DDT Around The World – Early April 2025

April 13, 2025

What a month it’s been already and we’re not even halfway through yet. It’s the busiest time of the year for American wrestling with WrestleMania coming up next weekend and the carnival of shows that exist around it. DDT and Tokyo Joshi Pro will be deep in the mix with shows held under The Collective banner along with some outside bookings scattered around the Paradise of Las Vegas. Then there is no rest for the wicked afterwards because the months leading into summertime will be very busy for the likes of Miyu Yamashita and Maki Itoh. The international exchange will even be seen in Japan with Deadlock Pro running a tour over there and YuuRI getting involved in a big lucha libre show. Plus one of the big rivalries happening in Southeast Asia may finally come to an end if Yuki Kamifuku defeats Alexis Lee one more time.

But I’m burying the lede here. Shoko Nakajima won a championship in MLW! She has become the latest TJPW wrestler to win a title belonging to a foreign company and we may possibly add another person to that somehow growing list at the end of the month. Meanwhile Konosuke Takeshita is already turning April 2025 into a memorable period. He squashed an age old beef with one of Japan’s modern legends and has started a tournament run that will at least produce a few great matches if he doesn’t make it all the way.

Now let’s all go to Vegas.

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Videos

Konosuke Takeshita In AEW Playlist


AEW “COLLISION”, 05/04/2025
Peoria Civic Center, Peoria, Illinois, USA

1. Powerhouse Hobbs & Tomohiro Ishii (w/ Rocky Romero) Vs Kyle Fletcher & Konosuke Takeshita

Video starts at 22:53 for Match #1. Go to 1:12:00 for Match #2.
MLW “BATTLE RIOT VII”, 05/04/2025
Thunder Studios Arena, Long Beach, California, USA

1. HIMAWARI Vs Janai Kai
2. MLW Women’s World Featherweight Title: Delmi Exo (c) Vs Shoko Nakajima


8th match Backstage 4/11/25 | Windy City Riot 2025


AEW “COLLISION”, 12/04/2025
MassMutual Center, Springfield, Massachusetts, USA

1. Owen Hart Foundation 2025 Men’s Tournament – Quarter Final: Brody King (w/ Julia Hart) Vs Konosuke Takeshita

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Results


AEW “COLLISION”, 02/04/2025 (Aired 05/04/2025)
Peoria Civic Center, Peoria, Illinois, USA

1. Kyle Fletcher & Konosuke Takeshita defeated Powerhouse Hobbs & Tomohiro Ishii (w/ Rocky Romero) when Fletcher pinned Ishii with the Sheer Drop Brainbuster (13:47).

Takeshita had to miss the “DYNASTY” PPV because he had other priorities with New Japan that weekend but he was able to fit in an AEW tag match right before he left. He and Kyle Fletcher are really catching on as a tag team lately and they were really put through the grinder against Powerhouse Hobbs & Tomohiro Ishii. They tried to give Ishii a Super Bomb from the corner but Ishii countered it into a Frankensteiner on Fletcher. Takeshita came to help Fletcher give Ishii a Sheer Drop Brainbuster for a nearfall and then clashed with Hobbs. Ishii’s face was bloody at this point but he was still fired up to fight. Fletcher didn’t care though and he used a Tombstone Piledriver followed by another Brainbuster for the victory.


MLW “BATTLE RIOT VII”, 05/04/2025
Thunder Studios Arena, Long Beach, California, USA

1. Janai Kai defeated HIMAWARI with the Tornado Kick (7:28).
2. MLW Women’s World Featherweight Title: Shoko Nakajima defeated Delmi Exo (c) with the Diving Senton (9:17).
*Delmi Exofails in V2. Shoko Nakajima becomes the 5th MLW Women’s World Featherweight Champion!

Well would you look at that, MLW went all the way with Nakajima and made her their women’s champion! The 619, Double Arm DDT and Diving Senton put Delmo Exo away and now Nakajima can add the MLW Women’s World Featherweight Title to her collection.

Also HIMAWARI did not in fact get abducted or murdered by CONTRA Unit. She made it back to Japan in one piece. Janai Kai still beat her pretty handily but I’d still call it a successful MLW excursion.


NJPW “WINDY CITY RIOT”, 11/04/2025
Wintrust Arena, Chicago, Illinois, USA
4,674 Fans – No Vacancy

1. Hiroshi Tanahashi Last Match In The USA Final Road ~Kinship~: KONOSUKE TAKESHITA defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi with the Raging Fire (20:37).

It was an emotional battle that’s been over a decade in the making. Takeshita was not only fighting Hiroshi Tanahashi in a rematch from their DDT bout from 2014 but he was defending DDT’s honour over the disrespect Tanahashi gave to them in 2015. Due to the added importance that this will be Tanahashi’s final wrestling match in America before he retires it was made the main event of the show ahead of the IWGP World Heavyweight Title bout. The two had counters for each other’s finishers but Takeshita surprised everyone by doing his own High Fly Flow. Everyone was then in even more shock when Tanahashi kicked out at one! Takeshita nailed Tanahashi with several Wagamama knee strikes before giving a big shout to HARASHIMA by hitting the Somato. After that he used the Raging Fire to get the win.

Backstage Takeshita said he was all anger before this match but now that it is over, his revenge on Tanahashi has ended and he now for the first time respects him. There is one thing that Takeshita couldn’t do to Tanahashi and that was take away the last of his light. He wishes to see Tanahashi keep that light shining until his retirement. He was then interrupted by El Phantasmo who complained about Takeshita not showing respect until now. He still remembers their match at last year’s G1 Climax and he wants to challenge him to a rematch, this time with the NEVER Openweight Title on the line. Suddenly Phantasmo was then attacked from behind by Rocky Romero. Whatever it is that’s going on between them has nothing to do with Takeshita. At least for now.


AEW “COLLISION”, 12/04/2025
MassMutual Center, Springfield, Massachusetts, USA

1. Owen Hart Foundation 2025 Men’s Tournament – Quarter Final: Konosuke Takeshita defeated Brody King (w/ Julia Hart) with the Powerdrive Knee (12:18).

The 4th annual Owen Hart Cup is packed this year on both the men’s and women’s tournaments. Count Takeshita among them on the men’s side. His opening round match was against Brody King from The Hounds Of Hell. Even a guy like Takeshita gets a bit worried when he hears King barking nearby. It took several Powerdrive Knee strikes to break down King and the final two needed Takeshita to pull his kneepad down for extra damage to finally put his opponent down for the count.

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WrestleMania Week Appearances


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

1. Masha Slamovich Vs MAO
2. Maya World Vs Miu Watanabe

Let’s get crazy. The first piece of involvement in Wrestlemania Week from DDT and TJPW both take place at the same show. Miu Watanabe makes a rare outside appearance from TJPW to take on Maya World while one of her later upcoming opponents Masha Slamovich takes a trip on MAO’s wild ride. Or maybe it’s MAO going on Slamovich’s wild ride.


WRESTLECON “MARK HITCHCOCK MEMORIAL SUPERSHOW”, 17/04/2025
Pearl Theater At Palms Casino Resort, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

1. Mickie James Vs Maki Itoh

Who knows what else WrestleCon has in store for their big event of the week and if it applies here. They have a mystery 10-Man Tag Match on the card which was used to promote TJPW in a previous year. Itoh might meet her match in more ways than one when she faces off against Mickie James. But the worst thing James could do is go in their and underestimate Itoh.


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

1. MAO Vs Jiah Jewell

It will be the second match of the day for both MAO and Jiah Jewell.


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

1. Charlie Dempsey Vs Shinya Aoki
2. Nattie Neidhart Vs Miyu Yamashita

This year’s Bloodsport went through a slight overbooking problem with some fighters but it hasn’t affected the two matches here that I care about. Bless GCW and Josh Barnett for having conflicting stories over who is actually booking the show when it was time to explain why previously announced talent were being left off the final card. Friendship aside, Nattie Neidhart doesn’t want to be used as a stepping stone by Yamashita but Yamashita doesn’t want Neidhart to take her lightly either. Are we going to get MMA Shinya Aoki or DDT Shinya Aoki when he fights Charlie Dempsey?


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

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

Alec Price has found a replacement partner to challenge MAO & Yoshihiko for the BZW Tag Team Titles. With Cole Radrick out of action, Marcus Mathers is going to take his place.


TOKYO JOSHI PRO “QUERI PRESENTS TJPW LIVE IN LAS VEGAS”, 18/04/2025
Pearl Theater At Palms Casino Resort, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

1. Rika Tatsumi, Shino Suzuki & Vert Vixen Vs Yuki Aino, Raku & Viva Van
2. Yuki Arai Vs Arisu Endo
3. Maki Itoh & Zara Zakher Vs Max The Impaler & Pom Harajuku
4. Special Single Match: Masha Slamovich Vs Miu Watanabe
5. International Princess Title: Suzume (c) Vs Jada Stone
6. Princess Tag Team Titles: Shoko Nakajima & Hyper Misao (c) Vs Yuki Kamifuku & Wakana Uehara
7. Princess Of Princess Title: Mizuki (c) Vs Miyu Yamashita

I’ll aim to have my guide for the TJPW Las Vegas show posted either late Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning Las Vegas time.


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

1. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Nick Wayne, Shunma Katsumata & Kazuma Sumi Vs Gringo Loco, Marcus Mathers & Tyler Bateman
2. Special Single Match: Antonio Honda Vs Santana Jackson
3. Special Single Match: Shinya Aoki Vs Timothy Thatcher
4. Special Single Match: KONOSUKE TAKESHITA Vs MAO
5. wXw Unified World Wrestling Title: 1 Called Manders (c) Vs Yukio Naya
6. DDT Universal Title: Minoru Suzuki (c) Vs Yoshihiko

Same with my guide for the DDT Las Vegas show. You’ll pretty much know I arrived safe and sound when the articles get posted.


