakaguchi to win the tournament! Takeshita thanked Miyamoto for helping him reach the final for the 4th year in a row. Miyamoto promised to get his own custom Takeshita gear to return the favour for Takeshita’s costume. Takeshita ended the show by saying both DDT and Big Japan will do their best not to lose against the larger pro wrestling companies this year. The Sumo Hall double header in November will show that.

Japan Indie Grand Prix Awards

There was a break after the 2nd Round for the Japan Indie Grand Prix Awards ceremony to be held. Masashi Takeda dominated the contest by winning the MVP award and being featured FOUR times in the Best Match category! He hopes to become a triple champion in 2019. Isami Kodaka wants to win Best Bout again in 2019 but this time as the match winner. El Lindaman accepted the Best Unit Award on behalf of #STRONGHEARTS. He said 2019 will be an important year not just for the unit but also OWE. He personally also wants to win another championship so he can be a double champion. Best Newcomer Syuuou Fujiwara couldn’t be at the show but he was able to send in a video message. In the message Fujiwara said he is upset that Mita Sayoko is being physically given the award instead of him. He threatened to come down to Samurai! TV studio to take it back. When Eiji Kosaka accepted the Best Show Award for BJW’s Sumo Hall show, he promised to protect Mita from Fujiwara because she is his favourite Mita.

MVP
1. Masashi Takeda
2. Hideki Suzuki
3. Syuuou Fujiwara
4. Masahiro Takanashi
5. Minoru Fujita

Best Bout
1. Masashi Takeda Vs Isami Kodaka (Big Japan, 20th June)
2. Hideki Suzuki Vs Daisuke Sekimoto (Big Japan, 11th November)
3. Masashi Takeda Vs Violent Jack (FREEDOMS, 2nd May)
4. Masashi Takeda Vs Jun Kasai (Jun Kasai Produce, 28th August)
5. Masashi Takeda Vs Masaya Takahashi (Big Japan, 11th November)

Best Unit
1. #STRONGHEARTS
2. Kobayashi-gun
3. Arrival
4. DAMNATION
5. 3rd Generation Bloody Brothers

Best Box Office
1. Big Japan at Sumo Hall, 11th November
2. DDT at Sumo Hall, 21st October
3. Jun Kasai Produce at Korakuen Hall, 28th August
4. Masahiro Takanashi Produce at Ryogoku KFC Hall, 8th July
5. Guts World at Shinjuku FACE, 15th April

Best Newcomer
1. Syuuou Fujiwara
2. Yuya Aoki
3. Koju Takeda
4. Yoshihisa Uto
5. Ayame Sasamura


Yoshimura Injury Update, Hyper Misao Taking A Break, Last News Before New Year’s

December 30, 2018

Naomi Yoshimura suffered a cervical sprain from today’s match when he took a Pedigree from Daisuke Sasaki and spiked his head into the canvas. He was allowed to go home from the hospital but decided to stay because he still feels numbness in his neck. There is no date yet for his return to the ring and his match against Sasaki on 3rd January has been cancelled.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “UP UP GIRLS (PRO WRESTLING) PRO WRESTLING WOMEN’S FESTIVAL”, 31/12/2018
Tokyo Shibuya GARRET

1. Hinano & Raku Vs Makoto Oishi & Hyper Misao
2. Hikari & Miu Vs Miyu Yamashita & Shoko Nakajima

The Up Up Girls (Fake) are making their return to ruin the big day for the real Up Up Girls (Pro Wrestling) group.

“NEW YEAR’S EVE WRESTLING 2018 ~TOSHIWASHURE! SHUFFLE TAG TOURNAMENT”, 31/12/2018
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Round 1: Daisuke Sekimoto & Yuki Iino Vs Ryota Hama & Antonio Honda
2. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Round 1: Yuji Okabayashi & Yukio Sakaguchi Vs Takuya Nomura & Kazuki Hirata
3. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Round 1: Yuko Miyamoto & Konosuke Takeshita Vs Brahman Shu or Brahman Kei & Masahiro Takanashi
4. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Round 1: Great Kojika & Sammy Guevara Vs Takayuki Ueki & Mike Bailey
5. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Round 1: Tatsuhiko Yoshino & Tetsuya Endo Vs Yuya Aoki & MAO
6. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Round 1: Daichi Hashimoto & Daisuke Sasaki Vs Yoshihisa Uto & Sanshiro Takagi (w/ Hideki Suzuki)
7. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Round 1: Yasufumi Nakanoue & Kazusada Higuchi Vs Minoru Fujita & Soma Takao
8. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Round 1: Ryuji Ito & Yuki Ueno Vs Masashi Takeda & HARASHIMA
9. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Round 2: Winners Of Match #1 Vs Winners Of Match #2
10. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Round 2: Winners Of Match #3 Vs Winners Of Match #4
11. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Round 2: Winners Of Match #5 Vs Winners Of Match #6
12. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Round 2: Winners Of Match #7 Vs Winners Of Match #8
13. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Semi Final: X & X Vs X & X
14. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Semi Final: X & X Vs X & X
15. Shuffle Tag Tournament – Final: X & X Vs X & X

