So This Is The Christmas Schedule, Natsumi Maki To TJPW?

December 23, 2018

First of all a very Merry Christmas to everybody! I have an Electric Six Christmas album (yes it exists) playing on loop while I’m trying to finish this post so I can wrap up the blog for the next few days. I keep having to rewrite it with the stories coming out today (there’s now some sort of Ganbare☆Wrestling Vs HEAT-UP thing going on that I’m missing for now). I’m going to enjoy the break before things get busy next week. Last year I felt a general burnout from the DDT family being involved in five Korakuen Hall shows in the space of a week (six in less than two weeks if you include DDT’s Christmas Eve show). There is one less Korakuen event this time around and I’ve already lashed through plenty of busy tours in 2018 so hopefully the energy levels will be good all around.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “THE GOD OF PRO WRESTLING “MY ARMS FELL!” BLURRY CONFESSION”, 27/12/2018
Tokyo Kanda Myojin Hall

Well this has gotten awkward. Rumours are going around that Natsumi Maki will be joining Tokyo Joshi Pro soon but she burned a bridge in the process. She was originally advertised to be in the main event of an Actwres girl’Z show in Amagasaki today but was pulled off the card last night. After the opening match Yumiko Hotta told the audience about Maki’s decision to go work with Tokyo Joshi. Hotta then said Maki made this deal without her permission and she cannot forgive her for it. So far neither Maki or Tokyo Joshi have confirmed the rumour of a deal between them. Maki has apologised to the AgZ fans for missing the show.

If this deal is true then Maki working with Tokyo Joshi was most likely going to be a surprise announcement at this Thursday’s show in the new Tokyo Kanda Myojin Hall. I guess Maki would show up alongside a full card reveal for the 4th January where she can make her debut. Maki did announce in August that she would be leaving Actwres girl’Z at the end of 2018 so the questions I’m left with are when was her move to Tokyo Joshi planned and how exactly was this done against Hotta’s wishes? It’s one thing if contract tampering is involved but from what I gather Maki should be free from that. I also get that having your boss’s blessing to join another promotion is important in these circles even if it is not necessary. We just have to wait and see how this shakes out.

DDT “D-OU GRAND PRIX 2019 THE FINAL!!”, 30/12/2018
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

0. Under Match: Mizuki Watase Vs Yuki Ueno
1. Muscle Offer Match ~ Live Call From The Match Venue! Yearly Fortune Telling Guest Student Booking Competition!!: Super Sasadango Machine Vs Antonio Honda Vs Choun-Shiryu Vs Pedro Takaishi Vs Yasu Urano Vs Makoto Oishi
2. Mike Bailey, MAO, HARASHIMA & Kazusada Higuchi Vs Soma Takao, Tetsuya Endo, Mad Paulie & Nobuhiro Shimatani
3. Yukio Sakaguchi, Masahiro Takanashi & Saki Akai Vs Toru Owashi, Kazuki Hirata & Meiko Satomura
4. CIMA, El Lindaman & Seiki Yoshioka Vs Akito, Yuki Iino & Kota Umeda
5. Shinya Aoki & Keisuke Okuda Vs Tanomusaku Toba & Keisuke Ishii
6. Daisuke Sasaki & Puma King Vs Naomi Yoshimura & Sammy Guevara
7. D-Ou Grand Prix 2019 – Final: Go Shiozaki Vs Konosuke Takeshita

Go Shiozaki enjoyed his time in the D-Ou Grand Prix and thinks it was a worthwhile experience. He was hesitant to take part at first, fearing it would be a career mistake to get involved. Instead the matches and opponents he got have gone above his expectations. After making it as far as the final he is now motivated to engrave his name in the tournament’s young history. Konosuke Takeshita is also motivated to raise the prestige of the Grand Prix. He cannot deny the match has an element of DDT Vs NOAH to it but he doesn’t want it to be just about that. Shiozaki Vs Takeshita should also be about two of the best wrestlers in Japan facing off against each other. Takeshita will be fighting not for DDT but for himself. The winner gets himself a spot in February’s Sumo Hall main event.

