Ghost And Balloon Death Match, Saki Akai Sponsorship Everywhere, Tominaga Faces His Union Pro Past, Final Sparky Match

August 8, 2023

DDT “SAKI AKAI 10TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR IN KORAKUEN!!”, 13/08/2023
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

0. Dark Match: Yuya Koroku Vs Rukiya
1. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title – marcheur Presents Battle Royal: Sanshiro Takagi (c) Vs HARASHIMA Vs Naruki Doi Vs Yuki “Sexy” Iino Vs Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno Vs Antonio Honda Vs Akito Vs Kazuma Sumi
2. Diya Diamond Presents 6-Man Tag Match: Jun Akiyama, Yukio Naya & Yusuke Okada Vs Kazusada Higuchi, Yuki Ishida & Takeshi Masada
3. Special Single Match: Hideki Okatani Vs KANON
4. Jemile Fran Presents Special 6-Man Tag Match: Chris Brookes, Masahiro Takanashi & Sakura Hirota Vs Yuki Ueno, MAO & Toy Kojima
5. KO-D Tag Team Titles: Daisuke Sasaki & MJ Paul (c) Vs Yuji Hino & Makoto Oishi
6. Saki Akai Debut 10th Anniversary Match Vol. 2 ~ Special 6-Woman Tag Match: Saki Akai, Maya Yukihi & Asuka Vs Takumi Iroha, Rina Yamashita & Shoko Nakajima
7. DDT Extreme Title – Weakness Explosion!! Activation Conditions Are Up To You! Fall & Escape = Ghost & Balloon Explosion Death Match: Kazuki Hirata (c) Vs Yukio Sakaguchi

Yesterday Kazuki Hirata and Yukio Sakaguchi met with Hisaya Imabayashi to sign the contract for their DDT Extreme Title match. Hirata admitted he could not think of a match stipulation in time but promised he would come up with something that Sakaguchi would be pleased with. Sakaguchi signed the contract and Hirata suddenly burst into laughter. He actually did come up with rules and Sakaguchi cannot back out now. The match Hirata wants is a Ghost & Balloon Death Match! The match can be won and lost as normal but whenever there is a kickout or rope break either a “Ghost” or a “Balloon” will enter the ring. It turns out that Sakaguchi does not like either ghosts or balloons so Hirata figured out he can use that information to unsettle his opponent. His point was proven when he took out a pair of rubber gloves, blew them up like balloons and then popped them, causing Sakaguchi to flee the room.

Several matches on the show are being sponsored by different beauty products and salon businesses.

DDT “FIGHTING BEER GARDEN – DAY 1”, 16/08/2023
Tokyo Ueno Park Outdoor Stage

1. The Scariest Event In History! Ghost Story New Numabukuro Death Match: Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno Vs Saki Akai Vs Yuni Vs Hideki Okatani Vs Kazuma Sumi (Ghost Story Reading Artist: Hisaya Imabayashi)
2. Blindfold Hidden Breast 4 Way Death Match: HARASHIMA Vs Kazuki Hirata Vs Antonio Honda Vs Yuki “Sexy” Iino
3. Special Tag Match: Yuki Ueno & X Vs MAO & Pokotan
4. YOROKOBI BREWERY Infomercial Match: Yuji Hino, Yukio Sakaguchi & Soma Takao Vs Kazusada Higuchi, Yukio naya & Yuki Ishida
5. Special Tag Match: Chris Brookes & Masahiro Takanashi Vs Shigehiro Irie & Jun Akiyama

The latest match added to the show has some mystery to it. Yuki Ueno’s unannounced teammate is somebody he believes can become a new rival for Pokotan. Who (or what) could it be? Another mascot?

DDT “MEMORIES OF SUMMER VACATION 2023”, 27/08/2023
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Saki Akai Photobook “GRACIA” Infomercial Match: Kazuki Hirata Vs Antonio Honda Vs Saki Akai Photobook “GRACIA”
2. Special Single Match: Daisuke Sasaki Vs MAO
3. Saki Akai Debut 10th Anniversary Match Vol. 3 ~ Special Single Match: Danshoku Dieno Vs Saki Akai
4. Special Tag Match: Chris Brookes & Yuki Ueno Vs Shigehiro Irie & Jun Akiyama
5. HARASHIMA Debut 22nd Anniversary Match: HARASHIMA, Yasu Urano & Ken Ohka Vs Daisuke Sekimoto, Sanshiro Takagi & Yukio Sakaguchi

Wrestlers close to HARASHIMA are being called together to celebrate his 22nd anniversary in wrestling. Daisuke Sekimoto is the big guest taking part in the match.

DDT wanted to do a match promoting Saki Akai’s new photobook “GRACIA”. Akai is already booked on the show so DDT decided to put together a 3 Way Match between Hirata, Antonio Honda and… the photobook. This is now going to be the second Saki Akai photobook to wrestle in DDT. The first one is a former Iron Man Heavymetalweight Champion because of course it would be! It even beat The Young Bucks autobiography to win it.

