First let’s get the bad news out of the way. Even though Japan is entering the second phase of lifting their Coronavirus restrictions, the DDT Group are following requests from venues to cancel the following shows in June and July:
DDT “BLACK OUT PRESENTS KING OF DDT 2020 THE FINAL!!”, 28/06/2020 Tokyo Korakuen Hall
DDT “ROAD TO PETER PAN 2020 ~DRAMATIC DREAM TAKESHI~”, 02/07/2020 Tokyo Hanayashiki Asakusa Flower Theater
MUSCLE “HIRAGANA MUSCLE 3”, 09/07/2020 Shin-Kiba 1st RING
DDT “KAZUKI HIRATA 10TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW! 10 YEARS OF HIRATA GO!!”, 18/07/2020 Tokyo Belle Epoque Beauty School 2nd School Hall
DDT “DATE CITY 2ND ROUND! 1 YEAR UNTIL THE 60TH BIRTHDAY! ~GORGEOUS NIGHT~”, 19/07/2020 Fukushima Date City Hobara Gymnasium
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Now here’s the good news. The DDT Group can run shows in front of audiences again! They have to put in safety precautions of course such as limiting the number of seats at the venues (either around 100 fans or 50% capacity looks to be deal across the board depending on the venue size). Fans going to shows will need to wear medical masks, get their temperatures checked and have their hands disinfected as they enter. New shows in June have been announced today across the different promotions. They will be held in venues that provide a lot of open air and ventilation. That means Shin-Kiba 1st RING, Shinjuku FACE, Itabashi Green Hall and Tsurumi Vegetable Market for those not paying attention. DDT TV SHOW episodes #7 & #8 will also continue to take place as planned. DDT can now advertise the worst kept secret that they were taped in Shinjuku FACE. The revised schedule for June is as follows.
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “KOKO NI IRUZEE!”, 13/06/2020 Tokyo Itabashi Green Hall
DDT “WITH DRAMATIC DREAM TEAM”, 14/06/2020 Tokyo Itabashi Green Hall
GANBARE☆WRESTLING “COMEBACK ANYTIME 2020”, 14/06/2020 Tokyo Itabashi Green Hall
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “KOKO NI IRUZEE!”, 20/06/2020 Shin-Kiba 1st RING
DDT “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2020 DAY 1”, 06/06/2020 DDT TV SHOW Studio
1. Soma Takao & Mad Paulie Vs Keigo Nakamura & Hideki Okatani
2. Keisuke Ishii & HARUKAZE Vs Hiroshi Yamato & Saori Anou
3. DDT Yuru-chara No. 1 Battle In Niigata: Super Sasadango Machine Vs Pokotan
4. Singles Match Between Wrestlers Who Want To Participate In DDT Regularly: Nobuhiro Shimatani Vs Seigo Tachibana
5. Jun Akiyama & Mizuki Watase Vs Akito & Yuki Iino
6. DDT UNIVERSAL Title – Hardcore 3 Way Match: Daisuke Sasaki (c) Vs Isami Kodaka Vs Shunma Katsumata
7. DDT Vs Kongoh All Out Battle!: Sanshiro Takagi, Kazusada Higuchi & Tomomitsu Matsunaga Vs Kenoh, Masa Kitamiya & Hao
8. TOKYO 2020 LAST MAN STANDING: Yoshihiko Vs Konosuke Takeshita
Before the audiences can come back, “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2020” will hopefully be the bookend for DDT’s empty arena era (fingers crossed). I don’t think I’ll write a full blown preview for these shows due to the short amount of time most of the matches were put together. So this will do for now.
The big feud of DDT TV SHOW has been between Konosuke Takeshita and Yoshihiko. A hatred led to warning messages of “ALL OUT All Dead” where Yoshihiko defeated each member of the unit one by one. It even brought back another battle doll named Akihiro to join the fight. Yesterday ALL OUT reached their breaking point and launched a vicious counter attack where Takeshita ripped off Akihiro’s arm. Alone again, Yoshihiko has to fight Takeshita one more time in a Last Man Standing match!
Kongoh popped by to visit Sanshiro Takagi on yesterday’s DDT TV SHOW. They seem like nice lads. Well if you ignore the leader Kenou threatening violence on Takagi if he doesn’t leave NOAH alone. That’s difficult because Takagi is NOAH’s president. And as president Takagi is ordering Kenoh, Masa Kitamiya & Hao to fight him, Kazusada Higuchi & Tomomitsu Matsunaga in a DDT ring!
Daisuke Sasaki originally chose Shunma Katsumata to be his next DDT UNIVERSAL Title defence because he thinks it is a match he can easily win. Then two things happened that he did not expect. One, Isami Kodaka came in wanting to win a title that didn’t exist back when he was a DDT employee. And two, Katsumata went into his Super Hardcore form to attack the champion. A Hardcore 3 Way Match will solve those problems.
Mizuki Watase has shown some progress by wrestling with coach Jun Akiyama. This is the first time they are teaming together.
Both Nobuhiro Shimatani and Seigo Tachibana want regular bookings in DDT. The company isn’t big enough for the both of them.
