DDT “WHO’S GONNA TOP? 2020”, 27/09/2020 Tokyo Korakuen Hall ??? Fans – Withheld
1. Soma Takao, Mad Paulie & Nobuhiro Shimatani defeated Toru Owashi, Saki Akai & Hideki Okatani when Takao pinned Okatani with the Diving Foot Stomp (6:45).
2. Playfulness Series Act 2: Kazuki Hirata defeated Danshoku Dieno with the Miracle One Shot Cradle (7:34).
3. DDT Extreme Title – Lost Point System: Shinya Aoki (c) defeated Antonio Honda by TKO (9:45). *V5 for Shinya Aoki.
4. KO-D Tag Team Titles: Yuki Ueno & Naomi Yoshimura (c) defeated Chris Brookes & Drew Parker when Yoshimura pinned Brookes with the Throwaway Power Bomb (11:00). *V7 for Nautilus.
5. Junretsu Vs ALL OUT 3 On 3 Tug Of War!: Konosuke Takeshita, Akito & Shunma Katsumata (2) defeated Jun Akiyama, Makoto Oishi & Mizuki Watase (1).
5a. Konosuke Takeshita defeated Makoto Oishi with the Cabello 2020 (9:55).
5b. Jun Akiyama defeated Akito by Referee Stoppage with the Front Neck Lock (2:19).
5c. Shunma Katsumata defeated Mizuki Watase with a Buzzsaw Kick (5:38).
6. Special 8-Man Tag Match: Daisuke Sasaki, Tetsuya Endo, T-Hawk & El Lindaman defeated HARASHIMA, Kazusada Higuchi, Yukio Sakaguchi & Yukio Naya when Sasaki submitted Naya with the Cross Facelock (16:32).
There’s been a mutiny in DAMNATION! In the main event the group worked like a mostly well oiled machine when they defeated HARASHIMA’s team. Daisuke Sasaki & Tetsuya Endo worked together to put down Yukio Naya. Sasaki held him for Endo’s Overhead Kick and that hit the target as planned. Sasaki then hit a Diving Elbow Drop and Endo followed up with a Swan Dive 450 Splash. Sasaki went for the pin and when Naya kicked out, he rolled him into the Cross Facelock for the submission victory.
It was after the match when the double cross happened. Except that double cross was countered by another double cross. Sasaki got on the microphone and said he was in the best shape ever, even better than Rasse in his prime. Endo took the microphone and said he was tired of hearing about what shape Sasaki was in. Suddenly, Sasaki gave Endo a Low Blow from behind and started stomping on him. He revealed that ever since Endo nominated him to be his opponent at “ULTIMATE PARTY 2020”, Sasaki decided to banish Endo from DAMNATION! He ordered the rest of the unit to beat Endo up.
But that didn’t happen. Instead Nobuhiro Shimatani smacked the DAMNATION signboard over Sasaki’s head! T-Hawk struck Sasaki with a right hand, El Lindaman gave him a German Suplex, Soma Takao planted him with the Gin And Tonic. Even Mad Paulie gave his master a Lariat! Endo then finished Sasaki off with the Swivel Torture Rack Bomb. DAMNATION’s secret plan wasn’t to kick out Endo, it was to kick out Sasaki! Endo will no longer refer to Sasaki as “Charisma”. He admitted that when Sasaki came up with the plan to banish him, Endo came up with the same plan to banish Sasaki. The unit no longer needs Sasaki and he can be read like a book. DAMNATION does not flock, does not flirt and most of all does not need somebody as weak as Sasaki! The entire #DAMNHEARTS group then posed with the fallen Sasaki to rub extra salt in his wounds.
In the post-show interview, #DAMNHEARTS spoke about what had happened. Shimatani said it was great to finally smash Sasaki with the signboard. Lindaman said Sasaki was the first one to approach him about banishing Endo. But when Endo approached him afterwards about banishing Sasaki, everyone in the group chose to side with Endo. T-Hawk also confirmed this means Sasaki is now blocked from the unit’s LINE group and Sasaki should unfollow him. Endo promised to end Sasaki’s career at Ota Ward Gymnasium. Lindaman suggested Sasaki should fight Shimatani in a Chain Death Match at the show instead of challenging for the KO-D Openweight Title because Endo will successfully defend it for sure. A furious Sasaki said he is DAMNATION and everyone else is banished! He will be DAMNATION on his own from now on. He will never forgive Endo and the others for what they did to him.
At the start of the show ALL OUT and Junretsu came out to determine who would face who in the Tug Of War series of matches. Three ropes were placed under a mat in the ring with each end hanging out of the sides. Every wrestler chose a rope end and whoever was connected by the same rope had to wrestle each other. Makoto Oishi convinced Jun Akiyama to swap ropes with him at the last second and Oishi ended up having to wrestle Konosuke Takeshita in the first match!
Each match in the series would take place immediately after the previous so the wrestlers on both sides were at ringside throughout the entire challenge. Each match had a 10 minute time limit and Oishi came very close to surviving the full length. He still tried to win and attempted the Jikiden Tornado Clutch but Takeshita countered it into a Tornado Bomb. In the final ten seconds of the match, Takeshita applied the Cabello 2020 to make Oishi submit.
The second match pitted Akito against Akiyama and this one was short. Akito started off fast with the goal of applying the Goliath Birdeater. Akiyama escaped before the hold was completed and took over with Knee Strikes, Exploder Suplexes and then the Front Neck Lock to make Akito pass out. The series was tied 1-1.
It was up to Shunma Katsumata and Mizuki Watase to decide which team would win. Katsumata tired out Watase with non-stop Locomotive School Boys. When Watase used up his energy to kick out over and over, Katsumata hit him with a Buzzsaw Kick for the three count. ALL OUT wins the challenge 2-1 and Takeshita promised a complete victory over Akiyama at Ota Ward.
Nautilus have their hands full in the tag division. First Chris Brookes & Drew Parker gave them a tough fight for the KO-D Tag Team Titles. The challengers surprised the champions with a Topé Con Hilo before the bell and then put them through tables at ringside. The plan was to inflict so much damage before the match began so an easy victory could be achieved once the bell rang. However Naomi Yoshimura dodged a chairshot from Parker that hit Brookes instead. Yuki Ueno dove onto Parker and Yoshimura pinned Brookes with the Throwaway Power Bomb. Yoshimura challenged Brookes for the DDT UNIVERSAL Title afterwards. Brookes tried to ignore him by saying he doesn’t understand Japanese but Hisaya Imabayashi made it clear to him the match will happen on the 10th October episode of “DDT TV SHOW!”
That’s one team out of the way, now Nautilus has another squad to deal with. Eruption came out and Yukio Sakaguchi dared Ueno to repeat what he said about him in Itabashi a fortnight ago to his face. That day Nautilus challenged Eruption for the KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles and Ueno asked if Kazusada Higuchi & Saki Akai needed Sakaguchi to make the decision for them. Ueno explained that to him today and asked again if they will get the title shot. They already have a third person to fill out their team. It’s their DISASTER BOX stablemate Kazuki Hirata! Sakaguchi accepted but in return challenged Nautilus to defend the KO-D Tag Titles against himself and Higuchi. Imabayashi stepped in and said both title matches can happen but they need to figure out the schedule to do them on separate shows. Sakaguchi told him there’s no need to do that, they can do both title matches back to back at the next Korakuen Hall show on 25th October! Both teams agreed to the terms. The main event and semi-main event of the next Korakuen will be the two title matches between Nautilus/DISASTER BOX and Eruption!