BASARA “BASARA 227 ~UTAGE~”, 29/08/2023
Shin-Kiba 1st RING

1. Isami Kodaka & Ryuichi Sekine Vs Lil’ Kraken & Leo Isaka
2. IRON FIST Tag Team Titles: Daiki Shimomura & Minoru Fujita (c) Vs Tsutomu Oosugi & Banana Senga
3. Union MAX Title: Takumi Tsukamoto (c) Vs FUMA

Over the weekend FUMA defeated SAGAT to become the new No. 1 Contender for the Union MAX Title. On a roster as small as BASARA it is one of the strongest challengers Takumi Tsukamoto is going to get.

Part-time roster member Ryuichi Sekine returns to team with Isami Kodaka again.

GANBARE☆PRO “KAMIKAZE TAXI 2023”, 02/09/2023
Tokyo Oji BASEMENT MON☆STAR

1. Spirit Of Ganbare World Openweight Title: Isami Kodaka (c) Vs Shinichiro Tominaga

The second challenger for Kodaka quickly made himself known over the weekend. Shinichiro Tominaga had a brief stare down with Kodaka at the Ganbare☆Pro show on Sunday afternoon and then later that evening threw out the challenge after he beat Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi in BASARA. The two wrestlers go way back to the final years of Union Pro. Tominaga came into the promotion at the beginning of 2012 as the hot new rookie with a lot of promise behind him. His run in that promotion only lasted 6 months of ring time when he fractured his forearm. Then when 2012 rolled around he declined to renew his contract and went back to the lower independents. It is a decision that has stayed on his mind ever since. Was he right or wrong to leave back then? He eventually bounced back by finding GanPro and becoming a regular part of their shows. He now thinks he is able to catch up with Kodaka. If he beats him for the Spirit Of Ganbare Title then it will prove he made the right choice all those years ago.

Soma Takao will be on the show.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW CITY CIRCUIT ’23 ~RIKA TATSUMI LOCAL TRIUMPH~”, 16/09/2023
Nagano Kissei Bunka Hall Middle Hall

1. Aja Kong Vs X

Not only is this show a homecoming for Rika Tatsumi but it is also where Maki Itoh will return from her latest overseas tour. Aja Kong is coming back to Tokyo Joshi Pro for another match too.

BASARA “BASARA 230 ~OSAKA SUMMER SIEGE – DAITO~”, 23/09/2023
Osaka Active Square Daito

1. Sparky Final Match ~Final Battle At The Place Of Formation~ Elimination 8-Man Tag Match: Ryota Nakatsu, SAGAT, Naoki Tanizaki & Akiyori Takizawa Vs Isami Kodaka, Ryuichi Sekine, Daiki Shimomura & Minoru Fujita

As was promised by Ryota Nakatsu a few months ago, his unit Sparky is going to split up after the entire group gets together one last time. The full goodbye is happening in September due to Naoki Tanizaki & Akiyori Takizawa having their own schedules that conflict with BASARA’s dates. Sparky’s final match as a group is against the full force of Sento Minzoku in an Elimination Match.

Kohei Kinoshita will also be on the show, going along with Tanizaki as the second Dove Pro representative.


DAMNATION Vs 37KAMIINA Getting More Volatile, Akai’s Anniversary Plans Grow, Onita Gets His Match With Akiyama

August 2, 2023

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW CITY CIRCUIT ’23 ~SHOKO NAKAJIMA LOCAL TRIUMPH~”, 05/08/2023
Niigata Dúo CEREZO

1. Special Single Match: Aja Kong Vs Super Sasadango Machine
2. Suzume Vs Runa Okubo
3. 3 Way Match: Hyper Misao Vs Haruna Neko Vs HIMAWARI
4. Hikari Noa & Nao Kakuta Vs Mahiro Kiryu & Toga
5. Mizuki, Shino Suzuki & Haru Kazashiro Vs Yuki Arai, Raku & Pom Harajuku
6. Rika Tatsumi & Miu Watanabe Vs Moka Miyamoto & Kaya Toribami
7. Shoko Nakajima & Yuki Aino Vs Miyu Yamashita & Arisu Endo

Both Yuki Kamifuku and Wakana Uehara will not be on the show due to other priorities that day. Kamifuku is attending an event in Fujisawa City while Uehara is performing on a stage show.