The year ends with this ridiculous card. How many of these matches will be shorter than Floyd Mayweather Vs Tenshin Nasukawa?

DDT “DDT LIVE! MAJI MANJI SUPER ~ NEW YEAR BALL SPECIAL! ALL SEATS 2,000 YEN BOX OFFICE!! 2019”, 03/01/2019
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Heisei’s Last Back Comparison: El Lindaman Vs Nobuhiro Shimatani
2. 3 Way Tag Match: MAO & Jun Kasai Vs Super Sasadango Machine & Antonio Honda Vs Kazusada Higuchi & Mizuki Watase
3. DISASTER BOX Vs DAMNATION!: HARASHIMA, Toru Owashi, Kazuki Hirata, Yuki Ueno & Keisuke Ishii Vs Daisuke Sasaki, Soma Takao, Tetsuya Endo, Mad Paulie & Puma King
4. Sake & Tears & Men & Women & Foreigners & Former Wrestlers: KUDO, Yukio Sakaguchi, Masahiro Takanashi & Saki Akai Vs Mike Bailey, Sammy Guevara, Veda Scott & Hoshitango
5. New Year’s Day! Burst Out Laughing! First Laughter Rumble: Kuishinbo Kamen Vs Atsushi Maruyama Vs Gorgeous Matsuno Vs Tiger Mask V (Self-Proclaimed) Vs Hen China (Jury: Sanshiro Takagi & Makoto Oishi)
6. Kota Umeda “Mad Dog” 7 Match Series – 6th Match: Daichi Hashimoto Vs Kota Umeda
7. KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles: CIMA, T-Hawk & Duan Yingnan (c) Vs Konosuke Takeshita, Akito & Yuki Iino
8. DDT Extreme Title – Boxing Glove Match: Shinya Aoki (c) Vs Tanomusaku Toba (w/ Hayato Sakurai)

With the KO-D Openweight Title match cancelled it gets replaced with a 10-Man Tag between DAMNATION and DISASTER BOX. That match was already planned as an 8-Man Tag but now Daisuke Sasaki and Keisuke Ishii have been added to it. Looking at the schedule page on DDT’s official website they are now listing the DDT Extreme Title match as the new main event.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TOKYO JOSHI PRO ’19”, 04/01/2019
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Nodoka Tenma & Yuki Aino Vs Millie McKenzie & X
2. 3 Way Match: Hyper Misao Vs Yuna Manase Vs Veda Scott
3. Marika Kobashi Return Battle: Marika Kobashi, Mina Shirakawa, Haruna Neko & Pom Harajuku Vs Raku, Hikari, Hinano & Miu
4. Unagi Himawari Debut Match: Saki Akai & YUMI Vs Yuki Kamifuku & Unagi Himawari
5. Special Single Match: Meiko Satomura Vs Reika Saiki
6. TOKYO Princess Tag Team Titles: Yuka Sakazaki & Mizuki (c) Vs Shoko Nakajima & Riho
7. TOKYO Princess Of Princess Title: Miyu Yamashita (c) Vs Maki Ito

Hyper Misao will take a leave of absence after 5th January for personal reasons. She is taking time off to go on a journey and explore new ways of being a hero. She apologises for the sudden and selfish decision but promises to come back.

DDT “HANDMADE IN JAPAN FESTIVAL WINTER (2019)”, 12/01/2019
Tokyo Big Sight West Hall Music & Play Area

1. Falls Count Anywhere 3 Way Tag Match: Sanshiro Takagi & Yuki Iino Vs Kazusada Higuchi & Kota Umeda Vs MAO & Mizuki Watase

This is happening on the same day as a Monorail Pro Wrestling match.