GANBARE☆WRESTLING “IT IS THE LAST OF THE HEISEI!”, 31/12/2017
Saitama Super Arena – Community Arena

1. Shivering Armlocker Vs Temporary Manager Of DAMNATION: Takeshi Okada Vs Nobuhiro Shimatani
2. GANBARE NEW ATTITUDE: Shuichiro Katsumura & Kouki Iwasaki Vs Kota Umeda & Mizuki Watase
3. “I’m Determined To Do My Best, Do No Forget Your Talent” Special 6-Man Tag Match: Ken Ohka, Keisuke Ishii & Shuhei Washida Vs Yumehito Imanari, Shota & Mitomi Masayuki

Ganpro ends its year at the RIZIN Martial Arts EXPO. The Ghost of DNA past joins in with Kouki Iwasaki, Kota Umeda and Mizuki Watase all involved in the same match.

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

1. Hinano & Raku Vs X & X
2. Hikari & Miu Vs Miyu Yamashita & Shoko Nakajima

This event is going to reestablish the Up Up Girls (Pro Wrestling) group. Each member will be getting a new ring name with new costumes and new entrance music. The two matches will be held on mats due to the venue’s small size.

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

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

Danshoku Dieno has explained his desire to humiliate Daisuke Sasaki as revenge for what Sasaki did to him at “RYOGOKU PETER PAN 2018”. Getting stripped naked (Dieno is convinced Sasaki made him do it) and locked into a casket can do that to a person. Since Dieno is in no shape to enact revenge by himself, he formed an alliance with Naomi Yoshimura when the youngster returned from his overseas excursion. Yoshimura agreed to go along because he senses bad vibes in current DDT and Sasaki is to blame for it. Dieno & Yoshimura have been constantly taunting Sasaki, mostly regarding his failed “relationship” with Candice LeRae. Sasaki admits he is still in love with LeRae and he’s tried to send flowers priced 5,000 yen to her. While the mindgames have been effecting him negatively, Sasaki got a one up on Yoshimura by attacking him with a chair at today’s show in Koyama.

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

1. Special Single Match: Meiko Satomura Vs Reika Saiki
2. TOKYO Princess Tag Team Titles: Yuka Sakazaki & Mizuki (c) Vs Shoko Nakajima & Riho
3. TOKYO Princess Of Princess Title: Miyu Yamashita (c) Vs Maki Ito

As mentioned above, I expect the full card for this show to be revealed on Thursday’s show.

BASARA “BASARA 85 ~SHUFFLE~”, 06/01/2019
Kitazawa Town Hall

1. Yasu Urano Vs Masato Kamino
2. Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi & SAGAT Vs Takato Nakano & Tatsuhiko Yoshino
3. FUMA & Yusuke Kubo Vs Takumi Tsukamoto & Jun Masaoka
4. Sento Minzoku Vs Best Stretchmen: Ryuichi Sekine, Daiki Shimomura & Minoru Fujita Vs Best Stretchman V3, Best Stretchman Amazon & Stretchman Man
5. Sparky Vs Aiseki Tag: Ryota Nakatsu & Akiyori Takizara Vs Fuminori Abe & Ikuto Hidaka
6. Isami Kodaka Returns To War: Isami Kodaka Vs Naoki Tanizaki

Ryota Nakatsu and Ikuto Hidaka matches seems to happen whenever BASARA hits a milestone. It was the opening match of the debut show and was held again on its one year anniversary. Now it happens again with BASARA’s visit to the reopened Kitazawa Town Hall. While this next match is only a tag bout, Nakatsu gets to find out if he has come any closer to Hidaka’s level.