The DDT Extreme Title match used a Lost Points system. Shinya Aoki and Antonio Honda both start the match with 5 points each. They lost a point for everytime there was a pinfall, knockout, rope escape or if they laughed at their opponent’s joke. A box full of props was placed in the ring for the wrestlers to use. Honda easily lost points by being outwrestled but turned the tables when he started making jokes. Aoki soon resisted laughing and dared Honda to try harder with the props. When they finally lost all of their usefulness, Aoki twisted Honda into submission to make him lose his final point.
After the match, Imabayashi asked Aoki to select his challenger for “ULTIMATE PARTY 2020”. Aoki said after five title defences he had ran out of enemies he wanted to face. But there is one guy who others have said was badmouthing him and even exploiting him. Aoki picked Sanshiro Takagi to be his next opponent! Takagi joked that he wasn’t meant to appear on today’s show because he wasn’t on the poster but he appreciates being challenged. Aoki even allowed Takagi to come up with the stipulation. Takagi decided it will be the return of the Weapon Rumble!
Being in the second match of a show is a badge of honour for Danshoku Dieno. That was until Hirata took the spot from him. Today Dieno and Hirata fought to determine who was the king of Match #2! The Hirata GO! glasses were used to resist the pull of the Danshoku Driver. Dieno fought back by pulling off his tights one by one to diminish the power of the glasses. Dieno then wore the glasses and danced while Hirata put on the Danshoku tights behind his back. Hirata stunned Dieno with the Lip Lock and rolled him up with the Miracle One Shot Cradle for the victory.
Who would have thought when DAMNATION kicked off the show they would do what they did a few hours later? The team had a bit of trouble when Akai put Paulie in a Cross Armbreaker but Shimatani broke it up with a Standing Shooting Star Press. Hideki Okatani was put in danger too many times for Toru Owashi to rescue him. Takao knocked down Okatani with the Running Elbow Butt and won with a Diving Foot Stomp.
MAO returned and announced his first match back from injury. He will face Katsumata at “ULTIMATE PARTY 2020”. The only thing MAO had to say is he will destroy Katsumata.
DDT “WHO’S GONNA TOP? 2020”, 27/09/2020 Tokyo Korakuen Hall
1. Toru Owashi, Saki Akai & Hideki Okatani Vs Soma Takao, Mad Paulie & Nobuhiro Shimatani
2. Playfulness Series Act 2: Danshoku Dieno Vs Kazuki Hirata
3. DDT Extreme Title: Shinya Aoki (c) Vs Antonio Honda
4. KO-D Tag Team Titles: Yuki Ueno & Naomi Yoshimura (c) Vs Chris Brookes & Drew Parker
5. Junretsu Vs ALL OUT 3 On 3 Tug Of War!: Jun Akiyama, Makoto Oishi & Mizuki Watase Vs Konosuke Takeshita, Akito & Shunma Katsumata
6. Special 8-Man Tag Match: Daisuke Sasaki, Tetsuya Endo, T-Hawk & El Lindaman Vs HARASHIMA, Kazusada Higuchi, Yukio Sakaguchi & Yukio Naya
The show will be live on both WRESTLE UNIVERSE and FITE. I warned you about the FITE commentary before.
Each match in the Tug Of War challenge will have a 10 minute time limit.
The rules for the DDT Extreme Title match will be revealed on the day of the show.
BASARA “BASARA 135 ~BANQUET~”, 29/09/2020 Shin-Kiba 1st RING
1. Tetsuo Usui & FUMA
2. Takumi Tsukamoto & Masato Kamino Vs Takato Nakano & Yasu Urano
3. Yusuke Kubo Vs Takuya Nomura
4. 3 Way Handicap Match: Tsutomu Oosugi & Banana Senga Vs Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi & Daichi Kazato Vs Gouma Ryu
5. Isami Kodaka, Ryuichi Sekine & Minoru Fujita Vs Ryota Nakatsu, Akiyori Takizawa & SAGAT
6. Daiki Shimomura Vs Leo Isaka
7. Union MAX Title: Fuminori Abe (c) Vs Brahman Kei
The Union MAX Title is getting a new first time challenger. Brahman Kei wants to take the belt from Fuminori Abe. No mention yet if Brahman Shu will be in his corner. Shu originally wanted the title shot but is paranoid he will fall ill before the show. What makes Kei more immune to illness than Shu at this point, I have no idea.
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “FALL TOUR ’20 ~WOMM (WRESTLING OF MY MIND)~”, 03/10/2020 Tokyo Narimasu Act Hall
1. Marika Kobashi Return Match: Marika Kobashi Vs X
2. Princess Tag Team Titles Next Challenger Decision Battle: Nodoka Tenma & Yuki Aino Vs Yuki Kamifuku & Mahiro Kiryu
Four Princess Tag Team Title defences are in the bag for Daydream but there are still plenty of challengers out there. The Toyo University pair of Yuki Kamifuku & Mahiro Kiryu are looking for a title shot. Kiryu doesn’t want to let the new class below her take the spotlight like Mirai Maiumi & Suzume just did. Kamifuku is also living up to her promise to become stronger for her friends who recently left Tokyo Joshi Pro. However, The Bakuretsu Sisters think it’s time that they get another chance to win the titles. They too have become stronger since the last time they fought for the belts.
The high school student Marika Kobashi is now a college student. Her return to the ring was delayed for months by COVID-19 but now is time for her comeback.
DDT “TIF ONLINE X DDT ROJO PRO WRESTLING”, 03/10/2020 “TOKYO IDOL FESTIVAL Online 2020” Smile Garden
1. Falls Count Anywhere 3 Way Tag Match: Sanshiro Takagi & Yukio Naya Vs Danshoku Dieno & Keigo Nakamura Vs Makoto Oishi & Hideki Okatani
For the third year in a row DDT will be collaborating with the Tokyo Idol Festival. However a big change is this year’s festival will be held entirely in an online format. DDT will record a Falls Count Anywhere match on location at the Smile Garden section. Each team will be accompanied by an idol for the match.
DDT “TAISHO DRAMATIC ROMANTAN 2020”, 05/09/2020 Osaka Azalea Taisho Hall
1. Toru Owashi & Kazuki Hirata Vs Yukio Naya & Keigo Nakamura
2. 3 Way Match: Soma Takao Vs Akito Vs Antonio Honda
3. Eruption Vs Junretsu!: Kazusada Higuchi & Yukio Sakaguchi Vs Mizuki Watase & Hideki Okatani
4. Taisho Ward Specialty! Jun To Ai Special Tag Match: Chris Brookes & Maku Donaruto Vs Sanshiro Takagi & Danshoku Dieno
5. Junretsu Vs ALL OUT!: Jun Akiyama & Makoto Oishi Vs Konosuke Takeshita & Shunma Katsumata
6. DAMNATION Vs DISASTER BOX: Daisuke Sasaki, Tetsuya Endo & Mad Paulie Vs HARASHIMA, Yuki Ueno & Naomi Yoshimura
The go home show for Monday’s Korakuen Hall event. That was already posted a few days ago so no need to write it up again.
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “I JUST LIKE OSAKA”, 06/09/2020 Osaka Azalea Taisho Hall
All matches will be announced on the day of the show.