DDT “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2020 DAY 2”, 07/06/2020 DDT TV SHOW Studio
1. Super Sasadango Machine Remote Produce Match: Toru Owashi Vs Antonio Honda
2. Tokyo Joshi Pro 6-Woman Tag Match: Yuka Sakazaki, Miyu Yamashita & Shoko Nakajima Vs Rika Tatsumi, Nodoka Tenma & Yuki Aino
3. Yukio Sakaguchi & Saki Akai Vs Chris Brookes & Maki Itoh
4. DDT Extreme Title – Celebration! Release Restriction Rules: Shinya Aoki (c) Vs Yukio Naya
5. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title: Danshoku Dieno (c) Vs Makoto Oishi
6. HARASHIMA & Naomichi Marufuji Vs MAO & Asuka
7. KO-D Tag Team Titles: Yuki Ueno & Naomi Yoshimura Vs T-Hawk & El Lindaman
8. KO-D Openweight Title: Masato Tanaka (c) Vs Tetsuya Endo
On Day 2, Tetsuya Endo reaches his destination. There was a setback here and there but now nothing is stopping him from facing Masato Tanaka for the KO-D Openweight Title. Endo’s big goal for #DAMNHEARTS is to monopolize DDT’s championships so T-Hawk & El Lindaman are challenging Nautilus for the KO-D Tag Team Titles.
MAO will return from injury one day too late. The last active Right To Challenge Gauntlet has expired and he was too hurt to use it. So he has to take a detour and will chase after the UNIVERSAL Title. MAO will also team with Asuka for now because the Coronavirus measures prevent Mike Bailey from entering Japan. They get a big challenge in the form of HarashiMarufuji!
Danshoku Dieno is finally moving away from his Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title defences against Antonio Honda. He still hasn’t beat him but another figure decided to get in his way. Makoto Oishi has a decade of history with Dieno and he will let it all out for the big clash.
DDT “DDT TV SHOW! #5”, 30/05/2020 DDT TV SHOW Studio 0 Fans
1. Kazusada Higuchi, Yukio Sakaguchi & Saki Akai defeated Chris Brookes, Mizuki Watase & Yukio Naya by TKO when Sakaguchi used the Modified Sleeper Hold on Watase (9:41).
2. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title: Antonio Honda defeated Danshoku Dieno (c) by Disqualification when Dieno gave the referee a Low Blow (8:11). *No title change due to Disqualification.
3. DAMNATION VS ALL OUT!: Daisuke Sasaki & Soma Takao defeated Shunma Katsumata & Yuki Iino when Takao pinned Iino with a Running Elbow Butt (13:18).
4. Jun Akiyama defeated Hideki Okatani with a Crab Hold (4:24).
5. Konosuke Takeshita & Akito defeated Yoshihiko & Akihiro by Referee Stoppage when Takeshita ripped Akihiro’s arm off (9:35).
6. KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles: Tetsuya Endo, T-Hawk & El Lindaman (c) defeated HARASHIMA, Yuki Ueno & Naomi Yoshimura when Endo pinned Ueno with the Shooting Star Press (16:17). *V2 for #DAMNHEARTS.
One week to go until “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2020” and everything is set for the big weekend. Tetsuya Endo is now all clear to challenge for the KO-D Openweight Title. Today’s main event was changed into an official KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles defence when DISASTER BOX asked for it. Yuki Ueno wanted the most motivation possible for his first match back in two months. El Lindaman accepted on his team’s behalf but only DISASTER BOX understood that challenging twice in a row means there is also a big risk attached. #DAMNHEARTS had already beaten them once before and they wouldn’t agree to a second chance under normal circumstances. T-Hawk dodged the Somato from HARASHIMA but was Clotheslined out of the ring by Naomi Yoshimura. Lindaman got rid of Yoshimura with a German Suplex and then held Ueno up for Endo to hit him with the Handspring Overhead Kick. Endo got a nearfall with the Swivel Torture Rack Bomb then hit the Shooting Star Press while his teammates held the rest of DISASTER BOX back.
#DAMNHEARTS got an extra few shots in on DISASTER BOX after the match. Lindaman reminded them about the big risk they accepted. Now it’s time for the other tag belts to be defended. T-Hawk & El Lindaman want to challenge for the KO-D Tag Team Titles at “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2020”! Yoshimura accepted the challenge. Meanwhile Endo got confirmation that he is guaranteed to face Masato Tanaka for the KO-D Title on 7th June. He promised #STRONGHEARTS will take the KO-D Tag Title belts from Nautilus and he will take the KO-D Title from Gold’s Gym! Endo wants everyone to know that Saitama Super Arena is not his end goal. His end goal is for #DAMNHEARTS to monopolize all of the championships and make pro wrestling even hotter!
If having #STRONGHEARTS around wasn’t enough for DDT to handle, now there’s another invading force coming in, one a little more closer to home. The Kongoh stable from Pro Wrestling NOAH entered the ring before the main event and their leader Kenoh demanded to see Sanshiro Takagi. Kenoh hates Takagi! He hates that Takagi is the president of NOAH. He believes Takagi wants DDT to take over NOAH so Kenoh swears to protect NOAH from him. Takagi came out and told him they are in a DDT ring. He can complain all he wants but if it bothers him that much they should fight over it. As the president of NOAH, Takagi orders Kenoh to fight him in DDT! Kenoh shouted that he will! DDT and Kongo will face off at “WRESTLE PETER PAN” next weekend.
An eye for an eye. An arm for an arm. ALL OUT came out for revenge on Yoshihiko & Akihiro in a violent clash. The battle dolls were ambushed by Shunma Katsumata & Yuki Iino during their entrance. Konosuke Takeshita & Akito joined the beating and brought Yoshihiko into the ring to finish it off. Akihiro came to the rescue and the dolls gave Takeshita a Double Canadian Destroyer. They then went to German Suplex Akito but he switched positions with Katsumata’s help. Takeshita then grabbed onto them to deliver a quadruple stacked German Suplex! Akito dragged Yoshihiko over to the stage and tied him in knots before hanging the rolled up doll from the banners. Akito then forced Yoshihiko to watch on as Takeshita ripped off Akihiro’s arm! The referee stopped the match by TKO and Takeshita celebrated with his new trophy. He blamed Yoshihiko for all of the physical and mental anguish ALL OUT has suffered over the last month. Now it has suffered like they have. Takeshita challenged Yoshihiko to one more match next week to settle the score. It will be a Last Man Standing match!
