DDT/GCW “NEVER ENDING NOISY SUMMER”, 12/08/2024 Tokyo Korakuen Hall
1. Special 8-Man Tag Match: Yuki Ueno, Masha Slamovich, Yuni & Ilusion Vs Maki Itoh, Chris Brookes, Takeshi Masada & Marcus Mathers
2. DDT Variety Team Vs The Mothership: Kazuki Hirata & Antonio Honda Vs Allie Katch & Dark Sheik
3. DDT Vs GCW Special Tag Match: Daisuke Sasaki & KANON Vs Rina Yamashita & Broski Jimmy
4. DDT Vs GCW Special Tag Match: Tetsuya Endo & Yuki Iino Vs Gringo Loco & 1 Called Manders
5. DDT Vs GCW Special Single Match: Danshoku Dieno Vs Effy
6. GCW World Title – 3 Way Hardcore Match: Mance Warner (c) Vs Shunma Katsumata Vs Joey Janela
7. DDT Universal Title: MAO (c) Vs Alex Zayne
Tomorrow GCW will begin their tour of Japan by co-promoting a Korakuen Hall show with DDT. They will be doing two other events at Shinjuku FACE during the week. According to an article on DDT’s website that was written by the owner of the FREEBIRDS online shop*, one of the reasons GCW now works with DDT is to show the Japanese audience they have moved on from just being a death match promotion.
*The answer to the question, are there Japanese fans who are diehard into the American wrestling scene just like there are American fans who obsess over puro?
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TOKYO PRINCESS CUP”, 23/08/2024 Shinjuku FACE
1. Tokyo Princess Cup – Semi Final: Yuki Arai Vs Ryo Mizunami
2. Tokyo Princess Cup – Semi Final: Yuki Aino Vs Zara Zakher
What an unlikely final four we have here. The two semi-finals both feature a pair of opponents who are familiar with each other. Yuki Arai fought Ryo Mizunami in a tag match at “WRESTLE PRINCESS IV” last October and she even won that match for her team. Mizunami thinks highly of her and it will make her summer if she can make it to the Tokyo Princess Cup Final by beating Arai. Yuki Aino and Zara Zakher teamed together at “TJPW LIVE IN PHILLY” this past April. Zakher already produced two shocking upsets in the tournament already but Aino claims she has already been studying her opponent.
BAKA GAIJIN + FRIENDS “FUCKED UP FEST”, 24/08/2024 Tokyo Nakano Moonstep
1. Special Single Match: Mr. Bueno Vs To-y
2. Special Tag Team Match: Munetatsu Nakamura & Kota Ibushikoshi Vs Keigo Nakamura & Kazuma Sumi
3. Special Single Match: Tyrannosaurus Inoue Vs Tyrannosaurus Morozumi
4. Special Tag Team Match: Masahiro Takanashi & Chie Koishikawa Vs Thanomsak Toba & Sayaka
5. International 4 Way Dance: Shivam Vs Dr. Gore Vs Monomoth Vs Jake De Leon
6. Triple Threat Match: Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi Vs Antonio Honda Vs Yasu Urano
7. Special Single Match: Maya Yukihi Vs Ram Kaichow
8. Hardcore 4 Way Match: Shunma Katsumata Vs MAO Vs Chris Brookes Vs Mad Dr. Ueki
Since this big festival is happening on Chris Brookes’s birthday, he gets to have a big main event match. A Hardcore 4 Way free for all pitting him against Shunma Katsumata, MAO and Mad Dr. Ueki sounds like the right way to bring the party towards its ending. The event is lasting all day with one match scheduled to happen on the hour, every hour until the final two matches take place later at night.
Tyrannosaurus Inoue is not the only inflatable wrestling dinosaur to be found in Japan these days. Tyrannosaurus Morozumi has been doing the same thing in the University Pro Wrestling scene.
DDT “OSAKA VS TOKYO ~DREAM EAST-WEST PRO WRESTLING BATTLE 2024~”, 10/08/2024 Osaka Edion Arena #2 586 Fans – Super No Vacancy
1. East Vs West All-Out Competition: Keigo Nakamura (Iwate) & Yuya Koroku (Chiba) defeated Yuki Ishida (Kumamoto) & Kazuma Sumi (Mie) when Koroku submitted Sumi with a Modified Arm Lock (7:20). *Yuya Koroku wins Kazuma Sumi’s Right To Challenge Anytime, Anywhere Shield.
2. Daisuke Sasaki, KANON & MJ Paul defeated Toru Owashi, Yukio Naya & Ilusion when KANON pinned Ilusion with the Sleepy Hollow (9:22).
3. East Vs West All-Out Competition: Danshoku Dieno (Hiroshima) & Yuni (Osaka) defeated Makoto Oishi (Shizuoka) & Akito (Aichi) when Dieno pinned Oishi with the Danshoku Driver (7:12).
4. East Vs West All-Out Competition ~ Special Tag Match: Sayaka Unagi (Osaka) & Momoka Hanazono (Osaka) defeated Yoshiko Hasegawa (Saitama) & Riara (Miyagi) when Unagi pinned Riara with the Sliding TANAKA (10:32).
5. East Vs West All-Out Competition ~ Special 4 Way Match: MAO (Miyagi) defeated Tsutenkakka (Osaka), The Great Koji (Osakananko) and A.YAZAWA (Hiroshima) when MAO pinned Koji with a Spinning Cradle (7:36).
6. DDT Extreme Title ~ East Vs West All-Out Competition ~ Energetic!! 37 Great Battles: Shunma Katsumata (c) (Chiba) defeated Kohei Kinoshita (Osaka) when Katsumata reached the 37th Pin Count (11:28). *V5 for Shunma Katsumata.
7. East Vs West All-Out Competition ~ Tokyo Vs Osaka Special Tag Match: Yuki Ueno (Osaka) & Jun Akiyama (Osaka) defeated HARASHIMA (Tokyo) & Kazuki Hirata (Tokyo) when Ueno pinned Hirata with a Lariat (0:05).
7a. Rematch: Yuki Ueno (Osaka) & Jun Akiyama (Osaka) defeated HARASHIMA (Tokyo) & Kazuki Hirata (Tokyo) (w/ Yoshihiko) when Ueno pinned Hirata with the WR (11:17).
8. KO-D Tag Team Titles – East Vs West All-Out Competition ~ Takeshi Masada Debut 2nd Anniversary Match: Chris Brookes (England) & Takeshi Masada (Osaka) defeated Tetsuya Endo (Miyagi) & Yuki Iino (Tokyo) (c) when Brookes submitted Endo with the Octopus Stretch (26:13). *BURNING fails in V4. SCHADENFREUDE International becomes the 83rd KO-D Tag Team Champions!
