DDT “JUDGEMENT 2017 ~ DDT 20TH ANNIVERSARY BOX OFFICE” Preview

March 17, 2017

DDT “JUDGEMENT 2017 ~ DDT 20TH ANNIVERSARY BOX OFFICE”, 20/03/2017
Saitama Super Arena

0. Iron Man Heavymetalweight & King Of Dark Titles – DDT Pro Wrestling 20th Anniversary Memorial Celebration Dramatic Rumble: Kotatsu (I/c) Vs Gota Ihashi (D/c) Vs Tomomitsu Matsunaga Vs Mad Paulie Vs Guanchulo Vs Hoshitango Vs Gorgeous Matsuno Vs Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi Vs Ken Ohka Vs MIKAMI Vs Poison Sawada JULIE Vs GENTARO Vs Tomohiko Hashimoto Vs Rion Mizuki Vs Bambi Vs Yoshihiko
0. DNA Offer Match: Rekka, Daiki Shimomura & Yuki Ueno Vs Nobuhiro Shimatani, Naomi Yoshimura & Dai Suzuki
0. Tokyo Joshi Pro Offer Match: Yuu, Mil Clown & Itoh Maki Vs Reika Saiki, Rika Tatsumi & Azusa Takigawa
1. Super Joshi Pro Wars 2017: Saki Akai, Meiko Satomura & Shoko Nakajima Vs Aja Kong, Cherry & Miyu Yamashita
2. Kou Shibusawa 35th Anniversary “Nobunaga’s Ambition ~Our Warring States~” Sengoku Warlords Match: Toyotomi Hideyoshi (Sanshiro Takagi), Shingen Takeda (Keiji Muto) & Yukimura Sanada (Isami Kodaka) (w/ Matsu-hime (Kimika Tokuta)) Vs Katsuie Shibata (Daisuke Sekimoto), Kenshin Uesugi (Jun Akiyama) & Nobunaga Oda (Kota Ibushi) (w/ Oichi (Mai Iriya))
3. Special 8-Man Tag Match: Toru Owashi, Kazuki Hirata, Antonio Honda & Lady Beard Vs Jaguar Yokota, Keisuke Ishii, Masahiro Takanashi & Yuni
4. Shungo Oyama Pro Wrestling Challenge Match: Yoshihiro Takayama & Dick Togo Vs KUDO & Shungo Oyama
5. Shigehiro Irie Triennial Special Single Match: Shigehiro Irie Vs Mike Bailey
6. PRO WRESTLING TEES Presents “DDT Is DDT” 20 Years Entertainment Culmination! The Best In The World Bad Guy Decisive Battle: Danshoku Dino Vs Joey Ryan
7. KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles – 3 Way Match: Kazusada Higuchi, Kouki Iwasaki & Mizuki Watase (c) Vs Soma Takao, Akito & Yasu Urano Vs Makoto Oishi, Shunma Katsumata & MAO
8. DDT Extreme Title – Sekichu Presents Hardcore Match: Jun Kasai (c) Vs Daisuke Sasaki
9. KO-D Tag Team Titles: Masakatsu Funaki & Yukio Sakaguchi (c) Vs Shuji Ishikawa & Tetsuya Endo
10. KO-D Openweight Title – Good Com Asset Presents: HARASHIMA (c) Vs Konosuke Takeshita

The show airs live on DDT UNIVERSE om Monday 2:00pm JST, 5:00am GMT, 1:00am ET and Sunday 10:00pm PT.

I was also a guest on the Japanese Audio Wrestling podcast last week to preview the show. The episode can be heard here.

Twenty years. Who would have thought DDT would last twenty years? Sanshiro Takagi’s brainchild was created in 1997 when he, MIKAMI and NOSAWA Rongai quit a promotion called Pro Wrestling Crusaders to form their own wrestling league. From there Dramatic Dream Team was born and it created a bizarre path for itself as time went by. From parodying WWE to experimenting with the elements of pro wrestling that have existed for so long that they were taken for granted, DDT became home to some of the most bizarre gimmicks and ideas in the business. But it had something else going for it. Among the island of misfit toys were some gems that have since gone on to be major players on the scene. The parodies and knock offs eventually transformed into more creative endeavours that can now stand on their own. The buildings being booked became bigger. The roster developed into something that the next generation of wrestlers now choose to be there rather than use it as a backup plan.

And it all leads to here. “JUDGEMENT 2017” the 20th Anniversary celebration for DDT is taking place in Saitama Super Arena. This is a plan years in the making. Originally DDT wanted to run the building in 2011 but there was no room on the Arena’s schedule to make it happen. In 2015 DDT booked the Community Hub section of the building for “SAITAMA SUPER DDT 2015”. Finally this year is the year they are running the full building. If that isn’t aiming high, remember that back at the 15th Anniversary show, Takagi announced his intentions to run the Tokyo Dome for the 20th Anniversary! Sadly that never came to pass but hey, Saitama Super Arena isn’t anything to sneeze at.

So let’s get to the card itself. DDT is following the format that a lot of others now use for their biggest show of the year. Cram as much as they can and give everyone a spot somewhere. This is going to be a long show, ladies and gentlemen. The Future attempts to replace the present, an angry warrior looks set to take on DAMNATION, furniture will fly in a charismatic death match, a 3 Way determines who deserves the trios championship, a viral video clip results in a World Wrestling War, two top singles wrestlers battle it out to move up the ranks, an MMA fighter shifts over to pro wrestling, a joshi legend teams up with a child, there’s a match filled with superstar samurai and much more is on the cards. So let’s dig in.


0. Iron Man Heavymetalweight & King Of Dark Titles – DDT Pro Wrestling 20th Anniversary Memorial Celebration Dramatic Rumble: Kotatsu (I/c) Vs Gota Ihashi (D/c) Vs Tomomitsu Matsunaga Vs Mad Paulie Vs Guanchulo Vs Hoshitango Vs Gorgeous Matsuno Vs Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi Vs Ken Ohka Vs MIKAMI Vs Poison Sawada JULIE Vs GENTARO Vs Tomohiko Hashimoto Vs Rion Mizuki Vs Bambi Vs Yoshihiko

We start off with a staple match on these major shows, a Royal Rumble for the Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title. However this time there is an added caveat in the mix. The King Of Dark Title is also on the line, hence why this match is on the pre-show. The current Iron Man Champion is Kotatsu, a literal table. Kotatsu has been unstoppable since becoming the champion. Its defensive capabilities is beyond anything seen from previous champions. As you’d expect from a Japanese table it is tough to break. But it has a soft side too. It has a quilt attached around itself that is so comfortable, anyone who sits next to it falls asleep. The current King Of Dark Champion is Gota Ihashi who recently reclaimed the title for the 6th time. The rest of the field is filled with many names from DDT’s past. MIKAMI had been with DDT for most of its existence and was the Jr. Heavyweight star in the group for many years. Poison Sawada JULIE had many forms but is best remembered as the dark snake magician. GENTARO was a dominant tag wrestler, teaming with Takashi Sasaki as the Akarangers. Tomohiko Hashimoto was one of Koichiro Kimura’s disciples and was part of a unit called B52 Special. Rion Mizuki was an ikemen wrestler who briefly has a Saint Seiya gimmick. Bambi wrestled in DDT under a mask as “Showa”. And then there is the usual lot involved too. It is possible that one of the titles will not change hands depending on the result of the match. It’s a complicated situation that the referees are trying to figure out.


0. DNA Offer Match: Rekka, Daiki Shimomura & Yuki Ueno Vs Nobuhiro Shimatani, Naomi Yoshimura & Dai Suzuki

Earlier this year DDT New Attitude reinvented itself into Fighting Gig DNA. It is still a development brand for DDT’s less experienced wrestlers but the plan is for the group to grow and become its own brand of wrestling. Naomi Yoshimura has quickly become a standout to me. He has the fewest matches out of the six wrestlers but the biggest ego and a powerful body to match. His generation counterpart Yuki Ueno is almost the opposite. Ueno takes a beating every match but he takes it in his stride. Daiki Shimomura and Nobuhiro Shimatani are friends/rivals who recently formed a team together called Gran Millimeters. Dai Suzuki just began a 7 match series where he must win or tie one match or else he must retire. He’s 0-1 so far. Rekka is the most experienced of the bunch by far, joining DNA from New Taiwan Wrestling. Everybody involved in this match are hungry and unsatisfied at just being in the pre-show. They are determined to have an exciting match because of this.


0. Tokyo Joshi Pro Offer Match: Yuu, Mil Clown & Itoh Maki Vs Reika Saiki, Rika Tatsumi & Azusa Takigawa

The last of the pre-show matches involved Tokyo Joshi Pro. DDT’s spin-off women’s brand has been around for four years now and has a colourful cast of idol wrestlers. Yuu is the current queen of the ring, holding the TOKYO Princess Of Princess Title. Her judo talent quickly pushed her heads and shoulders ahead of the rest of the roster. Mil Clown is a trickster from the Magical Country. She came to Tokyo Joshi to take the place of twin sister Yuka Sakazaki when she took a break to find herself. Itoh Maki is a former singer from LinQ and is convinced she is the cutest wrestler ever. Reika Saiki is the powerful Muscle Idol and a member of the Cheer♡1 cheerleader squad. Rika Tatsumi is becoming known for her Dragon Sleeper. It is no coincidence that her ring name was inspired by Tatsumi Fujinami. Finally Azusa Takigawa is the wrestler who is determined to get married. Her use of Zexy Magazine as a weapon in matches got some attention online this year including a request from the magazine’s publisher to stop doing it.