The younger generation of DDT wrestlers have shown themselves eager to get in the ring with Jun Akiyama. The rookie Hideki Okatani jumped out of the starting blocks hitting Running Elbows. Akiyama took the wind out of his sails with a Body Slam onto the floor outside. Okatani tried to regain ground with more Elbow Strikes and even went for a Northern Lights Suplex but Akiyama cut him off with a Guillotine Choke. Akiyama let go just to knee Okatani in the head. There was enough in the rookie to kick out of the pin but when the Crab Hold was locked in it was all over once Akiyama moved it to the centre of the ring.
Soma Takao pinned Yuki Iino in the DAMNATION Vs ALL OUT tag match but the story to focus on was what happened afterwards. Daisuke Sasaki’s interview was interrupted by an attack from Shunma Katsumata in his Super Hardcore form. A confused Sasaki shouted about how Katsumata looked like he came from a wedding while he was being attacked. He then called for the police or Batman to save him. Katsumata beat him up with chairs and gave him a Pedigree onto the chair covered with toy blocks. He then raised the DDT UNIVERSAL Title over his head.
Let’s try this Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title match again! Early in the bout, Antonio Honda put Danshoku Dieno in a tight Hammerlock. Dieno sounded like he was about to say “Give Up” but instead said different phrases that rhymed with it. Honda then tried palm reading to see Dieno’s fortune. He found out Dieno’s pro wrestling luck is the worst! Dieno put Honda in a Sleeper Hold and almost made him pass out. Honda’s arm fell two times but on the third it popped up with a Gongitsune puppet on his hand. The match suddenly paused and the WRESTLE UNIVERSE audience were given time to vote on Twitter what they wanted to happen next. Either a) Dieno could listen to Gongitsune, b) Dieno told his own story or c) the referee gets attacked for some reason. The audience voted for b) and Dieno told his own Gongitsune story. But when he went for the Sweet Chin Music sneak attack, Honda dodged it and it hit Yukinori Matsui in the groin instead! For some reason Dieno and Honda agreed to attack Matsui together. Matsui fought them off with a Double Lariat but when he went to leave, Dieno gave him a Low Blow. A badly hurt Matsui disqualified Dieno but he remains the champion.
More antics happened straight away when Makoto Oishi entered the ring and gave Stunners to Dieno and Matsui. He demanded an Iron Man Title match because he can give Dieno a lively challenge. Dieno told Oishi he’s been waiting for him all this time and on 7th June they will settle 10 years of history between them. He went for a handshake but Oishi spat in his face instead.
Unfortunately due to a right ankle injury he suffered during training, MAO is currently out of action. The good news is he will recover in time to wrestle on 7th June. The bad news is the Right To Challenge Gauntlet he currently possesses expires before that date. Today’s show was the last chance it could be used. MAO threw a hissy fit over the decision and said he wants to give the Gauntlet to Mike Bailey if he can’t use it. Hisaya Imabayashi told him that was impossible. MAO has no other friends so he doesn’t know what to do. Imabayashi then struck him a deal. He gives up the Gauntlet and it becomes invalid. In return a new Gauntlet will be active after “WRESTLE PETER PAN”. When MAO comes back he will be put in the match where the new Gauntlet is on the line. MAO agreed to the deal. He then found out he will team with Asuka to take on HARASHIMA & Naomichi Marufuji for his return match! MAO likes that idea. Since Bailey can’t be in DDT for now, maybe MAO teaming with Asuka will be the next best thing.
Eruption are now bouncing back from their failed plan to take over DDT’s main event scene. Their win in the opener was also a preview of their tag match against the NEO Itoh Respect Army next week. Chris Brookes got to tangle with both Yukio Sakaguchi & Saki Akai. A motivated Mizuki Watase went after Sakaguchi but his Back Drop was countered into a Sleeper Hold. Brookes & Yukio Naya were taken out by the rest of Eruption while Sakaguchi sent Watase to sleep.
After last week’s setback, Seigo Tachibana returned at some point during the show again demanding to be booked. Imabayashi told him he wouldn’t because he couldn’t beat Okatani last week. Tachibana threatened him into giving another match. Suddenly Nobuhiro Shimatani entered the room also demanding to be booked! He lost 15kg in weight since his last DDT appearance and thinks he deserves to be here more than Tachibana does. The two were about to fight when Imabayashi told them they can have a match on Day 1 of “WRESTLE PETER PAN”. Tachibana then admitted he thought that show was today.
DDT “DDT TV SHOW! #5”, 30/05/2020 DDT TV SHOW Studio
1. Kazusada Higuchi, Yukio Sakaguchi & Saki Akai Vs Chris Brookes, Mizuki Watase & Yukio Naya
2. DAMNATION VS ALL OUT!: Daisuke Sasaki & Soma Takao Vs Shunma Katsumata & Yuki Iino
3. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title: Danshoku Dieno (c) Vs Antonio Honda
4. Jun Akiyama Vs Hideki Okatani
5. Yoshihiko & Akihiro Vs Konosuke Takeshita & Akito
6. #DAMNHEARTS Vs DISASTER BOX!: Tetsuya Endo, T-Hawk & El Lindaman Vs HARASHIMA, Yuki Ueno & Naomi Yoshimura
This is the go home show for “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2020” next weekend. It feels weird to type that out.