DDT “WRESTLE OYAMA HYOTEI 2018” Results

December 23, 2018

DDT “WRESTLE OYAMA HYOTEI 2018”, 23/12/2018
Tochigi Koyama City Cultural Center
145 Fans

1. Soma Takao defeated Mizuki Watase with the Perfect Driver (10:31).
2. 3 Way Match: Masahiro Takanashi defeated Mad Paulie and Gota Ihashi when Takanashi pinned Ihashi with an Oklahoma Roll (7:25).
3. Makoto Oishi & Kazuki Hirata defeated Antonio Honda & Veda Scott when Oishi pinned Honda with the Nekodora (11:12).
4. Mike Bailey & MAO defeated Tetsuya Endo & Nobuhiro Shimatani when Bailey pinned Shimatani after the Michinoku Tornado Driver (13:45).
5. Koyama Specialty! Lucky Town Special Tag Match: Daisuke Sasaki & Puma King defeated Kazusada Higuchi & Kota Umeda when Sasaki submitted Umeda with the Cross Facelock (15:30).
6. DISASTER BOX Vs ALL OUT!: Konosuke Takeshita, Akito & Yuki Iino defeated HARASHIMA, Toru Owashi & Yuki Ueno when Takeshita pinned Ueno with the Fable (21:15).

Konosuke Takeshita promoted both the D-Ou Grand Prix final on 30th December and ALL OUT challenging for the KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles on 3rd January. For the Grand Prix, Takeshita wants to be Go Shiozaki on behalf of DDT. For the 6-Man Tag Titles match, it will be a win for ALL OUT no matter if it’s Takeshita, Akito or Yuki Iino that scores the pin.

Danshoku Dieno & Naomi Yoshimura came out to taunt Daisuke Sasaki after Match #5. They brought out dumplings to eat and jokingly asked if Sasaki wanted some. Sasaki then dove out of the ring onto Yoshimura and the two began fighting. Sasaki brought a chair into the ring but Yoshimura hit him with a Lariat. When Yoshimura picked up the chair, Sasaki Dropkicked it into his face. Sasaki then smashed the chair over Yoshimura’s head and left him laying among the remains of dumplings around the ring.

A story between Makoto Oishi, Shiori Asahi and the Moonlight Express was brewing over the weekend. Mike Bailey & MAO approached the other two at a K-DOJO show yesterday asking for a STRONGEST-K TAG Title shot. Oishi & Asahi would only accept the challenge if the KO-D Tag Team Titles were also put on the line to make it a Double Title match! Both teams agreed on the stipulation and it will take place in DDT on 5th January. Today Oishi approached them after their mask to give an answer. He said he was disappointed that they did not bring their own belts to the show that day because today Oishi pulled up his hoodie to show that he was wearing his STRONGEST-K TAG belt underneath. Oishi and MAO were about to shake hands for a fair fight when Oishi spat in his face. He physically manipulated MAO into putting Bailey into a Reverse Indian Deathlock then gave MAO a Russian Leg Sweep, hurting both of the Express. Oishi then posed with his tag belt along with one of the KO-D Tag belts.

Antonio Honda now has a homemade Gongitsune sock puppet. Veda Scott made it for him. He and Makoto Oishi ended up fighting over Scott’s giant cat head.


McKenzie TJPW Debut, Kodaka Return Match, Monorail Pro Wrestling, More Added To USA Show

December 20, 2018

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

1. Special Single Match: Meiko Satomura Vs Reika Saiki
2. TOKYO Princess Tag Team Titles: Yuka Sakazaki & Mizuki (c) Vs Shoko Nakajima & Riho
3. TOKYO Princess Of Princess Title: Miyu Yamashita (c) Vs Maki Ito

England’s “Suplex Athlete” Millie McKenzie will make her Tokyo Joshi Pro debut on the show. She is 167cm tall, weighs 58kg and was born in the year 2000.

BASARA “BASARA 85 ~SHUFFLE~”, 06/01/2019
Kitazawa Town Hall

1. Isami Kodaka Returns To War: Isami Kodaka Vs Naoki Tanizaki

Isami Kodaka is back from his jaw injury and wants to regain the Union MAX Title. However the man who took the title from him Naoki Tanizaki won’t let him get near Ryota Nakatsu so quickly. Kodaka gets his title shot if he can beat Tanizaki in his first match back.