DDT “D-OU GRAND PRIX 2019 IN HAKATA” Results

December 9, 2018

DDT “D-OU GRAND PRIX 2019 IN HAKATA”, 09/12/2018
Hakata Star Lanes
379 Fans – No Vacancy

1. Yukio Sakaguchi, Masahiro Takanashi & Mizuki Watase defeated Soma Takao, Nobuhiro Shimatani & Azul Dragon when Sakaguchi submitted Shimatani with the Modified Cobra Clutch (8:55).
2. Lucha Libre Rules: Toru Owashi, Kazuki Hirata, Yuki Ueno & Yuto Aijima defeated Mike Bailey, Antonio Honda, Kota Umeda & Yuki Iino when Hirata pinned Honda with the Miracle One Shot Cradle (11:36).
3. D-Ou Grand Prix 2019 – A Block: Puma King (4) defeated Akito (4) with a Romero Special (10:28).
4. D-Ou Grand Prix 2019 – A Block: Kazusada Higuchi (6) defeated MAO (4) with the Doctor Bomb (13:46).
5. D-Ou Grand Prix 2019 – B Block: Sammy Guevara (6) defeated Tetsuya Endo (6) with the 450 Splash (11:59).
6. D-Ou Grand Prix 2019 – A Block: HARASHIMA (4) defeated Daisuke Sasaki (4) with the Somato (15:47).
7. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title – D-Ou Grand Prix 2019 – B Block: Konosuke Takeshita (4) defeated Shinya Aoki (c) (6) with the German Suplex (8:53).
*Konosuke Takeshita becomes the 1,342nd champion.

A Block

1. Go Shiozaki (6)
-. Kazusada Higuchi (6)
3. Akito (4)
-. MAO (4)
-. Daisuke Sasaki (4)
-. Puma King (4)
-. HARASHIMA (4)

B Block

1. Shinya Aoki (6)
-. Tetsuya Endo (6)
-. Sammy Guevara (6)
4. Mike Bailey (4)
-. Konosuke Takeshita (4)
6. Masahiro Takanashi (2)
-. Soma Takao (2)

Shinya Aoki’s winning streak in DDT comes to an end but the Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title continues to be the hot potato it is meant to be. Konosuke Takeshita decided to wrestle the main event barefoot so he would be on equal terms with Aoki. He avoided being counted down for a knockout after taking a Guillotine Choke. Takeshita was able to get in control with his Horizontal Chops, knocking down the champion and leaving him open for the German Suplex to end the match. The two bowed to each other and shook hands. Takeshita said that Aoki’s strengths is different from the DDT wrestlers. He felt that from watching Aoki win his other matches in DDT for what felt to him like forever. He wants Aoki to soak in the DDT world even more. This is the current strength of DDT’s wrestlers and Takeshita made a promise to the fans that everyone in DDT will always prove that this way of wrestling is the strongest.

The match between Daisuke Sasaki and HARASHIMA saw plenty of action outside the ring. Sasaki wrapped a chair around HARASHIMA’s upper body and threw him chair first into the ring post. Sasaki later hit a Topé Suicida for more damage. However HARASHIMA escaped from La Mistica Cross Facelock and hit the Reverse Frankensteiner. With Sasaki stunned, HARASHIMA hit a standing Somato followed by the regular Somato to beat the KO-D Openweight Champion. HARASHIMA noted that his neck was hurt bad by Sasaki’s attacks but the cheers in the venue spurred him on to victory. He still has a lot of work to do to climb to the top of A Block but he will not give up. Sasaki however is starting to crack now that his chances of winning the block are becoming slim.

The styles of Tetsuya Endo and Sammy Guevara are so similar that Endo called Sammy his alter ego after their match. An alter ego that didn’t get Endo’s permission to use his moves. Endo did the Tetsuya In The Sky, Guevara responded with his own Standing Spanish Fly. Endo did the Shooting Star Press and missed, Guevara hit his own Shooting Star and won. Guevara doesn’t care who he has left to face in his block. He says he is the best not just in Japan but in the world!

Kazusada Higuchi is now on a three match winning streak after losing his first two tournament bouts. Not even MAO’s tricky wrestling around the entrance stage was enough to stop Higuchi’s momentum. A Headbutt, a Torpedo Lariat and a Choke Slam left MAO fighting for survival until he was eventually put away with the Doctor Bomb. MAO thinks this is the kind of match-up that will some day be on top of the DDT pyramid. They wrestled each other in DNA, it moved up to the DDT midcard and some day it will to move up to the main event! While Higuchi appreciates the sentiment for DNA, he isn’t spending his time reminiscing about the past. He has a Grand Prix to win.