Yukio Sakaguchi returns for his first match since his failed KO-D Openweight Title shot. He joins the rest of Eruption for a skirmish against Chris Brookes and his team.
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW PPV SHOW ~ZENRYOKU YELL~”, 31/05/2020 OPENREC.tv
1. 3 Way Match: Maki Itoh Vs Mina Shirakawa Vs Pom Harajuku
2. Nodoka Tenma & Yuki Aino Vs Yuki Kamifuku & Haruna Neko
3. Rika Tatsumi & Miu Watanabe Vs Yuna Manase & Raku
4. Hikari Noa Vs Sena Shiori
5. Hyper Misao Vs Mahiro Kiryu
6. Miyu Yamashita Vs Mirai Maiumi
7. Yuka Sakazaki & Mizuki Vs Shoko Nakajima & Suzume
Here’s the full line up for Tokyo Joshi Pro’s return on Sunday. It’s a PPV in the literal sense but not meant to be a supercard. This is more an experiment where stream donations can potentially make up for the lost income from this month’s show cancellations. The PPV stays on OPENREC until 16th June and then it will be added to WRESTLE UNIVERSE.
I hope everybody out there is feeling well and finding ways to cope with the sad news about Hana Kimura. Dylan from the Eastern Lariat podcast tweeted a magazine photo of the time when an 8 year old Kimura won the Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title, which I think was her only connection to DDT. There would have been a working relationship between her and Sanshiro Takagi in WRESTLE-1 as well back when Takagi was part of its management.
There’s a quick story I want to tell. When I last went to Tokyo in 2016 I got to see a Sendai Girls show with a group of friends in Korakuen (the 8th April one). Kyoko Kimura was wrestling in the opener and Hana was there as her ringside attendant. This was only a few weeks after her pro debut and it was her only role on the show. I didn’t think anything of it at the time. The next day I spoke to an American expat and talked about the show. Before I even finished a sentence he cut me off and asked “Was Kyoko Kimura’s daughter there? She is going to be a star!”
DDT “DDT TV SHOW! #5”, 30/05/2020 DDT TV SHOW Studio
1. Jun Akiyama Vs Hideki Okatani
2. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title: Danshoku Dieno (c) Vs Antonio Honda
3. DAMNATION VS ALL OUT!: Daisuke Sasaki & Soma Takao Vs Shunma Katsumata & Yuki Iino
4. Yoshihiko & Akihiro Vs Konosuke Takeshita & Akito
5. #DAMNHEARTS Vs DISASTER BOX!: Tetsuya Endo, T-Hawk & El Lindaman Vs HARASHIMA, Yuki Ueno & Naomi Yoshimura
Figures from past and present are returning as Japan opens up again. The #STRONGHEARTS pair of T-Hawk & El Lindaman rejoin Tetsuya Endo to protect him from losing before his big title match. Yuki Ueno has spent all of this time during the pandemic looking after the Dropkick Bar. He gets to wrestle again for the first time in almost two months.
The second battle doll Akihiro came back in Yoshihiko’s time of need to defeat ALL OUT. The feud isn’t over yet when revenge is on offer.
Third time’s the charm for Danshoku Dieno Vs Antonio Honda.
Two thirds of the next DDT UNIVERSAL Title match face off in tag action.
Hideki Okatani showed his stuff by fighting Seigo Tachibana to a time limit draw in the match that took place after the last episode ended. Jun Akiyama should have lots to teach him.
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW PPV SHOW ~ZENRYOKU YELL~”, 31/05/2020 OPENREC.tv
1. Hikari Noa Vs Sena Shiori
2. Hyper Misao Vs Mahiro Kiryu
3. Yuka Sakazaki & Mizuki Vs Shoko Nakajima & Suzume
The main event is confirmed to be The Magical Sugar Rabbits against Shoko Nakajima & Suzume.
GANBARE☆WRESTLING “HIMITSU 2020”, 03/06/2020 ???
1. 4 Vs 4 Survival Tag Match: Keisuke Ishii, Yumehito Imanari, Shinichiro Tominaga & Kouki Iwasaki Vs Shuichiro Katsumura, Shota, Washi Sakurai & X
At last Ganbare☆Wrestling gets to have a go at an empty arena match. Here’s a neat concept for the match. We have two teams with 4 wrestlers each. When the match begins two wrestlers from each side are selected to wrestle a tag team match. When a wrestler is defeated by normal means they are replaced by a new teammate and the tag match continues. To win the match, a team must eliminate three of their opponents.
As you can see, one team has a mystery wrestler advertised. I’m surprised to see Ken Ohka or Moeka Haruhi aren’t involved. Haruhi being there would have meant all members of THE HALFEE were in the match on the same side. This is the only match of the show too.
DDT “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2020 DAY 1”, 06/06/2020 DDT TV SHOW Studio
1. Soma Takao & Mad Paulie Vs Keigo Nakamura & Hideki Okatani
2. Keisuke Ishii & HARUKAZE Vs Hiroshi Yamato & Saori Anou
3. DDT Yuru-chara No. 1 Battle In Niigata: Super Sasadango Machine Vs Pokotan
4. DDT UNIVERSAL Title – Hardcore 3 Way Match: Daisuke Sasaki (c) Vs Isami Kodaka Vs Shunma Katsumata
The new plan for “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2020” is to hold it under the DDT TV SHOW format across two days. It’s not the mega show it is going to be but under the current circumstances it keeps DDT chugging along as light appears at the end of the tunnel.