1. Super Joshi Pro Wars 2017: Saki Akai, Meiko Satomura & Shoko Nakajima Vs Aja Kong, Cherry & Miyu Yamashita

Tokyo Joshi’s influence continues into the main show. The two most established wrestlers from the brand are being put in with DDT’s two mainstay women as well as two joshi legends. Miyu Yamashita has been with Tokyo Joshi since its very first show back in January 2013 with Shoko Nakajima coming in a few months later. Yamashita was the first ever Princess Champion while Nakajima is a Tokyo Princess Cup winner and has been in the final for all three tournaments. Saki Akai and Cherry have a not so friendly relationship in DDT. Cherry was the token women’s wrestler for the DDT family until Akai the celebrity came in. Cherry has been jealous of her success and popularity ever since. Then there is the famed rivalry between Meiko Satomura and Aja Kong. I got to see their Sendai Girls match live last April and it was amazing to watch. Maybe Yamashita and Nakajima can impress the right people in this match and get an opportunity to spread their wings.


2. Kou Shibusawa 35th Anniversary “Nobunaga’s Ambition ~Our Warring States~” Sengoku Warlords Match: Toyotomi Hideyoshi (Sanshiro Takagi), Shingen Takeda (Keiji Muto) & Yukimura Sanada (Isami Kodaka) (w/ Matsu-hime (Kimika Tokuta)) Vs Katsuie Shibata (Daisuke Sekimoto), Kenshin Uesugi (Jun Akiyama) & Nobunaga Oda (Kota Ibushi) (w/ Oichi (Mai Iriya))

It’s surprising to see a match of this magnitude apparantly take place so early on the show but this is going to be a highlight for sure. To celebrate game director Kou Shibusawa’s 35th year in the business, DDT is teaming up with Koei Tecmo to put on a star studded match promoting the Nobunaga’s Ambition phone game. If you don’t know about that series then maybe you are more familiar with Dynasty Warriors or Romance Of The Three Kingdoms. Chances are if the Yellow Turban Rebellion is mentioned somewhere then this match relates to it. To get the most out of this match I suggest you grab a Playstation controller and mash Square over and over. It’s how I played through Dynasty Warriors 8.

To the teams themselves. On one side you have the Big President Sanshiro Takagi, the BASARA samurai Isami Kodaka and the Pro Wrestling Master Keiji Muto. On the other side there is the hard bodied Daisuke Sekimoto, the wise man Jun Akiyama and the nutjob who thinks showering in fireworks during a trip to London is a good idea Kota Ibushi. So far so good but to make things more interesting each wrestler is playing a different character from the historical video game series. There are also actresses involved, Mai Iriya is playing Sekimoto’s character’s wife and Kimika Tokuta is playing Muto’s character’s daughter. Ibushi turned down WWE for this and I couldn’t be happier. Twitter videos also show he has a blunderbuss as part of his costume because you know, giving Ibushi a gun is such a good idea.


3. Special 8-Man Tag Match: Toru Owashi, Kazuki Hirata, Antonio Honda & Lady Beard Vs Jaguar Yokota, Keisuke Ishii, Masahiro Takanashi & Yuni

Another mish-mash multi-person tag match. The focus here is on two people with around a 45 year a age difference between them. Jaguar Yokota wrestled for DDT once before back in June 2003. Teaming with her is the 3rd grade elementary student Yuni. The kid convinced DDT to train him as a wrestler and he’s had a few matches since his debut last December. During his time away from the ring he’s been bouncing on his bed trying to learn stylish moves like the Sky Twister Press. Yokota and Yuni have met and trained together in the build up to this match. They get along and Yokota warns she won’t forgive anyone who tries to bully Yuni in the ring. Joining their team are Keisuke Ishii and Masahiro Takanashi. Ishii has had a banner year since winning the AJPW Jr. Heavyweight Title. Takanashi is firmly suited in his role for Shuten-dōji and can catch anyone with his pinning manoeuvres. Their opponents are Toru Owashi and the three people who annoy him. Kazuki Hirata wants nothing more than to dance on the biggest stage (sadly his music will be blocked on DDT UNIVERSE). Both Antonio Honda and Lady Beard are warming up their vocals and will probably be more interested in telling stories and singing karaoke rather than wrestling.


4. Shungo Oyama Pro Wrestling Challenge Match: Yoshihiro Takayama & Dick Togo Vs KUDO & Shungo Oyama

Former MMA fighter Shungo Oyama has fought many big names in PRIDE, K-1 and HERO’S. He’s fought Wanderlai Silva, Peter Aerts, Renzo Gracie (and a few others from that family), Dan Henderson, Cro Cop and Carlos Newton. He even once fought Sean O’Haire in a kickboxing bout! When his MMA career ended DDT sent him an invite to try out pro wrestling. It’s an idea he considered but put off for years because he was coming off of injuries and did not want to disrespect pro wrestling with a lacklustre performance. But he came round on the idea and figured it is better to do it now then never at all. He sent a strong message to Yoshihiro Takayama in February when they met in a DDT ring. Takayama tried attacked Oyama but was quickly put in a Sleeper Hold and choked unconscious. KUDO is encouraged by Oyama’s appearance. His advice to him is if he can see success then he can win. Takayama isn’t going to take it lying down though. He warns that all Oyama did was wake up the fighter inside him and he’s now hungry for blood! Takayama’s tag partner Dick Togo wants to remind everyone that even though Oyama is strong he is still a pro wrestling rookie. Togo is eager to teach him a lesson!


5. Shigehiro Irie Triennial Special Single Match: Shigehiro Irie Vs Mike Bailey

This is an interesting match up. Shigehiro Irie and “Speedball” Mike Bailey have both been recovering from set-backs after losing title matches to HARASHIMA. They are both on the cusp of hitting the main event level again but are taking different paths to reach it. Irie has been relying on excursions to the United States of America. The first trip saw him return to Japan much stronger and more confident than ever before. He was already planning a return to America when he fought HARASHIMA on Christmas Day but he wanted to bring the KO-D Openweight Title with him. That did not happen. Still, Irie loves spending time in America and did not take his latest trip for granted.

Bailey’s climb to the top is coming from his time teaming with Happy Motels and wrestling in DNA. He won the DNA Grand Prix on his own in October and then won the KO-D Tag Team Titles with Konosuke Takeshita in December. But Irie isn’t impressed. He’s given him the thumbs down after their matches together. Expect the winner of this match to start banging on the door for a title shot in the future.


6. PRO WRESTLING TEES Presents “DDT Is DDT” 20 Years Entertainment Culmination! The Best In The World Bad Guy Decisive Battle: Danshoku Dino Vs Joey Ryan

Where do I even begin with this? DDT put together the most DDT match they could think of to promote DDT UNIVERSE to a global audience. On November 2015, Danshoku Dino and Joey Ryan faced off in a 6-Man Tag. Their interactions went viral and the aftermath has been following them ever since. When Dino was given 500,000 yen to find his dream opponent for Saitama Super Arena he went for the obvious choice. Triple H! Unfortunately he’s too busy trying to drain the European wrestling scene of its talent for NXT so Dino went for the next obvious choice. Joey Ryan! And to make the match even more appealing to a global audience, Super Sasadango Machine is creating a special PowerPoint presentation in Japanese, English, Spanish and Chinese for the match.

Everything surrounding the match was well and good until a few days ago when a certain powerful figure in the world of politics got involved. “Donald Trump” stepped in and declared the match a World Wrestling War between Japan and America. This is a serious situation that calls for a dangerous stipulation. Using the SWOT Analysis on Dino, Trump determined that Dino Vs Ryan should be an Anal Explosion Death Match! If such a match goes ahead then any scenes of graphic content will be censored on DDT UNIVERSE with this NSFW image.

Oh and Pro Wrestling Tees is sponsoring the match. Buy DDT shirts here. You picked a hell of a match to sponsor, lads.


7. KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles – 3 Way Match: Kazusada Higuchi, Kouki Iwasaki & Mizuki Watase (c) Vs Soma Takao, Akito & Yasu Urano Vs Makoto Oishi, Shunma Katsumata & MAO

Things will calm down for the KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles match. Three units clash and each side has its own story to tell. Team DNA are the champions going into the match. Kazusada Higuchi is the top man in DNA and has progressed far enough to fight for the KO-D Title a few times already. Kouki Iwasaki is a solid wrestler who is currently picking fights with Kazushi Sakuraba in DNA. Mizuki Watase has gotten his wrestling career back on track after a whirlwind romance with TV celebrity and former champion LiLiCo last year.

Smile Squash are the stronger of the two challenging teams. With Soma Takao recently joining the unit they’ve been on a strong run in tag matches. Akito is happy to team with him but Yasu Urano is pretty suspect of the situation. Takao himself admits he joined Smile Squash to wrestle with HARASHIMA and learn what it will take to beat him someday. Urano wonders why should a guy like that get to join the unit? Regardless, this team contains three skillful wrestlers with momentum on their side.