WRESTLECORE “FEAR & WRESTLECORE IN LAS VEGAS”, 18/04/2025
Swan Dive, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

1. ELP Vs Maki Itoh

Well so much for El Phantasmo and Maki Itoh joining forces as The Cutest Tag Team In The World. They’re not getting along so they’re going to fight each other instead.


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

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

A new booking for MAO over at PrideStyle. If his opponent G-Sharpe looks a little familiar it may be because you might recognize him when he wrestles under a mask as Hyperstreak. There is a group called The Cartel de Los Villanos who have been feuding with G-Sharpe over in PrideStyle and they are the ones who hired MAO to fight him.

A bonus attraction will be happening before the show officially starts. That’s right, Yoshihiko is throwing out an open challenge! Who will dare step foot against “The Grave Digger Doll From Hell”?


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

1. Lazarus Vs MAO

MAO’s Friday night comes to a close with a brawl against Lazarus near Fremont Street. Someone convince MAO to Moonsault off of the Vegas Vic neon sign.


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

1. Rika Tatsumi & Antonio Honda Vs Kidd Bandit & Shota
2. 3 Way Match: MAO & Yoshihiko Vs Jimmy Lloyd & Alec Price Vs Jack Cartwheel & Kazuma Sumi
3. Special Tag Match: Mance Warner & Shunma Katsumata Vs John Wayne Murdoch & Matt Tremont
4. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Daisuke Sasaki, Ilusion & Dark Sheik Vs Super Crazy, Marcus Mathers & Shoko Nakajima
5. Special Tag Match: KONOSUKE TAKESHITA & Masha Slamovich Vs Shinya Aoki & Miyu Yamashita

What the hell kind of Fire Pro random card is this?


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

1. Clusterfuck Match: Yoshihiko Vs X

Yoshihiko is among the many, many competitors announced for the Clusterfuck so far but nobody else from DDT or TJPW has declared they will be in it. It’s likely a bunch of the talent will already be flying home by the time this show takes place.

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Upcoming Appearances After WrestleMania Week


AEW “DYNAMITE – SPRING BREAKTHRU”, 16/04/2025
MGM Music Hall At Fenway, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

1. Owen Hart Foundation 2025 Men’s Tournament – Semi Final: Will Ospreay Vs Konosuke Takeshita

Ok this is during WrestleMania Week but isn’t actually part of it so let’s stick it here. It’s now on to the semi finals for Takeshita where is next opponent is quite a doozy. It’s the rematch against Will Ospreay!


DPW “SPIRIT RISING – NIGHT 1”, 24/04/2025
Shinjuku FACE

1. Chris Brookes & HARASHIMA Vs LaBron Kozone & Calvin Tankman
2. DPW Women’s World Title: Dani Luna (c) Vs Rika Tatsumi

The hype train’s not stopping once WrestleMania is done. The schedule is going to get even more packed heading into the summer! DPW is heading back to Japan and has some familiar wrestlers taking part on their shows. Rika Tatsumi is getting a shot at the DPW Women’s World Title on the first night. The champion Dani Luna is coming out of a violent feud with Hyan over the belt which included title defences in Street Fights and Dog Collar matches. Sounds like she’ll be ready to handle Tatsumi’s madness. Meanwhile Chris Brookes & HARASHIMA are teaming up to take on two of DPW’s mainstays. LaBron Kozone is currently the DPW National Champion which just so happens to be the first DPW championship that his teammate Calvin Tankman won in the company.


DPW “SPIRIT RISING – NIGHT 2”, 25/04/2025
Shin-Kiba 1st RING

1. Kazusada Higuchi & Yuki Ishida Vs Calvin Tankman & Kazuma Sumi
2. Emi Sakura, Chris Brookes, Mei Suruga & Baliyan Akki Vs Miyuki Takase, Kevin Ku, Dominic Garrini & Ryo Mizunami

Then on the second night Brookes joins team ChocoPro to fight a mix of joshi and Violence Is Forever… Joshi Is Forever? Violence Is Joshi? Miyuki Takase & Ryo Mizunami Plus Two?

Tankman finds himself in the ring surrounded by DDT wrestlers. It will be a match of big man and little man teams when Tankman teams with Kazuma Sumi to fight the Harimao pair of Kazusada Higuchi & Yuki Ishida.


HOG “ISOLATION”, 25/04/2025
NYC Arena, New York City, New York, USA

1. HOG Heavyweight Title: Mike Santana (c) Vs Konosuke Takeshita

Will Takeshita bring an end to Mike Santana’s 16 month reign as House Of Glory’s champion?


BLACK LABEL PRO “BLP AT SCX III”, 25/04/2025
The Wyndham, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA

1. Miyu Yamashita Vs Leyla Hirsch
2. Danhausen & Maki Itoh Vs Davey Bang & August Matthews

You know, this is one of those shows that feels like it just takes forever to get to.


MEXICO KANKO/CMLL/LADYS RING “LUCHA FIESTA ESPECIAL”, 27/04/2025
Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan

1. Mexican Tourist Belt – The Road To Studying In Mexico 5 Way Match: Yuki Mashiro Vs Honoka Vs YuuRI Vs SONYA Vs CoCo
2. Octagon & El Hijo del Octagon Vs Daisuke Sasaki & Pantera Jr.

I heard this show has a Street Fighter 6 product placement match. Makoto and Hikaru Shida are cosplaying as R. Mika & Yamato Nadeshiko to fight a pair of masked Zangief wrestlers. It would be funny if The Gief #1 and The Gief #2 were other members of DAMNATION T.A.

I missed that YuuRI was booked for this show a month ago. She’s taking part in a 5 Way match where the winner will be crowned the second Mexican Tourist Belt Champion. Whoever holds possession of the belt is given the right to go study in Mexico thanks to the show sponsors. YuuRI’s opposition in the match are the freelancer Yuki Mashiro, Honoka from WAVE, SONYA from the Costa Rica Wrestling Embassy (CWE) and CoCo from MY WAY.


TOP TALENT “LIVE AT MIDWAY MUSIC HALL”, 02/05/2025
Midway Music Hall, Edmonton, Canada

1. Miyu Yamashita Vs X

Yamashita is going to be visiting Canada a few more times during this excursion. Top Talent Wrestling is the latest promotion over there to book her.


HOODSLAM “PHANTASMAGORIA”, 02/05/2025
Continental Club, Oakland, California, USA

1. Maki Itoh Vs X

Itoh is getting her ass back to Hoodslam!


GCW “CRAZY SCARY SPOOKY HILARIOUS”, 03/05/2025
Ukrainian Culture Center, Los Angeles, California, USA

1. Maki Itoh Vs Miyu Yamashita

Itoh believes she cannot lose to Yamashita in GCW. Anywhere but over there!


GCW “WE STILL DON’T TRUST YOU”, 04/05/2025
Hawthorne Theatre, Portland, Oregon, USA

1. Miyu Yamashita Vs X
2. GCW World Title: Effy (c) Vs Maki Itoh

One day later she gets her chance to win the GCW World Title from Effy. Only one person missing from making it a full Maki Death Bussy reunion.


HOG “WAGING WAR”, 09/05/2025
Logan Square Auditorium, Chicago, Illinois, USA

1. Miyu Yamashita Vs X

Just have to wait and see who House Of Glory wants to put Yamashita against. It didn’t work out so well for her there last time.


NJPW “RESURGENCE”, 09/05/2025
Toyota Arena, Ontario, California, USA

1. KONOSUKE TAKESHITA Vs X

It hasn’t been made official at the time of writing but it’s looking like Takeshita will defend the NEVER Openweight Title against El Phantasmo at this show. Unless Romero does something else to ELP and changes the situation.


MAPLE LEAF PRO “NORTHERN RISING”, 10/05/2025
Mattamy Athletic Centre, Toronto, Canada

1. Miyu Yamashita Vs Sereena Deeb

North American promoters really have a type of opponent in mind for Yamashita this time around, eh? She’ll have to deal with the wrestling expertise of Serena Deeb for her return to Maple Leaf Pro.


GCW “BIG TIME”, 17/05/2025
RJ Meyer Arena, Joppa, Maryland, USA

1. Miyu Yamashita Vs Tony Deppen

Yamashita’s journey through GCW continues.


GCW “RUN FOR IT”, 18/05/2025
Water Street Music Hall, Rochester, New York, USA

1. Billie Starkz Vs Miyu Yamashita

Once again, they meet at last.


MKW “BATTLE OF THE DECADE”, 24/05/2025
Dongxin Plaza, Beijing, China

1. Yuki Kamifuku & Chen Wenbin Vs Alexis Lee & Big Sam

The end of May will be a dramatic period for Yuki Kamifuku and Alexis Lee. This match in Middle Kingdom Wrestling has now become the warmup for what happens in Singapore Pro Wrestling one week later.


SAJ “HUNTER’S NET”, 24/05/2025
Magnete, Milan, Italy

1. Miyu Yamashita Vs X

Italy awaits for Yamashita in May.


SPW “MAYHEM”, 30/05/2025
Foo Chow Building, Singapore

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

The stakes have been risen to the extreme. Lee is wagering her pro wrestling career to get one last chance at winning back the Queen Of Asia Title from Kamifuku. If she loses this time then she is done for!


KITSUNE “GOING BACK TO SAN DIEGO”, 07/06/2025
Primal Compound, San Diego, California, USA

1. Miyu Yamashita Vs X
2. Vipress & Hudson Envy Vs Nagisa Nozaki & Yuna Manase

Hey since Darkness Revolution are now down a member in Marigold maybe Nagisa Nozaki will consider replacing Bozilla with Yuna Manase.


KITSUNE “8888”, 08/06/2025
South Gate, Los Angeles, California, USA

1. Miyu Yamashita Vs X
2. Yuna Manase Vs X

Yamashita’s match on this show will be a singles match with an opponent yet to be determined.


TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW LIVE IN HOUSTON – NIGHT 1”, 10/07/2025
POST, Houston, Texas, USA

Does the T in TJPW now stand for Texas? On the weekend when AEW runs “ALL IN TEXAS” TJPW will be holding three shows in the Lone Star State.


TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW LIVE IN HOUSTON – NIGHT 2”, 11/07/2025
POST, Houston, Texas, USA

Two of the shows are going to be in Houston.


TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW LIVE IN DALLAS”, 13/07/2025
The OC, Forney, Texas, USA

The third show is happening… not in Dallas but they’re calling it Dallas anyway. Is this like years ago when WWE would be in New York State and only mention on air that they’re somewhere near New York City?


DDT “MENTAI WARS” Results

April 12, 2025

DDT “MENTAI WARS”, 12/04/2025
Fukuoka Nishitetsu Hall
??? Fans – Unannounced

1. Ilusion defeated Kazuma Sumi with with the Swanton Bomb (8:59).
2. Toru Owashi, Akito & Yuki Ishida defeated HARASHIMA, Azul Dragon & Kazuki Hirata when Akito submitted Hirata with an Overturned Figure 4 Leg Lock (0:11).
2a. Rematch: HARASHIMA, Azul Dragon & Kazuki Hirata defeated Toru Owashi, Akito & Yuki Ishida when HARASHIMA pinned Ishida with the Raging Fire (9:42).
3. Special Single Match: Hideki Okatani defeated Keigo Nakamura with the Vertical Drop Brainbuster (9:16).
4. Jun Akiyama, Yuya Koroku & Daichi Sato defeated Kazusada Higuchi, Soma Takao & Yukio Naya when Akiyama pinned Takao with an Inside Cradle (11:35).
5. Special Tag Match: MAO & KANON defeated Daisuke Sasaki & MJ Paul when MAO pinned Paul with the Iai Kick (13:27).
6. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Chris Brookes, Danshoku Dieno & Takeshi Masada defeated Yuki Ueno, Shunma Katsumata & To-y when Dieno submitted To-y with a Strong Arm Bar (18:46).
-. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title: Kazuki Hirata defeated Shunma Katsumata (c) with a Hammer Attack (6:50 pm).
*Kazuki Hirata becomes the 1,742nd champion.

Danshoku Dieno was having a bad day. First he missed his flight to Fukuoka and had to pay 53,000 yen to change his travel plans and get to the show on time. Then when he arrived at the venue he overheard Shunma Katsumata, To-y and Kazuma Sumi all making fun of him in the hallway. Dieno got so mad that he ran in during the show opening NωA Jr. performance to attack Katsumata and Sumi. Yuki Ueno & To-y ran out to save Katsumata and attack Dieno. That then caused Chris Brookes & Takeshi Masada to come out and chase away The 37KAMIINA. In the main event Dieno told everyone he would not use his Danshoku style during the match in order to prepare for Minoru Suzuki. Instead he fought more seriously and even made To-y submit to a strong style Arm Bar. He had finally calmed down once the match was over and told the fans that from here on out he will be gathering information to use in his upcoming match with Suzuki next month. Dieno then named his team today as Analfreude International.

It is now confirmed that the tag team of MAO & KANON is called STRANGE LOVE CONNECTION (I’m going to write it with regular caps from this point forward). They entered to the song “You Know How It Is” by Kero Kero Benito and successfully delivered their first blow on DAMNATION T.A by beating Daisuke Sasaki & MJ Paul cleanly. They already have a tag move too where MAO does the Whirlwind Kick to the opponent while KANON sweeps their leg with a low Lariat. MAO is so confident this team is going to work out he is already making shirts that he will give out to fans without KANON’s knowledge.

Last night in America, Konosuke Takeshita defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi on a New Japan USA show and used the Somato en route to winning the match. HARASHIMA found out about it and returned the favour back in Japan today. After he hit the Somato on Yuki Ishida he used the Raging Fire to get the win.

Ilusion has his sights on bringing the KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles back to DAMNATION T.A. He said they only gave them up in the first place because of an “unwanted child”. Ilusion wants to challenge NωA Jr. for the titles with Sasaki & Hideki Okatani as his partners.

In the aftermath of the main event Kazuki Hirata snuck up behind Katsumata, knocked him out with a hammer and pinned him to win the Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title.


Sudden KO-D Tag Titles Match, Strange Love Connection, Making Kanda Myojin As Exciting As Las Vegas

April 7, 2025

I’ll write more about this in next week’s DDT Around The World article but congratulations go out to Shoko Nakajima for winning the MLW Women’s World Featherweight Championship in America on Saturday! That’s the good news. The bad news is her and HIMAWARI are currently stranded in America because according to their tweets their flight home was delayed for half a day and then cancelled. Hopefully that gets sorted out quickly.

DDT “D GENERATIONS 1”, 08/04/2025
Tokyo Ueno Park Outdoor Stage

1. Oji Shiiba Vs Yuni
2. Special Single Match: Daichi Kazato Vs Keigo Nakamura
3. Munetatsu Nakamura & Ali Najima Vs Takeshi Masada & Yuki Ishida
4. Special Tag Match: Soma Takao & Shota Vs Yuya Koroku & Kazuma Sumi
5. Special Single Match: Shigehiro Irie Vs Daichi Sato
6. Special Single Match: Keisuke Ishii Vs To-y

There will be a press conference involving Keigo Nakamura taking place during tomorrow’s show. He hinted it will be about a big challenge he wants to take on and he would like to talk about it in front of his supporters.

M&A “SANSHIRO TAKAGI 30TH ANNIVERSARY PROJECT ~MATCHMAKE & AGENT~”, 09/04/2025
Tokyo Ueno Park Outdoor Stage

1. Shota Vs Mikiya Sasaki
2. 3 Minutes Impact: Shigehiro Irie Vs Ryoma Tsukamoto
3. Special Tag Match: Yumiko Hotta & Miku Kanae Vs Mio Shirai & Saran
4. Special Single Match: Jun Kasai Vs Maki Itoh
5. Special Tag Match: Yuji Nagata & Kuroshio TOKYO Japan Vs Brahman Shu & Brahman Kei
6. Special Single Match: Andreza Giant Panda Vs Poison Sawada JULIE
7. KO-D Tag Team Titles: Fuminori Abe & Takuya Nomura (c) Vs Hikaru Sato & Ippanjin Munenori Sawa

After getting through their first KO-D Tag Team Titles defence, Fuminori Abe & Takuya Nomura decided their goal as champions is to break the record for most defences. The current record is 12 wins as held by Sanshiro Takagi & Munenori Sawa. Knowing it is a long road ahead, Astronauts quickly came up with the idea to put the titles on the line in their next match which just so happens to be against the SEX-MEN of Sawa & Hikaru Sato on a show that Takagi is booking.

DDT “MENTAI WARS”, 12/04/2025
Fukuoka Nishitetsu Hall

1. Kazuma Sumi Vs Ilusion
2. Jun Akiyama, Yuya Koroku & Daichi Sato Vs Kazusada Higuchi, Soma Takao & Yukio Naya
3. HARASHIMA, Azul Dragon & Kazuki Hirata Vs Toru Owashi, Akito & Yuki Ishida
4. Special Single Match: Hideki Okatani Vs Keigo Nakamura
5. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Chris Brookes, Danshoku Dieno & Takeshi Masada Vs Yuki Ueno, Shunma Katsumata & To-y
6. Special Tag Match: Daisuke Sasaki & MJ Paul Vs MAO & KANON

A new alliance has been formed in DDT. It turns out MAO has been wanting to team up with KANON for quite some time and now is the time for them to join forces like some sort of Strange Love Connection. They’re going straight for the enemy because their first opponents as a tag team is against Daisuke Sasaki & MJ Paul from DAMNATION T.A.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “KANDA MYOJON CULTURAL EXCHANGE CENTER PRESENTS THIS IS JAPAN”, 19/04/2025
Tokyo Kanda Myojin Hall

1. International Princess Title Next Challenger Tournament: HIMAWARI Vs Toga Vs Haru Kazashiro Vs Mifu Ashida Vs Kira Summer Vs Chika Nanase Vs Uta Takami Vs Ivy Steele
1a. Round 1: X, X, X & X Vs X, X, X & X
1b. Round 2: X & X Vs X & X
1c. Final: X Vs X

One day after the International Princess Title is being defended in America, the next No. 1 Contender will be decided back in Japan. An unusual tournament format will be used in a series of matches between wrestlers from the 2023 and 2024 classes. The first match will be an 8-Woman Tag Match with the two teams randomly selected by lottery. The winning team will move onto the next round where they will randomly split into two teams for a regular tag team match. The winning team from that will reach the final where the two remaining wrestlers face each other to become the No. 1 Contender. The date of the winner’s title shot depends on the result of the Suzume Vs Jada Stone title match happening in Las Vegas.

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

1. Yuki Ueno & To-y Vs Danshoku Dieno & Soma Takao
2. Special Tag Match: Chris Brookes & Takeshi Masada Vs HARASHIMA & Daichi Sato
3. DDT Extreme Title: Super Sasadango Machine (c) Vs Kazuki Hirata

The card for DDT’s show in Japan during the American trip is starting to take up shape. Super Sasadango Machine’s has his first DDT Extreme Title defence coming up and Kazuki Hirata is the challenger.

The voice actor Tetsu Inada will be attending both shows in Japan that weekend as an ambassador. He doesn’t know what that role entails but he will do whatever it takes to make Kanda Myojin just as exciting as Las Vegas for a weekend!

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

1. Twilight Rouge Cup Battle Royal: X Vs X

The second show will feature the voice actress Sumire Uesaka as a special guest. She will be there to promote her pop-up café called Twilight Rouge. As part of the collaboration, the café is sponsoring a battle royal on the show.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW SPRING TOUR 2025 IN SAPPORO”, 26/04/2025
Hokkaido Sapporo Sun Plaza

1. Mizuki, Suzume & Arisu Endo Vs Miu Watanabe, Yuki Arai & Moka Miyamoto

It’s been six years since Tokyo Joshi Pro last held a show in Sapporo.