DDT “EARLY FALL ITABA SERIES”, 13/09/2020 Tokyo Itabashi Green Hall
1. Akito Vs Kazuki Hirata
2. HARASHIMA, Toru Owashi & Keigo Nakamura Vs Chris Brookes, Antonio Honda & Yukio Naya
3. Playfulness Series Act 2: Danshoku Dieno Vs Hideki Okatani
4. DAMNATION Vs Junretsu!: Soma Takao & Mad Paulie Vs Makoto Oishi & Mizuki Watase
5. Nautilus Vs Eruption!: Yuki Ueno & Naomi Yoshimura Vs Kazusada Higuchi & Saki Akai
6. DAMNATION Vs ALL OUT!: Daisuke Sasaki & Tetsuya Endo Vs Konosuke Takeshita & Shunma Katsumata
At this point Tetsuya Endo will have announced who he will defend the KO-D Openweight Title against at “ULTIMATE PARTY 2020”.
BASARA “BASARA 133 ~OSAKA TEAM TAISHO~”, 19/09/2020 Osaka Azalea Taisho Hall
1. Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi Vs Best Stretchman V3
2. Isami Kodaka & Daiki Shimomura Vs FUMA & Yusuke Kubo
3. Ryuichi Sekine Vs Minoru Fujita Vs Tsubasa & Billy Ken Kid
Speed Of Sounds and Yasu Urano will be on the show.
DDT “LEGEND THE DDT WRESTLING 2020~”, 19/09/2020 Nagoya Legend Hall
1. Naomi Yoshimura Vs Keigo Nakamura
2. Chris Brookes & Danshoku Dieno Vs Toru Owashi & Kazuki Hirata
3. Daisuke Sasaki, Tetsuya Endo & Mad Paulie Vs HARASHIMA, Yuki Ueno & Yukio Naya
4. Eruption Vs Junretsu!: Kazusada Higuchi & Saki Akai Vs Mizuki Watase & Hideki Okatani
5. Nagoya Specialty! Doerya Special Single Match: Soma Takao Vs Antonio Honda
6. Junretsu Vs ALL OUT!: Jun Akiyama & Makoto Oishi Vs Konosuke Takeshita & Akito
DDT comes to Nagoya for the second time of the year.
DDT “WHO’S GONNA TOP? 2020”, 27/09/2020 Tokyo Korakuen Hall
1. DDT Extreme Title: Shinya Aoki (c) Vs Antonio Honda
So far Shinya Aoki has been handling the DDT Extreme Title pretty well. Antonio Honda thinks his matches can be weirder though. Honda is proud of being a weirdo and he wants to give all the righteous freaks in the world more courage to be weird. That is why he is challenging Aoki for the Extreme Title.
DDT “SUMMER VACATION 2020”, 23/07/2020 Tokyo Korakuen Hall 435 Fans – Super No Vacancy
1. Soma Takao & Mad Paulie defeated Yukio Naya & Keigo Nakamura when Takao pinned Nakamura with the Running Elbow Butt (3:53).
2. Danshoku Dieno, Super Sasadango Machine & Seigo Tachibana defeated Toru Owashi, Naomi Yoshimura & Kazuki Hirata when Tachibana pinned Hirata with the Ikemen Otoshi (8:45).
3. DDT Extreme Title – Special Rules: Shinya Aoki (c) defeated Maku Donaruto with the European Clutch (9:49). *V4 for Shinya Aoki.
4. Chris Brookes & Drew Parker defeated Daisuke Sasaki & Nobuhiro Shimatani when Parker pinned Shimatani with the Swanton Bomb (11:07).
5. KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles: Kazusada Higuchi, Yukio Sakaguchi & Saki Akai (c) defeated HARASHIMA, Antonio Honda & Riho when Sakaguchi submitted Honda with the Triangle Choke (12:34). *V1 for Eruption.
6. Junretsu Vs ALL OUT All Out Battle!: Jun Akiyama, Makoto Oishi, Mizuki Watase & Hideki Okatani defeated Konosuke Takeshita, Akito, Shunma Katsumata & Yuki Iino when Akiyama pinned Takeshita with the Wrist Clutch Exploder (17:21).
7. KO-D Openweight Title: Tetsuya Endo (c) defeated Yuki Ueno with the Shooting Star Press (21:45). *V2 for Tetsuya Endo.
During the week, Tetsuya Endo attempted to use a new dangerous looking move on Yuki Ueno but wasn’t able to pull it off. Today in the Korakuen Hall main event, he was able to do the move. Before that happened, Ueno was ready to hit the WR but Endo grabbed Yukinori Matsui to block it and then he Headbutted his way out of it. Endo threw Ueno over with the Tetsuya In The Sky but Ueno quickly rolled him into a pin for a nearfall. Endo did the move again, going for the pin afterwards but Ueno kicked out at 1. It is here where Endo used his new move, a Wrist Clutch Muscular Bomb. Somehow Ueno kicked out of that too but he was down for good when Endo did the Shooting Star Press.
After the match Endo told Ueno it will be a long time before he wins the KO-D Openweight Title. If he can’t accept that fact then he can try again as many times as he wants. No matter what Ueno does, he is far away from where Endo is at. When Ueno left, Endo asks Hisaya Imabayashi who his next challenger will be. Imabayashi told him it will be the winner of the KING OF DDT tournament and that match will take place at “ULTIMATE PARTY 2020” on 3rd November. Here’s the fun part. If Endo wins the tournament he gets to nominate whoever he wants to be his challenger. He named his top 3 choices, all celebrities but there is one other person he’s thinking of. Kenny Omega!
After weeks of skirmishes the full force clash between ALL OUT and Junretsu went ahead. The match began with Konosuke Takeshita and Jun Akiyama in the ring. It also ended with those two in the ring. Hideki Okatani was in danger early but used a Neckbreaker Drop on Yuki Iino to get out of trouble. Mizuki Watase used a Double Stomp to counter Iino’s Spear. Things for him got more difficult when Akito tagged in and targeted his legs. Makoto Oishi used his wits to make Shunma Katsumata DDT Akito by mistake. Takeshita and Akiyama both tagged in to set up the final minutes of the bout. Takeshita had his opponent in position for a German Suplex when Oishi cut him off with a Swinging Complete Shot. Akiyama got up first and hit Takeshita with Running Knee Butts. He gave a couple of Exploder Suplexes but Takeshita wouldn’t stay down. Akiyama had to use the Wrist Clutch Exploder to put away his new rival.
If you can’t beat them, make them laugh. That’s the usual plan with Antonio Honda yet today it was particularly effective against Yukio Sakaguchi. He couldn’t help himself when Honda brought out the old Gongitsune bit even when the rest of Eruption interrupted it. Riho and Saki Akai had an even fight. Riho stayed on to test herself against Kazusada Higuchi but she needed HARASHIMA’s help to escape from a Canadian Backbreaker. It took the combined effort of the three challengers to take down Higuchi. Honda did the Gongitsune joke in full this time and Sakaguchi burst into laughter. He then made his own Gongitsune hand signs to combat Honda. Riho used Honda as a launching pad to hit Higuchi with the Somato. Akai hit Riho with the Rookie Award kick. Honda got rid of Akai with the Shining Gongitsune. Sakaguchi then trapped Honda in the Triangle Choke to make him submit.
When Eruption won their match, Danshoku Dieno & Seigo Tachibana entered the ring. Both of them want to challenge for the KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles. They even have a third friend who agreed to team with them. A video played on the screen showing Yoshiko! The video was Yoshiko explaining what she will do in the ring as if she was baking a cake. First she will squint at her opponents. Then she will throw in 75kg of Elbow Drops. After that she mixes her opponents into one big mess that she will throw onto the canvas. Add in a Diving Senton to finish it off and voila! New KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Champions fresh out of the oven. Akai is eager to fight Yoshiko again so she accepted the challenge. Sakaguchi looked at Tachibana and wanted to know who the bald guy was standing next to Dieno. Tachibana got mad that Sakaguchi didn’t recognise him after they just wrestled each other two weeks ago. He got even more mad when Higuchi pretended he was going to slice off his little finger. The title match was agreed to take place on 7th September.