Western Army: Kohei Kinoshita (Osaka), Yuki Ueno (Osaka), Jun Akiyama (Osaka), Chris Brookes (England), Takeshi Masada (Osaka), Danshoku Dieno (Hiroshima), Yuki Ishida (Kumamoto), Yuni (Osaka), Kazuma Sumi (Mie), Tsutenkakka (Osaka), The Great Koji (Osakananko), A.YAZAWA (Hiroshima), Sayaka Unagi (Osaka) and Momoka Hanazono (Osaka)
Place Of Unknown Origin: MJ Paul, Ilusion
On the week when Takeshi Masada celebrates two years of being a pro wrestler, today he needed to get something to show for it. He and Chris Brookes were originally meant to face Tetsuya Endo & Yuki Iino in a non-title match that was only put together to celebrate Masada’s anniversary in his hometown. But the KO-D Tag Team Champions were confident enough to put their championship on the line to make an example of Masada and his recent slump in performance. Big mistake! Brookes & Masada brought the fight to BURNING and it ended up with Brookes putting Endo in the Octopus Stretch and Masada grabbing Iino in the same move to stop him from breaking it up. Endo reached his limit and gave up, making the SCHADENFREUDE International duo the new tag champs!
Brookes described his opponents as being strong and they are welcome to fight them again anytime. Masada brought up all the criticism other wrestlers had been saying about him. If he was missing something then the KO-D Tag Titles are the signpost that will point him towards what he is looking for! Masada is not going to be the second coming of Konosuke Takeshita like people thought he would but he will lead the way as the future of DDT! Endo took fault for losing the match. He admits they lost not because of teamwork but because he gave up. He remembers when a DDT veteran entrusted the company to him eight years ago but he isn’t ready to do the same for Masada right now. Iino thinks they have no choice but to shift gears.
Throughout the show there was a team challenge pitting wrestlers from the west side of Japan against those from the east side. The score was tied 3-3 when it came down to the last match. The west’s captain Yuki Ueno instantly defeated the east’s captain Kazuki Hirata but they agreed to restart the match because they couldn’t let the competition end like that. Hirata & HARASHIMA had some extra help from Yoshihiko in the rematch. That lasted until Jun Akiyama grabbed Yoshihiko and attacked the other team with the doll. Ueno then pinned Hirata again to confirm victory for the Western Army.
The DDT Extreme Title was on the line with a bonus rule involving the pin count. You could win the match with a three count as normal but every 1 count and 2 count gets added up. If a wrestler’s total pin count reached 37 (“sauna”) then they would automatically win the match that way. Shunma Katsumata and Kohei Kinoshita went back and forth leading them both to 36 points. Katsumata was able to roll up Kinoshita to grab the match winning 37th count. He wants to have another match with Kinoshita because neither of them have gotten a 3 count on each other yet. Katsumata discovered that winning the match with a 1 count pin doesn’t feel right. If they can’t have a rematch for the title he still wants to be in the ring with him in either DDT or Dove Pro. They can even be teammates instead of opponents next time.
The Right To Challenge Anytime, Anywhere Shields have become active and there was movement right from the start. Yuya Koroku submitted Kazuma Sumi in the opening match, taking his Shield away from him. That has to really bother Sumi because he wanted to cash in his title shot as soon as possible. Koroku told reporters he already knows what he wants to do with the Shield and will use it when the time is right.
When Ueno’s match was over KANON entered the ring to taunt him with his RTC Shield. However he wasn’t going to use it because Ueno isn’t at his worst and most worn out state yet. Keigo Nakamura and Yuya Koroku also walked out to tease cashing in but neither would do it. Finally, Antonio Honda rushed into the ring with his Shield but tripped over the ropes and decided not to cash in because he was now injured
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TOKYO PRINCESS CUP”, 10/08/2024 Osaka Edion Arena #2
1. 3 Way Match: Pom Harajuku Vs Mahiro Kiryu Vs Runa Okubo
2. Arisu Endo & Chika Nanase Vs Moka Miyamoto & Kaya Toribami
3. Miu Watanabe, Raku, Shino Suzuki & Uta Takami Vs Shoko Nakajima, Wakana Uehara, Haru Kazashiro & Kira Summer
4. Miyu Yamashita & Maki Itoh Vs Masha Slamovich & Toga
5. Tokyo Princess Cup – Quarter Final: Rika Tatsumi Vs Ryo Mizunami
6. Tokyo Princess Cup – Quarter Final: Yuki Kamifuku Vs Yuki Aino
7. Tokyo Princess Cup – Quarter Final: Mizuki Vs Zara Zakher
8. Tokyo Princess Cup – Quarter Final: Suzume Vs Yuki Arai
Tomorrow Osaka will hosting a Tokyo Princess Cup show for the first time ever as we get through the Quarter Finals.
DDT “OSAKA VS TOKYO ~DREAM EAST-WEST PRO WRESTLING BATTLE 2024~”, 10/08/2024 Osaka Edion Arena #2
1. East Vs West All-Out Competition: Keigo Nakamura (Iwate) & Yuya Koroku (Chiba) Vs Yuki Ishida (Kumamoto) & Kazuma Sumi (Mie)
2. Daisuke Sasaki, KANON & MJ Paul Vs Toru Owashi, Yukio Naya & Ilusion
3. East Vs West All-Out Competition: Makoto Oishi (Shizuoka) & Akito (Aichi) Vs Danshoku Dieno (Hiroshima) & Yuni (Osaka)
4. East Vs West All-Out Competition ~ Special Tag Match: Yoshiko Hasegawa (Saitama) & Riara (Miyagi) Vs Sayaka Unagi (Osaka) & Momoka Hanazono (Osaka)
5. East Vs West All-Out Competition ~ Special 4 Way Match: MAO (Miyagi) Vs Tsutenkakka (Osaka) Vs The Great Koji (Osakananko) Vs A.YAZAWA (Hiroshima)
6. DDT Extreme Title ~ East Vs West All-Out Competition ~ Energetic!! 37 Great Battles: Shunma Katsumata (c) (Chiba) Vs Kohei Kinoshita (Osaka)
7. East Vs West All-Out Competition ~ Tokyo Vs Osaka Special Tag Match: HARASHIMA (Tokyo) & Kazuki Hirata (Tokyo) Vs Yuki Ueno (Osaka) & Jun Akiyama (Osaka)
8. KO-D Tag Team Titles – East Vs West All-Out Competition ~ Takeshi Masada Debut 2nd Anniversary Match: Tetsuya Endo (Miyagi) & Yuki Iino (Tokyo) (c) Vs Chris Brookes (England) & Takeshi Masada (Osaka)
Western Army: Kohei Kinoshita (Osaka), Yuki Ueno (Osaka), Jun Akiyama (Osaka), Chris Brookes (England), Takeshi Masada (Osaka), Danshoku Dieno (Hiroshima), Yuki Ishida (Kumamoto), Yuni (Osaka), Kazuma Sumi (Mie), Tsutenkakka (Osaka), The Great Koji (Osakananko), A.YAZAWA (Hiroshima), Sayaka Unagi (Osaka) and Momoka Hanazono (Osaka)
Place Of Unknown Origin: MJ Paul, Ilusion
It’s time for Takeshi Masada to put up or shut up. He and Chris Brookes can become KO-D Tag Team Champions together if they can beat BURNING in the main event.
To clear up the rules for the DDT Extreme Title match, it can still be won by a traditional three count pinfall. One count and two count kickouts will be added up until either Shunma Katsumata or Kohei Kinoshita reach a total of 37 points. But if one of them gets a regular three count pin, they win the match then and there.