Last but not least is NωA. Their success in the ring is difficult to find but out of all the teams in the match they are the most tightly knit unit. They sing together, dance together and wrestle together. They released two CDs which nobody else on the show can boast.


8. DDT Extreme Title – Sekichu Presents Hardcore Match: Jun Kasai (c) Vs Daisuke Sasaki

Now we’re getting into the big matches. The last three bouts are going to carry the heavy end of the show so I have high hopes for them. The Hardcore Match is being sponsored by Sekichu and the weapons laid out around the ring will all be provided by them. Daisuke Sasaki is mostly over his infatuation with Candice LeRae but the idea that a championship can impress her may still be in his head. But if he has moved on from her he is now focused on getting rid of Jun Kasai. He stole Kasai’s goggles a month ago but Kasai got back at him by stealing his leather jacket. The items were given back to each other but the fighting continued. Sasaki is confident he will win. So much so he is already thinking of using his match winnings to buy a 65 inch TV to replace his 50 inch one. Is Sasaki charismatic enough to overcome Kasai’s violent streak?


9. KO-D Tag Team Titles: Masakatsu Funaki & Yukio Sakaguchi (c) Vs Shuji Ishikawa & Tetsuya Endo

DAMNATION’s presence continues on to the KO-D Tag Team Titles Match. Nobody has gotten Yukio Sakaguchi more riled up than Tetsuya Endo lately. Endo beating Sakaguchi in a singles match last month only made the bad blood between the two worse. Now Endo has his eyes the tag titles and he’s brining along Shuji Ishikawa to help. He’s also winding up Masakatsu Funaki by calling his Hybrid Wrestling style a thing of the past. Sakaguchi threatens that he will fill Saitama Super Arena with Endo’s blood!


10. KO-D Openweight Title – Good Com Asset Presents: HARASHIMA (c) Vs Konosuke Takeshita

The backbone of DDT defends his place on top against the future of the company. HARASHIMA is the most successful KO-D Openweight Champion in DDT history with 9 title reigns and around 28 successful title defences over the course of 10 years. Konosuke Takeshita left his mark on history by becoming the youngest ever KO-D Champion, winning the title on his 21st birthday. Takeshita wants nothing more than for HARASHIMA to be at his absolute best when they wrestle. He wants to beat HARASHIMA at his best so he can rewrite the history books and cement his place as the strongest wrestler to ever step foot in DDT. HARASHIMA assures him that he is constantly getting better every time he steps in the ring. He hears Takeshita’s claims that he is the future of DDT but HARASHIMA doesn’t think the generation shift will happen under his watch. HARASHIMA is thrilled to see DDT on the big stage like this after 20 years. He thinks beating Takeshita in the main event is a good way to kickstart the 21st year. The future of DDT is at stake. Is it time for The Future to take over?


DDT Tests Out Fan Film Rules, Akane Miura Announces Tokyo Joshi Graduation

February 8, 2017

BASARA “VAJRA 29 ~TENKA FUBU~”, 12/02/2017
Nagoya City Higashi Sports Center

1. Daichi Kazato Vs Nori da Funky Shibire-sasu
2. Reversal Pro Wrestling Trial: Gouma Ryu Vs Konaka = Pale One Vs Mammoth Handa
3. SAGAT Vs Shinya Ishida
4. Double ★ Trans-Am Vs IRON PRIEST: Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi & Trans-Am ★ Ryuichi Vs FUMA & Yusuke Kubo
5. NWA International Lightweight Tag Team Titles: Ryuichi Sekine & Ryota Nakatsu (c) Vs Isami Kodaka & Takumi Tsukamoto

Whoever comes out of the show as the NWA International Lightweight Tag Team Champions will have Ikuto Hidaka & Dick Togo waiting for them.

I’m seeing double. Four Trans-Ams.

DDT “DRAMATIC NERIMA THE FIGHTER 2017”, 12/02/2017
Tokyo Nerima Coconeri Hall

0. King Of Dark Title: Nobuhiro Shimatani (c) Vs Gota Ihashi
1. Toru Owashi, Kazuki Hirata & Keisuke Ishii Vs Kazusada Higuchi, Kouki Iwasaki & Tomomitsu Matsunaga
2. Mad Paulie Vs Shunma Katsumata
3. Daisuke Sasaki First Local Triumph! Special Tag Match: Daisuke Sasaki & Tetsuya Endo Vs Jun Kasai & Antonio Honda
4. Real, No Fear Start!: Yoshihiro Takayama & Danshoku Dino Vs KUDO & Guanchulo
5. Soma Takao Contending Unit Determination Special 6 Way Match: Soma Takao Vs Yasu Urano Vs Sanshiro Takagi Vs Makoto Oishi Vs Rekka Vs Saki Akai
6. Special 3 Way Match: Konosuke Takeshita Vs MAO Vs Colt Cabana
7. KO-D Tag Team Titles: Masakatsu Funaki & Yukio Sakaguchi (c) Vs HARASHIMA & Akito

DDT is considering lifting its ban of fan recordings at its live shows. A trial run will take place at the Nerima show. Fans in attendance will be allowed to record video as long as they film just the matches (no entrances because of music rights). Fans can only use phones (no tablets or cameras) that are held below eye level and nobody is allowed to deliberately film other people in the audience. Depending on results and feedback DDT will experiment with these rules as time goes on.

Soma Takao now finds himself as the hottest free agent in DDT. Units all around are falling over themselves to sign him so a 6 Way Match will determine where he goes. Whoever wins will have their unit recruit Soma. If Soma himself wins he gets to choose who to join, which is most likely Smile Squash. But T2Hide and NωA badly want him. That’s not all, Rekka wants Soma to be the ace of his home promotion New Taiwan Pro Wrestling. T2Hide promises to make him their leader. NωA want him because he has a higher singing voice that none of the other members have. Last but not least, Saki Akai wants Soma to sign with the Oscar Promotion talent agency. Akai calls Oscar the largest unit in the wrestling world.

Kotatsu was asked to comment on its Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title defence but it kept silent.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “GIRLS FIGHT OUT #3”, 18/02/2017
Tokyo BASEMENT MON☆STAR

1. “Back Bancho” Akane Miura Road To Graduation: Akane Miura Vs Maho Kurone
2. SIN Biishiki-gun Vs Konkatsu-gun: Saki-nami & Martha Vs Azusa Takigawa & Nonoko

Akane Miura announced today on her 20th birthday that she will be graduating from Tokyo Joshi Pro on 25th March. Miura was given an offer to go back to senior high school in April and she wishes to complete her education. She is unable to wrestle and concentrate on her studies at the same time so she had to make a decision. She had previously dropped out of high school but desired to return and thinks now is the perfect time in her life to do it. When she graduates in four years time she’ll consider returning to pro wrestling. She will continue to fight hard until her final match. Her next opponent is Maho Kurone who was upset to hear the news. One of the reasons Kurone came to Tokyo Joshi was to eat Miura. Now that Miura is leaving, Kurone promises she will only eat her hair and eyeballs.

There was even more sad news today. Azusa Takigawa and Nonoko were told to stop using issues of Zexy Magazine as a weapon in their matches. Zexy’s editorial department got in contact with Tokyo Joshi over the gimmick. While they appreciate having Konkatsu-gun as regular readers, they do not like their magazine being used as a weapon. Konsho-gun apologised to the editors and readers of the magazine and promised not to use Zexy for anything other than its intended purpose. They will refrain from using it as a weapon. Both Azusa Takigawa & Nonoko were crying their eyes out as they apologised. Zexy was their bible and now they feel like they just ended a relationship. The team is now in crisis. If they are no longer allowed to use marriage information magazines then can they still be called Konkatsu-gun (Marriage Army)?

DDT “INTO THE FIGHT 2017”, 19/02/2017
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Takagi-gun Vs Michael-gun Loser Exiled Overseas Match: Sanshiro Takagi, Toru Owashi, Kazuki Hirata & Saki Akai Vs Michael Nakazawa, Masahiro Takanashi, Tomomitsu Matsunaga & Cherry
2. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title – 3 Way Match: Kotatsu (c) Vs Keisuke Ishii Vs Antonio Honda
3. Special Single Match: Colt “Boom Boom” Cabana Vs Danshoku “Bin Bin” Dino
4. DDT Pre-20th Anniversary Special Tag Match: HARASHIMA & KUDO Vs Konosuke Takeshita & Dick Togo

Michael Nakazawa returns to Japan but risks getting kicked out of the country just as quickly. He and Sanshiro Takagi are captaining two teams for a special 8-Man Tag Match. Whoever gets pinned or submits will be exiled from Japan!