DDT “MITSUI CHOJI CO., LTD. PRESENTS CHIBA CITY MONORAIL WRESTLING”, 12/01/2019
Chiba Monorail Station

1. Falls Count Anywhere Throws Prohibited Battle Royal: Sanshiro Takagi Vs HARASHIMA Vs Konosuke Takeshita Vs Hiroshi Yamato Vs Shinya Aoki Vs X

Back in April 2017 DDT held a Battle Royal inside of a moving train circling around Nakano. Next month they will be trying the experiment again this time on a Chiba City Monorail. The plan is for two wrestlers to begin the match inside the monorail at 7 pm. A new wrestler enters the match at every stop on the journey. The monorail cars are attached below the track and can be held quite a distance above ground so all moves that involve throws, slams and downward shocks are prohibited for the safety of absolutely everything. DDT accepts that most of the match will have to consist of strikes, grapples and submission moves because of this. The seating capacity of the monorail is 24 people so only 24 tickets will be put on sale.

Hiroshi Yamato is one of the guest wrestlers taking part in the match. He promotes and wrestles regularly around Chiba ever since going freelance last April. Earlier this year he heard the monorail company was looking for an event so he came up with this idea and wanted DDT to get involved because of the success of their train match. Sanshiro Takagi is excited by the opportunity. He convinced Shinya Aoki to enter the match because the restricted rules will favour his fighting style.

DDT “DDT IS COMING TO AMERICA”, 04/04/2019
La Boom, Queens, New York

Konosuke Takeshita, Soma Takao, Kazusada Higuchi, MAO, Saki Akai and Yoshihiko have been added to the show. They join Masahiro Takanashi, Akito, Maki Ito, HARASHIMA, Daisuke Sasaki, Tetsuya Endo and Danshoku Dieno as the DDT talents announced so far.


Video – Sasaki Vs Higuchi From D-Oh Grand Prix

December 19, 2018

DDT “D-OU GRAND PRIX 2019 IN NAGOYA”, 15/12/2018
Nagoya City Mid-Sports Center
313 Fans – Super No Vacancy

D-Ou Grand Prix 2019 – A Block: Daisuke Sasaki (4) Vs Kazusada Higuchi (6)


Puma King Sides With DAMNATION, DDT Gets Ready For New Year’s At Korakuen, Ganpro Hurt But Still Fighting

December 18, 2018

DDT “WRESTLE OYAMA HYOTEI 2018”, 23/12/2018
Tochigi Koyama City Cultural Center

1. 3 Way Match: Mad Paulie Vs Masahiro Takanashi Vs Gota Ihashi
2. Antonio Honda & Veda Scott Vs Makoto Oishi & Kazuki Hirata
3. Soma Takao Vs Mizuki Watase
4. Mike Bailey & MAO Vs Tatsuya Endo & Nobuhiro Shimatani
5. DISASTER BOX Vs ALL OUT!: HARASHIMA, Toru Owashi & Yuki Ueno Vs Konosuke Takeshita, Akito & Yuki Iino
6. Koyama Specialty! Lucky Town Special Tag Match: Daisuke Sasaki & Puma King Vs Kazusada Higuchi & Kota Umeda

It hasn’t been all doom and gloom for Daisuke Sasaki these last few days. His friendship with Puma King from outside wrestling has become strong enough for the luchador to be allied with DAMNATION for the rest of his DDT tour.

DDT “D-OU GRAND PRIX 2019 THE FINAL!!”, 30/12/2018
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

0. Under Match: Mizuki Watase Vs Yuki Ueno
1. Muscle Offer Match ~ Live Call From The Match Venue! Yearly Fortune Telling Guest Student Booking Competition!!: Super Sasadango Machine Vs Antonio Honda Vs Choun-Shiryu Vs Pedro Takaishi Vs Yasu Urano Vs Makoto Oishi
2. Mike Bailey, MAO, HARASHIMA & Kazusada Higuchi Vs Soma Takao, Tetsuya Endo, Mad Paulie & Nobuhiro Shimatani
3. Yukio Sakaguchi, Masahiro Takanashi & Saki Akai Vs Toru Owashi, Kazuki Hirata & Meiko Satomura
4. CIMA, El Lindaman & Seiki Yoshioka Vs Akito, Yuki Iino & Kota Umeda
5. Shinya Aoki & Keisuke Okuda Vs Tanomusaku Toba & Keisuke Ishii
6. Daisuke Sasaki & Puma King Vs Naomi Yoshimura & Sammy Guevara
7. D-Ou Grand Prix 2019 – Final: Go Shiozaki Vs Konosuke Takeshita