GANBARE☆PRO “UNDER THE SILVER LAKE 2023”, 06/08/2023
Tokyo Takashimadaira Kumin Center

1. Keisuke Ishii Vs Munetatsu Nakamura
2. GanJo Vs JTO!: Yoshiko Hasegawa & Riara Vs Misa Kagura & HisokA
3. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Yumehito Imanari, Mizuki Watase & Tyson Maeguchi Vs Shota, Soma Takao & Shinichiro Tominaga
4. Special Single Match: Ken Ohka Vs Koji Doi
5. Spirit Of Ganbare World Tag Team Titles: Shuichiro Katsumura & Takuya Wada (c) Vs Hartley Jackson & HARUKAZE
6. Spirit Of Ganbare World Openweight Title: Isami Kodaka (c) Vs YuuRI

The long delayed Spirit Of Ganbare Tag Team Title belts have finally been completed and are being sent over to Ganbare☆Pro in time for this weekend’s show. The belts will be presented to Shuichiro Katsumura & Takuya Wada on the day as part of a contract signing ceremony with Hartley Jackson & HARUKAZE for their title match later in the show.

DDT “MEMORIES OF SUMMER VACATION 2023 TOUR IN YAMAGATA”, 06/08/2023
Yamagata Big Wing

1. Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno Vs Akito & Makoto Oishi
2. Kazuki Hirata & Kazuma Sumi Vs Yukio Sakaguchi & Hideki Okatani
3. Daisuke Sasaki & KANON Vs Yuji Hino & Rukiya
4. Yuki Ueno, MAO & Toy Kojima Vs HARASHIMA, Yusuke Okada & Yuya Koroku
5. Yamagata Specialty Special Tag Match: Kazusada Higuchi & Yuki Ishida Vs Yukio Naya & Keisuke Goto
6. Special Tag Match: Chris Brookes & Takeshi Masada Vs Shigehiro Irie & Jun Akiyama

Good luck to Kazuki Hirata having to fight Yukio Sakaguchi more so than usual this month because they have a DDT Extreme Title match coming up.

GANBARE☆JOSHI “GANJO BATTLE GAREGGA ’23”, 11/08/2023
Tokyo Itabashi Green Hall

1. Ice Ribbon Offer Match: Ibuki Hoshi & Kaho Matsushita Vs Yappy & Tsukina Umino
2. Miyako Matsumoto Vs Banny Oikawa
3. Sumire Natsu & Riara Vs Maya Yukihi & Alex Lee
4. Yoshiko Hasegawa Vs Sayaka Unagi
5. ICEx∞ Title: YuuRI (c) Vs Ami Manase

I was wondering why Yoshiko Hasegawa was missing from the lineup. Turns out there was one more match left to announce and it’s her against Sayaka Unagi!

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TOKYO PRINCESS CUP”, 12/08/2023
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Suzume Vs Juria Nagano
2. Wakana Uehara, Toga & Runa Okubo Vs HIMAWARI, Shino Suzuki & Haru Kazashiro
3. Hyper Misao, Hikari Noa, Nao Kakuta & Kaya Toribami Vs Yuki Aino, Raku, Pom Harajuku & Haruna Neko
4. Shoko Nakajima & Miu Watanabe Vs Moka Miyamoto & Arisu Endo
5. Sakisama & Mei Saint-Michel Vs Mizuki & Mahiro Kiryu
6. Tokyo Princess Cup – Semi Final: Rika Tatsumi Vs Yuki Kamifuku
7. Tokyo Princess Cup – Semi Final: Miyu Yamashita Vs Yuki Arai

The summer is nearing its end and so too is this year’s Tokyo Princess Cup. Four women are left standing and two of those will be next to fall. Miyu Yamashita is trying to win the tournament for the first time after a decade of trying, Yuki Arai is benefitting from adding Saki Akai’s Rookie Award finisher to her moveset, Rika Tatsumi is in the middle of one hell of a run and Yuki Kamifuku is showing everyone just how successful she can be when she puts her mind to it.

Mizuki & Mahiro Kiryu are the two women teaming together to fight NEO Biishiki-gun.

Match #4 is made up of the four women who were knocked out in the Quarter Finals.

The 6-Woman Tag Match in Match #2 is entirely made up of the 2023 class.

DDT “SAKI AKAI 10TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR IN KORAKUEN!!”, 13/08/2023
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

0. Dark Match: Yuya Koroku Vs Rukiya
1. Jun Akiyama, Yukio Naya & Yusuke Okada Vs Kazusada Higuchi, Yuki Ishida & Takeshi Masada
2. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title – Battle Royal: Sanshiro Takagi (c) Vs HARASHIMA Vs Naruki Doi Vs Yuki “Sexy” Iino Vs Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno Vs Antonio Honda Vs Akito Vs Kazuma Sumi
3. Special Single Match: Hideki Okatani Vs KANON
4. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Chris Brookes, Masahiro Takanashi & Sakura Hirota Vs Yuki Ueno, MAO & Toy Kojima
5. KO-D Tag Team Titles: Daisuke Sasaki & MJ Paul (c) Vs Yuji Hino & Makoto Oishi
6. DDT Extreme Title: Kazuki Hirata (c) Vs Yukio Sakaguchi
7. Saki Akai Debut 10th Anniversary Match Vol. 2 ~ Special 6-Woman Tag Match: Saki Akai, Maya Yukihi & Asuka Vs Takumi Iroha, Rina Yamashita & Shoko Nakajima

Akai’s next 10th Anniversary match will feature her teaming with Maya Yukihi & Asuka. They were two of her recent big opponents here in DDT. Their opponents all debuted in 2013, the same year as Akai. Takumi Iroha & Rina Yamashita were already announced and this past weekend Shoko Nakajima was revealed to be the third woman on the team.