DDT “JUDGEMENT 2017 ~ DDT 20TH ANNIVERSARY BOX OFFICE”, 20/03/2017
Saitama Super Arena

0. DNA Offer Match: Rekka, Daiki Shimomura & Yuki Ueno Vs Nobuhiro Shimatani, Naomi Yoshimura & Dai Suzuki
0. Tokyo Joshi Pro Offer Match: Yuu, Mil Clown & Itoh Maki Vs Reika Saiki, Rika Tatsumi & Azusa Takigawa
0. DDT Pro Wrestling 20th Anniversary Memorial Celebration Dramatic Rumble: MIKAMI Vs GENTARO Vs Bambi Vs Rion Mizuki Vs X
1. Super Joshi Pro Wars 2017: Saki Akai, Meiko Satomura & Shoko Nakajima Vs Aja Kong, Cherry & Miyu Yamashita
2. Kou Shibusawa 35th Anniversary “Nobunaga’s Ambition ~Our Warring States~” Sengoku Warlords Match: Toyotomi Hideyoshi (Sanshiro Takagi), Shingen Takeda (Keiji Muto) & Yukimura Sanada (Isami Kodaka) Vs Katsuie Shibata (Daisuke Sekimoto), Kenshin Uesugi (Jun Akiyama) & Nobunaga Oda (Kota Ibushi)
3. Special 8-Man Tag Match: Toru Owashi, Kazuki Hirata, Antonio Honda & Lady Beard Vs Jaguar Yokota, Yuni, X & X
4. Shungo Oyama Pro Wrestling Challenge Match: Yoshihiro Takayama & Dick Togo Vs KUDO & Shungo Oyama
5. Shigehiro Irie Triennial Special Single Match: Shigehiro Irie Vs Mike Bailey
6. “DDT Is DDT” 20 Years Entertainment Culmination! The Best In The World Bad Guy Decisive Battle: Danshoku Dino Vs Joey Ryan
7. KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles: Kazusada Higuchi, Kouki Iwasaki & Mizuki Watase (c) Vs X, X & X
8. DDT Extreme Title – Sekichu Presents Hardcore Match: Jun Kasai (c) Vs Daisuke Sasaki
9. KO-D Openweight Title – Good Com Asset Presents: HARASHIMA (c) Vs Konosuke Takeshita

Jun Kasai picked Daisuke Sasaki to be his opponent at the 20th Anniversary show. The previously announced Hardcore Match using items from Sekichu will now be used for the DDT Extreme Title bout between Kasai and Sasaki.


DDT “NANIWA WRESTLING ROAD 2017” Results

February 4, 2017

dino-takayama-nofear

DDT “NANIWA WRESTLING ROAD 2017”, 04/02/2017
Osaka Edion Arena #2
481 Fans

1. The Best Soup Is A Song Or Something! No, And Dance! If You Do Not Say It’s The Final Settling Match!!: Makoto Oishi, Shunma Katsumata & MAO defeated Sanshiro Takagi, Toru Owashi & Kazuki Hirata when Katsumata pinned Hirata with a School Boy (7:52).
2. Keisuke Ishii defeated Gota Ihashi with a Dangerous Exploder (4:04).
3. Soma Takao & Yuni defeated Yasu Urano & Guanchulo when Takao pinned Guanchulo with the Gin And Tonic (9:42).
4. DAMNATION Vs DNA Naniwa Army: Daisuke Sasaki & Tetsuya Endo defeated Naomi Yoshimura & Yuki Ueno when Sasaki submitted Ueno with the Cross Facelock (11:21).
5. KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles: Kazusada Higuchi, Kouki Iwasaki & Mizuki Watase (c) defeated KUDO, Yukio Sakaguchi & Masahiro Takanashi when Iwasaki pinned Takanashi with the Leg Capture Suplex (12:18).
*V1 for Team DNA.
Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title: Kotatsu defeated Hyota Echizenya (c) by Pinfall (7:12 pm).
*Kotatsu becomes the 1,207th champion.
6. DDT Extreme Title – Dog Chain Death Match: Jun Kasai (c) defeated Mad Paulie with the Pearl Harbour Splash (13:53).
*V3 for Jun Kasai.
7. Ultra Special Single Match: Yoshihiro Takayama defeated Danshoku Dino with the Lip Lock (10:36).
8. Humanity Is A Battle Blooming In A Huge Ring Of Naniwa! Osaka Specialty Special Tag Match: HARASHIMA & Akito defeated Konosuke Takeshita & Antonio Honda when HARASHIMA pinned Honda with the Somato (19:26).

Konosuke Takeshita remains confident he can beat HARASHIMA at Saitama Super Arena. He’s been telling himself he is the future of DDT ever since he debuted. Now that the Saitama Super Arena main event has been decided, he must beat HARASHIMA there to prove it. HARASHIMA told him he’s looking forward to the match and shook his hand with a big smile. But when Takeshita didn’t smile back, HARASHIMA’s expression changed and he refused to let go of the handshake until they were pulled away.

For the last week Soma Takao has been thinking of his own future. He was advised by Amon Tsurumi to join one of DDT’s units in order to improve his position on the roster. At the end of the show Takao approached Smile Squash and asked if he could join their side. He fought against them many times and ultimately he wants to beat HARASHIMA but until then he would like to work with him. T2Hide interrupted, Sanshiro Takagi wants Takao to join them instead. They’ll even trade Kazuki Hirata to Smile Squash if they have to! Yasu Urano told him they don’t want Hirata. Then NωA came out. They want Takao to be an idol like them. Tsurumi stopped the arguing and came up with a solution. There will be a Takao Battle Match on 12th February between Takao, Urano, Takagi and Oishi. If Takao wins he gets to join whichever unit he wants. If any other wrestler wins then their unit claims Takao. Any of the units not currently involved in the match can also enter it if they want to.

Danshoku Dino actually had Yoshihiro Takayama beaten with the Hell Car Combination with Makoto Oishi but pulled him up from the pin before the ref counted to three. Dino wasn’t done with him yet. He applied the Lip Lock but Takayama Hulked out of it and gave Dino his own Lip Lock. It was so powerful that Dino lost consciousness and was easily pinned afterwards. When he woke up Takayama told him the match was a painful struggle but the fighting is over. Takayama is no longer afraid of Dino. They both hugged and screamed “No Fear!” together.

Jun Kasai survived a Choke Slam through a table to beat Mad Paulie. A dog chain kept the two close to each other but Kasai decided to detach it from his collar and use the chain to tie up Paulie. With no way of escaping, Paulie was a sitting duck for the Pearl Harbour Splash. After the match Kasai nominated his DDT Extreme Title challenger for Saitama Super Arena. It’s Daisuke Sasaki! Kasai mentioned he has a relative’s wedding ceremony to attend that day but he wouldn’t miss this match for anything, even his parent’s funeral!

There is no question now that Team DNA are deserving KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Champions. They won the belts without beating the previous champions Shuten-dōji so naturally Shuten-dōji wanted the first title shot. Masahiro Takanashi’s run of victories ended when Kouki Iwasaki pinned him with the Leg Capture Suplex. Yukio Sakaguchi looked like he still wanted to fight after the match but instead he took one of the title belts and handed it to Kazusada Higuchi, accepting the result.

Hyota Echizenya appeared with the Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title to talk with Takagi and Tsurumi. He entered the room wearing a Kotatsu table over his back and then invited the others to sit by the Kotatsu. Echizenya talked about being unable to write his current manuscript because of the pressures of defending the Iron Man title all the time. Their conversation was interrupted by Gota Ihashi and Dai Suzuki both wanting to attack the champion. Takagi stood up to defend Echizenya but accidentally flipped the Kotatsu on top of him in the process. 1…2…3! The Kotatsu table is the new champion! Tsurumi told Echizenya to pin the table and win the belt back but he declined. Echizenya originally won the title by beating the table so it is only fitting that the table won it back from him. He thanked DDT for the wonderful experience and he will now go back to writing his manuscript.

Naomi Yoshimura denied that he lost his tag match against DAMNATION. It was Yuki Ueno who submitted so under Yoshimura’s logic he’s the one who lost.

Guanchulo yelled about how much he hates children while he fought Yuni.

The opening match was held under Scramble Bunkhouse Lucha Glasses Rules.


DDT Universe Launches, Dog Chain Death Match, BASARA Wrapped Around NWA

January 23, 2017

ddtuniverse

First thing’s first, DDT UNIVERSE launches today! Go sign up for it. Thankfully a lot of other sites have beaten me to the punch of writing up guides and reviews for the website so all you need to know can be found in these links.

F4W Online/Wrestling Oberver Online
Wrestling With Words
The Indy Corner

That saved me a bunch of time. Once I get to grips with the service I hope to write up some match recommendations. To any new readers, welcome! Things get weird and wonderful as I try to tell you all about what goes on in DDT and its spin offs.

DDT “NANIWA WRESTLING ROAD 2017”, 04/02/2017
Osaka Edion Arena #2

1. Yuni Debut Round 3: Yuni Vs X
2. KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles: Kazusada Higuchi, Kouki Iwasaki & Mizuki Watase (c) Vs KUDO, Yukio Sakaguchi & Masahiro Takanashi
3. Ultra Special Single Match: Yoshihiro Takayama Vs Danshoku Dino
4. DDT Extreme Title – Dog Chain Death Match: Jun Kasai (c) Vs Mad Paulie

Jun Kasai noticed that Mad Paulie is always led to the ring with a dog chain so let’s have a Dog Chain Death Match!

Shuten-dōji get their rematch for the KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles. They weren’t the beaten team when Team DNA won the belts during the weekend.

BASARA “VAJRA 28 ~DESTRUCTION OF HEART~”, 05/02/2017
Tokyo BASEMENT MON☆STAR

1. NWA International Lightweight Tag Team Title Challengers Decision Battle: Isami Kodaka & Takumi Tsukamoto Vs Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi & SAGAT
2. NWA International Lightweight Tag Team Titles: Ryuichi Sekine & Ryota Nakatsu (c) Vs Ikuto Hidaka & Sean Guinness

BASARA’s latest focus is on the NWA International Lightweight Tag Team Titles. The team of Ikuto Hidaka & Sean Guinness want to bring the belts back to ZERO1.