DDt’s busiest period of the year(s?) inside Korakuen Hall kicks off with the D-Ou Grand Prix 2019 final. Go Shiozaki and Konosuke Takeshita battle it out with a KO-D Openweight Title shot at Sumo Hall on the line. Meanwhile the champion Sasaki has trouble in his head with Naomi Yoshimura teasing his way into getting the first KO-D Title shot of 2019. Over in the DDT Extreme Title side, Shinya Aoki got an unlikely challenger in the form of Tanomusaku Toba so they’re both gearing up for their match. #STRONGHEARTS returns to prepare for their KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles defence against ALL OUT with a non-title match. Last but not least Meiko Satomura makes her return to DDT.

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

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

DDT’s 2019 opener has three title matches, Kota Umeda squaring off against Daichi Hashimoto and the search for a new comedy wrestler to replace Danshoku Dieno. We also have a match between the two short tempered, short fused and just plain short wrestlers from DAMNATION and #STRONGHEARTS.

GANBARE☆WRESTLING “DO IT ON YOUR OWN HANDS 2019”, 06/01/2019
Kitazawa Town Hall

1. Independent World Jr. Heavyweight Title: Keisuke Ishii (c) Vs Shuichiro Katsumura
2. Special Single Match: Yumehito Imanari Vs Minoru Fujita

With Ken Ohka defeated, Yumehito Imanari is now left leading the wounded Ganbare☆Wrestling against Minoru Fujita and Sento Minzoku. Imanari calls Fujita an “A Class War Criminal” who he must defeat. Fujita meanwhile is disappointed in Ganpro’s stunted growth and is struggling to find a reason to stick around. Maybe Imanari can give him a reason.

Shuichiro Katsumura previously fought and lost to Keisuke Ishii for the Independent World Jr. Heavyweight Title back in June. After winning Ganpro’s MVP award yesterday, Katsumura now wants another chance.


Video – Speedball Vs Guevara From D-Ou Grand Prix

December 18, 2018

DDT “D-OU GRAND PRIX 2019 IN YOKOHAMA”, 14/12/2018
Yokohama Radiant Hall
187 Fans

D-Ou Grand Prix 2019 – B Block: Mike Bailey (4) Vs Sammy Guevara (6)


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

December 15, 2018

DDT “D-OU GRAND PRIX 2019 IN NAGOYA”, 15/12/2018
Nagoya City Mid-Sports Center
313 Fans – Super No Vacancy

1. Puma King & Mizuki Watase defeated Kota Umeda & Yuki Ueno when King pinned Ueno with La Casita (11:14).
2. D-Ou Grand Prix 2019 – A Block: Akito (6) defeated MAO (4) with the Perfect Figure 4 Leg Lock (8:43).
3. Nagoya Specialty! Special 6-Man Tag Match: Ultimo Dragon, Toru Owashi & Keisuke Okuda defeated Makoto Oishi, Masahiro Takanashi & Kazuki Hirata when Okuda pinned Hirata with a PK (10:22).
4. D-Ou Grand Prix 2019 – B Block: Soma Takao (4) defeated Mike Bailey (6) with the Gin And Tonic (12:39).
5. D-Ou Grand Prix 2019 – B Block: Shinya Aoki (8) defeated Tetsuya Endo (6) by TKO with a Front Neck Lock (8:13).
6. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title – D-Ou Grand Prix 2019 – B Block: Konosuke Takeshita (c) (8) defeated Sammy Guevara (6) with the Fable (11:37).
*V2 for Konosuke Takeshita.
7. D-Ou Grand Prix 2019 – A Block: Daisuke Sasaki (6) defeated Kazusada Higuchi (6) with the Crossover Facelock (16:41).
8. D-Ou Grand Prix 2019 – A Block: Go Shiozaki (10) defeated HARASHIMA (6) with the Strong Arm Lariat (22:50).