Nobuhiro Shimatani proudly showed off a brand new black DAMNATION signboard. Chris Brookes broke it over Daisuke Sasaki’s head. Easy come, easy go. Drew Parker ended up pinning Shimatani with the Swanton Bomb. Parker said in Japanese that the next time he comes to DDT he wants to fight for a championship. He doesn’t want the KO-D Tag Team Titles though. He wants to wrestle Brookes for the DDT UNIVERSAL Title! Brookes also spoke in Japanese, asking if Parker was serious. Hisaya Imabayashi came in to confirm the match but Brookes told him in English that he doesn’t understand Japanese. The title match will happen on the 7th September Korakuen show.
The DDT Extreme Title match was a normal pro wrestling match where wrestlers were allowed to remove their clothes. Maku Donaruto wrestled in grappling gear and wanted to mat wrestle with Shinya Aoki. Things got explicit as tights got pulled down and the wrestlers got into compromising positions. Aoki got his backside exposed while Donaruto was stripped down to his thong. Aoki ended up doing something Donaruto would do and it led him to getting the pin with a European Clutch. Donaruto may have lost but Aoki won a place in his heart after today.
Tachibana is now bald after he lost a Hair Vs Hair match in All Japan during the week. Danshoku Dieno & Super Sasadango Machine knew something looked different about him but couldn’t figure it out. Tachibana was introduced in the ring as a thug, but a harmless one. Kazuki Hirata stood up to him because he’s not as scary as Sakaguchi is. Tachibana put on the Hirata GO! glasses and “Tsuppari High School Rock’n Roll” played instead of “TOKYO GO!” He pinned Hirata with the Ikemen Drop, securing Tachibana’s first win in DDT. Backstage after the match, Naomi Yoshimura said he wants a match with Takuho Kato from Big Japan. Doesn’t matter if it is a singles or for the KO-D Tag Titles.
There wasn’t much chemistry between Yukio Naya & Keigo Nakamura as a tag team. Their big idea for a team move was Naya Choke Slamming Nakamura onto Soma Takao. Takao rolled out of the way and Nakamura was slammed onto the canvas. Mad Paulie got rid of Naya and Takao easily finished off Nakamura.
The 5 Way DISASTER BOX match on the 31st July Beer Garden-Like show will have special rules. The match will continue after every fall with the winners being removed until there is one man left. Hirata protested the rules knowing he will likely be the loser. He asked for Over The Top Rope rules to be included. Toru Owashi agreed but only if the loser of the match takes a punishment afterwards. HARASHIMA thinks that is a great idea and made it official despite Hirata’s complaints.
Some of the spinoffs will return after a lengthy absence. BOYZ will be back on 16th August. The Muscle revival holds its third show “HIRAGANA MUSCLE 3 ~SPECIAL MOVES OUTBREAK~” on 9th November. There will be an open rehearsal show first on 21st September.
DDT “SUMMER ITABASHI SERIES”, 12/07/2020 Tokyo Itabashi Green Hall
1. Naomi Yoshimura Vs Hideki Okatani
2. Kazusada Higuchi & Saki Akai Vs Antonio Honda & Keigo Nakamura
3. 3 Way Match: Chris Brookes Vs Akito Vs Mad Paulie
4. The Evil Yankee Wrestler Seigo Tachibana’s Road To The Top: Yukio Sakaguchi Vs Seigo Tachibana
5. 3 Way Tag Match: Danshoku Dieno & Toru Owashi Vs Makoto Oishi & Mizuki Watase Vs Shunma Katsumata & Yuki Iino
6. Konosuke Takeshita Vs Yukio Naya
7. DAMNATION Vs DISASTER BOX!: Daisuke Sasaki, Tetsuya Endo & Soma Takao Vs HARASHIMA, Yuki Ueno & Kazuki Hirata
Yesterday was eventful for HARASHIMA. He is normally a very private person away from wrestling but he announced he recently got married! Oh and yesterday was also his 46th birthday. Again, information that wasn’t publicly known until now. So yeah, things are going swell for him at the moment.
BASARA “BASARA 129 ~BANQUET~”, 14/07/2020 Shin-Kiba 1st RING
1. Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi & SAGAT Vs Masato Kamino & Tetsuo Usui
2. FUMA & Yusuke Kubo Vs Daichi Kazato & Leo Isaka
3. 3 Way Tag Match: Ryuichi Sekine & Minoru Fujita Vs Ryota Nakatsu & Akiyori Takizawa Vs Takumi Tsukamoto & Yasu Urano
4. Daiki Shimomura Vs Takato Nakano
5. IRON FIST Tag Titles – Turnabout Pro Wrestling Trial: Tsutomu Oosugi & Banana Senga (c) Vs Gouma Ryu & Ryuji Ito (Defendent: Ryuichi Sekine)
6. Union MAX Title: Fuminori Abe (c) Vs Isami Kodaka
It’s been very quiet on the BASARA front for the last few weeks. They haven’t been posting much news on their website. Instead their priority was running the Clutch bar in Shinjuku. Well this week they have plenty to talk about. The Heaven Summit ~Itadaki~ tournament is coming back but first they have a Banquet show to get through. The IRON FIST TAG Titles match is now also a Pro Wrestling Trial with Ryuchi Sekine going to court.
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “BRAND NEW WRESTLING 4 ~TAKE NOT, BUT GIVE~”, 23/07/2020 Tokyo Korakuen Hall
1. Aona Debut Match: Aona Vs X
2. Himawari Unagi Return Match: Himawari Unagi Vs X
3. Yuna Manase Regular Participation Last Match: Yuna Manase, Nodoka Tenma & Maki Itoh Vs Miyu Yamashita, Mizuki & Natsumi Maki
4. Princess Tag Team Titles: Rika Tatsumi & Miu Watanabe (c) Vs Shoko Nakajima & Hyper Misao
5. Princess Of Princess Title: Yuka Sakazaki (c) Vs Yuki Aino
Yuki Aino won the No. 1 Contender match to earn the Princess Of Princess Title shot. Beating Yuka Sakazaki for the title would be a tremendous way to cap off the last few months for her.
What a powerful force Shoko Nakajima & Hyper Misao can be together. The kaiju and superhero might be the strongest combination around to take the Princess Tag Titles from Daydream.
Yuna Manase has decided to end her regular participation with Tokyo Joshi Pro on 23rd July. Manase has been wrestling for TJPW since 2017 and in the last year reached several achievements. She made it to the final of the Tokyo Princess Cup and won the International Princess Title. However she couldn’t win the Princess Cup final and failed to defend the International Title even once. Her wrestling career began in Stardom, went to Actwres girl’Z and ended up in TJPW. All three companies mean a lot to Manase so she spoke to Rossy Ogawa, Tetsuya Koda and Keiji Sakaguchi before making this decision. She does not want to quit pro wrestling but she understands she is in the latter stages of her career. The time has come for her to try something new yet she hasn’t decided on what her future will be past the 23rd.