Hirata found a way to beat HARASHIMA. He’s also beaten Sakaguchi once before but as Extreme Champion he will come up with any stipulation that will tip the scales in his favour. Otherwise Sakaguchi is going to kill him and take his title!

Makoto Oishi has convinced Yuji Hino to go after the KO-D Tag Team Titles with him. Maybe Hino would be better off teaming with Yukio Naya for the match but Oishi being such a caring father for his children convinced Hino to stick with him.

DDT “FIGHTING BEER GARDEN – DAY 1”, 16/08/2023
Tokyo Ueno Park Outdoor Stage

1. The Scariest Event In History! Ghost Story New Numabukuro Death Match: Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno Vs Saki Akai Vs Yuni Vs Hideki Okatani Vs Kazuma Sumi (Ghost Story Reading Artist: Hisaya Imabayashi)
2. Blindfold Hidden Breast 4 Way Death Match: HARASHIMA Vs Kazuki Hirata Vs Antonio Honda Vs Yuki “Sexy” Iino
3. YOROKOBI BREWERY Infomercial Match: Yuji Hino, Yukio Sakaguchi & Soma Takao Vs Kazusada Higuchi, Yukio naya & Yuki Ishida
4. Special Tag Match: Chris Brookes & Masahiro Takanashi Vs Shigehiro Irie & Jun Akiyama

The Fighting Beer Garden shows now has a craft beer sponsor.

DDT “SOMA TAKAO LOCAL TRIUPMH! MEMORIES OF SUMMER VACATION 2023 TOUR IN OTA-KU”, 19/08/2023
Tokyo Ota Ward Industrial Plaza PiO Small Exhibition Hall

1. Special Tag Match: Soma Takao & Shota Vs Yukio Sakaguchi & Kazuki Hirata
2. Jun Akiyama, Saki Akai & Antonio Honda Vs Kazusada Higuchi, Yuki Ishida & Rukiya
3. DAMNATION T.A Vs The 37KAMIINA!: Daisuke Sasaki & MJ Paul Vs Yuki Ueno & Toy Kojima

The recent actions of Konosuke Takeshita has fired up the rivalry between DAMNATION T.A and The 37KAMIINA. The one here is a rematch from the end of June when Daisuke Sasaki & MJ Paul beat Yuki Ueno & Toy Kojima to win the vacant tag titles.

DDT “OSAKA BAY BLUES SPECIAL 2023”, 20/08/2023
Osaka Edion Arena #2

1. Osaka Specialty Special Tag Match: Sanshiro Takagi & Tsutenkakka Vs Akito & Kazuma Sumi
2. BURNING Vs Harimao!: Jun Akiyama & Kotaro Suzuki Vs Kazusada Higuchi & Yuki Ishida
3. Special Tag Match: Chris Brookes & Takeshi Masada Vs Shigehiro Irie & HARASHIMA
4. Special Single Match: Daisuke Sasaki Vs Yuki Ueno
5. Current Blast Death Match: Atsushi Onita, Yoshitatsu & Toy Kojima Vs Yukio Sakaguchi, Hideki Okatani & Soma Takao

Sasaki has a few singles matches against different members of The 37KAMIINA this month. Yuki Ueno keeps being told by Takeshita to follow his lead and Sasaki has become a big supporter of that idea.

DDT “MEMORIES OF SUMMER VACATION 2023”, 27/08/2023
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Saki Akai Debut 10th Anniversary Match Vol. 3 ~ Special Single Match: Danshoku Dieno Vs Saki Akai
2. Special Single Match: Daisuke Sasaki Vs MAO
3. HARASHIMA Debut 22nd Anniversary Match: HARASHIMA Vs X

Sasaki also has to face MAO. He might start regretting taking Takeshita’s side in the matter just because of how much extra ring work it’s giving him.

Akai asked Danshoku Dieno for a singles match to call back memories of the Extreme Title bout from 2016. Their match back then featured a stipulation that nobody was allowed to cry or else they would lose. It was a match that Akai learned a lot and still thinks about after all this time. Dieno understands how much it means to her and will not be using his “Dandy” persona for that reason.

DDT “ROJO PRO WRESTLING IN IZUKOGEN GRANILLUMI”, 02/09/2023
Shizuoka Izu Granpal Park

1. Falls Count Anywhere 4 Way 6-Man Tag Match: Chris Brookes, HARASHIMA & Saki Akai Vs Yuki Ueno, MAO & Toy Kojima (w/ Shunma Katsumata) Vs Sanshiro Takagi, Shinya Aoki & Takeshi Masada Vs Yuki “Sexy” Iino, Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno & X

A lot of people are gathering together to wrestle among the bright lights of Izu Granpal Park. Not only is Shinya Aoki showing up but Pheromones will be joined by a mystery wrestler.