A Block

1. Go Shiozaki (10)
2. Kazusada Higuchi (6)
-. HARASHIMA (6)
-. Akito (6)
-. Daisuke Sasaki (6)
6. MAO (4)
-. Puma King (4)

B Block

1. Konosuke Takeshita (8)
-. Shinya Aoki (8)
3. Tetsuya Endo (6)
-. Sammy Guevara (6)
-. Mike Bailey (6)
6. Masahiro Takanashi (4)
-. Soma Takao (4)

The final for the D-Ou Grand Prix 2019 is now set. In the main event of today’s show, Go Shiozaki defeated HARASHIMA to win the A Block uncontested. HARASHIMA had him stunned with a Standing Somato but was cut off with a Lariat. Shiozaki finished him off with the Go Flasher and then the Strong Arm Lariat to win.

The other A Block wrestler scrapping for the top spot was Kazusada Higuchi although his chances were difficult from the onset. He needed to beat Daisuke Sasaki and hope that HARASHIMA would beat Shiozaki to cause a three way tie with the direct confrontation rule cancelling each other out. Sadly for Higuchi he was put in danger after an Avalanche Pedigree from Sasaki. Then when Sasaki applied La Mistica Cross Facelock Higuchi was in even more danger. It was all over when Sasaki switched the move into the Crossover Facelock, getting the submission win and knocking Higuchi out of the tournament.

When that match was over Danshoku Dieno & Naomi Yoshimura appeared. Yesterday they put forth the challenge for Sasaki to defend the KO-D Openweight Title against Yoshimura on 3rd January. Today they wanted his answer. Sasaki said no. He wants to defend the title against Nobuhiro Shimatani instead! Yoshimura knocked Shimatani out with a Lariat and Dieno told Sasaki his choice was now out of action. Yoshimura then told everyone that while he was in America he found out everyone over there knows that the champion of DDT is some pathetic long haired man who was dumped by Candice LeRae. He also heard that LeRae received flowers from this loser and she threw them away. Sasaki lost his temper and got into a fight with Yoshimura. The two were pulled apart with Sasaki yelling he will kill Yoshimura and that he did spend 5,000 yen on flowers for LeRae. Dieno laughed and told Sasaki if he wants to get his hands on Yoshimura, he should give him the title shot on 3rd January.

Meeting Shiozaki in the final is Konosuke Takeshita. The B Block was all to play for with each of the three matches today determining someone’s fate. Takeshita beat Sammy Guevara to seal his place in the final. He ends with the same amount of points as Shinya Aoki but goes through via the direct confrontation tiebreaker because Takeshita beat Aoki in their block match.

Speaking of Aoki, he was able to kill off Tetsuya Endo’s chance of qualifying for the final. Endo gave him a Northern Lights Suplex but Aoki held on and applied a Front Neck Lock, choking Endo out.

Last but not least in the B Block, Mike Bailey failed to advance when he lost to Soma Takao. Once again Takao seems to be unaware over the tournament schedule. When he found out he didn’t qualify for the final, Takao asked if any of the other DAMNATION members made it even the ones who weren’t in the Grand Prix like Shimatani, Mad Paulie and Shuji Ishikawa. But maybe what Takao can fairly ask for is a KO-D Tag Team Titles shot since he just beat one of the champions.

There was one more Grand Prix match on the show with nothing to play for other than pride. Akito defeated MAO to finish above him by two points. MAO is keeping his head up because he got a win over HARASHIMA in the tournament. Akito used the tournament to experiment with his wrestling style and he has no regrets with how he performed. The big question he asks himself is whether or not he improved his standing in the lead up to ALL OUT challenging for the KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles.