GANBARE☆WRESTLING “GET DOWN 2017”, 11/02/2017
Tokyo BASEMENT MON☆STAR

1. Japanese Psycho ~When You Fight~: Yumehito Imanari Vs Mars Spector
2. Ai Shimizu Ganbare☆Wrestling Trial – 3rd Round: Ai Shimizu Vs Cassandra Miyagi
3. G-COSMOS 2017 ~ Japan Vs Thailand International Combat In Prince: Takafumi Ito Vs Tanomusaku Toba
4. Ganbare☆Wrestling Vs Shin Ganbare☆Wrestling: Ken Ohka, Shuichiro Katsumura & Mitomi Masayuki Vs Kenso Ohka, Osamu Namiguchi & Shibata

Shibata is the newest member of Shin Ganbare☆Wrestling.

BASARA “VAJRA 29 ~TENKA FUBU~”, 12/02/2017
Nagoya City Higashi Sports Center

1. NWA International Lightweight Tag Team Titles: Ryuichi Sekine & Ryota Nakatsu (c) Vs X & X

Either The Aldini Brothers or Hiroshi du Soleil will challenge for the NWA Light Tag Titles.

BASARA “VAJRA 30 ~WINTER SUMMER BLUE~”, 20/02/2017
Shin-Kiba 1st RING

1. Union MAX Title: FUMA (c) Vs Ryuichi Sekine

Will Ryuichi Sekine survive the NWA Tag Title rush long enough to become a double champion?


BOYZ Competition, Dino Returns, Sweet Dreams and Judgement 2017 Cards

January 10, 2017

BOYZ “NEW YEAR SPECIAL ~WOMEN FESTIVAL 13~”, 12/01/2017
Shinjuku FACE

1. BOYZ Tournament Rules: Yuki Ueno Vs Nobuhiro Shimatani
2. BOYZ Tournament Rules: Kazuki Hirata & Shunma Katsumata Vs Guanchulo & Yoshihiko
3. BOYZ Tournament Rules: Soma Takao & Mizuki Watase Vs KUDO & Kouki Iwasaki
4. BOYZ Tournament Rules: Masahiro Takanashi Vs Yasu Urano
5. BOYZ Vs YaroZ Vs DAMNATION: Rekka & Daiki Shimomura Vs Antonio Honda & Ryuichi Sekine Vs Daisuke Sasaki & Tetsuya Endo
6. BOYZ Tournament Rules: Konosuke Takeshita Vs Keisuke Ishii
7. BOYZ Tournament Rules: Mike Bailey & Akito Vs Yukio Sakaguchi & Makoto Oishi
8. BOYZ Tournament Rules: HARASHIMA Vs MAO

Team HARASHIMA: HARASHIMA, Konosuke Takeshita, Mike Bailey, Masahiro Takanashi, Akito, Soma Takao, Kazuki Hirata, Shunma Katsumata, Mizuki Watase and Yuki Ueno

Team Oishi: Makoto Oishi, KUDO, Yukio Sakaguchi, Yasu Urano, Keisuke Ishii, Kouki Iwasaki, MAO, Guanchulo, Nobuhiro Shimatani, Yoshihiko

A special team challenge series was put together by BOYZ president Johnny Etajima. HARASHIMA and Makoto Oishi are the team captains. Each match in the challenge has a 10 minute time limit, a 2 count for rope breaks and a 5 count for being outside the ring. The 3 Way Tag Match is not part of this challenge so it will be held under the usual rules.

DDT “ROAD TO SUPER ARENA IN SHIMIZU ~DRAMATIC DREAM TUNA~”, 15/01/2017
Shizuoka Shimizu Marine Bill

1. Kazuki Hirata & Saki Akai Vs Shunma Katsumata & MAO
2. 3 Way Match: Toru Owashi Vs Masahiro Takanashi Vs Guanchulo
3. One And Only! The Rare Gay Wrestler Danshoku Dino’s Long Awaited Return Match For The First Time In 11 Days!: Danshoku Dino & Antonio Honda Vs Soma Takao & Mizuki Watase
4. Shizuoka Specialty! Sharp, Sharp, Clear! Special Single Match: Makoto Oishi Vs Konosuke Takeshita
5. KUDO & Yukio Sakaguchi Vs Kazusada Higuchi & Kouki Iwasaki
6. Smile Squash Vs DAMNATION!: HARASHIMA, Akito & Yasu Urano Vs Daisuke Sasaki, Tetsuya Endo & Mad Paulie

A back injury forced Danshoku Dino to miss this past weekend’s shows. As the title of his match suggests he is eager to return to the ring.

BASARA “VAJRA 27 WU”, 20/01/2017
Saitama Wrestle Fighter Museum

1. Special Single Match: Ryuichi Sekine Vs Saburo Inematsu

Saburo Inematsu from K-DOJO makes his BASARA debut.

DDT “BEST WESTERN LARIAT SERIES 2017 SEASON OPENER”, 22/01/2017
Tokyo Best Western Rembrandt Hotel Tokyo Machida

0. King Of Dark Title: Nobuhiro Shimatani (c) Vs Rekka
1. Saki Akai & Guanchulo Vs Danshoku Dino & Gota Ihashi
2. Lunch Time Concert To Enjoy Singing And Dancing In Machida: Sanshiro Takagi, Toru Owashi & Kazuki Hirata Vs Makoto Oishi, Shunma Katsumata & MAO
3. Keisuke Ishii & Hoshitango Vs Yasu Urano & Soma Takao
4. Charismatic Electric Shock Combination Of The Death Match And The Emperor In The Wrestling World!: Yoshihiro Takayama & Jun Kasai Vs Shuji Ishikawa & Mad Paulie
5. Smile Squash Vs DAMNATION!: HARASHIMA & Akito Vs Daisuke Sasaki & Tetsuya Endo
6. KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles – 3 Way 6-Man Tag Team Match: KUDO, Yukio Sakaguchi & Masahiro Takanashi (c) Vs Konosuke Takeshita, Antonio Honda & Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi Vs Kazusada Higuchi, Kouki Iwasaki & Mizuki Watase

Shuten-dōji will battle both Happy Motels and Team DNA in their next KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles match.

DDT “SWEET DREAMS! 2017”, 29/01/2017
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Sanshiro Takagi, Toru Owashi, Kazuki Hirata & Saki Akai Vs Antonio Honda, Guanchulo, Shunma Katsumata & MAO
2. 3 Way Tag Match: Yukio Sakaguchi & Masahiro Takanashi Vs Akito & Tomomitsu Matsunaga Vs Kazusada Higuchi & Kouki Iwasaki
3. Soma Takao & Mizuki Watase Vs Tetsuya Endo & Mad Paulie
4. DDT UNIVERSE Special Tag Match Suitable For Live Broadcasting: Yoshihiro Takayama & Dick Togo Vs Danshoku Dino & Makoto Oishi
5. AJPW World Jr. Heavyweight Title: Keisuke Ishii (c) Vs Yasu Urano
6. KO-D Openweight Title Challenger Decision Tournament – Final: Konosuke Takeshita Vs KUDO
7. KO-D Openweight Title: HARASHIMA (c) Vs Daisuke Sasaki

The first Korakuen Hall show of the DDT UNIVERSE launch will determine the main event of “JUDGEMENT 2017” in Saitama Super Arena this March. Bad blood is growing between HARASHIMA and Daisuke Sasaki over the KO-D Openweight Title. Meanwhile Konosuke Takeshita and KUDO won their playoff matches to reach the final but only one will get the KO-D Title shot at DDT’s 20th Anniversary.

Yasu Urano spent the last week acting coy about wanting to challenge for the AJPW Jr. Title. He’s now getting what he wants and that’s a title match against Keisuke Ishii. Urano promises to wrestle clean but Ishii doesn’t believe him.

Yeah, DDT thinks getting Dino out there for the match promoting DDT UNIVERSE is the best idea. I mean at this point if you’re subscribing to it you have to know what to expect.

DDT “NANIWA WRESTLING ROAD 2017”, 04/02/2017
Osaka Edion Arena #2

1. Ultra Special Single Match: Yoshihiro Takayama Vs Danshoku Dino
2. DDT Extreme Title: Jun Kasai (c) Vs Mad Paulie

Dino’s schedule gets even busier with a singles match against Yoshihiro Takayama. Maybe this bout will inspire him on his search for his perfect (and affordable) “JUDGEMENT 2017” opponent.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “AT THIS TIME, GET EXCITED WITH NERIMA!”, 12/03/2017
Tokyo Nerima Coconeri Hall

1. TOKYO Princess Of Princess Title: Yuu (c) Vs Reika Saiki

With a successful title defence on her one year anniversary, Yuu is now looking ahead at her next challenge. Reika Saiki stepped up to become the No. 1 Contender.