DDT “DRAMATIC DREAMS! VOL. 12 ~GIVE IT TO THE CLOUDS THE MOUNTAIN CUCKOO~”, 17/05/2025
Osaka City Sumiyoshi Civic Center

1. Special 6-Man Tag Match ~Laughter Leads To Hell~: Kuishinbo Kamen, Shunma Katsumata & Ram Kaichow Vs Kikutaro, Antonio Honda & No Name

Konosuke Takeshita will be at the show.

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

1. King Of DDT 2025 – Semi Final: X Vs X
2. King Of DDT 2025 – Semi Final: X Vs X
3. Special Single Match: Minoru Suzuki Vs Danshoku Dieno
4. King Of DDT 2025 – Final: X Vs X

Who knew that one of Danshoku Dieno’s biggest desires was to get into the fight of his life against Minoru Suzuki? The two of them fought to a double countout in yesterday’s tag match after Suzuki demanded Dieno to take things seriously. Dieno is willing to do that and completely drop his Danshoku moveset in order to get a singles match against Suzuki. For the moment this match has nothing to do with Suzuki’s DDT Universal Title. We’ll have to wait and see how his match with Yoshihiko goes in Vegas.


King Of DDT 2025 Brackets

April 6, 2025

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

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

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

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

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

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


DDT “CHANGE AGE 2025 ~YOUR LIE IN APRIL~” Results

April 6, 2025

DDT “CHANGE AGE 2025 ~YOUR LIE IN APRIL~”, 06/04/2025
Tokyo Korakuen Hall
??? Fans – Unannounced

0. Dark Match: MJ Paul & Ilusion defeated Toru Owashi & Antonio Honda when Ilusion pinned Honda with the Swanton Bomb (7:30).
1. Naomi Yoshimura’s Return Match: Kazusada Higuchi, Naomi Yoshimura, Ryota Nakatsu & Yuki Ishida defeated Yukio Naya, To-y, Takeshi Masada & JJ Furno when Higuchi pinned Furno with the Claw Slam (8:26).
2. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Shunma Katsumata, Yuni & Kazuma Sumi defeated MAO, Kazuki Hirata & Kumadori when Katsumata pinned Hirata with an Inside Cradle (9:53).
3. Special Single Match: Jun Akiyama defeated Daichi Sato with the Exploder Suplex (11:03).
4. 2 Vs 1 Special Handicap Match: Daisuke Sasaki & Hideki Okatani defeated KANON when Okatani pinned KANON with a Vertical Drop Brainbuster (11:55).
5. Special Tag Match: Minoru Suzuki & Yuki Ueno Vs HARASHIMA & Danshoku Dieno ended in a Double Countout (13:29).
6. KO-D Tag Team Titles: Fuminori Abe & Takuya Nomura (c) defeated Shinya Aoki & Keigo Nakamura when Abe pinned Nakamura with the O-Manji Clutch (11:46).
*V1 for Astronauts.
7. KO-D Openweight Title: Chris Brookes (c) defeated Yuya Koroku with the Praying Mantis Bomb (23:38).
*V4 for Chris Brookes.

Today was Yuya Koroku’s big chance to step up and prove to Chris Brookes that he is not a generic Tetsuya Endo but the man who will lead DDT’s new generation. He didn’t have Brookes’s respect at the start though. Brookes threw a chair at him to stop a dive and targeted the leg to keep him grounded. When Koroku found an opening to go on the attack he went after Brookes’s arm. However the damage done to his leg came back to haunt him when he did the Sky Twister Press and was slow enough to go for the cover that Brookes could kick out of it. The frustration got to Koroku and he shouted “I am not Endo”, leaving his guard down for Brookes to slap him senseless. From there Brookes did the Somato but Koroku kicked out at one. Brookes then stunned Koroku with a Buzzsaw Kick and pinned him with the Praying Mantis Bomb to retain the KO-D Openweight Title.

After the match Brookes finally paid Koroku some respect. He spent all this time badmouthing him but admitted today was fun. Now Brookes is looking forward to winning this year’s King Of DDT so he can choose his next challenger for the KO-D Title. He celebrated the win by sharing drinks with Antonio Honda & Takeshi Honda. They brought a spare can into the ring for the injured Masahiro Takanashi. Backstage the three of them wondered what could happen if the King Of DDT final is between two wrestlers from SCHADENFREUDE International? Meanwhile Koroku said he has learned something from this period of his career. Between this title match and getting to wrestle in New Japan a few days ago, he realized he can’t think of himself as a junior wrestler forever. Today he fought to the end believing in the wrestling he loves. He promises he will come back to this stage and win the KO-D Title.

A tough challenge was given to Astronauts for their first KO-D Tag Team Titles defence. Shinya Aoki & Keigo Nakamura has been working well together as a teacher and student pairing. They also matched the champions strike for strike, hold for hold. There was a moment where Fuminori Abe put Nakamura in the Manjigatame so Aoki did the same to Takuya Nomura. The two then had a strike exchange while still applying the submission holds on the others. Aoki & Nakamura got the upper hand by giving Astronauts stereo Piledrivers. But when Nakamura went to finish Abe off with the Full Nelson Hold, Abe countered it into the O-Manjigatame and modified the submission into a cradle to pin Nakamura for the three count. Astronauts now want to break the record for most KO-D Tag Title defences but found out the current record is held by Sanshiro Takagi & Munenori Sawa at 12 wins. Astronauts just so happen to have a tag match against Sawa & Hikaru Sato (together known as SEX-MEN) coming up at Takagi’s MatchMake & Agent show on Wednesday so they now want to make it a title match!

It’s not often when Minoru Suzuki meets his match in the wrestling ring. It’s even more weird when the person he’s in a stalemate with is Danshoku Dieno! Suzuki did not want to deal with Dieno’s usual shenanigans during their tag match. He asked Dieno if he wants to do the same stuff he’s been doing for 20 years or if he wants to fight? Dieno took Suzuki’s comments to heart and decided to pull his tights back up in order to give Suzuki the serious fight he’s been asking for. The two of them tangled themselves into dueling Leg Locks that rolled them out of the ring. They brawled up among the fans while HARASHIMA and Yuki Ueno fought each other by the stage. As the referee was reaching the 20 count, HARASHIMA & Ueno rushed back into the ring. However neither of them were the legal man meaning Dieno and Suzuki got each other counted out for a draw!

Both were still hurting from the fight when they got back into the ring. Dieno straight up told Suzuki he wants to keep fighting so he challenged him to a singles match. Suzuki wanted to know what is with this company when they’re first putting him in a match against a doll and now in a match with Dieno? At least he enjoys teaming with Ueno and would be happy to keep doing that. He can’t tell if Dieno is serious because fighting Suzuki one on one means it is a fight to the death! Dieno understands that and is willing to throw away the Danshoku moveset so he can have a match with Suzuki. Hisaya Imabayashi agreed to book it for 25th May. Dieno then had a close staredown with Suzuki and resisted the temptation to give him the Lip Lock. Then when Suzuki left the ring Yoshihiko appeared from the balcony and lowered itself down to the entrance aisle. Suzuki no sold it and pushed Yoshihiko aside as he walked back to the locker room.

KANON showed up for his Handicap Match against DAMNATION T.A in new ring gear to show he is now fully separated from the unit. Hideki Okatani also had new gear for his comeback match but that was to show he has fully embraced becoming DAMNATION T.A’s newest member. The match was supposed to be just KANON fighting both Okatani & Daisuke Sasaki but the other DAMNATION T.A members unsurprisingly got involved. MJ Paul and Ilusion did what they could to interfere while Sasaki distracted the referee. KANON put up a valiant fight until Sasaki hit him with a chair and Okatani pinned him with a Vertical Drop Brainbuster.

After the match Sasaki said KANON is no longer of any interest to them but Okatani wanted to give him one last finishing blow. KANON blocked Okatani’s chair attack but couldn’t fight back against the numbers. Suddenly a mystery person looking like Kyonin Shihan from IWA Japan ran into the ring and cleared DAMNATION T.A out of it. The person then turned to KANON and offered to help him stand back up. He then removed his disguise to reveal he is MAO! KANON accepted his help and the two left ringside together. Backstage MAO explained that KANON is not an unwanted child because MAO needs him. He always wanted them to team up because KANON is the only one he feels can help him turn DDT upside down in one go. KANON noted that MAO has a busy schedule coming up so while MAO is away, KANON promises he will become somebody worthy enough to be by his side. MAO said they can spread a Strange Love Connection across wrestling. KANON misunderstood and said he only knows “Bad Communication”…

Young Daichi Sato is now DDT’s latest signing so leave it up to Jun Akiyama to try and kill him on his first day. Akiyama gave him a Piledriver, threw him into the corner post, hit him with Knee Strikes including one with the kneepad pulled down and also made contact with a Headbutt. Sato got to show how tough he is to kick out of pins and fight back with Middle Kicks but Akiyama eventually put him down with the Exploder Suplex. He encouraged Sato to get back up under his own power after the match. Sato did so and hit Akiyama with an Elbow Strike. Akiyama ignored it and walked off. He told reporters backstage that Sato needs to build up more stamina because if he can throw a Forearm Strike after the match then he should have done it during the match. Sato admits he was no match against Akiyama but he wants to grow in DDT and become a wrestler who will surpass Akiyama.

The masked dancer Kumadori returned to DDT for his second ever wrestling match. He had to deal with NωA Jr. who felt his abilities were overshadowing their own musical talent. Kazuki Hirata was on Kumadori’s team but put forth such a weak performance he came close to costing his team the win on several occasions. But when Shunma Katsumata declared that the era of TOKYO GO! is over, Hirata found it in himself to fight back with the power of dance. Yuni & Kazuma Sumi joined Katsumata for a singalong but that was countered by MAO & Kumadori joining in with Hirata’s dancing. A dance battle broke out between the two teams and Katsumata succeeded in pinning Hirata with an Inside Cradle for the victory.