From tomorrow onwards the Right To Challenge Anytime, Anywhere Shields will become active. The current holders are HARASHIMA (Blue), Antonio Honda (Red), KANON (Black), Keigo Nakamura (Sky Blue) and Kazuma Sumi (White).
DDT/GCW “NEVER ENDING NOISY SUMMER”, 12/08/2024 Tokyo Korakuen Hall
1. Special 8-Man Tag Match: Yuki Ueno, Masha Slamovich, Yuni & Ilusion Vs Maki Itoh, Chris Brookes, Takeshi Masada & Marcus Mathers
2. DDT Variety Team Vs The Mothership: Kazuki Hirata & Antonio Honda Vs Allie Katch & Dark Sheik
3. DDT Vs GCW Special Tag Match: Daisuke Sasaki & KANON Vs Rina Yamashita & Broski Jimmy
4. DDT Vs GCW Special Tag Match: Tetsuya Endo & Yuki Iino Vs Gringo Loco & 1 Called Manders
5. DDT Vs GCW Special Single Match: Danshoku Dieno Vs Effy
6. GCW World Title – 3 Way Hardcore Match: Mance Warner (c) Vs Shunma Katsumata Vs Joey Janela
7. DDT Universal Title: MAO (c) Vs Alex Zayne
If MAO defeats Alex Zayne tomorrow it will be the tenth successful DDT Universal Title defence for him. A title reign in DDT reaching a double digit amount of successful defences is really rare. It has only happened once with the KO-D Openweight Title (Konosuke Takeshita in 2017-2018), once with the Extreme Title (Sanshiro Takagi in 2020-2021) and once with the KO-D Tag Titles (Takagi & Munenori Sawa in 2010). MAO can add the Universal Title to that sort of history on Monday.
DDT “OSAKA VS TOKYO ~DREAM EAST-WEST PRO WRESTLING BATTLE 2024~”, 10/08/2024 Osaka Edion Arena #2
1. Daisuke Sasaki, KANON & MJ Paul Vs Toru Owashi, Yukio Naya & Ilusion
2. East Vs West All-Out Competition: Keigo Nakamura (Iwate) & Yuya Koroku (Chiba) Vs Yuki Ishida (Kumamoto) & Kazuma Sumi (Mie)
3. East Vs West All-Out Competition: Makoto Oishi (Shizuoka) & Akito (Aichi) Vs Danshoku Dieno (Hiroshima) & Yuni (Osaka)
4. East Vs West All-Out Competition ~ Special Tag Match: Yoshiko Hasegawa (Saitama) & Riara (Miyagi) Vs Sayaka Unagi (Osaka) & Momoka Hanazono (Osaka)
5. East Vs West All-Out Competition ~ Special 4 Way Match: MAO (Miyagi) Vs Tsutenkakka (Osaka) Vs The Great Koji (Osakananko) Vs A.YAZAWA (Hiroshima)
6. East Vs West All-Out Competition ~ Tokyo Vs Osaka Special Tag Match: HARASHIMA (Tokyo) & Kazuki Hirata (Tokyo) Vs Yuki Ueno (Osaka) & Jun Akiyama (Osaka)
7. KO-D Tag Team Titles – East Vs West All-Out Competition ~ Takeshi Masada Debut 2nd Anniversary Match: Tetsuya Endo (Miyagi) & Yuki Iino (Tokyo) (c) Vs Chris Brookes (England) & Takeshi Masada (Osaka)
8. DDT Extreme Title ~ East Vs West All-Out Competition ~ Energetic!! 37 Major Battles Between East And West: Shunma Katsumata (c) (Chiba) Vs Kohei Kinoshita (Osaka)
West Army: Kohei Kinoshita (Osaka), Yuki Ueno (Osaka), Jun Akiyama (Osaka), Chris Brookes (England), Takeshi Masada (Osaka), Danshoku Dieno (Hiroshima), Yuki Ishida (Kumamoto), Yuni (Osaka), Kazuma Sumi (Mie), Tsutenkakka (Osaka), The Great Koji (Osakananko), A.YAZAWA (Hiroshima), Sayaka Unagi (Osaka) and Momoka Hanazono (Osaka)
Place Of Unknown Origin: MJ Paul, Ilusion
It wasn’t possible for DDT to bring Shunma Katsumata and Kohei Kinoshita together to sign the contract for their DDT Extreme Title match so a remote press conference was held for them yesterday. Katsumata decided the rules for the match is they will score a point for every second they pin their opponent for. The first wrestler to reach 37 points in total will be the winner and champion. The reason why Katsumata chose 37 as the target number is because 37 means “sauna” and he heard Kinoshita also likes saunas.
Kinoshita said he wanted to wrestle in DDT for years but it was always difficult to get bookings because he lives in Kansai. He is excited to wrestle for a title and will use this match as a chance to expand his horizons. Katsumata had wanted to do a singles match with him ever since they fought each other in a 6-Man Tag at Yukinori Matsui’s produce show back in May. He is even happier the match gets to happen in Osaka. Even though the contract signing was done electronically, the two still found a way to almost start a brawl by arguing with each other over who is going to win.
BAKA GAIJIN + FRIENDS “FUCKED UP FEST”, 24/08/2024 Tokyo Nakano Moonstep
1. Special Tag Team Match: Masahiro Takanashi & Chie Koishikawa Vs Thanomsak Toba & Sayaka
2. International 4 Way Dance: Shivam Vs Dr. Gore Vs Monomoth Vs Jake De Leon
3. Triple Threat Match: Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi Vs Antonio Honda Vs Yasu Urano
4. Special Single Match: Maya Yukihi Vs Ram Kaichow
The first few matches for “FUCKED UP FEST” have been revealed. Maya Yukihi and Ram Kaichow are being paired off against each other. Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi and Yasu Urano come to Baka Gaijin + Friends for the first time. An international 4 Way invites Shivam, Dr. Gore, Monomoth and Jake De Leon all to Japan. Also Chie Koishikawa, Thanomsak Toba and Sayaka all return to the Baka Gaijin mat.
The event is supposed to be an all day thing and so far Masahiro Takanashi is the only regular to have a match announced. A lot of the other regulars haven’t been mentioned yet so expect a lot more matches to be added soon.