DDT “SUMMER VACATION 2020”, 23/07/2020 Tokyo Korakuen Hall
1. Soma Takao & Mad Paulie Vs Yukio Naya & Keigo Nakamura
2. Toru Owashi, Naomi Yoshimura & Kazuki Hirata Vs Danshoku Dieno, Super Sasadango Machine & Seigo Tachibana
3. Chris Brookes & Drew Parker Vs Daisuke Sasaki & Nobuhiro Shimatani
4. Akiyama-gun Vs ALL OUT All Out Battle!: Jun Akiyama, Makoto Oishi, Mizuki Watase & Hideki Okatani Vs Konosuke Takeshita, Akito, Shunma Katsumata & Yuki Iino
5. DDT Extreme Title: Shinya Aoki (c) Vs Maku Donaruto
6. KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles: Kazusada Higuchi, Yukio Sakaguchi & Saki Akai (c) Vs HARASHIMA, Antonio Honda & Riho
7. KO-D Openweight Title: Tetsuya Endo (c) Vs Yuki Ueno
I don’t know what goes on in Shinya Aoki’s mind. He chose Maku Donaruto as his next DDT Extreme Title challenger. What must he be thinking to do with him?
Akiyama-gun have been training for the 8-Man Tag against ALL OUT. Their latest session also included Yukio Naya and Keigo Nakamura as sparring partners. Hideki Okatani said he is learning a lot of details from Jun Akiyama in a way that is different from when he was a trainee. Mizuki Watase said he would like to use the Front Neck Lock the same way Akiyama does it. Makoto Oishi is also eager to wrestle like his coach does. Akiyama joked that the entire group is cohesive except for Oishi. One last thing, Akiyama-gun are looking for an official unit name and have asked fans to come out with one. They will pick a name in time for the Korakuen Hall show.
DDT “BEER GARDEN-LIKE PRO WRESTLING 2020 DAY 1”, 30/07/2020 Shinjuku FACE
1. Super Sasadango Machine Produce Match: X Vs X
2. Saki Akai Produce Match: X Vs X
3. Konosuke Takeshita Produce Match: X Vs X
The two mini Beer Garden shows now have the match producers chosen.
DDT “BEER GARDEN-LIKE PRO WRESTLING 2020 DAY 2”, 31/07/2020 Shinjuku FACE
1. Danshoku Dieno Produce Match: X Vs X
2. HARASHIMA Produce Match: X Vs X
3. Tetsuya Endo Produce Match: X Vs X
Will we get the return of ghost stories, Lariat Pro Wrestling and Enter Sandman matches?
GAKE NO FUCHI JOSHI PRO “GAKE ONNA FESTIVAL! 2020 SUMMER ~STAR☆IT’S SUMMER~”, 01/08/2020 Shinjuku FACE
1. Special Single Match: Nobuhiro Shimatani Vs Keigo Nakamura
2. Falls Count Anywhere Tornado Gake no Fuchi Hardcore Special Tag Match: Miyako Matsumoto & Chris Brookes Vs Drew Parker & Rina Yamashita
Gake no Fuchi Joshi has urgently decided to hold a show in front of an audience against later this summer. This is the brand’s first show in Shinjuku FACE so the big match being made is Miyako Matsumoto & Chris Brookes Vs Drew Parker & Rina Yamashita! Matsumoto’s goal is to draw more fans than the DDT show taking place in the same venue later that night.
DDT “SEE YOU AT DDT 2020”, 03/07/2020 Shinjuku FACE 156 Fans – No Vacancy
1. 4 Way Tag Match: Toru Owashi & Yukio Naya defeated Danshoku Dieno & Kazuki Hirata, Shunma Katsumata & Yuki Iino and Tomomitsu Matsunaga & Keigo Nakamura when Owashi pinned Hirata with a School Boy (0:04).
1a. Rematch: Danshoki Dieno, Toru Owashi, Kazuki Hirata & Tomomitsu Matsunaga defeated Shunma Katsumata, Yuki Iino, Yukio Naya & Keigo Nakamura when Hirata pinned Nakamura with the Egoist Driver (5:18).
2. Yukio Sakaguchi & Kazusada Higuchi defeated Mizuki Watase & Hideki Okatani when Higuchi submitted Okatani with the Canadian Backbreaker (8:53).
3. Daisuke Sasaki & Soma Takao defeated HARASHIMA & Antonio Honda when Sasaki pinned Honda with a Cradle (8:15).
4. Kabukichio Specialty Special Single Match: Chris Brookes defeated Maku Donaruto with the Praying Mantis Bomb (8:17).
5. Akiyama-gun Vs ALL OUT!: Jun Akiyama & Makoto Oishi defeated Konosuke Takeshita & Akito when Oishi submitted Akito with the Fujiyama Knee Lock (14:21).
6. DAMNATION Vs DISASTER BOX!: Yuki Ueno & Naomi Yoshimura defeated Tetsuya Endo & Mad Paulie when Ueno pinned Paulie with the BME (12:30).
7. Saki Akai “Okibariyasu” 7 Match Series – Final Match: Meiko Satomura defeated Saki Akai with the Scorpio Rising (13:03).
There was one big moment when Saki Akai thought she had Meiko Satomura beaten. She was able to do her finishing move the Quetzalcoatl but Satomura’s foot reached the ropes to break the pin. Akai’s repeated attempt at the move was countered into the Death Valley Bomb, giving control over to her opponent. Satomura didn’t go for the pin straight away and when she hit a second Death Valley Bomb, Akai kicked out to everyone’s surprise. Satomura had to use the Scorpio Rising to finish her off. The two shook hands after the match and Satomura told Akai today was her first wrestling match in three months. She praised Akai for becoming a champion in a male dominated company and would be proud to have a rematch with her. It was Satomura winning the KO-D Openweight Title two years ago did so much to motivate Akai. She now wants to overtake her and excite Japan’s pro wrestling world! Akai’s Okibariyasu record ends with three wins and four losses.
Tetsuya Endo has to deal with another loss to Yuki Ueno. At least it wasn’t a direct fall this time. Ueno said he has become even more confident he will win the KO-D Title on 23rd July.
The Submission Freak tapped out?! Makoto Oishi used a new Bridging Knee Lock to make Akito submit in the latest Akiyama-gun Vs ALL OUT tag match. When asked about Konosuke Takeshita after the match, Jun Akiyama thinks Takeshita still treats him like a teacher. If Takeshita wants to beat Akiyama, he should start treating him like an enemy instead otherwise he will never win. There is such a thing as giving somebody too much respect.
Maku Donaruto lost to Chris Brookes but still ended up getting a championship match… for the DDT Extreme Title! When Brookes left after his victory, Shinya Aoki entered the ring and asked Donaruto to accept his challenge for a title match on 23rd July. Donaruto turned it down because Aoki is too strong of an opponent but Hisaya Imabayashi booked the match anyway!
What a good tag team partner Danshoku Dieno is. He did everything he physically could to make sure Kazuki Hirata finished his dance entrance without anybody stopping him. Then the bell rang and Toru Owashi immediately pinned Hirata. A pissed off Hirata tried to rally the younger wrestlers in the match to band together and attack their seniors. Yukio Naya attacked him instead. Keigo Nakamura pointed out that Hirata is 32 years old which makes him part of the old generation! An impromptu New Gen Vs Old Gen 8-Man Tag began and Hirata got his revenge by beating Nakamura.
The next BOYZ show will take place on 16th August at Tokyo Kanda Myojin Hall.
Jun Akiyama saw Maku Donaruto backstage and had to ask the rest of Akiyama-gun if he was also part of the team. The others told him it’s best to stay away from that guy.