After the match Katsumata signaled to Kumadori that he wants to wrestle him again. He then announced that NωA Jr.’s second single called “Oshi Towel de Blow Off Lucha♪” will be released on 6th May. Suddenly Sanshiro Takagi came out and told NωA Jr. the harsh reality. They made 10,000 copies of their first single and only sold 800 of them. The reason for that is because the unit does not have a clear goal. Takagi came up with a solution because he wants to see NωA Jr. win the New Artist Award at the next Japan Record Awards. So Takagi booked an NωA Jr. at Shinjuku Loft on 23rd December and their goal is to sell it out!

All of Harimao were reunited for Naomi Yoshimura’s long awaited return from injury. Yukio Naya wasted no time in calling Yoshimura to start the match against him. To-y was eager to get “T! O! Y!” chants going but Ryota Nakatsu wanted to replace it with “N! K! T!” chants. Takeshi Masada Power Bombed Yuki Ishida into the turnbuckles but was thrown aside by Yoshimura with the Harai Goshi. JJ Furno came close to winning when he hit the Firebird Splash on Kazusada Higuchi but the count was broken up by the rest of Harimao. Higuchi then caught Furno on a dive and gave him the Claw Slam for the finish. It was as good a result that Harimao could ask for because Yoshimura is back and Higuchi got his first direct win since returning too. Yoshimura said his goal is to help Harimao in both DDT and BASARA. This match was Furno’s last appearance in DDT for this tour. He is sure this isn’t the end of him coming here. He says next time he comes to DDT he won’t be coming alone.

In the dark match Toru Owashi wanted to show off his lucha skills against DAMNATION T.A. Honda tried to use the power of love by forming a heart with Owashi using their hands. Paul & Ilusion attacked them only to almost embrace with each other. Honda’s plan didn’t work in the end. Instead Paul & Ilusion squashed him with a Double Body Press and Ilusion went on to pin him with the Swanton Bomb.

The show ended with the King Of DDT 1st Round matches begin announced. The matches taking place on 6th May are Antonio Honda Vs Yuki Ueno, Daisuke Sasaki Vs Akito, KANON Vs Shunma Katsumata, Yukio Naya Vs Daichi Sato, Hideki Okatani Vs To-y, Chris Brookes Vs HARASHIMA, Takeshi Masada Vs Yuya Koroku and Shinya Aoki Vs Kazusada Higuchi.


Las Vegas Show Updates

April 3, 2025

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “QUERI PRESENTS TJPW LIVE IN LAS VEGAS”, 18/04/2025
Pearl Theater At Palms Casino Resort, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

1. Rika Tatsumi, Shino Suzuki & Vert Vixen Vs Yuki Aino, Raku & Viva Van
2. Yuki Arai Vs Arisu Endo
3. Maki Itoh & Zara Zakher Vs Max The Impaler & Pom Harajuku
4. Special Single Match: Masha Slamovich Vs Miu Watanabe
5. International Princess Title: Suzume (c) Vs Jada Stone
6. Princess Tag Team Titles: Shoko Nakajima & Hyper Misao (c) Vs Yuki Kamifuku & Wakana Uehara
7. Princess Of Princess Title: Mizuki (c) Vs Miyu Yamashita

The complete card for “TJPW LIVE IN LAS VEGAS” has been revealed! Pompaler are looking to strike it rich but standing in their way is the team of Maki Itoh & Zara Zakher. Is that a match that will catch the eyes of those involved with the WWE ID deals? Yuki Arai’s American debut pits her against Arisu Endo. A picture of Arai using the Sharpshooter on Endo can currently be seen on the cover of the newest issue of Weekly Pro-Wrestling. Also Vert Vixen and Viva Van join the fray for a 6-Man Tag Match alongside the remaining roster making the trip over from Japan.

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

1. Special Single Match: Yukio Naya Vs 1 Called Manders
2. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Nick Wayne, Shunma Katsumata & Kazuma Sumi Vs Gringo Loco, Marcus Mathers & Tyler Bateman
3. Special Single Match: Antonio Honda Vs Santana Jackson
4. Special Single Match: Shinya Aoki Vs Timothy Thatcher
5. Special Single Match: KONOSUKE TAKESHITA Vs MAO
6. DDT Universal Title: Minoru Suzuki (c) Vs Yoshihiko

Two new matches for “DDT GOES LAS VEGAS!” have been made but this is not the full card. Oddly enough NωA Jr. will not be all teaming together on the show even though all three members will be there. Instead Shunma Katsumata & Kazuma Sumi are getting Nick Wayne as their third man. Taking them on are Gringo Loco in his return since losing the DDT Universal Title back in January, teaming up with WWE ID chancer Marcus Mathers and the journeyman Tyler Bateman.

Yukio Naya gets a really tough opponent known to everyone as 1 Called Manders. The American has been having a career breakthrough with matches that show he is tough as nails as well as some recent tournament success to back it up. Naya was in a kind of similar position not too long ago so we may find out these two could be kindred spirits in the ring.

Daisuke Sasaki, Ilusion and Yuni are the remaining DDT wrestlers booked on the show currently without a match.


DDT Around The World – March 2025

April 1, 2025

Buckle up, folks. There is a lot to talk about this month, next month and probably even going into the summer. Konosuke Takeshita is no longer the AEW International Champion. That was to be expected but I am pleasantly surprised he has remained on AEW TV since then and is still winning matches for The Don Callis Family. He remains being protected in the booking so it looks like AEW has something in mind for him down the line even if it’s just building him up to put someone else over. Also in news that is kind of AEW related Yuka Sakazaki is now on the lookout for more wrestling bookings. Sumie Sakai is helping her out on that end but it sounds like Sakazaki will still need AEW’s permission to go ahead with whatever offers come her way.

Next let’s talk about Maki Itoh and Miyu Yamashita. Once the Las Vegas shows are done Itoh will be staying in America until 11th May while Yamashita won’t be coming back to Japan until 21st July for “SUMMER SUN PRINCESS ’25”. I was taken aback by the negative response to the news that both of them will be taking another extended hiatus from Tokyo Joshi Pro to wrestle overseas again. I get the frustration in a way. People think both of them are looking for contracts from WWE or AEW. Itoh has brought up stuff like that in past English interviews but I’m not entirely sure Yamashita has the same goal in mind. There was a public talk event sometime ago where Yamashita revealed she spent a lot of money to go follow one of her favorite K-Pop bands on a US tour and she seems to enjoy when she’s not being relied upon by TJPW to be a company ace. Maybe I’m wrong but I don’t think the two of them keep taking these options in the search for deals that may never come their way. Of course I may also just be blind to what could possibly be some tryout matches coming up next month.

That brings us up to next month’s chaos that is Wrestlemania Week. I can’t wait for this! Too many wrestling shows going on non-stop in Las Vegas for a solid week. Now that’s my kind of holiday! DDT and TJPW don’t have full cards out for their shows yet and I have the feeling one or two more promotions will be booking the likes of MAO and Itoh before we get there. So many shows are going on during the week that I can’t help but wonder if it will just take one badly made political decision somewhere to throw half the shows into chaos.

And if that’s not enough it turns out there will be even more wrestling shows going on through the year after Wrestlemania is finished. Yeah that took me by surprise too. Anyway next month expect me to write up three separate Around The World articles. One for everything that happens before WM Week, one for the week itself and one for the rest of April after that. If the next month doesn’t burn me out something fierce than nothing will.

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Videos

Konosuke Takeshita In AEW Playlist


SPW “UNCHAINED”, 07/03/2025
Foo Chow Building, Singapore

1. Yuki Kamifuku & The Statement Vs Alexis Lee & Da Butcherman


RCW “MARCH MADNESS”, 08/03/2024
Casinet de Hostafrancs, Barcelona, Spain

1. Miyu Yamashita Vs Amale


Kenny Omega looks at history with AEW International Champ Konosuke Takeshita! | 3/8/25 AEW Collision


AEW “DYNAMITE”, 12/03/2025
Save Mart Center At Fresno State, Fresno, California, USA

1. Konosuke Takeshita Vs Max Caster


AEW “COLLISION – SLAM DUNK SATURDAY”, 22/03/2025
Liberty First Credit Union Arena, Omaha, Nebraska, USA

1. Mark Briscoe, Powerhouse Hobbs & Rocky Romero Vs Konosuke Takeshita, Brian Cage & Lance Archer


AEW “DYNAMITE”, 26/03/2025
Roy Wilkins Auditorium, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA

1. Mark Briscoe Vs Konosuke Takeshita


ACE vs ALPHA: The story of Konosuke Takeshita vs Hiroshi Tanahashi

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Results


SPW “UNCHAINED”, 07/03/2025
Foo Chow Building, Singapore

1. Yuki Kamifuku & The Statement defeated Alexis Lee & Da Butcherman when Statement pinned Butcherman with an Uppercut (?:??).

The latest chapter in the Southeast Asian rivalry between Yuki Kamifuku and Alexis Lee was a little different this time around. Recently in Singapore Pro Wrestling Lee was stabbed in the back by Andruew Tang, or as he prefers to be called now, The Statement. Lee wanted payback and joined forces with one of Statement’s rivals Da Butcherman to get it. Statement called in Kamifuku to back him up so they can become the royal pair who will rule over SPW together with iron fists. An intense tag match resulted in the referee getting knocked out and Statement being saved by a tag team called The Midnight Bastards. The team attacked Butcherman with chairs and held him in place for Statement to knock him out with an Uppercut. Statement & Kamifuku both stood tall over their rivals holding their championships before leaving. Lee swore revenge and promised to take back the Queen Of Asia Title from Kamifuku!