DDT “DDT BIG BANG 2023”, 09/09/2023
Tokyo Ota Ward Gymnasium

1. Pheromones Vs Subjugation Final Match! Special Single Match ~ Dissolution Contra Vice President: Yuki “Sexy” Iino (w/ Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno) Vs Akito
2. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Yukio Sakaguchi, Saki Akai & Hideki Okatani Vs Yuko Miyamoto, Isami Kodaka & Ram Kaichow
3. Special Tag Match: KONOSUKE TAKESHITA & Daisuke Sasaki Vs Yuki Ueno & MAO
4. Current Blast Death Match: Atsushi Onita, Yoshi Tatsu & Toy Kojima Vs Sanshiro Takagi, Jun Akiyama & Yusuke Okada
5. KO-D Openweight Title: Chris Brookes (c) Vs Shigehiro Irie

Sick of his demands being ignored, Atsushi Onita took it upon himself last week to crash a training session at the DDT dojo and confront Jun Akiyama. Apparently Onita got in touch with Kojima and demanded to find out when Akiyama was in the building. Kojima told him but didn’t actually expect he would show up. Onita told Akiyama the names of many famous wrestlers who fought him in Explosion Death Matches then asked why is he the only person who refuses to take part? Onita also reminded Sanshiro Takagi he was promised this match would happen. Akiyama accepted the challenge and both sides decided their teams. Onita will team with Yoshi Tatsu & Toy Kojima while Akiyama & Takagi will add Yusuke Okada to their team.

Is the team of Ueno & MAO enough to beat Takeshita & Sasaki? We’re heading into dangerous territory here as tensions raise higher and higher.

If Eruption are still the KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Champions coming out of their All Japan appearance at the end of this month then their match against Yuko Miyamoto, Isami Kodaka & Ram Kaichow will be a title match.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW CITY CIRCUIT ’23 ~NAGOYA PERFORMANCE~”, 18/09/2023
Nagoya International Conference Center Event Hall

1. Saki Akai & Yuki Arai Vs X & X

This will be the final time Reiwa AA Cannon will team together, just two months before Akai retires.

DDT “DRAMATIC EXPLOSION 2023”, 18/09/2023
Nagoya International Conference Center Event Hall

1. Current Blast Death Match: Atsushi Onita Vs X

Minoru Suzuki will be on the show. This is happening the same day as the Bullet Train match with Takagi by the way. How else were they making it to Nagoya?

“MASAHIRO TAKANASHI 20TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW”, 19/09/2023
Shinjuku FACE

1. Special Exhibition: Masahiro Takanashi Vs KUDO
2. Yukio Sakaguchi, Isami Kodaka & Ken Ohka Vs MAO, Daiki Shimomura & Munetatsu Nakamura
3. Special Single Match: Mei Suruga Vs Minoru Suzuki
4. Chris Brookes Vs Masahiro Takanashi

No way was KUDO going to miss Masahiro Takanashi’s big show. He isn’t in ring shape to do a full wrestling match so Takanashi decided KUDO will face him in a 5 minute exhibition instead.

Saki Akai will also be on the show.


DDT Faces A Paradigm Shift, New Beer Garden Matches, ROMANCE DAWN For Takao’s Homecoming

July 28, 2023

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TOKYO PRINCESS CUP”, 29/07/2023
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Juria Nagano & Kaya Toribami Vs Wakana Uehara & HIMAWARI
2. Hyper Misao, Nao Kakuta & Yuki Aino Vs Mahiro Kiryu, Pom Harajuku & Haruna Neko
3. Mizuki, Toga, Haru Kazashiro & Runa Okubo Vs Hikari Noa, Raku, Suzume & Shino Suzuki
4. Tokyo Princess Cup – Quarter Final: Arisu Endo Vs Yuki Arai
5. Tokyo Princess Cup – Quarter Final: Yuki Kamifuku Vs Miu Watanabe
6. Tokyo Princess Cup – Quarter Final: Miyu Yamashita Vs Moka Miyamoto
7. Tokyo Princess Cup – Quarter Final: Rika Tatsumi Vs Shoko Nakajima

It hasn’t been mentioned yet if the draw for the Tokyo Princess Cup Semi Finals will take place in front of everyone at the end of the show. Last year the draw took place backstage a few hours after the show had ended.