DDT “MEMORIES OF SUMMER VACATION 2024”, 25/08/2024 Tokyo Korakuen Hall
1. Soma Takao 15th Anniversary ~ Special Single Match: Soma Takao Vs Keisuke Ishii
2. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Kota Ibushi, Danshoku Dieno & Akito Vs Tetsuya Endo, Yuki Iino & Yuya Koroku
3. KO-D Openweight Title: Yuki Ueno (c) Vs Shinya Aoki
Seven years after his last match with the company Kota Ibushi is finally going to wrestle in DDT again! His return match is being purposely put together too because one of his opponents is Tetsuya Endo. When Ibushi left DDT, Endo was one of the wrestlers he entrusted the future of the promotion to. Ibushi wants to prove to everyone he is in much better form than his NOAH match at the start of the year. He had a five minute exhibition at GLEAT recently where he looked alright but still nowhere near the image of Ibushi that we all know and love. I’d say if he’s reduced to just being the hot tag for the match he won’t embarrass himself. Heck if he just wants to goof around Korakuen Hall and fight up in the balcony again for old time’s sake that won’t be bad either. Unless his teases of going over the barrier get taken too far…
BASARA “BASARA 256 ~SOUEN~”, 27/08/2024 Shin-Kiba 1st RING
1. Iron Fist Tag Team Titles: Fuminori Abe & Takuya Nomura (c) Vs Ryuichi Sekine & Ryota Nakatsu
The “SOUEN” events are supposedly going to be the same kind of shows BASARA were already doing at Shin-Kiba 1st RING before they increased the schedule. The first match announced definitely goes into the promotion’s history because Ryuichi Sekine & Ryota Nakatsu are reuniting as Cavalry to challenge Astronauts for the Iron Fist Tag Team Titles. Cavalry was one of the first new teams established in BASARA during the brand’s debut year back in 2016. It lasted until 2018 when Nakatsu won the Union MAX Title and Sekine felt it was time for them to split up so he could challenge him for the belt. It’s only fitting that another championship is what gets them to reunite six years later.
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TOKYO PRINCESS CUP”, 10/08/2024 Osaka Edion Arena #2
1. 3 Way Match: Pom Harajuku Vs Mahiro Kiryu Vs Runa Okubo
2. Arisu Endo & Chika Nanase Vs Moka Miyamoto & Kaya Toribami
3. Miu Watanabe, Raku, Shino Suzuki & Uta Takami Vs Shoko Nakajima, Wakana Uehara, Haru Kazashiro & Kira Summer
4. Miyu Yamashita & Maki Itoh Vs Masha Slamovich & Toga
5. Tokyo Princess Cup – Quarter Final: Suzume Vs Yuki Arai
6. Tokyo Princess Cup – Quarter Final: Mizuki Vs Zara Zakher
7. Tokyo Princess Cup – Quarter Final: Yuki Kamifuku Vs Yuki Aino
8. Tokyo Princess Cup – Quarter Final: Rika Tatsumi Vs Ryo Mizunami
Eight women remain in the Tokyo Princess Cup. From this point onwards the bracket will get shuffled up so no one who wins will immediately know who they will face in the semi finals. Usually the lottery will happen at the end of the show.
Maki Itoh’s latest tour with GCW brings her going from Japan to America back to Japan and then to America once more. Masha Slamovich is on the Japan tour too and she is teaming with Toga to take on 121000000.
This will be the first time all four current members of The Up Up Girls (Pro Wrestling) are teaming together for an 8-Woman Tag Match.
HIMAWARI won’t be at the show because she is making a stage appearance somewhere else that day. Whatever the performance is about involves a lot of swordplay.
BASARA “BASARA 254 ~HIEN~”, 13/08/2024 Shin-Kiba 1st RING
1. Masato Kamino Vs Kuma Arashi
2. Ryota Nakatsu Vs Daisuke Sekimoto
3. Takato Nakano Vs Kota Sekifuda
4. Isami Kodaka & Lil’ Kraken Vs Takumi Tsukamoto & Takeru Inoue
5. Ryuichi Sekine & FUMA Vs Kengo Mashimo & Fuminori Abe
The new schedule for BASARA splitting their “UTAGE” show between red and blue brandings begins here. “HIEN” shows promise to contain Hard Mode level matches. The appearances of Kengo Mashimo, Kota Sekifuda, Daisuke Sekimoto and Kuma Arashi going against the BASARA roster is a good way to start things off.
DDT “FIGHTING BEER GARDEN 2024 IN SHINJUKU – DAY 1”, 15/08/2024 Shinjuku FACE
1. Daisuke Sasaki, KANON & MJ Paul Vs Toru Owashi, To-y & Keigo Nakamura
2. Special 3 Way 6-Man Tag Match: Yuki Ueno, MAO & Shunma Katsumata Vs Tetsuya Endo, Yuki Iino & Yuya Koroku Vs Jun Akiyama, Makoto Oishi & Yukio Naya
3. Blindfold Hidden Breast 4 Way Match: Chris Brookes Vs Antonio Honda Vs Super Sasadango Machine Vs Kazuma Sumi
4. Drunk Match: HARASHIMA Vs Masahiro Takanashi
5. International Special 4 Way Match: Danshoku Dieno Vs Joey Janela Vs Effy Vs Takeshi Masada
6. International Special Single Match: Danhausen Vs Kazuki Hirata
What is more powerful than Kazuki Hirata dancing to “Tokyo GO!”? Maybe Danhausen dancing to “Tequila”? It is a Beer Garden show after all.
During the week Joey Janela revealed he has been suffering from gallstone pancreatitis. It sounded like he was going to be out of action for a while but instead he went ahead and wrestled in GCW as scheduled. He is also determined to be in Japan for the tour and DDT on their end has not said anything that suggests otherwise.
DDT “MEMORIES OF SUMMER VACATION 2024 TOUR IN YOKOHAMA”, 17/08/2024 Yokohama Radiant Hall
1. Shunma Katsumata & Kazuki Hirata Vs Makoto Oishi & Yuni
2. Chris Brookes & Takeshi Masada Vs Antonio Honda & Ilusion
3. Daisuke Sasaki, Ryuichi “Fire” Kawakami, KANON & MJ Paul Vs HARASHIMA, Soma Takao, Keigo Nakamura & Kazuma Sumi
4. Special Tag Match: MAO & Jun Akiyama Vs Tetsuya Endo & Yuya Koroku
5. Special Single Match: Danshoku Dieno Vs Michael Nakazawa
6. Yukio Naya’s Birthday Celebration Match ~ Special Single Match: Yukio Naya Vs Yuki Iino
7. Special Tag Match: Yuki Ueno & To-y Vs Shinya Aoki & Akito
Before the KO-D Openweight Title match between Yuki Ueno and Shinya Aoki takes place on 25th August, they will have one prelim tag match against each other on the 17th.
EVE/TOKYO JOSHI PRO “EVE X TJPW: JAPAN & UK WRESTLING UNITE!”, 24/08/2024
Conway Hall, London, England
1. Aja Kong & Max The Impaler Vs Safire Reed & Zizi
2. EVE Title: Nina Samuels (c) Vs Miyu Yamashita
Over the weekend EVE announced the first two matches of the “EVE X TJPW” show. Miyu Yamashita gets a chance to become a two time EVE Champion when she takes on the defending champion Nina Samuels. Also Max The Impaler is coming over as an extra guest star to team with Aja Kong. Good luck to Safire Reed & Zizi because they are going to need it!
1. Right To Challenge Anytime, Anywhere 3 Way Match: Kazuma Sumi defeated Yuni and Ilusion when Sumi pinned Ilusion with the School Boy (10:41). *Kazuma Sumi wins the White Right To Challenge Anytime, Anywhere Shield.
2. Right To Challenge Anytime, Anywhere Single Match: KANON defeated Yukio Naya by TKO with the Cobra Twist 2.0 (12:41). *KANON wins the Black Right To Challenge Anytime, Anywhere Shield.