DDT “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2020 DAY 2”, 07/06/2020 DDT TV SHOW Studio 0 Fans
1. Super Sasadango Machine Remote Produce Match – Chop Up Challenge: Toru Owashi Vs Antonio Honda
2. Tokyo Joshi Pro 6-Woman Tag Match: Yuka Sakazaki, Miyu Yamashita & Shoko Nakajima Vs Rika Tatsumi, Nodoka Tenma & Yuki Aino
3. DDT Extreme Title – Celebration! Release Outdoor Restriction Rules: Shinya Aoki (c) Vs Yukio Naya
4. Yukio Sakaguchi & Saki Akai Vs Chris Brookes & Maki Itoh
5. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title: Danshoku Dieno (c) Vs Makoto Oishi
6. HARASHIMA & Naomichi Marufuji Vs MAO & Asuka
7. KO-D Tag Team Titles: Yuki Ueno & Naomi Yoshimura (c) Vs T-Hawk & El Lindaman
8. KO-D Openweight Title: Masato Tanaka (c) Vs Tetsuya Endo
DDT “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2020 DAY 2”, 07/06/2020 DDT TV SHOW Studio 0 Fans
1. Super Sasadango Machine Remote Produce Match – Chop Up Challenge: Toru Owashi Vs Antonio Honda ended in a Draw (72:45) (1,000 Chops Thrown).
2. Tokyo Joshi Pro 6-Woman Tag Match: Yuka Sakazaki, Miyu Yamashita & Shoko Nakajima defeated Rika Tatsumi, Nodoka Tenma & Yuki Aino when Sakazaki pinned Aino with the Magical Magical Girl Splash (15:31).
3. DDT Extreme Title – Celebration! Release Outdoor Restriction Rules: Shinya Aoki (c) defeated Yukio Naya with a European Clutch (10:49). *V3 for Shinya Aoki.
4. Yukio Sakaguchi & Saki Akai defeated Chris Brookes & Maki Itoh when Sakaguchi pinned Itoh with the PK (12:01).
5. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title: Danshoku Dieno (c) Vs Makoto Oishi was a No Contest.
6. HARASHIMA & Naomichi Marufuji defeated MAO & Asuka when HARASHIMA pinned Asuka with the Somato (17:24).
7. KO-D Tag Team Titles: Yuki Ueno & Naomi Yoshimura defeated T-Hawk & El Lindaman when Ueno pinned Lindaman with the WR (22:13). *V4 for Nautilus.
8. KO-D Openweight Title: Tetsuya Endo defeated Masato Tanaka (c) with two Shooting Star Presses (26:19). *Masato Tanaka fails in V5. Tetsuya Endo becomes the 75th KO-D Openweight Champion!
Tetsuya Endo’s path to reclaim the KO-D Openweight Title ends with success and maybe a few extra scars. Masato Tanaka put him through a table twice in their match, bringing back memories of their D-Ou Grand Prix final last December. The first table crash had Tanaka throw Endo through one from the turnbuckles. But the second happened when Endo used his knees to block the Diving Body Press. Damage to Endo’s leg prevented him from doing the Handspring Overhead Kick until late in the match. He could barely stand after kicking out of the Super Fly but Tanaka dared him into doing so. Tanaka hit the short range Sliding D after Endo missed the Shooting Star Press but Endo was close enough to grab the ropes for a pin break. Tanaka ran to the ropes for another Sliding D but Endo countered it with Testuya In The Sky. He hit a Package Canadian Destroyer for a two count then dragged Tanaka to the corner. Endo hit the Shooting Star Press not once but twice to get the three count and become the new KO-D Champion!
Tanaka grabbed the title belt from Yukinori Matsui after the match but it was just so he was the one to hand it to Endo. Tanaka left the ring when Endo called out to him. Endo promised to hold onto the title long enough for them to have a rematch at Saitama Super Arena! He looks forward to standing across the ring from him again. For now there is no No. 1 Contender set in place so Endo wants all potential challengers to know he is the one who beat Masato Tanaka when nobody else in DDT could. He then gathered DAMNATION together for a their first group pose in months. Together they are the symbol of strength in DDT and they have most of the championships to prove it. Not just DAMNATION but all of #DAMNHEARTS too!
The only miss on #DAMNHEARTS’s record this weekend was in the KO-D Tag Team Titles match. The challengers T-Hawk & El Lindaman failed to beat the champions Nautilus. At points the #STRONGHEARTS team ran circles over their opponents, cutting Yuki Ueno away from Naomi Yoshimura. But the tables turned when Ueno used a Hurricanrana to throw T-Hawk into Lindaman, knocking him off the top rope. Ueno gave Lindaman an Avalanche Uranage and then the Osaka Trad for a nearfall. Ueno then hit the Frog Splash but didn’t go for the pin. Instead he used a new finisher, a forward flipping DDT called the WR to win the match. Ueno said he was happy to have a title match like this today. They twice couldn’t win the KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles from #DAMNHEARTS but today’s win shows how much progress Nautilus has made because of those matches. Maybe they’ll have another match and this time do it in OWE.
This wasn’t their original match for the show but HarashiMarufuji reunited for the first time in ages. MAO & Asuka proved to be a lot for them to handle. They hit Double Moonsaults out of the ring and Asuka threw both HARASHIMA & Naomichi Marufuji around with German Suplexes. The momentum shifted when HARASHIMA blocked Asuka’s Moonsault with his knees. Marufuji got rid of MAO with the Tiger King knee strike then stunned Asuka with a Trace Kick. HARASHIMA then crushed Asuka with the Somato to win. After the match they offered handshakes but Asuka slapped Marufuji across the face before leaving the ring. HARASHIMA told Marufuji he isn’t satisfied by today’s match. He wants to team with him again and go against the pair they were originally meant to fight: CIMA & Soma Takao!
All throughout the week, Danshoku Dieno and Makoto Oishi tried to have their Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title match over at the Ochanomizu Dojo. However one setback after another prevented the match from happening. Either Dieno forgot to turn off his stove, the referee never turned up, Oishi was busy babysitting or both wrestlers forgot their gear and weren’t allowed wrestle in the nude. After so many cancellations today was finally the day. Dieno waited in the ring for his opponent but Oishi never appeared. A text message came saying Oishi had to mind his baby again but he promised he would still make it. Yukinori Matsui and Hisaya Imabayashi couldn’t wait and wanted to cancel the match because it was eating into their ABEMA broadcast time. Dieno begged them not to. All he needed was three minutes and Oishi will be here. Memories of Dieno and Oishi together filled the screen when suddenly Oishi appears at the entrance! He sprints down to the ring but tripped over the steps, knocking himself out. Matsui then called off the match as Dieno looked on stunned.
Eruption defeated the NEO Itoh Respect Army in the intergender tag match. Maki Itoh avoided getting into the ring with Yukio Sakaguchi unless she was certain she had the advantage. Chris Brookes tried to help out but was met with a short range God’s Right Knee. Saki Akai then got rid of him with the Quetzalcoatl. Itoh showed one last act of defiance by giving Sakaguchi the middle finger. She got a Penalty Kick for her troubles before getting pinned.
The DDT Extreme Title match had no countouts to celebrate the relaxation of Tokyo’s outdoor restrictions. Shinya Aoki and Yukio Naya fought around the hallways of Shinjuku FACE, dragging Keigo Nakamura along for the ride. At one point they all moved past Maki Itoh who was warming up for her singing entrance. Aoki, Naya and Nakamura ended up back in the ring with Nakamura getting most of the beating. Aoki countered Naya’s Back Drop into a European Clutch to score his third successful defence.
The Tokyo Joshi Pro offer match saw Yuka Sakazaki, Miyu Yamashita & Shoko Nakajima defeat Rika Tatsumi, Nodoka Tenma & Yuki Aino. The result was almost the opposite when Tenma & Aino gave Sakazaki the Bakuretsu Bulldog. Nakajima came in to even the numbers and with Sakazaki did a Double 619 to Aino. Yamashita knocked Aino silly with the Backspin Kick and Sakazaki got the three count right afterwards with the Magical Magical Girl Splash.