EVE “WOMEN BEHAVING BADLY”, 07/03/2024
The Big Penny Social, London, England

1. Miyu Yamashita defeated Lucia Lee with the Skull Kick (12:48).

Plans in EVE changed for Yamashita when her original opponent Session Moth Martina pulled out of the show due to illness. Instead Yamashita was given Lucia Lee as her new opponent. For Lee it was a chance on short notice to step up against Yamashita and prove she can go toe to toe against her. Despite the good effort, Yamashita knocked her over with the Skull Kick anyway.


RCW “MARCH MADNESS”, 08/03/2024
Casinet de Hostafrancs, Barcelona, Spain

1. Miyu Yamashita defeated Amale with the Skull Kick (15:16).

The next day Yamashita was in Spain to wrestle on an RCW show for the first time since October 2022. Her opponent was “The French Hope” Amale, formerly from NXT UK. She sent Yamashita crashing through the front row of chairs with a Topé Suicida and the two soon found themselves brawling around ringside. Back in the ring Amale kicked out of an Avalanche Attitude Adjustment and almost scored the win with a Small Package. But when Yamashita kicked out she quickly had her opponent in her sights and hit the Skull Kick for the victory.


WXW “16 CARAT GOLD – NIGHT 3”, 09/03/2025
Turbinenhalle, Oberhausen, Germany

1. Miyu Yamashita defeated Anita Vaughan with the Crash Rabbit Heat (13:32).

Yamashita’s busy European weekend ended in Germany where she showed up during wXw’s final day of the annual 16 Carat Gold tournament. She didn’t take part in the 16 Carat tournament itself, instead she fought Anita Vaughan who was already eliminated from the competition by that point. Yamashita made it three wins for three but she needed to use the Crash Rabbit Heat this time to end the weekend with a clean sweep.


AEW “REVOLUTION”, 09/03/2025
Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, California, USA

1. AEW International Title: Kenny Omega defeated Konosuke Takeshita (c) with a Cradle (28:30).
*Konosuke Takeshita fails in V9. Kenny Omega becomes the 11th AEW International Champion!

That’s the end of Takeshita’s first championship reign in AEW. With thoughts of Hajime no Ippo on their mind and also their gear, Takeshita and Kenny Omega went hell for leather in their rematch from September 2023. Omega’s ribs were violently targeted due to his recent bout with diverticulitis and Takeshita got a little help from Don Callis here and there too. But Omega overcame the odds and kept kicked out of the Powerdrive Knee. Takeshita avoided the One-Winged Angel yet when he went for the Raging Fire, Omega countered it into an Inside Cradle. Only getting a nearfall, Omega then switched to more types of cradle pins until he kept Takeshita’s shoulders down long enough for the three count.


AEW “DYNAMITE”, 12/03/2025
Save Mart Center At Fresno State, Fresno, California, USA

1. Konosuke Takeshita defeated Max Caster with the Raging Fire (1:30).

Takeshita wasted no time in getting back to work after his title loss. Max Caster held the latest in his open challenges and tried to talk Takeshita out of it when he walked down to the ring with a purpose. Caster asked if Takeshita was actually here to invite him into The Don Callis Family? When he suggested he could use that position to beat Omega, Takeshita attacked him and quickly won with the Raging Fire.


BZW “WAR AT THE CAPITAL”, 16/03/2025
Claridge, Brussels, Belgium

1. BZW Tag Team Titles: MAO & Yoshihiko (c) defeated Kid Lykos & Kid Lykos II when Yoshihiko submitted Lykos & Lykos II with a Double Half Crab Hold (?:??).
*V3 for MAO & Yoshihiko.

I missed when this was announced last month. MAO & Yoshihiko travelled back to Banger Zone Wrestling this month, this time to defend the BZW Tag Team Titles in Belgium. The challengers were the two troublemakers from Lykos Gym in England: Kid Lykos & Kid Lykos II. They weren’t prepared for Yoshihiko to do a balcony dive onto them nor did they expect the dark spirit that sometimes follows Yoshihiko around to show up and Moonsault onto them either. Lykos II made the big mistake of yelling insults towards Yoshihiko. When he tried to Headbutt it only he felt the impact. Yoshihiko was then able to trap both members of Lykos Gym in a Double Half Crab Hold and made both of them tap out at the same time!


AEW “COLLISION – SLAM DUNK SATURDAY”, 19/03/2025 (Aired 22/03/2025)
Liberty First Credit Union Arena, Omaha, Nebraska, USA

1. Konosuke Takeshita, Brian Cage & Lance Archer defeated Mark Briscoe, Powerhouse Hobbs & Rocky Romero when Takeshita pinned Romero with the Raging Fire (11:22).

Takeshita continued to rebuild his momentum by teaming with more members of The Don Callis Family. He, Brian Cage & Lance Archer all worked over Rocky Romero until Mark Briscoe got the hot tag. Briscoe had the numbers game against him but he held his own until it was time for Powerhouse Hobbs to get the big tag. But The Don Callis Family withstood the comeback. Cage & Archer took out Romero with a Choke Slam/Power Bomb combo and held his partners at bay so Takeshita could pin Romero with the Raging Fire.


AEW “DYNAMITE”, 26/03/2025
Roy Wilkins Auditorium, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA

1. Konosuke Takeshita defeated Mark Briscoe with the Raging Fire (11:39).

There was unfinished business between Takeshita and Briscoe from Collision so they met in a singles match the following week on Dynamite. The episode was sponsored by The Minecraft Movie so the venue they were in ended up kind of looking like a Create-An-Arena you would download from the WWE 2K games. Briscoe took a high risk by running across the barricade outside the ring to jump onto Takeshita with a Diving Elbow Drop. Takeshita hit Briscoe with the Powerdrive Knee back in the ring but it got him a nearfall. Briscoe pulled out the Jay Driller that had Takeshita beat but a rope break stopped him from getting pinned for the three count. Takeshita stunned Briscoe with a Rolling Elbow before using the Raging Fire to win by the skin of his teeth.

———————————————————————–

Upcoming Appearances


MLW “BATTLE RIOT VII”, 05/04/2025
Thunder Studios Arena, Long Beach, California, USA

1. HIMAWARI Vs Janai Kai
2. MLW Women’s World Featherweight Title: Delmi Exo (c) Vs Shoko Nakajima

There was a report from Fightful’s Patreon account during the month saying MLW has “big plans” in mind for Shoko Nakajima and HIMAWARI and the promotion hopes to get TJPW more involved with their women’s division. I’m a bit skeptical towards what that could be because the way wrestling media reports on MLW often comes across as Court Bauer trying to get his material over and everybody just taking him for his word. Big plans could mean anything from Nakajima beating Delmi Exo for the MLW Women’s World Featherweight Title or Janai Kai literally murdering HIMAWARI on behalf of CONTRA Unit and right afterward MLW announces a working relationship with Stardom (go see how CIMA was written out of the company right before MLW aired a Dragongate trailer). Or the big plans might just be TJPW talent being used to put over the regulars MLW wants to push. Which at this moment in time is Exo, Kai and maybe Tara Zep. But hey, who knows. It looks like MLW’s working relationship with CMLL is legit. I’ll be happy to be proven wrong.


NJPW “WINDY CITY RIOT”, 11/04/2025
Wintrust Arena, Chicago, Illinois, USA

1. Hiroshi Tanahashi Last Match In The USA Final Road ~Kinship~: Hiroshi Tanahashi Vs KONOSUKE TAKESHITA

I recommend watching the Ace Vs Alpha video New Japan put on their Youtube channel (I included it in the video section above) because it shows Takeshita and Hiroshi Tanahashi talking about their previous match together as well as why Takeshita holds a grudge over how Tanahashi treated DDT in the past. It’s not the complete story of what happened back then because that is more HARASHIMA’s story to tell but it is suffice to build up their match happening next month.


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

1. Masha Slamovich Vs MAO
2. Maya World Vs Miu Watanabe

Now we hit the busiest wrestling week of the year. Damn it really is a week long this time around with WWE going full throttle with their own schedule in Las Vegas from Tuesday to Tuesday. But enough about them, among the early shows kicking off the week is Pandemonium Pro where Miu Watanabe has a match against Maya World and now MAO will be there too for what is sure to be a crazy battle against Masha Slamovich! The two of them have packed schedules of their own so they better pace themselves.


WRESTLECON “MARK HITCHCOCK MEMORIAL SUPERSHOW”, 17/04/2025
Pearl Theater At Palms Casino Resort, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

1. Mickie James Vs Maki Itoh

It’s a match for the ages between two fierce opponents. One is a wrestling idol with grand ambitions of becoming a popstar who has in the past been unceremoniously fired in a humiliating fashion. The other is Maki Itoh. I know people who still have nightmares from the Revolution Pro show in London two years ago where a group of fans spent literally the entire match chanting “Hardcore Country” non-stop for Mickie James. I hope for my sake those same fans won’t be at this show.


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

1. MAO Vs Jiah Jewell

MAO’s second show on the Thursday is against Jiah Jewell at West Coast Pro. Because when you think of local rivalries, you think of Miyagi Vs Louisiana.


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

1. Charlie Dempsey Vs Shinya Aoki
2. Nattie Neidhart Vs Miyu Yamashita

Whenever Yamashita travels to America, Natalya invites her over to her private training facility in Florida to help teach her what she knows. They’ve apparantly become close friends over time but when Josh Barnett started putting the card together for Bloodsport, Natalya (under her non-WWE moniker Nattie Neidhart) publicly asked for Yamashita to be her opponent. Yamashita jumped at the idea and Barnett was happy to make it happen. This will be the second time Yamashita faces a WWE wrestler at Bloodsport, she lost to Shayna Baszler last July. Here she has the martial arts background advantage and Neidhart’s previous attempt at doing this kind of match with NXT Underground ended in a loss. Usually comparing the legitimate fighting pedigree of two fighters would tip off who wins these things but a main roster WWE wrestler losing on a non-WWE show would be an unusual turn of events. Eh, I’ll still bet a dollar on it.