DDT “JUDGEMENT 2017 ~ DDT 20TH ANNIVERSARY BOX OFFICE”, 20/03/2017
Saitama Super Arena

1. Super Joshi Pro Wars 2017: Saki Akai, Meiko Satomura & Shoko Nakajima Vs Aja Kong, Cherry & Miyu Yamashita
2. Special Single Match: Danshoku Dino Vs Danshoku Dino’s Chosen Opponent
3. Kou Shibusawa 35th Anniversary “Nobunaga’s Ambition ~Our Warring States~” Sengoku Warlords Match: Toyotomi Hideyoshi (Sanshiro Takagi), Shingen Takeda (Keiji Muto) & Yukimura Sanada (Isami Kodaka) Vs Katsuie Shibata (Daisuke Sekimoto), Kenshin Uesugi (Jun Akiyama) & Nobunaga Oda (Kota Ibushi)
4. KO-D Openweight Title: HARASHIMA (c) Vs X

Kou Shibusawa is the CEO of Koei and creator of all of the company’s games based on the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history, ie Dynasty Warriors and Romance Of The Three Kingdoms. If a video game features the Yellow Turban Rebellion then chances are his name is attached to it.

Yoshihiro Takayama, Dick Togo and Shungo Oyama will be on the show.


DDT “NEW YEAR LOTTERY SPECIAL! ALL SEATS 2,000 YEN BOX OFFICE!! 2017” Results

January 3, 2017

2017special

DDT “NEW YEAR LOTTERY SPECIAL! ALL SEATS 2,000 YEN BOX OFFICE!! 2017”, 03/01/2017
Tokyo Korakuen Hall
1,750 Fans – Super No Vacancy Full House

0. King Of Dark Title: Kouki Iwasaki, Mizuki Watase, Rekka & Daiki Shimomura defeated Nobuhiro Shimatani (c), Hoshitango, Tomomitsu Matsunaga & Dai Suzuki when Iwasaki submitted Shimatani with a Crab Hold (6:55).
*D7 for Nobuhiro Shimatani.
1. 3 Way Tag Match: Makoto Oishi, Shunma Katsumata & MAO defeated Sanshiro Takagi, Toru Owashi & Kazuki Hirata and Soma Takao, Gorgeous Matsuno & Cherry when Oishi pinned Hirata with the Jikiden Tornado Clutch (3:18).
2. Happy New Year’s New Year Special!: Joey Ryan & Laura James defeated Saki Akai & Gota Ihashi when Ryan pinned Ihashi with the Super Kick (7:50).
3. Shigehiro Irie & Yasu Urano defeated Danshoku Dino & Keisuke Ishii when Urano pinned Ishii with a Jackknife Pin (8:10).
4. KUDO, Yukio Sakaguchi & Masahiro Takanashi defeated Yoshihiro Takayama, Dick Togo & Guanchulo when KUDO pinned Guanchulo with the Diving Double Knee Drop (9:44).
5. DDT Extreme Title – IPPON Lighttube Death Match: Jun Kasai (c) defeated Akito with the Reverse Tiger Driver onto the Lighttube (10:46).
*V2 for Jun Kasai.
6. New Year! More Than Special Special Single Match: Daisuke Sasaki defeated Candice LeRae with the Vietnam Driver II (10:10).
7. Shuji Ishikawa, Tetsuya Endo & Mad Paulie defeated Konosuke Takeshita, Antonio Honda & Kazusada Higuchi when Endo pinned Honda with the Sky Twister Press (13:41).
8. KO-D Openweight Title: HARASHIMA (c) defeated Mike Bailey with the Somato (22:52).
*V2 for HARASHIMA.

2017special-somato

Everyone was in a celebratory mood as DDT welcomed everyone to their first show of 2017. The show kicked off with different members of the roster thanking the fans for their support as they reach their goals for this year. But when it was time for the main event all eyes were on HARASHIMA and “Speedball” Mike Bailey. HARASHIMA got a taste of Bailey’s kicks early and decided to target the challenger’s legs from then on. He threw some kicks of his own and while Bailey fired back, it just hurt his leg even further. Bailey recovered to hit a few Moonsault Double Knees and Shooting Star Double Knees. But the vital moment came when HARASHIMA rolled out of the way and immediately hit the Somato. Bailey kicked out of the pin but another Somato afterwards put him away. With another KO-D Openweight Title defence to his name, HARASHIMA thanked Bailey for a very hard match. He was happy to wrestle Bailey after watching his matches on Youtube. Bailey pointed out that HARASHIMA is always smiling. Bailey can’t smile right now but it’s not because he’s sad. What would make him smile is another match with HARASHIMA in the future.

2017special-challengers

The next KO-D Title match will take place on 29th January and it will be the last title match before the “JUDGEMENT 2017” 20th Anniversary show at Saitama Super Arena on 20th March. Daisuke Sasaki demanded a title shot so he can reclaim the KO-D Title and win Candice LeRae’s affections. HARASHIMA accepted the challenge. Sasaki then said another DAMNATION wrestler wants a KO-D Title shot at “JUDGEMENT 2017”. Shuji Ishikawa stepped forward but Sasaki kicked him away. He was talking about Tetsuya Endo. However Amon Tsurumi called in KUDO, Konosuke Takeshita and Kazusada Higuchi into the ring to stand next to Endo. Tsurumi announced a mini tournament between the four wrestlers with the Saitama Super Arena main event spot up for grabs. Takeshita will fight Higuchi on 7th January and KUDO fights Endo on 8th January. The two winners will then meet in the final on 29th January.

2017special-storytime

When Antonio Honda found himself fighting against DAMNATION alone he resorted to what he knows best. Telling children’s stories. The distraction allowed Konosuke Takeshita & Kazusada Higuchi time to recover and come to the rescue. However when Honda climbed the ropes to set up the Diving Fist Drop, Tetsuya Endo stopped him with a Handspring Kneel Kick. He then got the win with the Sky Twister Press.

2017special-proposal

If it wasn’t before, now love really is over for Daisuke Sasaki. He entered the ring where Candice LeRae stood waiting for him but he did not want to wrestle her. Instead he had gifts like candy and a bouquet of flowers. More importantly he had a divorce form with Johnny Gargano’s forged signature on it and also a marriage registration form with his own genuine signature on it. He thought it would be swell if Candice would sign both of them for him. Guanchulo translated the message for Candice to understand. She said if Sasaki beats her in a match then she would think about it. Sasaki excitedly called for the bell so the match would begin! Sasaki fought dirty and didn’t pull any punches on Candice. When the crowd booed he yelled back that she’s not his girlfriend yet. Candice fought back with a Swinging DDT and tried to put Sasaki in the Gargano Escape. Sasaki countered with the Cross Facelock but Candice escaped. Sasaki was ready to give Candice a Super Kick but hesitated. He told Candice he loves her but Candice flipped him a middle finger. Sasaki got angry and went ahead with the Super Kick. He then hit the Vietnam Driver II for the victory.

2017special-rejection

Sasaki calmed down after the match and happily asked Candice to sign his forms. They can be the John Lennon and Yoko Ono of the wrestling world! The crowd urged her on with “Yes!” chants. But Candice threw away the forms and had something to say instead. First, Sasaki’s not her type. Second, she heard Sasaki is also in love with Laura James. Sasaki claimed he was a different person from a year ago. He has since become the ace of DDT and created DAMNATION, the most popular unit in pro wrestling! Why doesn’t Candice like him? As Sasaki broke into tears Candice was blunt with him. Sasaki has no championship but Candice’s husband Johnny is a WWE champion! Sasaki panicked. Belt? Belt! He can get a belt! Sasaki went in for a kiss but Candice gave him the Ball Plex and left. Obviously the wrestling press had some questions for Candice after the match and she answered them. Would she have ever signed the forms? No, she was only joking. Also she can’t write in Japanese. What is Sasaki missing that Gargano has? Gargano is not a bully like Sasaki. Candice doesn’t like how Sasaki kicks around Shuji Ishikawa all the time.

2017special-lighttube

A single lighttube was attached to the ropes for the DDT Extreme Title match. Jun Kasai and Akito fought around the lighttube trying break it over their opponent. Kasai found a fake lighttube under the ring and swapped it with the real one when Akito and the referee weren’t looking. Akito later hit him with the fake lighttube but it never broke. He found the real one and placed it across two steel chairs. Kasai Headbutted Akito and gave him the Reverse Tiger Driver through the lighttube to win the match. Akito was saddened to lose his Tavern Wrestling specialty match for the first time. He also feels that time is running out for him because he will turn 30 this year. While Akito loves the DDT Extreme Title he now wants to win any championship in DDT. At the end of the show Kasai was confronted by DAMNATION. Mad Paulie just had one thing to say to him. “Happy New Year!” He also wants a title shot. Kasai accepted the challenge and the match will take place in Osaka on 4th February. The champion promises to cook up a dramatic, extreme, crazy match in his kitchen for them to fight in.

2017special-kudo

Shuten-dōji are currently feeling unbeatable. They vanquished DAMNATION in December and started 2017 beating Yoshihiro Takayama, Dick Togo & Guanchulo. They’re not intimidated by their next challengers NωA. Them beating Gorgeous Matsuno & Cherry today doesn’t impress them. KUDO says he doesn’t recognise them as idols. In the 20 years of DDT the only idol he can see here is Masahiro Takanashi!