Daisuke Sasaki wanted his next title defence to be easy and violent. That is why he nominated Shunma Katsumata to be his next challenger. The twist is the sudden appearance of Isami Kodaka getting involved. Kodaka heard about DDT’s new UNIVERSAL Title and wanted to add it to his ever growing list of accomplishments.
I bet the DDT roster are happy to see Saori Anou again.
DDT “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2020 DAY 2”, 07/06/2020 DDT TV SHOW Studio
1. Tokyo Joshi Pro 6-Woman Tag Match: Yuka Sakazaki, Miyu Yamashita & Shoko Nakajima Vs Rika Tatsumi, Nodoka Tenma & Yuki Aino
2. Yukio Sakaguchi & Saki Akai Vs Chris Brookes & Maki Itoh
3. Super Sasadango Machine Remote Produce Match: Toru Owashi Vs Antonio Honda
4. DDT Extreme Title – Celebration! Release Restriction Rules: Shinya Aoki (c) Vs Yukio Naya
5. KO-D Openweight Title: Masato Tanaka (c) Vs Tetsuya Endo
Endo is so close to his final goal. He tripped up once before but reclaimed the KO-D Challenger Sword and just has to avoid a direct defeat one more time. Once he does that, Masato Tanaka will be there waiting for him with the KO-D Openweight Title held tightly in his grip.
The state of emergency in Tokyo has been lifted and the restrictions across Japan are easing off. Shinya Aoki will use the uplifting news as inspiration for his next DDT Extreme Title defence. Yukio Naya is stepping up as the challenger.
This show is taking place on Nodoka Tenma’s birthday! She is happy to spend the day fighting against the three strongest wrestlers in Tokyo Joshi Pro. Her team with Yuki Aino & Rika Tatsumi is called Bakuretsu Dragon.
BASARA “BASARA 129 ~BANQUET~”, 14/07/2020 Shin-Kiba 1st RING
1. IRON FIST Tag Titles: Tsutomu Oosugi & Banana Senga (c) Vs Gouma Ryu & Ryuji Ito
2. Union MAX Title: Fuminori Abe (c) Vs Isami Kodaka
BASARA are playing it safe and have cancelled their last remaining show in June. Instead their first show back will be in July at Shin-Kiba 1st RING. Normally this is the Banquet all you can drink show but that system will be suspended and the seating rearranged to accommodate social distancing. For now they are numbering the show #129. The last BASARA show that took place was #126 (I’m amazed I’ve been able to keep track of the chapter numbers for so long). If that sticks then it means #127 & #128 are forever lost to the cancellations.
The two title matches that were originally going to take place in April are now finally going to happen in July. Fuminori Abe must be chomping at the bit to prove his worth as Union MAX Champion by now.
DDT “DDT TV SHOW! #4”, 23/05/2020 DDT TV SHOW Studio 0 Fans
1. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title: Danshoku Dieno (c) Vs Antonio Honda ended in a No Contest (10:19). *No successful defence for Danshoku Dieno.
2. Akito & Yuki Iino defeated Kazusada Higuchi & Yukio Naya when Akito submitted Naya with the Figure 4 Leg Lock (9:35).
3. Jun Akiyama defeated Mizuki Watase with the Exploder Suplex (11:21).
4. DDT UNIVERSAL Title – 3 Way Match: Daisuke Sasaki (c) defeated Chris Brookes and Naomi Yoshimura when Sasaki pinned Yoshimura after the Praying Mantis Bomb from Brookes (11:47). *V2 for Daisuke Sasaki.
5. Yoshihiko defeated Konosuke Takeshita with the Reincarnation (22:21).
6. Special Tag Match: Masato Tanaka & HARASHIMA defeated Tetsuya Endo & Soma Takao when Tanaka pinned Takao with the Sliding D (15:07).
-. KO-D Openweight Title: Masato Tanaka (c) defeated Shinya Aoki with the Sliding D (8:26). *V4 for Masato Tanaka.
-. Exhibition Match: Seigo Tachibana Vs Hideki Okatani ended in a Time Limit Draw (10:00).
After the broadcast for “DDT TV SHOW! #4” ended, the villainous yankee wrestler Seigo Tachibana showed up demanding to be put in a match. He didn’t know how to contact Hisaya Imabayashi online so he came to the venue to give his demand directly to him. The show was already over so all that Imabayashi could do was give him an exhibition bout with Hideki Okatani. Tachibana boasted he would win in three minutes. Instead he ended up in danger of losing to Okatani to a Crab Hold until the time expired and the match was ruled a draw. Tachibana complained he was seconds away from cradling Okatani for the three count and he left the venue in a huff.
DDT “DDT TV SHOW! #4”, 23/05/2020 DDT TV SHOW Studio 0 Fans
1. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title: Danshoku Dieno (c) Vs Antonio Honda
2. Akito & Yuki Iino Vs Kazusada Higuchi & Yukio Naya
3. Jun Akiyama Vs Mizuki Watase
4. DDT UNIVERSAL Title – 3 Way Match: Daisuke Sasaki (c) Vs Chris Brookes Vs Naomi Yoshimura
5. Konosuke Takeshita Vs Yoshihiko
6. Special Tag Match: Masato Tanaka & HARASHIMA Vs Tetsuya Endo & Soma Takao
-. KO-D Openweight Title: Masato Tanaka (c) Vs Shinya Aoki
DDT “DDT TV SHOW! #4”, 23/05/2020 DDT TV SHOW Studio 0 Fans
1. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title: Danshoku Dieno (c) Vs Antonio Honda ended in a No Contest (10:19). *No successful defence for Danshoku Dieno.