Shinya Aoki’s announced opponent for the show is NXT wrestler Charlie Dempsey. I’d joke about Bloodsport turning into a WWE psy-op but to be fair Dempsey is a regular competitor on these shows and this will be his fourth fight in the series. Plus I don’t want to just write that he is William Regal’s son. From what I’ve seen he fits into this style of wrestling pretty well. Aoki should have fun tangling with him.


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

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

MAO ends his busy day with BZW hosting his third match. At least I think it’s his third show. It’s possible he’ll have a fourth somewhere but I haven’t seen anything yet. The match here is going to be changed too because of injury. MAO & Yoshihiko are supposed to defend the BZW Tag Titles against The Gahbage Daddies but unfortunately word came out a few days ago that Cole Radrick is out of action with a torn MCL and meniscus. No word yet on if Alec Price will still be in the match with a replacement tag partner or if a new team will get the title shot instead.


TOKYO JOSHI PRO “QUERI PRESENTS TJPW LIVE IN LAS VEGAS”, 18/04/2025
Pearl Theater At Palms Casino Resort, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

1. Special Single Match: Masha Slamovich Vs Miu Watanabe
2. International Princess Title: Suzume (c) Vs Jada Stone
3. Princess Tag Team Titles: Shoko Nakajima & Hyper Misao (c) Vs Yuki Kamifuku & Wakana Uehara
4. Princess Of Princess Title: Mizuki (c) Vs Miyu Yamashita

Only a few weeks to go but the major matches have all been set up. Mizuki Vs Yamashita is the biggest match TJPW can do for the Princess Of Princess Title but it’s been done already in Japan so I can see why it would look fresher in America. Kyoraku Kyomei have their first defence of the Princess Tag Team Titles against Kamifuku & Wakana Uehara’s new tag team OberEats. There is a rematch of the International Princess Title when Suzume clashes with Jada Stone again, this time with Stone having the home field advantage. Plus Watanabe continues getting big opponents away from the title scene when she gets in the ring with Slamovich.


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

1. Special Single Match: Antonio Honda Vs Santana Jackson
2. Special Single Match: Shinya Aoki Vs Timothy Thatcher
3. Special Single Match: KONOSUKE TAKESHITA Vs MAO
4. DDT Universal Title: Minoru Suzuki (c) Vs Yoshihiko

The lineup so far is a little more creative than what we got last year and I prefer it this way. Minoru Suzuki Vs Yoshihiko sounds like something GCW would book for “JOEY JANELA’S SPRING BREAK” but DDT needs something like that to stand out for themselves.


WRESTLECORE “FEAR & WRESTLECORE IN LAS VEGAS”, 18/04/2025
Swan Dive, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

1. Maki Itoh Vs X

Another outside booking for Itoh during Mania Week. No opponent has been confirmed by WrestleCore yet but El Phantasmo is trying to convince Itoh to team up with him so they can be The Cutest Tag Team Ever. He just so happens to be on this show too.


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

1. Lazarus Vs MAO

I think this is MAO’s last non-DDT related booking of the week. Unless…


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

1. Konosuke Takeshita & Masha Slamovich Vs Shinya Aoki & Miyu Yamashita

As far as DDT and TJPW are concerned this will be the finale of their weekend. One match announced so far and it’s pretty cool looking. Takeshita & Slamovich teaming up against Aoki & Yamashita. It would be a shame if the show runs long and people start leaving during this match to head over to Wrestlemania.


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

1. Clusterfuck Match: X Vs X

I’m adding this to the lineup because odds are good someone DDT or TJPW related ends up in the annual Clusterfuck. Yoshihiko was part of it last year and made it to the final three. In fact there’s already an ex-TJPW wrestler announced to be entering the match. Sayaka Unagi is taking part and I can only imagine what kind of eye opening crazy thing she would do in Las Vegas.


HOG “ISOLATION”, 25/04/2025
NYC Arena, New York City, New York, USA

1. HOG Heavyweight Title: Mike Santana (c) Vs Konosuke Takeshita

Hey good on Mike Santana for taking a gamble on himself. The stuff he’s been doing on TNA and House Of Glory has been nothing to sneeze at so far. He now has a month to prepare for Takeshita because the two of them are set to fight with the HOG Heavyweight Title on the line.


BLACK LABEL PRO “BLP AT SCX III”, 25/04/2025
The Wyndham, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA

1. Miyu Yamashita Vs Leyla Hirsch
2. Danhausen & Maki Itoh Vs Davey Bang & August Matthews

Yamashita’s opponent Leyla Hirsch is fresh out of AEW and wants to show everyone how good she is in the ring.


CMLL/LADYS RING “LUCHA FIESTA ESPECIAL”, 27/04/2025
Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan

1. Octagon & El Hijo del Octagon Vs Daisuke Sasaki & Pantera Jr.

Daisuke Sasaki will be missing the DDT show happening in Sapporo on the same day for this match.


GCW “CRAZY SCARY SPOOKY HILARIOUS”, 03/05/2025
Ukrainian Culture Center, Los Angeles, California, USA

1. Maki Itoh Vs Miyu Yamashita

The 121000000 split up match is happening but not in TJPW. It’s in GCW! In the nine previous times they’ve done this match, Yamashita has won eight of them and the odd result out was a time limit draw. Itoh has never beaten Yamashita in a singles match but this 10th attempt might be her best chance yet because she’ll have the GCW fans behind her. She’ll need a good result because the next day she has a match that will be just as important.


GCW “WE STILL DON’T TRUST YOU”, 04/05/2025
Hawthorne Theatre, Portland, Oregon, USA

1. Miyu Yamashita Vs X
2. GCW World Title: Effy (c) Vs Maki Itoh

Itoh was originally supposed to get a GCW World Title match against Mance Warner during GCW’s Japan tour last August but a hand injury prevented it from happening. Now nine months later she finally gets her title shot but the champion now is someone completely different. Effy’s first reign as GCW Champ has seen him defend the belt against the weird and the wonderful. Can Itoh beat him to reach her ultimate form as the Queen of the Outlaws?


NJPW “RESURGENCE”, 09/05/2025
Toyota Arena, Ontario, California, USA

1. KONOSUKE TAKESHITA Vs X

Just have to wait and see what Takeshita does next after the Tanahashi match.


GCW “BIG TIME”, 17/05/2025
RJ Meyer Arena, Joppa, Maryland, USA

1. Miyu Yamashita Vs Tony Deppen

Can Yamashita get a better match out of Tony Deppen than YAMATO could?


GCW “RUN FOR IT”, 18/05/2025
Water Street Music Hall, Rochester, New York, USA

1. Billie Starkz Vs Miyu Yamashita

According to GCW this will be the first time ever Yamashita wrestles Billie Starkz. As long as you ignore the EVE match… and the St. Louis Anarchy match… and the SPARK match.


MKW “BATTLE OF THE DECADE”, 24/05/2025
Dongxin Plaza, Beijing, China

1. Yuki Kamifuku & Chen Wenbin Vs Alexis Lee & Big Sam

The Kamifuku Vs Lee rivalry now moves over to China for Middle Kingdom Wrestling’s 10th Anniversary show. Chinese wrestler Chen Wenbin and England’s Big Sam get mixed up in the action too.


SAJ “HUNTER’S NET”, 24/05/2025
Magnete, Milan, Italy

1. Miyu Yamashita Vs X

Italy will soon become the latest country Yamashita has wrestling in. Squash A Jobber Wrestling is the name of the promotion bringing her in which might be the least Italian name I’ve ever heard for a wrestling company.


KITSUNE “GOING BACK TO SAN DIEGO”, 07/06/2025
Primal Compound, San Diego, California, USA

1. Miyu Yamashita Vs X
2. Vipress & Hudson Envy Vs Nagisa Nozaki & Yuna Manase

We’re reaching into the summer for the end of this month’s article. Kitsune have a doubleshot going on with both Yuna Manase and Miyu Yamashita scheduled to be there. Manase is teaming with Nagisa Nozaki in Night 1 to take on Vipress & Hudson Envy. Yamashita’s match has not been announced yet.


KITSUNE “8888”, 08/06/2025
South Gate, Los Angeles, California, USA

1. Miyu Yamashita Vs X
2. Yuna Manase Vs X

Manase is still currently the Kitsune World Champion so it would make sense for her to have a title defence on the second show of the doubleshot.


DDT “OWARI WARS 2025” Results

March 29, 2025

DDT “OWARI WARS 2025”, 29/03/2025
Aichi Chunichi Hall & Conference
??? Fans – Unannounced

1. 3 Way Match: Yukio Naya defeated JJ Furno and Yuki Ishida when Naya pinned Ishida with The World’s Best Back Drop (8:48).
2. Daisuke Sasaki, MJ Paul & Ilusion defeated Toru Owashi, Yasu Urano & Yuni when Ilusion pinned Yuni with the Swanton Bomb (12:07).
3. Special Single Match: Jun Akiyama defeated Antonio Honda with the Exploder Suplex (10:22).
4. Special Tag Match: Yuya Koroku & Kazusada Higuchi defeated Chris Brookes & Kazuma Sumi when Koroku pinned Sumi with the Modified Sky Twister Press (11:50).
5. Special Tag Match: Shinya Aoki & Keigo Nakamura defeated Minoru Suzuki & Akito when Nakamura pinned Akito with the Modified Crucifix Pin (15:18).
6. MAO’s Last The 37KAMIINA Match: Yuki Ueno, MAO, Shunma Katsumata & To-y defeated HARASHIMA, Danshoku Dieno, Kazuki Hirata & Takeshi Masada when MAO pinned Hirata after the Oretachi no Mad Max (16:13).