Last Grand Prix Show Before The Final

December 14, 2018

DDT “D-OU GRAND PRIX 2019 IN NAGOYA”, 15/12/2018
Nagoya City Mid-Sports Center

1. Kota Umeda & Yuki Ueno Vs Puma King & Mizuki Watase
2. D-Ou Grand Prix 2019 – A Block: Akito (4) Vs MAO (4)
3. Nagoya Specialty! Special 6-Man Tag Match: Ultimo Dragon, Toru Owashi & Keisuke Okuda Vs Makoto Oishi, Masahiro Takanashi & Kazuki Hirata
4. D-Ou Grand Prix 2019 – B Block: Soma Takao (2) Vs Mike Bailey (6)
5. D-Ou Grand Prix 2019 – B Block: Tetsuya Endo (6) Vs Shinya Aoki (6)
6. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title – D-Ou Grand Prix 2019 – B Block: Konosuke Takeshita (c) (6) Vs Sammy Guevara (6)
7. D-Ou Grand Prix 2019 – A Block: Daisuke Sasaki (4) Vs Kazusada Higuchi (6)
8. D-Ou Grand Prix 2019 – A Block: HARASHIMA (6) Vs Go Shiozaki (8)

In A Block the only wrestlers left standing are Go Shiozaki, Kazusada Higuchi and HARASHIMA. A win or draw for Shiozaki means he wins the block. HARASHIMA needs to beat Shiozaki and also needs Higuchi to lose to Sasaki. Meanwhile Higuchi needs to beat Sasaki and needs HARASHIMA to beat Shiozaki.

B Block is more wild. Shinya Aoki, Tetsuya Endo, Konosuke Takeshita, Sammy Guevara and Mike Bailey all have a chance to qualify depending on a wide range of results. Aoki needs to win and have Takeshita lose/draw. Endo needs to win and have Guevara lose/draw. Takeshita needs to win and have Endo and Bailey lose/draw. Guevara needs to win and have Bailey and Aoki lose/draw. Bailey needs to win and have Endo Vs Aoki end in a draw.

Naomi Yoshimura is back as Danshoku Dieno’s new ally to take down Daisuke Sasaki. Dieno wants Yoshimura to challenge for the KO-D Openweight Title but Sasaki already has his hands full with other ideas for challengers. Yoshimura will be on this show waiting for Sasaki’s answer. Dieno said that the youngster was on an excursion of Hell and came home to Japan as an Evangelist Of Love. Yoshimura confirms that by saying the most important thing he learned in America was peace. Together Dieno & Yoshimura will give Sasaki plenty of Love & Peace!


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

December 14, 2018

DDT “D-OU GRAND PRIX 2019 IN YOKOHAMA”, 14/12/2018
Yokohama Radiant Hall
187 Fans

1. 3 Way Tag Match: KUDO & Antonio Honda defeated Toru Owashi & Kazuki Hirata and Akito & Yuki Iino when KUDO pinned Hirata with a Backspin Kick (7:51).
2. Daisuke Sasaki, Tetsuya Endo, Mad Paulie & Nobuhiro Shimatani defeated Kazusada Higuchi, Kota Umeda, Mizuki Watase & Makoto Oishi when Endo pinned Watase with the Swivel Torture Rack Bomb (8:10).
3. D-Ou Grand Prix 2019 – A Block: HARASHIMA (6) defeated Puma King (4) with the Somato (9:37).
4. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title – D-Ou Grand Prix 2019 – B Block: Konosuke Takeshita (c) (6) defeated Soma Takao (2) with the Fable (14:21).
*V1 for Konosuke Takeshita.
5. D-Ou Grand Prix 2019 – B Block: Masahiro Takanashi (4) defeated Shinya Aoki (6) with a School Boy (1:01).
6. D-Ou Grand Prix 2019 – A Block: Go Shiozaki (8) defeated MAO (4) with the Strong Arm Lariat (15:04).
7. D-Ou Grand Prix 2019 – B Block: Mike Bailey (6) defeated Sammy Guevara (6) with the Flamingo Driver (19:57).