2. Akito & Yuki Iino defeated Kazusada Higuchi & Yukio Naya when Akito submitted Naya with the Figure 4 Leg Lock (9:35).
3. Jun Akiyama defeated Mizuki Watase with the Exploder Suplex (11:21).
4. DDT UNIVERSAL Title – 3 Way Match: Daisuke Sasaki (c) defeated Chris Brookes and Naomi Yoshimura when Sasaki pinned Yoshimura after the Praying Mantis Bomb from Brookes (11:47). *V2 for Daisuke Sasaki.
5. Yoshihiko defeated Konosuke Takeshita with the Reincarnation (22:21).
6. Special Tag Match: Masato Tanaka & HARASHIMA defeated Tetsuya Endo & Soma Takao when Tanaka pinned Takao with the Sliding D (15:07).
-. KO-D Openweight Title: Masato Tanaka (c) defeated Shinya Aoki with the Sliding D (8:26). *V4 for Masato Tanaka.
Busy day for Masato Tanaka. He went into today’s episode of DDT TV SHOW focused on meeting his closest challenger Tetsuya Endo in a tag match. With the help of a Reverse Hurricanrana from HARASHIMA, Tanaka knocked out Endo with the Sliding D. The duo then picked apart Soma Takao until the inevitable victory.
A revived Endo tried to confront Tanaka after the match but he was suddenly interrupted by Shinya Aoki! He came out to cash in his Right To Challenge Gauntlet for a KO-D Openweight Title shot right away! From the start Aoki targeted Tanaka’s arm and used a Key Lock to put his opponent in immediate danger. Tanaka escaped the ring after a rope break and challenged Aoki to come fight him outside. Aoki avoided being ambushed with a chair and again went after Tanaka’s left arm. It was a valuable tactic that cut off Tanaka whenever he tried to fight back. It took one opening for Tanaka to beat Aoki. He used a pin to break out of a Cross Armbreaker and then struck Aoki with the Sliding D. The surprise was enough to keep Aoki down for the three count! The two bowed to each other after the match.
Another Right To Challenge Gauntlet has been vanquished. One more is left but there is also the KO-D Challenger Sword held by Endo. It was decided by Hisaya Imabayashi that Endo’s title shot will take place at “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2020 DAY 2” on 7th June! Endo said he does not care about MAO being the last remaining Gauntlet holder, he is entirely focused on hunting Tanaka to win the KO-D Title! Tanaka said whether it is Endo or MAO kneeling in front of him, he will continue to hold the KO-D Title until he goes to Saitama Super Arena!
Yoshihiko has made a clean sweep through ALL OUT! The final battle in the “ALL OUT, All Dead” campaign saw the doll defeat Konosuke Takeshita in a mighty conflict. Takeshita swung Yoshihiko round in circles, Yoshihiko did the Styles Clash, Takeshita did an Avalanche Brainbuster to the outside. There was nothing either wrestler wouldn’t do to win. That includes relying on others. The other ALL OUT members interfered to help out their partner. They then ganged up on Yoshihiko after the referee got accidentally knocked out. All looked lost when suddenly the lights went out. When they came back on Yoshihiko was joined by another battle doll. It was the return of Akihiro! Together they sent ALL OUT packing and left Takeshita begging for mercy. They gave him a Double Canadian Destroyer. Yoshihiko had the match won but it picked Takeshita back up and gave him the Reincarnation to win with authority. The lights went out again as the two dolls stared down at their defeated enemy.
MAO was pulled from the show at the last minute because of an injury so the DDT UNIVERSAL Title was now being defended in a 3 Way Match. At first Daisuke Sasaki and Chris Brookes only wanted to fight each other so Naomi Yoshimura couldn’t get a look in. From there it was a scramble to get the win. Brookes gave Yoshimura the Praying Mantis Bomb but Sasaki threw him out of the ring and stole the three count to remain as champion.
Brookes called the result a load of shit. Sasaki taunted him by saying he will never get the UNIVERSAL Title back. He then gave Brookes a Low Blow and threw him out again. Sasaki announced his next challenger will be Shunma Katsumata because he wants to have a Hardcore Match and also Katsumata is the weakest member of ALL OUT. Katsumata came out carrying a baseball bat covered in toy blocks. He admitted he has never beaten Sasaki but if “Super Hardcore Shunma” even has a 1% chance of winning, he will take it. Suddenly Isami Kodaka made his return to DDT and entered the ring. He has won all of DDT’s main championships but this UNIVERSAL Title is new to him. Sasaki accepted Kodaka’s challenge and told Katsumata he had no need for him anymore. Katsumata struck Sasaki with the bat causing a fight to break out between the three of them. Imabayashi calmed everyone down and decided they will have a Hardcore 3 Way Match for the title. Sasaki wasn’t conscious at this point so everyone assumed he’d be okay with it. Meanwhile Brookes is pissed off he can’t get a one on one match with Sasaki for the title.
Ambushing Jun Akiyama with his own Jumping Knee Attack is a good way to show you’re taking a match seriously so well done Mizuki Watase. Trying to beat him with a Front Necklock also takes some balls. In the end though Akiyama hit his own Knee Strikes and won with the Exploder Suplex. It will take some time but Akiyama hopes to train the DDT wrestlers to put more weight and soul into their Elbow Smash exchanges.