DDT “SUMMER VACATION 2023”, 30/07/2023
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

0. Dark Match: Yuni Vs Kazuma Sumi
1. Minoru Fujita & MJ Paul Vs Soma Takao & Rukiya
2. Special Tag Match: Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno Vs Akito & Naruki Doi
3. Yuji Hino, Makoto Oishi & Yukio Naya Vs Jun Akiyama, Yusuke Okada & Yuya Koroku
4. Yukio Sakaguchi 50th Birthday Match ~ Special 6-Man Tag Match: Yukio Sakaguchi, Saki Akai & Hideki Okatani Vs Shuji Ishikawa, Thanomsak Toba & Masahiro Takanashi
5. Chris Brookes, Antonio Honda & Takeshi Masada Vs Kazusada Higuchi, Kotaro Suzuki & Yuki Ishida
6. DDT Extreme Title – Super Fierce Battle! Hirata’s Miraculous Allies Gather! No Touch Captain’s Fall & 2 Count Hall Handicap Death Match: Kazuki Hirata (C/c), Broom, Kokeshi, Chair, Yakitori & X (w/ Other Merry Ultimate Fighters) Vs HARASHIMA (C)
7. Special 6-Man Tag Match: KONOSUKE TAKESHITA, Daisuke Sasaki & KANON Vs Yuki Ueno, MAO & Toy Kojima

DDT is describing the main event as a “Paradigm Shift” in their marketing for the show.

DDT “FIGHTING BEER GARDEN – DAY 1”, 16/08/2023
Tokyo Ueno Park Outdoor Stage

1. The Scariest Event In History! Ghost Story New Numabukuro Death Match: Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno Vs Saki Akai Vs Yuni Vs Hideki Okatani Vs Kazuma Sumi (Ghost Story Reading Artist: Hisaya Imabayashi)
2. Blindfold Hidden Breast 4 Way Death Match: HARASHIMA Vs Kazuki Hirata Vs Antonio Honda Vs Yuki “Sexy” Iino
3. Special Tag Match: Chris Brookes & Masahiro Takanashi Vs Shigehiro Irie & Jun Akiyama

The Chris Brookes Vs Shigehiro Irie build up continues into the Beer Garden shows. Jun Akiyama has become Irie’s tag partner for these matches so let’s see what CDK can do against them.

A few other annual events for the Beer Garden shows take place here. HARASHIMA and Antonio Honda involved in a Bra & Blindfold match is one. Hisaya Imabayashi scaring the roster with horror stories is the other.

DDT “SOMA TAKAO LOCAL TRIUPMH! MEMORIES OF SUMMER VACATION 2023 TOUR IN OTA-KU”, 19/08/2023
Tokyo Ota Ward Industrial Plaza PiO Small Exhibition Hall

1. Special Tag Match: Soma Takao & Shota Vs Yukio Sakaguchi & Kazuki Hirata

When Soma Takao found out he was getting a homecoming show in Ota Ward, his immediate request was to team up with Shota as ROMANCE DAWN again. They normally team together in Ganbare☆Pro so this gives DDT fans a chance to see the team in person. Takao also wanted Yukio Sakaguchi & Kazuki Hirata to be his opponents because he is very close to both of them and thinks those two teaming together would be like putting oil and water together.

DDT “FIGHTING BEER GARDEN – DAY 2”, 29/08/2023
Tokyo Ueno Park Outdoor Stage

1. Drunk Tag Match: Yukio Sakaguchi & Saki Akai Vs HARASHIMA & Akito
2. Beer Garden Specialty Customer Lottery 6-Man Tag Match: Chris Brookes, Jun Akiyama, Kazusada Higuchi, Yuki Ueno, Yukio Naya and Takeshi Masada

A lottery picked by random fans determines who teams with who in the main event.

This will be Saki Akai’s last time wrestling on a Beer Garden show so DDT is giving her an excuse to drink on the job.


DDT “KING OF DDT 2023 FINAL!!” Results

May 21, 2023

DDT “KING OF DDT 2023 FINAL!!”, 21/05/2023
Tokyo Korakuen Hall
677 Fans

0. Dark Match: Yuki “Sexy” Iino, Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno & Yumehito “Fantastic” Imanari defeated Akito, Yusuke Okada & Rukiya by TKO when Iino used the Radio Taiso Exercise on Rukiya (6:01).
0. Dark Match: Yukio Sakaguchi, Saki Akai, Soma Takao, Yuni & Yuki Ishida defeated Toru Owashi, Makoto Oishi, Antonio Honda, Kazuki Hirata & Kazuma Sumi when Akai pinned Hirata with the Quetzalcoatl (7:39).
1. King Of DDT 2023 – Semi Final: Kazusada Higuchi defeated Yuki Ueno with the Brain Claw Slam (10:57).
2. King Of DDT 2023 – Semi Final: Chris Brookes defeated Jun Akiyama with the Praying Mantis Bomb (11:20).
3. BURNING Vs DAMNATION T.A!: Tetsuya Endo & Kotaro Suzuki defeated Daisuke Sasaki & MJ Paul when Endo pinned Paul with the Burning Star Press (11:02).
4. Special 8-Man Tag Match: Yuji Hino, Sanshiro Takagi, HARASHIMA & Naruki Doi defeated MAO, Toy Kojima, Yuya Koroku & Takeshi Masada when Hino submitted Koroku with the King Ghidorah Sleeper (10:32).
5. DDT Extreme Title – Piercing Death Match: Shunma Katsumata (c) defeated Hideki Okatani with an Inside Cradle (12:02).
*V1 for Shunma Katsumata.
6. King Of DDT 2023 – Final: Chris Brookes defeated Kazusada Higuchi with the Ground Octopus Stretch (24:28).