The sauna is going to feel a little bit emptier after today because MAO has now left The 37KAMIINA. He teamed with the other three members for the last time and used his tag team finisher with Shunma Katsumata to win in the main event. He said he is certain there will be times he misses the unit but there is something new that he wants to do and he’ll do his best to pursue it. That may mean he will have to fight against The 37KAMIINA from now on but he wants the fans to look forward to those matches when they happen. Yuki Ueno has mixed emotions over the decision but as long as MAO will put fort 100% effort he will support him. To-y made MAO promise he will always be the same person that To-y loves and looks up to. Katsumata wants to reunite the ShunMao tag team in the future but he cannot leave the sauna with him no matter how hard he tries.

I’d say Shinya Aoki & Keigo Nakamura are now ready to challenge for the KO-D Tag Team Titles after how they fared against Minoru Suzuki & Akito. Suzuki bullied Nakamura around but found himself in a stalemate against Aoki’s submission work. While the two of them grappled their way into a deadlock, Nakamura used a Full Nelson to slip Akito into the Modified Crucifix Pin to get the three count out of nowhere. Backstage Suzuki was asked by reporters about his upcoming DDT Universal Title defence against Yoshihiko. Suzuki rubbished the idea because it’s just a doll and everyone in DDT is stupid for treating it like an actual wrestler. When he was done talking, Yoshihiko was actually laying on the floor behind him and tried to grab Suzuki’s leg. Suzuki ignored it and walked away.

Yuya Koroku has added a new move to his arsenal in his bid to become the KO-D Openweight Champion. He used a Sky Twister Press to win his match today, believing a big aerial attack like that is what he needs to beat Chris Brookes. He understands if the fans thinks Brookes will win but as long as Koroku has even a small chance he will throw everything he has to win the title on 6th April. Brookes finds the move familiar, like it is a Spiral or a Stardust looking thing. It looks strong but it also reminds Brookes of Tetsuya Endo which continues his criticisms of Koroku being Endo-like.

It seems Ilusion has no memory of wrestling Yasu Urano one year ago. When they faced off today Ilusion asked who the old man was? When Urano told him he’s 49 years old Ilusion encouraged the audience to chant “old man” at him. After DAMNATION T.A won their match, KANON unexpectedly ran into the ring armed with a chair. He attacked them like a house on fire until Daisuke Sasaki stopped him with a Low Blow. MJ Paul gave him a Death Valley Bomb and Sasaki then knocked him out with a chairshot. As they were leaving, KANON got back up and chased after them, resulting in a brawl to the back. When Sasaki had the chance to make a comment backstage he encouraged KANON to come attack him anywhere if he has the motivation to do it. But he should do it now because tomorrow Sasaki will have 20 security guards protecting him! He then told Ilusion to go hire 20 security guards for tomorrow. KANON said he came all the way to Nagoya todayso he could wear down Sasaki even just a little bit. He’s ready to send him to hell on 6th April!


DDT “O-HANAMI PRO WRESTLING 2025 – DAY 2” Results

March 27, 2025

DDT “O-HANAMI PRO WRESTLING 2025 – DAY 2”, 27/03/2025
Tokyo Ueno Park Outdoor Stage
??? Fans – Unannounced

1. Kazuma Sumi’s 22nd Birthday Match – Street Fight Scramble Pie Bunkhouse Match: MJ Paul & Ilusion defeated Makoto Oishi & Akito and Kazuma Sumi & Tomomitsu Matsunaga when Ilusion threw a pie at Sumi (5:16).
2. Hanami KING OF DRUNK Hangover 6-Man Tag Match For Losers Of The Preliminary Rumble: Kazusada Higuchi, Yuki Ueno & Shunma Katsumata defeated Soma Takao, Yukio Naya & Yuki Ishida when Katsumata pinned Ishida with the Guruguru VHS (9:35).
3. Maximum Allowance Of 5,000 Yen For Bringing The Weapons Death Match: Takeshi Masada & Keigo Nakamura defeated Yuni & Munetatsu Nakamura when Nakamura pinned Yuni with the Ueno-Style Diving Headbutt onto the Red Book (12:04).
4. Special Single Match: Yuya Koroku defeated JJ Furno with the Modified Triangle Lancer (7:45).
5. Hanami KING OF DRUNK Final: MAO defeated Daisuke Sasaki with the Sasaki Daddy Daddy (16:31).
6. Special Tag Match: Kazuki Hirata & Antonio Honda defeated Chris Brookes & Danshoku Dieno when Honda pinned Dieno with the Diving Fist Drop (20:09).

The main event became quite the free for all given the wrestlers involved. There was brawling throughout the venue with cans of beer being knocked around everywhere. Everyone wore Hirata GO! glasses so the match switched back and forth between fighting and dancing. Danshoku Dieno missed a Moonsault so Antonio Honda took advantage by climbing the top rope. Chris Brookes tried stopping him but Honda put him in a Lip Lock to make him drop off so he can go do the Diving Fist Drop on Dieno for the victory. He joked after the match that he never thought so many thoughts, feelings and ideas could be expressed with just one kiss! He told Kazuki Hirata the next time they’re opponents he’ll tell him how he feels with his lips.

In the final of the Hanami KING OF DRUNK competition Daisuke Sasaki and MAO were both dressed in casual clothing rather than their wrestling costumes. They had to drink tequila at regular intervals during the match. They quickly got drunk and started messing around, like handing drinks to the other wrestlers and slapping each other with flip flops. All of the other wrestlers got drunk and huddled around Sasaki to chant “Sasaki Daddy Daddy” at him. It kept going and going until Sasaki got scared and gave up. The wrestlers all carried him away from the ring while MAO celebrated becoming the KING Of Drunk for the Spring. He asked the fans what is wrong with fighting the past? He will create the future!

The wrestlers in Match #3 were each given a budget of 5,000 yen to go buy items with so they could be used as weapons. Some of the items used include balloons, kaiju figures, stuffed toys, leg stockings, piles of books and a Panda costume head. Munetatsu Nakamura also drived around the venue on a moped and crashed it into Yuni after Takeshi Masada & Keigo Nakamura both got out of the way.

Kazuma Sumi was feeling much better and was allowed to wrestle today, which is good because today is also his birthday! To celebrate turning 22 years old the goal of the match was to make a “birthday cake” out of foam and throw it at an opponent’s face. Everyone tried to do it while carefully not dropping the plate but with other wrestlers interfering it was a very difficult task. Ilusion had the bright idea of using the folder he keeps his college diploma in as a plate to pour the foam on and he successfully pie-faced Sumi with it to win.

The contract signing for the KO-D Openweight Title match on 6th April was held at the beginning of today’s show. Yuya Koroku praised Brookes for leading DDT along with the DNA generation but he believes it is time for D GENERATIONS to step into the company’s main story. Brookes didn’t mince his words. He told Koroku that nobody believes he will win the KO-D Title. Their levels are completely different from each other. Then when it was time for the photo session Brookes told Koroku to put down the D GENERATIONS CUP trophy because it doesn’t matter now. All that is at stake is the KO-D Title.


DDT “O-HANAMI PRO WRESTLING 2025 – DAY 1” Results

March 26, 2025

DDT “O-HANAMI PRO WRESTLING 2025 – DAY 1”, 26/03/2025
Tokyo Ueno Park Outdoor Stage
??? Fans – Unannounced

1. Shishamo Power defeated Yuni with the Shishamo Power Driver (7:31).
2. MJ Paul & Ilusion Vs Takeshi Masada & JJ Furno when Paul pinned Furno with the Reverse Splash (9:19).
3. Falls Count Anywhere Blindfold Scramble Bunkhouse Match: Kazuki Hirata defeated Antonio Honda with a School Boy (35:33).
Order Of Elimination: HARASHIMA, Chris Brookes, Danshoku Dieno and Antonio Honda.
4. Special Tag Match: Jun Akiyama & Yuya Koroku defeated Takuya Nomura & Tomomitsu Matsunaga when Koroku submitted Matsunaga with the Modified Triangle Lancer (8:14).
5. Hanami KING OF DRUNK Preliminary Rumble: Daisuke Sasaki and MAO defeated Yuki Ishida by Ring Out (23:42).
Order Of Elimination: Kazusada Higuchi, Soma Takao, Yukio Naya, Shunma Katsumata, Yuki Ueno and Yuki Ishida.
6. Special Single Match: Fuminori Abe defeated Keigo Nakamura with a School Boy (12:32).

There were a lot of kicks in the main event as Fuminori Abe and Keigo Nakamura tried to out-do each other. This included Abe doing Soccer Ball Kicks to Nakamura inside the ring. When he tried to do it outside Nakamura cut him off and he got to do the move instead. Nakamura used a Frankensteiner to try and get the flash pin but Abe kicked out. Abe then successfully pulled off a similar plan when Nakamura went for the Somato and Abe countered it into a School Boy for the three count. Nakamura wasn’t phased by the loss and told Abe to polish up his KO-D Tag Team Title belt. Abe responded that he will beat up Nakamura 126 times harder at the title match than he did today! He then tried to let Nakamura close out the show but Nakamura refused to speak and left the ring.

Everyone involved in the Hanami KING OF DRUNK competition had started drinking before the show began were already completely drunk by the time the Battle Royal began. Alongside the usual Battle Royal rules, drinks were served at regular intervals and if a wrestler could not drink their cup they were eliminated. Daisuke Sasaki and MAO ended up being the last two standing so they will face each other in the final tomorrow.

I should have seen this coming when Shishamo Power showed up again. The dreaded Seafood Vs Meat feud is back on the menu! When Shishamo won his match he was joined in the ring by the Yamada Suisan president as well as Unagi Mask and Super Unagi Mask to promote the company’s sponsored DDT show on 13th April. They were interrupted by Shunma “EL TURKEY” Katsumata who made a promise to get revenge when his team lost to the seafood side at last year’s show. He has new allies to team with him. One of them is Yuya “GIBIE” Koroku but more importantly the other is the pro wrestling world’s most amazing carnivore Aja Kong!

Kazuma Sumi was pulled from the show because he was feeling unwell. He is currently questionable if he can wrestle on tomorrow’s show. Some of the matches may get changed if he won’t be appearing.