Yuki Iino threw his weight around in Match #2. He hit a Double Spear to Kazusada Higuchi & Yukio Naya. Then when Akito put Naya in the Figure 4 Leg Lock, Iino hit him with a low level Spear leading to Naya tapping out.
Lately whenever Danshoku Dieno and Antonio Honda fight over the Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title their matches just seem to fall apart. This time Honda channeled the power of Gongitsune to possess other people. Dieno could resist it by putting his hands over his ears but for people like Hideki Okatani, Keigo Nakamura, Daisuke Kiso and Hisaya Imabayashi they could not be as fortunate. Honda’s plan backfired when the Gongitsune group turned on him, forcing him to be possessed by his own power! Together they all ganged up on Dieno until the room went dark. Dieno woke up in his own home. It was just a nightmare. Or was it? When he left the room we found out Okatani was hiding underneath the covers, still possessed by Gongitsune…
DDT “DDT TV SHOW! #4”, 23/05/2020 DDT TV SHOW Studio
1. Akito & Yuki Iino Vs Kazusada Higuchi & Yukio Naya
2. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title: Danshoku Dieno (c) Vs Antonio Jonda
3. Special Tag Match: Masato Tanaka & HARASHIMA Vs Tetsuya Endo & Soma Takao
4. Konosuke Takeshita Vs Yoshihiko
5. Jun Akiyama Vs Mizuki Watase
6. DDT Extreme Title: Shinya Aoki (c) Vs Keigo Nakamura
7. DDT UNIVERSAL Title – 4 Way Match: Daisuke Sasaki (c) Vs Chris Brookes Vs Naomi Yoshimura Vs MAO
The DDT TV SHOW is now established on the schedule with more weekly episodes taking place until at least 20th June. Daisuke Sasaki has to defend the DDT UNIVERSAL Title against three wrestlers who all want to take the belt from him. Shinya Aoki versus Keigo Nakamura for the DDT Extreme Title finally takes place. Mizuki Watase dug up the courage to challenge Jun Akiyama. After last week’s calamity of a match, Danshoku Dieno and Antonio Honda get a re-do for their Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title bout.
Next, let’s move over to the KO-D Openweight Title scene. Tetsuya Endo regained the KO-D Challenger Sword and can now challenge Masato Tanaka for the title whenever he wants. Tanaka is coming in to face Endo in a tag match. One bad result for Endo will dash his plans for a second time and whether it is Tanaka or HARASHIMA who pins him it will be another wild twist in the title scene. Or maybe Soma Takao throws a wrench in and beats Tanaka himself?
And let’s not forget about Yoshihiko’s blood feud with ALL OUT. The doll has checked off every member from its list, except for Konosuke Takeshita. This is the last stand for ALL OUT. Either Takeshita banished the threat or it’s a total party kill.
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW PPV SHOW ~ZENRYOKU YELL~”, 31/05/2020 OPENREC.tv
The return of Tokyo Joshi Pro after a two month absence will be a special PPV event broadcasting on the OPENREC streaming service. Seven matches will be on offer with the regular roster taking part. The stream is available in three tiers, each includes live viewing and VOD until 16th June. The show will be added to WRESTLE UNIVERSE after that date.
The Regular Tier costs ¥1650. You get 100 Yell Points which briefly posts a message of support for the wrestlers on screen during matches. The Special Tier costs ¥3300. You get 100 Yell Points, a 10 second video message from a wrestler of your choosing and a poster signed by all the wrestlers. The Premium Tier costs ¥5500. You get everything already mentioned as well as sponsoring a paper tape thrown during an entrance and also a chance to participate in a Zoom party after the show.
GAKE NO FUCHI JOSHI PRO “MUJIN PRO WRESTLING 2020 ~NOBODY SHOW~”, 05/06/2020 ???
1. Miyako Matsumoto Vs Cypress Ueno
Miyako Matsumoto’s plan to do an unmanned pro wrestling show is going ahead after all. No wrestlers, no referees, no fans but there are commentators. Shota and Munenori Sawa will be somewhere to call play by play for whatever it is Matsumoto and hip hop artist Cypress Ueno are doing.
DDT “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2020 DAY 1”, 06/06/2020 DDT TV SHOW Studio
DDT “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2020 DAY 2”, 07/06/2020 DDT TV SHOW Studio
Clap your hands so “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2020” can live! Everyone is doing two shows for their biggest event of the year now so DDT is doing the same. Day 1 will be exclusively on WRESTLE UNIVERSE. Day 2 will be on both WRESTLE UNIVERSE and ABEMA.
DDT “DDT TV SHOW! #3”, 16/05/2020 DDT TV SHOW Studio 0 Fans
1. Kazusada Higuchi Vs Keigo Nakamura
2. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title: Danshoku Dieno (c) Vs Antonio Honda
3. Soma Takao & Mad Paulie Vs HARASHIMA & Naomi Yoshimura
4. Hardcore Match: Shunma Katsumata Vs Yoshihiko
5. Mizuki Watase & Hideki Okatani Vs Jun Akiyama & Keisuke Ishii
6. Saki Akai “Okibariyasu” 7 Match Series – 6th Match: Saki Akai Vs Saori Anou
7. DAMNATION Vs ALL OUT!: Daisuke Sasaki & Tetsuya Endo Vs Konosuke Takeshita & Akito
-. Emergency Match: Kazusada Higuchi Vs Tetsuya Endo
DDT “DDT TV SHOW! #3”, 16/05/2020 DDT TV SHOW Studio 0 Fans
1. Kazusada Higuchi defeated Keigo Nakamura with a Canadian Backbreaker (3:09).
2. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title: Danshoku Dieno (c) Vs Antonio Honda ended in a No Contest (6:28).