3. Right To Challenge Anytime, Anywhere Match Staggered Entry Battle Royal: Antonio Honda, HARASHIMA and Keigo Nakamura are the final three survivors (26:14). Order Of Elimination: Tetsuya Endo, Takeshi Masada, Yuki Iino, Chris Brookes, Tomomitsu Matsunaga, Soma Takao, Yuya Koroku, To-y, Makoto Oishi, Kazuki Hirata, Toru Owashi, Masahiro Takanashi & Daisuke Sasaki, MJ Paul, Danshoku Dieno and Akito. *Antonio Honda wins the Red Right To Challenge Anytime, Anywhere Shield. HARASHIMA wins the Blue Right To Challenge Anytime, Anywhere Shield. Keigo Nakamura wins the Light Blue Right To Challenge Anytime, Anywhere Shield.
The Right To Challenge Anytime, Anywhere contract are back and this time they are in shield form! Five of the prizes were on the line across three matches today granting whoever holds them a shot at either the KO-D Openweight Title, DDT Universal Title or DDT Extreme Title whenever they want. However the shield holder risks losing his prize if they directly lose a match in DDT before they cash it in. If the shields look familiar to you then I don’t know what link you’re trying to establish. It’s not like they just went and got a certain piece of video game merch, turned it upside down, painted it a different colour and slapped a logo in the centre…
The three champions who will become potential targets got to talk about the Shields at the start of the show. Yuki Ueno, MAO and Shunma Katsumata know they have to watch their backs for the next few months but are all confident they can defend their title wherever, whenever and against whoever.
The first Shield went to Kazuma Sumi for winning a 3 Way Match against Yuni and Ilusion. Yuni missed a Moonsault so with him out of the picture, Sumi got to pin Ilusion with a School Boy to win. When he received his prize he wanted to cash it in straight away. However Hisaya Imabayashi scolded him for not knowing the rules. The Shields will not become active until 10th August and cannot be cashed in until then.
Yukio Naya’s hopes of getting a Shield was blown away thanks to Ryuichi “Fire” Kawakami interfering in his match. Naya had KANON beaten when MJ Paul distracted the ref so Kawakami could attack Naya with a Lariat. KANON then gave Naya the Sleepy Hollow and held him in the Cobra Twist 2.0 until the ref stopped the match when Naya wouldn’t repond to him.
The main event was a 19-Man Royal Rumble with the three remaining Shields on the line. The last three wrestlers left standing would be declared the winners. When the dust settled Antonio Honda, HARASHIMA and Keigo Nakamura were the survivors.
When they received their prize all five Shield holders got together in the ring to talk about their plans. HARASHIMA said he will aim for the KO-D Title. So will Honda and he promised when he cashes in while Ueno is hurt, he will approach him as if he trying to comfort him. He also threatened to do things like sneak into Ueno’s kitchen and mess with his food just to make him paranoid. KANON won’t say who he will target but it will be at the worst time possible for that champion. Sumi wants to cash in on the Universal Title because MAO has treated him kindly. He would do the match immediately if he was allowed. Nakamura has a grand goal in mind. He wants to win two more Shields so he can challenge all three champions to a 4 Way Match so when he wins he will become the DDT Triple Crown Champion!
A contract signing for the next KO-D Tag Team Titles match on 10th August took place between BURNING and SCHADENFREUDE International. The match was originally booked to celebrate the 2nd Anniversary of Takeshi Masada’s debut match. He talked about his recent losing streak that is getting him criticised by his peers. Akito in particular told him he is missing something and Masada is trying to figure out what it is. Winning the KO-D Tag Titles will help him find the answer. Tetsuya Endo said he won’t lose to a wrestler who is unsure of himself. Yuki Iino said he shaved his beard off for this match and he wants to fight Masada with that kind of resolve.
At the start of this year DDT announced they were bringing in student pro wrestler Tsubasa Suzuki as the world’s first ever intern pro wrestler. The plan was for him to work with DDT on a part time basis for a year and at the end the company would decide whether or not to hire him full time. He only wrestled twice in March and had a third match cancelled when he caught a fever. Since then things went quiet with him and he hasn’t been wrestling in DDT at all. Today it was announced by DDT that Suzuki decided to end his internship early and 31st July was his last day with the company.
Suzuki said he was prioritized with schoolwork as well as job hunting which prevented him from getting to spend much time in the ring. He recently received a job offer from somewhere else that made him have to choose between that or pro wrestling. Either option would have made him happy and after much deliberation he decided to go with his new career that will begin next year. He is happy he got to become a pro wrestler for DDT, even if it was only for a brief amount of time. For the remainder of 2024 he will continue to be a student pro wrestler and will support DDT from a distance.
Summer is here and everyone has either gone travelling or are getting their all their plans in order. Funny thing is the people usually being covered for their overseas matches spent most of July wrestling back in Japan. Konosuke Takeshita had a few AEW matches over and done with before he got ready for the G1 Climax. Then Maki Itoh was wrestling in Tokyo Joshi Pro finishing off her latest dates with them before she goes on another GCW tour. So most of the results below are filled up by Miyu Yamashita, Shoko Nakajima and CDK related matches.
It’s the rest of the summer that’s going to get busy. A lot of Itoh matches in GCW with Yamashita popping up here and there along the way. Also some TJPW appearances in Southeast Asia and the USA debut of Yuna Manase are all coming up soon. Then there is the matter of DDT and TJPW holding shows abroad with local promotions in places like London and Seattle. Grab some water and stay hydrated because it’s going to be a busy summer of wrestling everywhere.
Video starts at 2:27:50 for Match #1. Go to 2:52:58 for Match #2. IWA JAPAN “HARDCORE FOREVER”, 27/07/2024 The Circus Studio, G Village, Bangkok, Thailand
1. IWA Japan SETUP World Tag Team Titles – 3 Way Hardcore Match: Chris Brookes & Masahiro Takanashi (c) Vs Mister Suchart & Anont Alonzo Vs Ultramantis Black & Dr. Gore Black (w/ Kappa Kozo & Kappa Jr.)
2. IWA Japan SETUP World Title: Ultramantis Black (c) (w/ Dr. Gore Black, Kappa Kozo & Kappa Jr.) Vs Chris Brookes (w/ Masahiro Takanashi)
GCW “JOSH BARNETT’S BLOODSPORT XI”, 28/07/2024 Roulette Intermedium, New York City, New York, USA
1. Shayna Baszler Vs Miyu Yamashita
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Results
AEW “RAMPAGE”, 03/07/2024 (Aired 05/07/2024) Wintrust Arena, Chicago, Illinois, USA
1. Konosuke Takeshita & Kyle Fletcher defeated Isiah Kassidy & Marq Quen when Fletcher pinned Quen with the Kneeling Piledriver (10:10).