The longest match of the show by far was the opening contest between Antonio Honda and Toru Owashi. Before the match, Super Sasadango Machine sent a video message from Niigata announcing he would donate 100 yen to a medical workers charity for every Chop that happens in the match. Both Honda and Owashi promised to put their power and soul into their Chops for such a noble cause. They then spent the match lightly chopping and slapping each other’s chests while Shota kept count. The left the venue still chopping so the show moved on to Match #2. When that was over we saw Honda & Oishi chopping each other in the locker room. They decided to go get something to eat. After Match #4 they made it to Ebisuko Tavern but Ken Ohka refused to give them entry over social distancing guidelines. The Tavern is doing everything it can to run business safely so the last thing they want to do is let in two sweaty naked men slapping each other. Honda and Owashi agreed to get a take out meal but they also dragged Ohka along with them back to the venue. After Match #5 Honda and Owashi ate their take out meal in the locker room with a captive Ohka bound and gagged behind them. KUDO entered the room demanding money because nobody paid the 3,100 yen bill! KUDO agreed to chop Ohka 31 times instead, bringing the total number of Chops thrown to 1,000! Everyone agreed to end the match there resulting in 100,000 yen being donated to charity in Sasadango’s name.
First let’s get the bad news out of the way. Even though Japan is entering the second phase of lifting their Coronavirus restrictions, the DDT Group are following requests from venues to cancel the following shows in June and July:
DDT “BLACK OUT PRESENTS KING OF DDT 2020 THE FINAL!!”, 28/06/2020 Tokyo Korakuen Hall
DDT “ROAD TO PETER PAN 2020 ~DRAMATIC DREAM TAKESHI~”, 02/07/2020 Tokyo Hanayashiki Asakusa Flower Theater
MUSCLE “HIRAGANA MUSCLE 3”, 09/07/2020 Shin-Kiba 1st RING
DDT “KAZUKI HIRATA 10TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW! 10 YEARS OF HIRATA GO!!”, 18/07/2020 Tokyo Belle Epoque Beauty School 2nd School Hall
DDT “DATE CITY 2ND ROUND! 1 YEAR UNTIL THE 60TH BIRTHDAY! ~GORGEOUS NIGHT~”, 19/07/2020 Fukushima Date City Hobara Gymnasium
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Now here’s the good news. The DDT Group can run shows in front of audiences again! They have to put in safety precautions of course such as limiting the number of seats at the venues (either around 100 fans or 50% capacity looks to be deal across the board depending on the venue size). Fans going to shows will need to wear medical masks, get their temperatures checked and have their hands disinfected as they enter. New shows in June have been announced today across the different promotions. They will be held in venues that provide a lot of open air and ventilation. That means Shin-Kiba 1st RING, Shinjuku FACE, Itabashi Green Hall and Tsurumi Vegetable Market for those not paying attention. DDT TV SHOW episodes #7 & #8 will also continue to take place as planned. DDT can now advertise the worst kept secret that they were taped in Shinjuku FACE. The revised schedule for June is as follows.
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “KOKO NI IRUZEE!”, 13/06/2020 Tokyo Itabashi Green Hall
DDT “WITH DRAMATIC DREAM TEAM”, 14/06/2020 Tokyo Itabashi Green Hall
GANBARE☆WRESTLING “COMEBACK ANYTIME 2020”, 14/06/2020 Tokyo Itabashi Green Hall
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “KOKO NI IRUZEE!”, 20/06/2020 Shin-Kiba 1st RING
DDT “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2020 DAY 1”, 06/06/2020 DDT TV SHOW Studio
1. Soma Takao & Mad Paulie Vs Keigo Nakamura & Hideki Okatani
2. Keisuke Ishii & HARUKAZE Vs Hiroshi Yamato & Saori Anou
3. DDT Yuru-chara No. 1 Battle In Niigata: Super Sasadango Machine Vs Pokotan
4. Singles Match Between Wrestlers Who Want To Participate In DDT Regularly: Nobuhiro Shimatani Vs Seigo Tachibana
5. Jun Akiyama & Mizuki Watase Vs Akito & Yuki Iino
6. DDT UNIVERSAL Title – Hardcore 3 Way Match: Daisuke Sasaki (c) Vs Isami Kodaka Vs Shunma Katsumata
7. DDT Vs Kongoh All Out Battle!: Sanshiro Takagi, Kazusada Higuchi & Tomomitsu Matsunaga Vs Kenoh, Masa Kitamiya & Hao
8. TOKYO 2020 LAST MAN STANDING: Yoshihiko Vs Konosuke Takeshita
Before the audiences can come back, “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2020” will hopefully be the bookend for DDT’s empty arena era (fingers crossed). I don’t think I’ll write a full blown preview for these shows due to the short amount of time most of the matches were put together. So this will do for now.
The big feud of DDT TV SHOW has been between Konosuke Takeshita and Yoshihiko. A hatred led to warning messages of “ALL OUT All Dead” where Yoshihiko defeated each member of the unit one by one. It even brought back another battle doll named Akihiro to join the fight. Yesterday ALL OUT reached their breaking point and launched a vicious counter attack where Takeshita ripped off Akihiro’s arm. Alone again, Yoshihiko has to fight Takeshita one more time in a Last Man Standing match!
Kongoh popped by to visit Sanshiro Takagi on yesterday’s DDT TV SHOW. They seem like nice lads. Well if you ignore the leader Kenou threatening violence on Takagi if he doesn’t leave NOAH alone. That’s difficult because Takagi is NOAH’s president. And as president Takagi is ordering Kenoh, Masa Kitamiya & Hao to fight him, Kazusada Higuchi & Tomomitsu Matsunaga in a DDT ring!
Daisuke Sasaki originally chose Shunma Katsumata to be his next DDT UNIVERSAL Title defence because he thinks it is a match he can easily win. Then two things happened that he did not expect. One, Isami Kodaka came in wanting to win a title that didn’t exist back when he was a DDT employee. And two, Katsumata went into his Super Hardcore form to attack the champion. A Hardcore 3 Way Match will solve those problems.
Mizuki Watase has shown some progress by wrestling with coach Jun Akiyama. This is the first time they are teaming together.
Both Nobuhiro Shimatani and Seigo Tachibana want regular bookings in DDT. The company isn’t big enough for the both of them.
DDT “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2020 DAY 2”, 07/06/2020 DDT TV SHOW Studio
1. Super Sasadango Machine Remote Produce Match: Toru Owashi Vs Antonio Honda
2. Tokyo Joshi Pro 6-Woman Tag Match: Yuka Sakazaki, Miyu Yamashita & Shoko Nakajima Vs Rika Tatsumi, Nodoka Tenma & Yuki Aino
3. Yukio Sakaguchi & Saki Akai Vs Chris Brookes & Maki Itoh
4. DDT Extreme Title – Celebration! Release Restriction Rules: Shinya Aoki (c) Vs Yukio Naya
5. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title: Danshoku Dieno (c) Vs Makoto Oishi
6. HARASHIMA & Naomichi Marufuji Vs MAO & Asuka
7. KO-D Tag Team Titles: Yuki Ueno & Naomi Yoshimura Vs T-Hawk & El Lindaman
8. KO-D Openweight Title: Masato Tanaka (c) Vs Tetsuya Endo
On Day 2, Tetsuya Endo reaches his destination. There was a setback here and there but now nothing is stopping him from facing Masato Tanaka for the KO-D Openweight Title. Endo’s big goal for #DAMNHEARTS is to monopolize DDT’s championships so T-Hawk & El Lindaman are challenging Nautilus for the KO-D Tag Team Titles.