Puma King countered Akito’s Figure 4 Leglock attempt into a Romero Special. By the time he applied pressure by locking onto Akito’s jaw and pulling it down, Akito gave up. King calls Akito a tough opponent because of his focus on attacking legs and knees. King was happy to face someone like that because it gave him a chance to show off his submission repertoire to the DDT fans. Akito hopes King will come back so he can learn those kind of holds from him.

Hakata Star Lanes will be temporarily closing down next April to undergo earthquake-proof reconstruction. DDT, Tokyo Joshi Pro and Big Japan will each be holding special farewell shows for the venue in its current state on 31st March.


Teams Chosen For New Year’s Eve Wrestling

November 28, 2018

“NEW YEAR’S EVE WRESTLING 2018 ~TOSHIWASHURE! SHUFFLE TAG TOURNAMENT”, 31/12/2018
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

Yasufumi Nakanoue & Kazusada Higuchi
Takayuki Ueki & Mike Bailey
Daisuke Sekimoto & Yuki Iino
Yoshihisa Uto & Sanshiro Takagi
Ryota Hama & Antonio Honda
Abdullah Kobayashi & HARASHIMA
Ryuji Ito & Yuki Ueno
Tatsuhiko Yoshino & Tetsuya Endo
Minoru Fujita & Soma Takao
Daichi Hashimoto & Daisuke Sasaki
Brahman Brothers & Masahiro Takanashi
Great Kojika & Sammy Guevara
Takuya Nomura & Kazuki Hirata
Yuji Okabayashi & Yukio Sakaguchi
Yuya Aoki & MAO
Yuko Miyamoto & Konosuke Takeshita

The co-promoted tag tournament between Big Japan and DDT is back again for another New Year’s Eve celebration. The first two rounds will be given 10 minute time limits, the semi-finals have a 15 minute limit and the final has no time limit. Time limit draws will be decided with Sudden Death One Count Pinfall rules. Today the teams were chosen at a special event open to members of both companies’s fan clubs. Not everyone involved in the tournament could appear but the majority commented on their teams.

Yasufumi Nakanoue said he is nervous because this is his first New Year’s Eve Wrestling show. Kazusada Higuchi calmed him down by saying it is an honour to team with him.

Takayuki Ueki introduced himself in English to Mike Bailey by calling himself “Police Man” and calling Bailey “Best Partner”. Their team name is TEAM LET’S GO.

Daisuke Sekimoto thinks it is fate for him to team with Yuki Iino.

Yoshihisa Uto wants to make the most out of his pairing with Sanshiro Takagi. He described Takagi as the strongest power in DDT.

Antonio Honda wanted to team with the biggest wrestler around so he’s happy to be with Ryota Hama. Together they will be the most conspicuous team in the tournament.

Abdullah Kobayashi & HARASHIMA are without any argument the most handsome combination that could have been made this year. However, HARASHIMA is concerned with the arm injury that Kobayashi recently suffered. Kobayashi says he will get consultation about it tomorrow and will train hard to be fit in time. He also suggested their team should be called Because I Love The Team.

Next year will be Ryuji Ito’s 20th year in pro wrestling so winning the tournament will be the perfect way to celebrate. Yuki Ueno feels a little out of his depth next to Ito and realises that he’s going to be in more tense matches than usual.

Tetsuya Endo wanted to team up with The Great Kojika again. Instead he gets Tatsuhiko Yoshino. Endo is fine with that because he and Yoshino wear similar looking clothes. Yoshino is hoping to get past the 1st round in the tournament for once.

Minoru Fujita wasn’t there so Soma Takao had to pose with a picture of him. Takao is thinking about inviting Fujita to join DAMNATION and replace Nobuhiro Shimatani as their temporary manager.

Daisuke Sasaki asked Daichi Hashimoto if they can lose their match as quick as possible because he wants to spend New Year’s Eve relaxing at home. Hashimoto refuses because he wants to win the tournament. Sasaki also wants to call their team The Three Musketeers but Hisaya Imabayashi quickly shut that idea down.

Masahiro Takanashi says his private life is a lot like being one of the Brahman Brothers. He thinks they will get along and work hard together because of that.

The Great Kojika & Sammy Guevara were both absent.

Takuya Nomura may dance with Kazuki Hirata during their matches. That’s all he knows about Hirata.

Yuji Okabayashi is 100% certain his team will win so Yukio Sakaguchi can go on a hangover fueled rampage through the tournament if he’d like.

Yuya Aoki & MAO quickly bonded over their young age. Youth is their weapon against the rest of the field!

Konosuke Takeshita wants to make it to the final for the fourth year in a row. He believes his team with Yuko Miyamoto is the best combination available.