Takeshita had bigger stuff to prepare for this month but still got some ring time in AEW before heading back to Japan. He and Kyle Fletcher fought against Private Party, surviving a close call against them. Isiah Kassidy joked around to promote Shark Week and then landed the Swanton Bomb on Fletcher. Marq Quen’s 450 Splash afterwards though was blocked by Fletcher’s knees and Takeshita came in to German Suplex him away. Private Party fought back with a Top Rope Frankensteiner into the Cutter to Takeshita followed by the Silly String to Fletcher. Takeshita kicked out of Quen’s 450 Splash, took out both members with Lariats and then gave Kassidy the Blue Thunder Bomb. Fletcher then got to finish off Kassidy with the Kneeling Piledriver.
DPW “DPW LIVE 7”, 06/07/2024 NC State Fairgrounds, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
1. Battle Of The Best – Round 1: Shoko Nakajima defeated Masha Slamovich with the Diving Senton (16:16).
Shoko Nakajima touched down on DPW and left North Carolina with a big victory against Masha Slamovich despite taking some heavy hits from her. Slamovich used a Sit Down Power Bomb and also countered the Unmanned Local Train Hold into a Running Air Raid Crash that landed right into a bottom turnbuckle. But Nakajima used the top ropes against Slamovich in order to use a Power Bomb of her own. Slamovich tried using the Power Bomb again but Nakajima slipped down and pulled her into the Double Arm DDT. After that it took a Diving Senton to finish her off and make Nakajima advance to the next round of Battle Of The Best.
1. Konosuke Takeshita defeated Tommy Billington with the Powerdrive Knee (13:29).
Takeshita’s last AEW appearance for the month was a noteworthy one because his opponent was Tommy Billington, the nephew of the late Dynamite Kid! The new generation Dynamite Kid gave Takeshita a good challenge but fell to the Powerdrive Knee. Don Callis then attempted to recruit Billington to The Don Callis Family by bringing up his family’s heritage. But that was just a trap for Takeshita and the rest of The Family to attack Billington from behind until FTR ran down to save him.
NORTH WRESTLING “THUNDER STRUCK 2”, 13/07/2024 Walker Dome, Newcastle, England
1. Lizzy Evo defeated Miyu Yamashita with an Inside Cradle (13:45).
This was a case of defeat being snatched from the jaws of victory here. Yamashita seemed to have a lot of the match under control until Lizzy Evo saw an opening to hit her with a Knee Strike to the face and then roll her into a Small Package for the three count out of nowhere. For Evo the result is payback for Yamashita beating her in EVE last year.
IWA JAPAN “HARDCORE FOREVER”, 27/07/2024 The Circus Studio, G Village, Bangkok, Thailand
1. IWA Japan SETUP World Tag Team Titles – 3 Way Hardcore Match: Mister Suchart & Anont Alonzo defeated Chris Brookes & Masahiro Takanashi (c) and Ultramantis Black & Dr. Gore Black (w/ Kappa Kozo & Kappa Jr.) when Alonzo pinned Gore after a Choke Slam/Power Bomb Combo through the Table (?:??). *CDK fails in V2. THE GOOD DEAL becomes the 2nd IWA Japan SETUP World Tag Team Champions!
2. IWA Japan SETUP World Title: Ultramantis Black (c) (w/ Dr. Gore Black, Kappa Kozo & Kappa Jr.) defeated Chris Brookes (w/ Masahiro Takanashi) with a School Boy (?:??). *V1 for Ultramantis Black.
Whenever CDK goes over to Thailand for SETUP Pro Wrestling that’s enough trouble to handle by itself. This however was not just a SETUP show. It was an event using the IWA Japan banner to celebrate 30 years of the promotion’s existance. CDK came over to defend the IWA Japan SETUP World Tag Team Titles in a Hardcore 3 Way Match. They had to fight the previous champions THE GOOD DEAL as well as the UMA Corps pairing of Ultramantis Black and Dr. Gore Black. Things went crazy as everybody fought outside the ring. Mister Suchart even got on a motor scooter and crashed it into everyone at ringside! A stapler gun was brought into the ring for Brookes and Ultramantis to staple each other with. Ultramantis then took advantage of miscommunication between CDK to put Brookes through a mini ironing board with a Back Drop. Masahiro Takanashi was also taken out by Dr. Gore attacking him with a toilet seat. From that point on CDK were too hurt to do anything and THE GOOD DEAL put Gore through a table. Anont Alonzo pinned him afterwards to win the belts.
It did not end there though. Earlier in the show the brand new IWA Japan SETUP World Title was introduced to the world. However Ultramantis and the UMA Corps launched an attack to steal the belt. Brookes was so mad to lose the tag titles in the main event without being pinned that he challenged Ultramantis for a World Title match straight away! Ultramantis refused but then attacked Brookes with the belt, causing the impromptu match to begin. Brookes fought back from the disadvantage and Takanashi was still there to cut off interference from the UMA Corps. But Dr. Gore threw a chair into Brookes’ face at ringside allowing Ultramantis to roll him up and escape with his first successful title defence. The UMA Corps continued to attack CDK until THE GOOD DEAL returned to save the day.
GCW “JOSH BARNETT’S BLOODSPORT XI”, 28/07/2024 Roulette Intermedium, New York City, New York, USA
1. Shayna Baszler defeated Miyu Yamashita by TKO (8:37).
If there is any big story to talk about in this month’s article it is this one. Yamashita taking part in GCW’s Bloodsport event is notable in itself. She gave shoot boxing a go pretty early into her pro wrestling career and has the kind of martial arts cred that would get you booked for a show like this. The big news though was who they chose to be her opponent. In the main event she took on Shayna Baszler from WWE! It’s the latest move from WWE to open themselves up and show they are willing to work with other wrestling companies. It’s been noted online that the Bloodsport show featured talent from WWE/NXT, TNA, AEW/ROH, NJPW’s American arm, MLW and TJPW. Baszler ended up beating Yamashita by catching her Skull Kick, turning it into a Tombstone and then beginning to ground and pound her until the referee stepped in to stop the fight.
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Upcoming Appearances
GCW “NOW AND FOREVER”, 02/08/2024 TempleLive Cleveland Masonic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
1. Maki Itoh Vs John Wayne Murdoch
August is going to be a GCW month for Maki Itoh both in America and Japan. Her next tour begins with an unexpected opponent. She’s taking on one of their most violent wrestlers John Wayne Murdoch. He won the Tournament Of Survival back in June but his win-loss record in the company since then hasn’t been great.
GCW “CAN I TRUST YOU?”, 04/08/2024 House Of Independents, Asbury Park, New Jersey, USA
1. Maki Itoh Vs X
Itoh does not have a match announced for the show yet. This date was on her list of advertised bookings last month. The full card seems to have been shown since then and Blake Christian just so happens to have a “Pick Your Poison” style mystery opponent to be announced that day… I don’t see where else she will fit if she is still going to be there.
GCW “THE SKY IS THE LIMIT”, 13/08/2024 Shinjuku FACE, Tokyo, Japan
1. Broski Jimmy Vs Miyu Yamashita
2. The Great Sasuke Vs Maki Itoh
Itoh is also representing GCW for their Japan tour that is going on with some help from DDT. In a matchup that only sounds more mind bending the more I think of it, Itoh is going to fight The Great Sasuke! Yamashita will be on one of the shows too facing Broski Jimmy. That’s another match that I would never expect but more for head scratchy reasons.