Four years ago an English wrestler from the independents named Chris Brookes came to DDT. He took to Japan’s wrestling scene like a duck to water, ticking off a hardcore puroresu bucket list of things to do that isn’t just wrestle in Korakuen Hall and getting a Ribera Steakhouse jacket. What was supposed to be a year long visit to Japan became a four year stay, partly due to the pandemic, but that only helped his career grow. He ingrained himself into Japan’s wrestling scene from as many corners as he could whether it was for DDT, Gatoh Move or somewhere else. Today that four year journey reached its highest point for now because Brookes is the winner of this year’s King Of DDT tournament!

Brookes earned his victory by beating last year’s winner Kazusada Higuchi in the final. Higuchi kicked out of the Praying Mantis Bomb and used the Brain Claw to set up an Exploder Suplex. That almost resulted in a double KO countout but both men got up at 9. Higuchi did the Doctor Bomb but Brookes kicked out at two. Higuchi provoked Brookes into Headbutting him several times and then fired back with one of his own. But when Higuchi charged in to do the Buchikamashi, Brookes jumped onto him and latched on the Octopus Stretch. The move took Higuchi off his feet and Brookes kept finding ways to twist him until Higuchi finally gave up.

Brookes shook hands with Higuchi after the match and was presented with the trophy. He then celebrated with his cornermen Masahiro Takanashi, Drew Parker and Antonio Honda. Brookes told the fans he was able to win because of their cheers. But his “Dramatic Dream” is not over yet because Brookes is now setting his sights on the KO-D Openweight Title! Backstage he told the reporters that it was not a hard decision to stay in Japan during the pandemic because his friends and family are with DDT and he will always be a part of the company. He beat HARASHIMA, Sanshiro Takagi, Jun Akiyama and Higuchi to win this tournament so he isn’t intimidated with fighting Yuji Hino for the KO-D Title. Higuchi praised Brookes for his persistence and tenacity. He credits that as the difference maker today.

The DDT Extreme Title was on the line in a Piercing Death Match. It was a No DQ match featuring nothing but sharp weapons for Shunma Katsumata and Hideki Okatani to stab each other with. Okatani purposely dyed his hair blonde for the match so he could cover it in Katsumata’s blood! An extra stipulation was added where piercing your opponent’s ear three times was a valid way to win the match. That wasn’t needed in the end although both men did get their ears stapled a lot. Okatani had his back rolled over a pile of thumbtacks while Katsumata was pushed through a barbed wire board. However Katsumata got away with the win thanks to an Inside Cradle.

Afterwards Katsumata said he always thought Okatani had what it takes to do hardcore and death match wrestling. He wants to do a rematch some day. Okatani agreed because he had fun doing his first death match. Katsumata then suggested when Atsushi Onita comes back to DDT on 1st July, they can get him involved too for a tag team match. However when Yukio Sakaguchi heard about the idea backstage he got angry over hearing Onita’s name.

Before Hino knew who his next challenger was going to be, he led his squad to victory in an 8-Man Tag Match. It was a rocky start with MAO’s team setting up a Kongo style train of Elbow Drops onto Takagi. Takeshi Masada attacked Takagi, complaining to his boss that he wants to travel to shows on the bullet train. Takagi ordered him while fighting back to take the bus instead because he’s too immature. Naruki Doi also got more annoyed at his younger opponents as the match progressed. Hino sorted that problem out, hitting both Yuya Koroku and Toy Kojima with his big Chops. Kojima withstood the Chops as best as he could until Hino held both him and Koroku in a Double Dragon Sleeper for the win. When Hino does the move to one person it’s called the King Kong Sleeper. But when he does it to two people at the same time it’s called the King Ghidorah Sleeper!

Tetsuya Endo faced his past in the BURNING Vs DAMNATION T.A tag match. Daisuke Sasaki attacked him before the bell and took a moment to look at the DDT Universal Title. Endo fought back and had help from Kotaro Suzuki against MJ Paul. Suzuki blocked Paul from doing the Reverse Splash and then he along with Endo gave Paul a Power Bomb/Neckbreaker combo. Later Sasaki missed a Diving Clothesline and accidentally hit Paul from behind. That gave Endo the opening to knock Sasaki outside, wipe him out with the Sasuke Special and then climb the turnbuckles to pin Paul with the Burning Star Press.