2017special-urano

After failing to win the KO-D Title on Christmas Day, Shigehiro Irie is preparing another excursion to America later this month. If Danshoku Dino misses him he didn’t show it. Irie was the only person in the ring Dino did not want to kiss during their tag match. At one point Irie just stood there waiting for the inevitable Lip Lock but left him hanging and tagged out instead. Eventually Irie grabbed Dino by the arm and he gave him the Lip Lock instead! Yasu Urano wound up winning the match by countering Keisuke Ishii’s Double Arm DDT into a Jackknife Pin. After the match Urano picked up the AJPW Jr. Title and stared at it before placing it on Ishii’s shoulder. Backstage Urano said he doesn’t feel like he can challenge for the title whenever he wants but maybe he can in half a month’s time.

2017special-ryan

Gota Ihashi felt jealous of Joey Ryan & Laura James when he saw them kissing before their match. He tried to get a kiss from Saki Akai but was rejected. Ryan & Laura oiled themselves up and hit the Couple Combination to Ihashi in the corner. Ihashi got his hands on the lotion and wanted to do the same move with Akai on James but Ryan cut them off. Ihashi gave Ryan a Manhattan Drop but all it did was hurt his knee. Ryan then Super Kicked him for the win while James stretched Akai’s arm with her crotch in a move much like her husband’s.

2017special-hirata

The show kicked off with a musical 3 Way Tag Match. NωA came out singing “Going My Way!!! ~You Are Not Alone~”. Kazuki Hirata came out dancing on his own. Gorgeous Matsuno & Cherry performed a duet of the song “Drunk Hearts”. The match itself didn’t last long, Makoto Oishi pinned Hirata in just over three minutes. They think it is a good sign for their KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles match in Saitama later this week.

2017special-dark

Dark days continue for Nobuhiro Shimatani. He tried as hard as he could to pin Kouki Iwasaki in the prelim match but a low Knee Strike reversed his fortunes and Iwasaki submitted him with a Crab Hold.

2017special-ironman

Ever since Hyota Echizenya won the Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title in Osaka, the pressure of defending the title has been getting to the comedian. He no longer wants to be the champion but he also thinks the next champion needs to be strong enough to handle responsibility of defending the title 24/7. So he has been searching the streets in search of somebody deserving to beat him for the championship. But every time he found someone he thought was suitable he found out they did not know pro wrestling and could not fight out of his Cobra Twist.

2017special-oyama

Retired MMA fighter Shungo Oyama will have his debut pro wrestling match at “JUDGEMENT 2017”. Oyama says he is a big fan of pro wrestling and has followed DDT for a long time but respected the sport too much to ever compete in it. However he would regret never doing it so he decided now was the time to experience the amazing splendour of pro wrestling. Also it will make him happy to stand inside Saitama Super Arena again like he did for Pride FC and HERO’S.

koeitecmo-6man

A special 6-Man Tag Team Match was announced for “JUDGEMENT 2017”. The match is sponsored by Koei Tecmo makers of Dynasty Warriors, Samurai Warriors, Romance Of The Three Kingdoms and Nobunaga’s Ambition video games. In collaboration with the phone game “Nobunaga’s Ambition ~Our Warring States~” the match will be Sanshiro Takagi, Keiji Muto & Isami Kodaka Vs Daisuke Sekimoto, Jun Akiyama & Kota Ibushi! In addition to this each wrestler will represent a historical figure from the video game. Takagi is Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Muto is Shingen Takeda, Kodaka is Yukimura Sanada, Sekimoto is Katsuie Shibata, Akiyama is Kenshin Uesugi and Ibushi is Nobunaga Oda.


All Jun Wants For Christmas Is His Two Front Teeth

December 21, 2016

ippon

GANBARE☆WRESTLING “ITSUKA NO MERRY CHRISTMAS 2016”, 22/12/2016
Shin-Kiba 1st RING

1. Beat The Opponent! Eat Lightning, Crap Thunder! Become A Scary Guy!: Chikara Vs Rocky Kawamura
2. K-reboot: Yukinori Abe & Mitomi Masayuki Vs Hi69 & Shinichiro Tominaga
3. Ganpuro Special Christmas Present ~Chubby Vs Slim Beauty~: Bambi & Manami Kanda Vs Maya Yukihi & Tequila Saya
4. Ai Shimizu Ganbare☆Wrestling Trial 3rd Match: Ai Shimizu Vs Shota
5. Ganbare☆Wrestling Vs Shin Ganbare☆Wrestling: Shuichiro Katsumura & Yumehito Imanari Vs Kenso Ohka & Osamu Namiguchi
6. Ken Ohka 15th Anniversary Debut Memorial Match: Ken Ohka Vs Atsushi Maruyama

From the Eternal Young Lion to the Tearful Charisma, Ken Ohka has been through a lot in his 15 year of wrestling.

DDT “NEW YEAR LOTTERY SPECIAL! ALL SEATS 2,000 YEN BOX OFFICE!! 2017”, 03/01/2017
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. DDT Extreme Title – IPPON Lighttube Death Match: Jun Kasai (c) Vs Akito
2. KO-D Openweight Title: HARASHIMA (c) Vs Mike Bailey

The IPPON Death Match has been used a few times in Tavern Wrestling where Akito won a tournament dedicated to the stipulation. There is only one lighttube brought down to the ring, whoever breaks it over their opponent or throws their opponent through it wins.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TOKYO JOSHI PRO ’17”, 04/01/2017
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Rika Tatsumi & Hyper Misao (w/ Minami Momochi) Vs Akane Miura & Maho Kurone
2. Reika Saiki Vs Itoh Maki
3. Nodoka-oneesan Vs Cherry
4. Konsho-gun Vs Married Woman Army: Azusa Takigawa & Nonoko Vs Ai Shimizu & Laura James (Special Referee: Joey Ryan)
5. Mil Clown Vs Candice LeRae
6. Miyu Yamashita Vs Saki Akai
7. TOKYO Princess Of Princess Title: Yuu (c) Vs Shoko Nakajima

The Married Woman Army will be accompanied by their husbands in some form. Laura James’ husband Joey Ryan will be the special guest referee and Ai Shimizu’s husband Inoue Mic will be the special guest ring announcer.

Konsho-gun’s antics are getting some attention overseas. A Mexican website called Periodismo reported on Azusa Takigawa using Zexy magazine as a weapon. (Thanks to Luchablog for finding this)

DDT “DNA 29”, 07/01/2017
Saitama Kasukabe Hall

1. Kouki Iwasaki Vs Ryota Nakatsu

If Kouki Iwasaki loses he must reset his DNA career and start from the bottom as a trainee all over again.


DDT “YOKOHAMA TWILIGHT 2016 ~WINTER~” Results

December 17, 2016

chinatown-tlc

DDT “YOKOHAMA TWILIGHT 2016 ~WINTER~”, 17/12/2016
Yokohama Radiant Hall
346 Fans – Super No Vacancy

1. KUDO defeated Guanchulo with the Diving Double Knee Drop (7:52).
2. Yukio Sakaguchi, Masahiro Takanashi & Saki Akai defeated Sanshiro Takagi, Kazuki Hirata & Cherry when Takanashi pinned Cherry with a Horizontal Cradle (10:33).
3. 4 Way Match: Danshoku Dino Vs Tetsuya Endo Vs Soma Takao Vs Kazusada Higuchi ended in a No Contest (10:52).
4. Yoshihiro Takayama & Kouki Iwasaki defeated Keisuke Ishii & Shunma Katsumata when Takayama pinned Katsumata with the Running Knee Lift (9:04).
5. Special 6-Man Tag Match: HARASHIMA, Akito & Yasu Urano defeated Shigehiro Irie, Toru Owashi & Tomomitsu Matsunaga when Akito submitted Matsunaga with a Perfect Figure Four Leg Lock (11:18).
6. Happy Motel Vs DAMNATION: Daisuke Sasaki & Mad Paulie defeated Konosuke Takeshita & Antonio Honda when Paulie pinned Honda with the Paulie Buster (14:41).
7. DDT Extreme Title – Yokohama Chinatown TLC Match: Jun Kasai (c) defeated Makoto Oishi with the Vertical Drop Reverse Tiger Driver (17:55).
*V1 for Jun Kasai.

Bowls of Chinese food were placed in the corner for the Yokohama Chinatown TLC Match. The goal of the match was to either beat your opponent as normal or eat three bowls of Chinese food. Makoto Oishi offered a handshake before the match but Jun Kasai flipped him the middle finger. However he agreed to sit down and eat a bowl of noodles with Oishi before fighting. When they finished they began throwing punches. Oishi reached for a second bowl but Kasai stopped him by hitting him with a lady’s handbag at ringside. Oishi fought back with a chair until Kasai was too beat up to prevent him from finishing the second bowl. Oishi then used a ladder to target Kasai’s legs. He put Kasai in a Figure Four Leg Lock and tried to eat the third bowl at the same time. Kasai fought his way out and hit a Lariat followed by the Reverse Tiger Driver. Oishi kicked out of that and also kicked out of the Pearl Harbour Splash from the ladder! Kasai did one more Reverse Tiger Driver, the Vertical Drop kind and that was it for Oishi. Kasai called out for his next challenger. Doesn’t matter if it is a foreigner, a woman, a child or an animal. Out came Akito, he’s not afraid of Kasai. He asked the champion what his favourite match rules are. Kasai said Death Match. Akito suggested a Lighttube Death Match, but only one Lighttube. Whoever breaks it with their opponent wins. Kasai accepted and the match will take place on 3rd January.