3. HARASHIMA & Naomi Yoshimura defeated Soma Takao & Mad Paulie when Yoshimura pinned Paulie with the Drill-A-Hole Piledriver (8:32).
4. Hardcore Match: Yoshihiko defeated Shunma Katsumata with the Reincarnation (15:48).
5. Jun Akiyama & Keisuke Ishii defeated Mizuki Watase & Hideki Okatani when Akiyama submitted Okatani with a Crab Hold (10:39).
6. Saki Akai “Okibariyasu” 7 Match Series – 6th Match: Saki Akai defeated Saori Anou with the Quetzalcoatl (11:21).
7. DAMNATION Vs ALL OUT!: Daisuke Sasaki & Tetsuya Endo defeated Konosuke Takeshita & Akito when Endo pinned Akito with a Scorpion Lock Cutback (15:12). *Tetsuya Endo wins Akito’s Right To Challenge Anytime, Anywhere Gauntlet.
-. Emergency Match: Tetsuya Endo defeated Kazusada Higuchi with the Shooting Star Press (10:02). *Tetsuya Endo cashes in his Right To Challenge Anytime, Anywhere Gauntlet. Tetsuya Endo wins Kazusada Higuchi’s KO-D Challenger Sword.
Week #3 of DDT TV SHOW ended with Tetsuya Endo regaining the KO-D Challenger Sword! In the scheduled main event tag match Endo kept Akito in his sights from the beginning. His goal was to pin Akito and take away the Right To Challenge Gauntlet. Daisuke Sasaki and Konosuke Takeshita kept each other away from the ring so it came down to Akito putting Endo into a submission hold. His Scorpion Deathlock attempt was countered by Endo into a Small Package for the flash three count.
After the match Endo asked Hisaya Imabayashi if the rules for the Sword and Gauntlets had changed now that Saitama Super Arena is out of the picture. When it was confirmed that the rules are the same, Endo called for Kazusada Higuchi to come out because he was challenging him for the Sword right now! Higuchi appeared still in his ring gear but without his wrestling boots. Endo attacked him as he entered the ring and the match began as they brawled around ringside. Endo hit a stage dive before Higuchi got back to the ring. Higuchi tried to Choke Slam Endo onto the apron but Endo gave him a Brianbuster onto it instead. Whatever Higuchi tried, Endo had a counter for. The three move combo of Tetsuya In The Sky, the Swivel Torture Rack Bomb and the Shooting Star Press put Higuchi away.
Endo received the Challenger Sword and said he already knows when to use it for a KO-D Openweight Title shot. He wants to use it right now! Imabayashi told him he already wrestled twice today and Masato Tanaka isn’t here. A relieved Endo admitted he is happy not to wrestle a third time so he will go home and wait for another time. According to him, everyone in DDT hope to wrestle in front of a packed venue again. He may wait to cash in the Sword until then or maybe he won’t.
Saki Akai is now 3-3 in the Okibariyasu. She survived the multiple Suplex variations from Saori Anou to pin her with the always reliable Quetzalcoatl. Akai told Anou the style of pro wrestling she likes is happy, beautiful, cool and flowery. Just like Anou. She wants the two of them to push forward not just joshi wrestling but pro wrestling as a whole. Akai then asked Imabayashi about the seventh and final opponent. Imabayashi told her the final match would have been in Saitama Super Arena but obviously that plan is out the window. He asked her to wait a little longer while he finds a suitable opponent.
The guest coach Jun Akiyama took a few DDT wrestlers to school. He and Keisuke Ishii beat the team of Mizuki Watase & Hideki Okatani. Akiyama did things here and there to provoke his younger opponents into firing themselves up. He eventually made Okatani tap out to a Crab Hold. Watase Dropkicked Akiyama as he was leaving the ring. Akiyama grabbed him by his head and scolded him until Watase admitted he wanted a singles match against him. Akiyama walked off but accepted the challenge before he left.
Three of the four ALL OUT wrestlers have now lost to Yoshihiko since DDT TV SHOW began. Not even Shunma Katsumata in a Joker costume can stop it! More signs saying “ALL OUT All Dead” were found backstage before the Hardcore Match, driving Katsumata crazy. In the match, Katsumata started off hot. He shoved Yoshihiko into a trash can, hit it with a barbed wire baseball bat and mousetrapped Yoshihiko’s head with a chair several times. Yoshihiko took control by Back Dropping Katsumata onto a chair, giving him a Bulldog and a Piledriver onto a counter and Choke Slamming him onto a Ladder. A ref bump led to Takeshita coming out to interfere while the ring was filled with Lego. The ALL OUT double team failed and Yoshihiko took out Takeshita with a dive out of the ring. It then gave Katsumata a Canadian Destroyer for a nearfall before winning with the Reincarnation onto the Lego. Takeshita confronted Yoshihiko, challenging it to a match.
The only blight on DAMNATION’s record today was losing to DISASTER BOX in the early tag match. Looks like HARASHIMA & Naomi Yoshimura work better as a team than Soma Takao & Mad Paulie do.
The Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title match was presented like a TV comedy sketch with canned laughter. Danshoku Dieno and Antonio Honda kept getting accidentally hit in the groin until both of them could no longer continue. Daisuke Kiso said the punchline and the match ended in a No Contest.
Higuchi’s scheduled match for the episode was a simple win over Keigo Nakamura.
Posted by JamieOD 
Dramatic DDT 