A Block

1. Go Shiozaki (8)
2. Kazusada Higuchi (6)
-. HARASHIMA (6)
4. Akito (4)
-. MAO (4)
-. Daisuke Sasaki (4)
-. Puma King (4)

B Block

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

The penultimate show in the D-Ou Grand Prix group stages saw the A Block get whittled down to a few while the B Block was blown wide open. The main event was a rare one for DDT as a Canadian and an American were the two headliners. Mike Bailey and Sammy Guevara wouldn’t stop swearing at each other until Yukinori Matsui yelled “Important Match!” at them. They went all out from there with Moonsaults, Canadian Destroyers and Shooting Stars aplenty. Speedball ended up on top thanks to the Flamingo Driver. Bailey told Guevara after the match that he has the worst attitude, but he also has the best heart. MAO ended the show by telling Bailey to do his best in the final days of the Grand Prix.

Sadly for MAO he won’t be able to join Bailey in the chase for the final. Go Shiozaki eliminated MAO from contention. Shiozaki admitted he didn’t expect to be overwhelmed by MAO’s pace. But that’s the beauty of pro wrestling, to have two styles like theirs mesh.

In the most bizarre match of the tournament Masahiro Takanashi pulled every out of the box trick he could think of to beat Shinya Aoki in just over a minute! First, three fake Takanashis entered the ring. They were Baliyan Akki, Yumehito Imanari and Shota in disguise. Aoki beat them up until the real Takanashi appeared dressed as a referee and took Daisuke Kiso’s place. Aoki didn’t know what had happened and dropped his guard when Takanashi gave him a referee order. That allowed Takanashi to give him an Inside Cradle but Aoki countered it into an Armbar. The fake Takanashis jumped on the ring apron to distract Aoki while the real Takanashi placed a mannequin arm into his shirt. Aoki fell for the trap and grabbed the fake arm, pulling it out completely. He was then pinned with a School Boy. Takanashi is pleased that he has ended his tournament run with two victories. That’s one more than he got in the previous Grand Prix.

Konosuke Takeshita finds himself still in the running thanks to his win over Soma Takao in a first time singles match between the two. The occasion was special enough to make Takao drop his lies about being undefeated throughout the group stage. Although he was still bitter enough to claim he kicked out of the Fable at two.

It’s close but HARASHIMA is still alive in A Block. He doesn’t know the details of how he needs to qualify other than winning his final match tomorrow. Puma King did well against him but he fell to the Somato like so many others have in the past. He still leaves the tournament with his head held high by showing everyone he can handle many styles from Japan, America and Mexico.

After a brief absence since regaining his memory, Danshoku Dieno appeared after Match #2 to confront Daisuke Sasaki. A shocked Sasaki asked Dieno how he escaped from the casket he locked him in at Sumo Hall. Dieno explained the casket had an escape hatch underneath which he used just before he lost his memory. When Dieno got his memory back he went looking for footage of their KO-D Openweight Title bout. After watching it over and over he came to the conclusion that Sasaki is to blame for making Dieno get naked during the match! Dieno wants revenge and also a chance to regain the KO-D title but he is in no physical state to do it for now. So instead he found someone who will give Sasaki the beating he deserves. Out came Naomi Yoshimura returning from his overseas excursion from Hell! Sasaki said he had already decided on his next challenger. He was then distracted by the chain Yoshimura was wearing. Sasaki asked if it was made out of plastic. Next thing you know, Yoshimura decks Sasaki with a Short Arm Lariat! Sasaki was too unconscious to answer the challenge so Yoshimura told everyone he will wait for an answer at tomorrow’s show in Nagoya.


Video – Sasaki Vs Shiozaki From D-Ou Grand Prix

December 12, 2018

DDT “D-OU GRAND PRIX 2019 IN OSAKA”, 08/12/2018
Osaka World Pavilion
244 Fans – Super No Vacancy Full House

D-Ou Grand Prix 2019 – A Block: Daisuke Sasaki (2) Vs Go Shiozaki (6)