MAO will return from injury one day too late. The last active Right To Challenge Gauntlet has expired and he was too hurt to use it. So he has to take a detour and will chase after the UNIVERSAL Title. MAO will also team with Asuka for now because the Coronavirus measures prevent Mike Bailey from entering Japan. They get a big challenge in the form of HarashiMarufuji!
Danshoku Dieno is finally moving away from his Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title defences against Antonio Honda. He still hasn’t beat him but another figure decided to get in his way. Makoto Oishi has a decade of history with Dieno and he will let it all out for the big clash.
I hope everybody out there is feeling well and finding ways to cope with the sad news about Hana Kimura. Dylan from the Eastern Lariat podcast tweeted a magazine photo of the time when an 8 year old Kimura won the Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title, which I think was her only connection to DDT. There would have been a working relationship between her and Sanshiro Takagi in WRESTLE-1 as well back when Takagi was part of its management.
There’s a quick story I want to tell. When I last went to Tokyo in 2016 I got to see a Sendai Girls show with a group of friends in Korakuen (the 8th April one). Kyoko Kimura was wrestling in the opener and Hana was there as her ringside attendant. This was only a few weeks after her pro debut and it was her only role on the show. I didn’t think anything of it at the time. The next day I spoke to an American expat and talked about the show. Before I even finished a sentence he cut me off and asked “Was Kyoko Kimura’s daughter there? She is going to be a star!”
DDT “DDT TV SHOW! #5”, 30/05/2020 DDT TV SHOW Studio
1. Jun Akiyama Vs Hideki Okatani
2. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title: Danshoku Dieno (c) Vs Antonio Honda
3. DAMNATION VS ALL OUT!: Daisuke Sasaki & Soma Takao Vs Shunma Katsumata & Yuki Iino
4. Yoshihiko & Akihiro Vs Konosuke Takeshita & Akito
5. #DAMNHEARTS Vs DISASTER BOX!: Tetsuya Endo, T-Hawk & El Lindaman Vs HARASHIMA, Yuki Ueno & Naomi Yoshimura
Figures from past and present are returning as Japan opens up again. The #STRONGHEARTS pair of T-Hawk & El Lindaman rejoin Tetsuya Endo to protect him from losing before his big title match. Yuki Ueno has spent all of this time during the pandemic looking after the Dropkick Bar. He gets to wrestle again for the first time in almost two months.
The second battle doll Akihiro came back in Yoshihiko’s time of need to defeat ALL OUT. The feud isn’t over yet when revenge is on offer.
Third time’s the charm for Danshoku Dieno Vs Antonio Honda.
Two thirds of the next DDT UNIVERSAL Title match face off in tag action.
Hideki Okatani showed his stuff by fighting Seigo Tachibana to a time limit draw in the match that took place after the last episode ended. Jun Akiyama should have lots to teach him.
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW PPV SHOW ~ZENRYOKU YELL~”, 31/05/2020 OPENREC.tv
1. Hikari Noa Vs Sena Shiori
2. Hyper Misao Vs Mahiro Kiryu
3. Yuka Sakazaki & Mizuki Vs Shoko Nakajima & Suzume
The main event is confirmed to be The Magical Sugar Rabbits against Shoko Nakajima & Suzume.
GANBARE☆WRESTLING “HIMITSU 2020”, 03/06/2020 ???
1. 4 Vs 4 Survival Tag Match: Keisuke Ishii, Yumehito Imanari, Shinichiro Tominaga & Kouki Iwasaki Vs Shuichiro Katsumura, Shota, Washi Sakurai & X
At last Ganbare☆Wrestling gets to have a go at an empty arena match. Here’s a neat concept for the match. We have two teams with 4 wrestlers each. When the match begins two wrestlers from each side are selected to wrestle a tag team match. When a wrestler is defeated by normal means they are replaced by a new teammate and the tag match continues. To win the match, a team must eliminate three of their opponents.
As you can see, one team has a mystery wrestler advertised. I’m surprised to see Ken Ohka or Moeka Haruhi aren’t involved. Haruhi being there would have meant all members of THE HALFEE were in the match on the same side. This is the only match of the show too.
DDT “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2020 DAY 1”, 06/06/2020 DDT TV SHOW Studio
1. Soma Takao & Mad Paulie Vs Keigo Nakamura & Hideki Okatani
2. Keisuke Ishii & HARUKAZE Vs Hiroshi Yamato & Saori Anou
3. DDT Yuru-chara No. 1 Battle In Niigata: Super Sasadango Machine Vs Pokotan
4. DDT UNIVERSAL Title – Hardcore 3 Way Match: Daisuke Sasaki (c) Vs Isami Kodaka Vs Shunma Katsumata
The new plan for “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2020” is to hold it under the DDT TV SHOW format across two days. It’s not the mega show it is going to be but under the current circumstances it keeps DDT chugging along as light appears at the end of the tunnel.
Daisuke Sasaki wanted his next title defence to be easy and violent. That is why he nominated Shunma Katsumata to be his next challenger. The twist is the sudden appearance of Isami Kodaka getting involved. Kodaka heard about DDT’s new UNIVERSAL Title and wanted to add it to his ever growing list of accomplishments.
I bet the DDT roster are happy to see Saori Anou again.
DDT “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2020 DAY 2”, 07/06/2020 DDT TV SHOW Studio
1. Tokyo Joshi Pro 6-Woman Tag Match: Yuka Sakazaki, Miyu Yamashita & Shoko Nakajima Vs Rika Tatsumi, Nodoka Tenma & Yuki Aino
2. Yukio Sakaguchi & Saki Akai Vs Chris Brookes & Maki Itoh
3. Super Sasadango Machine Remote Produce Match: Toru Owashi Vs Antonio Honda
4. DDT Extreme Title – Celebration! Release Restriction Rules: Shinya Aoki (c) Vs Yukio Naya
5. KO-D Openweight Title: Masato Tanaka (c) Vs Tetsuya Endo
Endo is so close to his final goal. He tripped up once before but reclaimed the KO-D Challenger Sword and just has to avoid a direct defeat one more time. Once he does that, Masato Tanaka will be there waiting for him with the KO-D Openweight Title held tightly in his grip.
The state of emergency in Tokyo has been lifted and the restrictions across Japan are easing off. Shinya Aoki will use the uplifting news as inspiration for his next DDT Extreme Title defence. Yukio Naya is stepping up as the challenger.
This show is taking place on Nodoka Tenma’s birthday! She is happy to spend the day fighting against the three strongest wrestlers in Tokyo Joshi Pro. Her team with Yuki Aino & Rika Tatsumi is called Bakuretsu Dragon.
BASARA “BASARA 129 ~BANQUET~”, 14/07/2020 Shin-Kiba 1st RING
1. IRON FIST Tag Titles: Tsutomu Oosugi & Banana Senga (c) Vs Gouma Ryu & Ryuji Ito
2. Union MAX Title: Fuminori Abe (c) Vs Isami Kodaka
BASARA are playing it safe and have cancelled their last remaining show in June. Instead their first show back will be in July at Shin-Kiba 1st RING. Normally this is the Banquet all you can drink show but that system will be suspended and the seating rearranged to accommodate social distancing. For now they are numbering the show #129. The last BASARA show that took place was #126 (I’m amazed I’ve been able to keep track of the chapter numbers for so long). If that sticks then it means #127 & #128 are forever lost to the cancellations.
The two title matches that were originally going to take place in April are now finally going to happen in July. Fuminori Abe must be chomping at the bit to prove his worth as Union MAX Champion by now.
Posted by JamieOD 
Dramatic DDT 