GCW “YOU ONLY DIE ONCE”, 14/08/2024 Shinjuku FACE, Tokyo, Japan
1. Allie Katch & Dark Sheik Vs Kaya Toribami & Shoko Nakajima
2. GCW World Title: Mance Warner (c) Vs Maki Itoh
I made a prediction for this year that Itoh is going to win the GCW World Title. If it ever comes true then this will be the show to do it! It won’t though because GCW are all in on Mance Warner as their top champion while Itoh already holds the GCW Extreme Title but just imagine if they did.
Also added is a GCW Vs TJPW tag match. The visitors (or are they the home team because it’s GCW?) Allie Katch & Dark Sheik take on Kaya Toribami & Shoko Nakajima. I’ll probably make a separate post for the GCW Japan results since those matches are happening in Japan and DDT is involved with promoting the whole tour.
SPW “HARDCORE ISLAND 2: A FINE CITY”, 16/08/2024 Foo Chow Building, Singapore
1. 3 Way Match: Alexis Lee Vs Miyu Yamashita Vs Kaya Toribami
Now that Alexis Lee got to wrestle in Japan and fully integrate herself into TJPW it’s time to send more people back over to Singapore Pro Wrestling. This time Lee will be in a 3 Way Match against two TJPW wrestlers. Yamashita and Toribami are on board to go face her in her home country.
KITSUNE “LOVE MY SHOW!”, 17/08/2024 Brick X Brick, Los Angeles, California, USA
1. Yuna Manase Vs X
I was wondering how long it was going to take until I get to write about more of the American “Joshi” promotions that are currently around. Kitsune emerged around the same time period as SPARK Joshi and Sukeban. This one though has actually been able to run a show in Japan thanks to a lot of help from Marvelous. Their next shows in California is where Yuna Manase will be making her American wrestling debut.
GCW “NO SIGNAL IN THE HILLS PT. 4”, 17/08/2024 Ukrainian Culture Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
1. Maki Itoh Vs X
Itoh will be following GCW back to America after the Japan tour ends.
GCW “SAVE ME”, 18/08/2024 Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
1. Maki Itoh Vs X
More Itoh in GCW here.
KITSUNE “YABAI!”, 18/08/2024 1110 Bates Ave, Los Angeles, California, USA
1. Kitsune World Title: Yuna Manase Vs Megan Bayne Vs J-Rod
The original plan was for Manase to be in a 3 Way Match with Sayaka Unagi and J-Rod for the Kitsune World Title. However Unagi is unable to get her visa approved in time and won’t be able to travel to America anytime soon. Since she was the champion, Kitsune made the decision to vacate the belt. It will now go to the winner of a new 3 Way Match between Manase, J-Rod and Megan Bayne.
EVE/TOKYO JOSHI PRO “EVE X TJPW: JAPAN & UK WRESTLING UNITE!”, 24/08/2024
Conway Hall, London, England
Finally we got a venue for the show. Yamashita, Raku, Mahiro Kiryu and HIMAWARI along with Aja Kong are the Japanese talent coming over to TJPW’s joint show with EVE. The EVE wrestlers being promoted for the show so far include Alex Windsor, Nina Samuels, Lena Cross and Session Moth Martina.
GCW “HOMECOMING – NIGHT 1”, 24/08/2024 The Showboat, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA
1. Maki Itoh Vs Kerry Morton
The match is in GCW but Itoh gets a little taste of NWA with Kerry Morton as her opponent here. Kerry is the son of Ricky Morton and has been spending a lot of time in NWA as part of The Southern Six. He was even on the winning team at The Crockett Cup a few months ago.
GCW “HOMECOMING – NIGHT 2”, 25/08/2024 The Showboat, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA
1. Maki Itoh Vs X
None of her GCW matches next month have been announced as Extreme Title defences yet.
MLW “SUMMER OF THE BEASTS”, 29/08/2024 Melrose Ballroom, New York City, New York, USA
1. Delmi Exo Vs Miyu Yamashita
MLW wrote a really long passage about this match on their Twitter page but we don’t need to go through all that. Yamashita beat Delmi Exo last December, next month is time for the rematch. The difference here is Exo now has the support of MLW’s main authority figure Cesar Duran by her side.
GCW “LIVE FAST DIE YOUNG”, 31/08/2024 Thalia Hall, Chicago, Illinois, USA
1. Miyu Yamashita Vs Megan Bayne
2. Maki Itoh Vs Kylie Rae
Prepare for cute smiles everywhere when Itoh is in the ring with Kylie Rae. Things might get ugly though if Itoh ends up feeling threatened by Rae’s cheerfulness. Yamashita getting another match with Megan Bayne is something she might not want to smile about either. They wrestled each other at a DREAMWAVE show back in April. Bayne won clean and Yamashita was in a pretty bad mood about it afterwards, rejecting her post-match handshake.
INSPIRE A.D. “MAY THE CIRCLE BE UNBROKEN”, 01/09/2024 Empire Control Room, Austin, Texas, USA
1. Maki Itoh Vs Devin Carter
One of the non-GCW bookings Itoh is taking after the summer is over at Inspire A.D. in Texas. “The Fashionista” Devin Carter is her opponent. They have only been wrestling for a couple of years, mostly around the Texas scene.
MKW “CHAMPIONSHIP SUPERCARD FROM SHANGHAI”, 14/09/2024 Bandai Namco Shanghai Base, Shanghai, China
1. Queen Of Asia Title: Yuki Kamifuku (c) Vs Crystal
Still another while until Yuki Kamifuku defends the Queen Of Asia Title against Crystal. Kamifuku has been stepping her game up over the last twelve months and it’s really been paying off for her lately.
GCW “BAD ONE”, 14/09/2024 Harpos Concert Center, Detroit, Michigan, USA
1. Maki Itoh Vs X
This will be the last weekend of Itoh’s current tour.
GCW “THA G-CODE”, 15/09/2024 Water Street Music Hall, Rochester, New York, USA
1. Maki Itoh Vs X
And Itoh’s last American booking as of now is here.
SETUP “CHAOPHRAYA VOYAGE: 12TH ANNIVERSARY OF THAI WRESTLING”, 28/09/2024 The Circus Studio, G Village, Bangkok, Thailand
1. SETUP All Asia Women’s Title – 3 Way Match: Matcha (c) Vs Raku Vs Pom Harajuku
TJPW sent a video message to SETUP announcing the next opponents for Matcha and the SETUP All Asia Women’s Title she currently holds. Both Raku and Pom Harajuku are coming to Thailand to wrestle there for the first time!
TOKYO JOSHI PRO/DEFY “BRIGHT EYES”, 09/11/2024 Washington Hall, Seattle, Washington, USA
A big weekend is going down in Seattle during November. TJPW is teaming up with DEFY for a show. Expect around 10-12 TJPW talent to be coming over. That was already announced a while ago…
DDT/DEFY “DDT IN UTERO”, 09/11/2024 Washington Hall, Seattle, Washington, USA
What turned out to be new news about the event is DEFY will be bringing over DDT for an evening show too! DDT has not said yet how many people they are going to bring over.