Konosuke Takeshita describes Mad Paulie as somebody who has no feelings or even a human heart. However he noticed a glimpse of humanity coming from him during today’s match. Paulie cares about winning and losing if nothing else. Takeshita’s preparations for their Christmas Day singles match is to eat snacks instead of turkey.

HARASHIMA and Shigehiro Irie had to be pulled apart after Match #5.

DDT announced a return date to Nagano for 23rd April next year. As the sales manager for that region, Toru Owashi is in charge of running the show

Gouma Ryu was again in attendance to promote BASARA’s Christmas Day show at Korakuen Hall. However he forgot to bring tickets to sell at the merch table so he handed out business cards instead.


DDT’s Weekend Plans

December 16, 2016

DDT “DNA 28”, 17/12/2016
Yokohama Radiant Hall

1. Yuki Ueno Vs Naomi Yoshimura
2. Farewell To The Strongest Enemy Of His Lifetime!! Farewell! My Beloved Brother!!: Guanchulo & Rekka Vs Dai Suzuki & Tigger Bedscene
3. Daiki Shimomura & Nobuhiro Shimatani Vs Daisuke Sasaki & Tetsuya Endo
4. Mizuki Watase Vs Atsushi Maruyama
5. Shunma Katsumata Vs Yuki Sato
6. Kazusada Higuchi & Kouki Iwasaki Vs Ryuichi Sekine & Ryota Nakatsu

DAMNATION makes another appearance in DDT. Last time it was just Daisuke Sasaki. This time he’s bringing Tetsuya Endo with him.

DDT “YOKOHAMA TWILIGHT 2016 ~WINTER~”, 17/12/2016
Yokohama Radiant Hall

1. KUDO Vs Guanchulo
2. 4 Way Match: Danshoku Dino Vs Tetsuya Endo Vs Soma Takao Vs Kazusada Higuchi
3. Yoshihiro Takayama & Kouki Iwasaki Vs Keisuke Ishii & Shunma Katsumata
4. Yukio Sakaguchi, Masahiro Takanashi & Saki Akai Vs Sanshiro Takagi, Kazuki Hirata & Cherry
5. Happy Motel Vs DAMNATION: Konosuke Takeshita & Antonio Honda Vs Daisuke Sasaki & Mad Paulie
6. Special 6-Man Tag Match: HARASHIMA, Akito & Yasu Urano Vs Shigehiro Irie, Toru Owashi & Tomomitsu Matsunaga
7. DDT Extreme Title – Yokohama Chinatown TLC Match: Jun Kasai (c) Vs Makoto Oishi

The Yokohama Chinatown TLC Match allows the use of tables, ladders and chairs. Victory can be claimed by either pinfall, submission, KO or by eating Chinese food that is located somewhere around ringside, presumably hanging above the ring.

DDT “ROAD TO SUPER ARENA ~DRAMATIC DREAM CLOCK TOWER~”, 18/12/2016
Sapporo Sun Plaza

1. Keisuke Ishii & Tomoya Vs Yasu Urano & Koji Yoshida
2. Sanshiro Takagi & Kazuki Hirata Vs Masahiro Takanashi & Soma Takao
3. How About A Big Hokkaido! Two Big Single Match: Mad Paulie Vs Akito
4. How About A Big Hokkaido! Two Big Single Match: Yoshihiro Takayama Vs Antonio Honda
5. DAMNATION Vs NωA!: Daisuke Sasaki & Tetsuya Endo Vs Makoto Oishi & Shunma Katsumata
6. Shuten-dōji Vs DNA Combination: KUDO & Yukio Sakaguchi Vs Kazusada Higuchi & Kouki Iwasaki
7. Sapporo Specialty! Sea Urchin, Scallop, Cuttlefish, Crab Bowl Special 4 Way Match: HARASHIMA Vs Shigehiro Irie Vs Konosuke Takeshita Vs Danshoku Dino

This isn’t the only wrestling DDT is doing on Sunday.

DDT “TAISHIDO SHOPPING DISTRICT YEAR-END PRO WRESTLING”, 18/12/2016
Tokyo Taishido Shopping Street Pedestrian Heaven

1. DDT Offer Match: Hoshitango & Gota Ihashi Vs Mizuki Watase & Guanchulo
2. Tokyo Joshi Pro Offer Match: Shoko Nakajima & Miyu Yamashita Vs Mil Clown & Maho Kurone
3. BASARA Offer Match: Ryuichi Sekine & Ryota Nakatsu Vs Daichi Kazato & SAGAT

There’s also a little bit of Street Pro Wrestling to celebrate the holidays.

BASARA “VAJRA 26 ~TBA~”, 06/01/2017
Shin-Kiba 1st RING

1. Union MAX Title: Isami Kodaka or Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi (c) Vs X

A Union MAX Title defence being booked so soon after the next champion getting crowned suggests the championship will not be getting a makeover to fit in with its new home.

BASARA “VAJRA 27 ~OSAKA WINTER IN OYODO~”, 08/01/2017
Osaka Oyodo Community Center

1. Hiroshi du Soleil Vs TsubaBilly: Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi & SAGAT Vs Tsubasa & Billy Ken Kid
2. Aldini Brothers Vs Cavalry: Isami Kodaka & Takumi Tsukamoto Vs Ryuichi Sekine & Ryota Nakatsu

HUB and Masamune will be on the show.


All Irie Wants For Christmas Is The KO-D Title

December 6, 2016

DDT “SAITAMA SLAM! VOL. 17”, 10/12/2016
Saitama Kasukabe Hall

0. King Of Dark Title: Nobuhiro Shimatani (c) & Cherry Vs Tomomitsu Matsunaga & Saki Akai
1. Kazuki Hirata Vs Shunma Katsumata
2. He Is That Guy And He Is Me: Akito Vs Rekka
3. 3 Way Match: Daisuke Sasaki Vs Makoto Oishi Vs Soma Takao
4. Yoshihiro Takayama & Kazusada Higuchi Vs Toru Owashi & Gota Ihashi
5. Tetsuya Endo & Mad Paulie Vs Yukio Sakaguchi & Masahiro Takanashi
6. Prelude To A Healthy Television Match: Konosuke Takeshita, Mike Bailey & Antonio Honda Vs Danshoku Dino, Keisuke Ishii & Guanchulo
7. Special Tag Match: HARASHIMA & Yasu Urano Vs Shigehiro Irie & Kouki Iwasaki

With “OSAKA OCTOPUS 2016” over and done with it’s time for DDT to move its focus over to Christmas Day. HARASHIMA nominated Shigehiro Irie as the first challenger for his latest KO-D Openweight Title reign and that means tag team preview matches to build up the bout.

DDT “ROAD TO SUPER ARENA ~DRAMATIC DREAM PORK~”, 11/12/2016
Hakata Star Lane

1. Toru Owashi, Yuto Aijima & Azul Dragon Vs Soma Takao, Kazusada Higuchi & Kouki Iwasaki
2. Itoh Maki Pro Wrestling Debut: Miyu Yamashita Vs Itoh Maki
3. 3 Way Tag Match: Sanshiro Takagi & Kazuki Hirata Vs Makoto Oishi & Shunma Katsumata Vs Antonio Honda & Guanchulo
4. Show Me, The Battle Of Those Born In 1975! Classmate Confrontation!: Shuji Ishikawa Vs Yasu Urano
5. Hakata Specialty! Seimonbarai Special Tag Match: HARASHIMA & Akito Vs Yoshihiro Takayama & Shigehiro Irie
6. KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles: Daisuke Sasaki, Tetsuya Endo & Mad Paulie (c) Vs KUDO, Yukio Sakaguchi & Masahiro Takanashi
7. KO-D Tag Team Titles: Konosuke Takeshita & Mike Bailey (c) Vs Danshoku Dino & Keisuke Ishii

Konosuke Takeshita & Mike Bailey will also have their first KO-D Tag Team Title defence taking place during the same weekend.

DAMNATION had a bad night in Osaka and are now down to holding one championship. They still have the KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles but Shuten-dōji are gunning after them. This is KUDO’s first shot at the belts since his return from injury. He previously went for the Tag Titles when DAMNATION held them but failed to take it off them.

DDT “YOKOHAMA TWILIGHT 2016 ~WINTER~”, 17/12/2016
Yokohama Radiant Hall

1. DDT Extreme Title: Jun Kasai (c) Vs Makoto Oishi

Makoto Oishi tried to help Danshoku Dino beat Jun Kasai in Osaka. That failed so now he’s taking matters into his own hands. He’s going to try and win back the DDT Extreme Title himself. But now that Kasai is champion, the match stipulations could become more violent. He did say he wants to dye the belt in “colour” and given how even the brush of a feather can make him bleed he’s going to fulfil his promise easily.

DDT “NEVER MIND 2016”, 25/12/2016
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. New Year’s Big Bang Bout: Konosuke Takeshita Vs Mad Paulie
2. Joey Ryan & Laura James Vs Makoto Oishi & Saki Akai
3. KO-D Openweight Title: HARASHIMA (c) Vs Shigehiro Irie

Irie pinned HARASHIMA in his return match and has been on fire since then. The USA trip revitalised him and he wants to return to America with the KO-D Title. That way he can spread the word of DDT all across America!