DDT/TOKYO JOSHI PRO/DEFY “TRIANGLER DTD”, 10/11/2024 Washington Hall, Seattle, Washington, USA
The weekend ends with DDT, TJPW and DEFY all joining forces for a triple promotion show.
DDT “MEET & GREET & FIGHT”, 02/08/2024 Shinjuku FACE
1. Right To Challenge Anytime, Anywhere 3 Way Match: Yuni Vs Ilusion Vs Kazuma Sumi
2. Right To Challenge Anytime, Anywhere Single Match: KANON Vs Yukio Naya
3. Right To Challenge Anytime, Anywhere Match Staggered Entry Battle Royal: Tetsuya Endo Vs Yuki Iino Vs Daisuke Sasaki Vs MJ Paul Vs Chris Brookes Vs Masahiro Takanashi Vs Antonio Honda Vs Takeshi Masada Vs HARASHIMA Vs Toru Owashi Vs Danshoku Dieno Vs Makoto Oishi Vs Kazuki Hirata Vs To-y Vs Keigo Nakamura Vs Yuya Koroku
The DDT version of Money In The Bank is back and ready to leave a trail of chaos in its wake this summer. This year there will be five Right To Challenge Anytime, Anywhere prizes up for grabs across three matches. Three contracts will go to the last three survivors of a Battle Royal featuring all of DDT’s mainstays. One will go to the winner of KANON Vs Yukio Naya. The final one will go to the winner of the 3 Way Match between Yuni, Ilusion and Kazuma Sumi. So by the time the five holders are determined it will be a group of wrestlers spreading all over the main event, midcard and rookie scenes.
There are also some slight changes to the rules for the prize this year. The contracts will become active from 10th August to 23rd November. They can be cashed in on any DDT related show held during that period for either a KO-D Openweight Title shot, a DDT Universal Title shot or a DDT Extreme Title shot. If a contract holder directly loses a match on a DDT show then the contract is given to whoever beats them. That is not a new rule but limiting it happening to just DDT related events is a new change.
DDT/GCW “NEVER ENDING NOISY SUMMER”, 12/08/2024 Tokyo Korakuen Hall
1. Special 8-Man Tag Match: Yuki Ueno, Masha Slamovich, Yuni & Ilusion Vs Maki Itoh, Chris Brookes, Takeshi Masada & Marcus Mathers
2. DDT Variety Team Vs The Mothership: Kazuki Hirata & Antonio Honda Vs Allie Katch & Dark Sheik
3. DDT Vs GCW Special Tag Match: Daisuke Sasaki & KANON Vs Rina Yamashita & Broski Jimmy
4. DDT Vs GCW Special Tag Match: Tetsuya Endo & Yuki Iino Vs Gringo Loco & 1 Called Manders
5. DDT Vs GCW Special Single Match: Danshoku Dieno Vs Effy
6. GCW World Title – 3 Way Hardcore Match: Mance Warner (c) Vs Shunma Katsumata Vs Joey Janela
7. DDT Universal Title: MAO (c) Vs Alex Zayne
The full DDT Vs GCW card is here. Some of the new tag matches added includes BURNING facing Gringo Loco & 1 Called Manders as well as DAMNATION T.A having to deal with the odd couple team of Rina Yamashita & Broski Jimmy. Are Allie Katch & Dark Sheik prepared for the silliness of Kazuki Hirata & Antonio Honda? That’s not all, Masha Slamovich and Marcus Mathers find themselves dropped deep into the DDT roster for an 8-Man Tag Match. There will be more DDT and Tokyo Joshi Pro involvement later on in GCW’s tour of Japan but I’ll write about it in tomorrow’s DDT Around The World article.
DDT “MEMORIES OF SUMMER VACATION 2024 TOUR IN YOKOHAMA”, 17/08/2024 Yokohama Radiant Hall
1. Special Single Match: Danshoku Dieno Vs Michael Nakazawa
2. Yukio Naya’s Birthday Celebration Match ~ Special Single Match: Yukio Naya Vs Yuki Iino
On the day Yukio Naya turns 30 years old he will celebrate it by fighting Yuki Iino in a big heavyweight match.
DDT “MEMORIES OF SUMMER VACATION 2024”, 25/08/2024 Tokyo Korakuen Hall
1. Soma Takao 15th Anniversary ~ Special Single Match: Soma Takao Vs Keisuke Ishii
2. KO-D Openweight Title: Yuki Ueno (c) Vs Shinya Aoki
A fitting opponent for Soma Takao. When he debuted in DDT 15 years ago one of his teammates was Keisuke Ishii. The two then went on to grow up in wrestling together with the rest of the Young Communication generation and then joined forces with Shigehiro Irie to create Team Drift. This match as added importance because Ishii is the current Spirit Of Ganbare World Champion.
DDT “AFTER PETER PAN 2024 IN NAGOYA – DAY 2”, 28/07/2024 Aichi Nagoya Imaike Gas Hall 260 Fans – Super No Vacancy
1. KANON defeated Kazuma Sumi with the Just Cobra Twist (6:56).
2. 3 Way Match: Antonio Honda defeated To-y and Yuni when Honda pinned Yuni with a Reverse Cradle (7:57).
3. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Jun Akiyama, Danshoku Dieno & Makoto Oishi defeated HARASHIMA, Toru Owashi & Kazuki Hirata when Oishi pinned Hirata with the Jikiden Tornado Clutch (10:05).
4. The 37KAMIINA Vs BURNING!: Yuki Ueno, MAO & Shunma Katsumata defeated Tetsuya Endo, Yuki Iino & Yuya Koroku when MAO pinned Koroku after the Our MADMAX (15:43).
5. Special Tag Match: Daisuke Sasaki & Ryuichi “Fire” Kawakami defeated Yukio Naya & Keigo Nakamura when Kawakami pinned Nakamura with the Thunder Fire Bomb (14:16).
6. Special Single Match: Akito defeated Takeshi Masada with the Figure 4 Leg Lock (17:27).
What is going on with Takeshi Masada? He has a KO-D Tag Team Titles shot coming up but he’s dropping falls left, right and centre recently. Today’s show was in Akito’s homeplace of Nagoya but even he is calling out Masada over not stepping up for matches he cannot afford to lose. He thinks there is something missing with Masada and he should think even more about pro wrestling. Since Sanshiro Takagi is now resting, Akito is taking it upon himself to take charge of DDT both in the ring and behind the scenes. He hopes what he said today will inspire Masada. His words have at least gotten Masada angry. He said Akito does not know how he feels about wanting to win the KO-D Tag Titles on the 2nd anniversary of his debut.
The feud between Ryuichi “Fire” Kawakami and Yukio Naya is heating up even more with both wrestlers telling each other what they are going to do next after their singles match on 8th September. Kawakami says he is going to move on and challenge for the KO-D Openweight Title while Naya claims he will go to GLEAT and take the G-REX Title before Kawakami ever can!
Both Jun Akiyama & Danshoku Dieno agreed that Makoto Oishi will remain a member of D.O.A after he leaves DDT in October. Oishi showed his appreciation by trying to roll up Dieno for the Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title after their match. Dieno kicked out and escaped, leaving Oishi empty handed.