After the match Endo called for the big announcement over the ex-WWE wrestler coming to DDT soon to be revealed. He doesn’t care who it is but he heard that this person is being paid 30 million yen to come over! A video played revealing the wrestler is Matt Cardona! The man who now calls himself the “Indy God” is going to face Endo for the Universal Title at “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2023” and he is bringing former NXT wrestler Steph De Lander along with him. Endo was not impressed. He expected a big name but this exceeded his expectations in a bad way. He thinks no amount of money or Twitter followers directly relates to how strong a wrestler is. Endo swore he will defend the Universal Title, take Cardona’s Twitter followers and also take the 30 million yen! Endo also put out word he is waiting for KANON to come back from injury because he owes him a match. KANON was supposed to be part of today’s tag match but is out of action with a dislocated shoulder.

Brookes had to go through Akiyama in the King Of DDT semi-finals earlier in the show. Akiyama threw his Knee Strikes, Exploder Suplexes and even applied the Front Neck Lock to no success. Brookes recovered some ground by countering another Exploder into a Cradle for a nearfall. Akiyama went for the move again but Brookes cut him off with a Knee Strike of his own and used the Praying Mantis Bomb to get the win out of nowhere. Akiyama said afterwards he has to get back into the swing of things otherwise he will wind up like the NOAH Health Club. That is a nickname he gave to Jun Izumida, Masao Inoue and Kishin Kawabata back in 2004 for their lackadaisical efforts in training at the time.

Higuchi’s path to the final saw him go through Yuki Ueno in a rematch of their KO-D Title bout from last December. The two know each other well by this point and had counters for each other’s signature moves. Ueno just couldn’t go through with the WR and was stunned with a Headbutt. Higuchi ran him over with a Lariat and finished him off with the Brain Claw Slam. Ueno told the reporters that results like this should prove he is not good enough. But he beat Naruki Doi and Kotaro Suzuki to get to this point so giving up now would only be disrespectful to them. So Ueno will not stop fighting until he makes it to the top of DDT!

The final rounds of the tournament taking up so much of the main card resulted in a lot of the roster being relegated to the dark matches. A 10-Man Tag featured the usual mix. Kazuki Hirata was briefly abandoned by the rest of his side, leaving him alone in the ring with Sakaguchi. That led to a train attack on Hirata until he was able to tag in Toru Owashi. Then Yuni gave Makoto Oishi a top rope Frankensteiner and got a two count that was broken up by Kazuma Sumi. A circle of split leg submissions formed in the ring with Honda and Yuki Ishida both being left out so they joined together in the center of the circle for a Gongitsune spot. The spot went out of control with Honda striking everybody until he and Ishida started pinching each other’s nipples. Hirata broke it up with his dance but that got intercepted by an attack from Sakaguchi. Saki Akai then joined in wearing the Hirata GO! glasses and pinned Hirata with the Quetzalcoatl.

The pre-show began in the morning time so Pheromones had an idea in mind to wake everyone up. They started playing exercise music from a morning TV show midway through the match so they could do lewd looking exercises while fighting off the opposition. Akito & Yusuke Okada both had their attempts to stop the workout fail, leaving Rukiya to take the worst of it. The exercises Pheromones did to him rendered him unconscious so the match ended by TKO.

When the show had ended and Korakuen started clearing out, Daisuke Sasaki urgently called for the media to meet him in the waiting room backstage. There he told them he was waiting for El Desperado to show up because New Japan were running the next event in Korakuen later in the evening. He claimed he only wanted to meet with Desperado and take a picture together to promote their match at “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2023”. However the venue staff started to complain and told Sasaki to leave so they could clean the place up before New Japan arrived. Management then approached Sasaki telling him to leave and he tried to pay them 1,000 yen and then promised that Sanshiro Takagi will pay for an extension fee. He finally gave up and left when the staff started pushing him out of the room with their mops.

The Yuki Ueno & Yuni Vs Nick Wayne & Takeshi Masada that was meant to take place in Yokohama Budokan earlier this month is now happening at Yokohama Radiant Hall on 1st July. Yuni backstage said he is very excited and wil be waiting for Wayne right here in DDT.

Fighting Beer Garden 2023 will be held at Ueno Park on 16th and 29th August. For the first time in four years it will be a full fledged drinking show for the fans like it used to be.

Starting on 23rd May DDT will be doing a free ticket campaign for preschool, elementary school and junior high school students at all of their shows. The plan was originally going to be for just preschoolers but DDT decided to include other students due to Yuki Ueno’s recent appearances on the NHK show Tensai TV-kun.

ShunMao’s next KO-D Tag Team Titles defence was announced to take place at Korakuen on 25th June.


DDT “NON-ALCOHOLIC BEER GARDEN PRO WRESTLING” Results

August 26, 2022

DDT “NON-ALCOHOLIC BEER GARDEN PRO WRESTLING”, 26/08/2022
Tokyo Ueno Park Amphitheater
427 Fans – No Vacancy

0. Dark Match: MJ Paul & KANON defeated Hideki Okatani & Takeshi Masada when KANON pinned Masada with the Sleepy Hollow (7:49).
1. Bring Your Own Weapons Falls Count Anywhere 8-Man Tag Match: Yuji Hino, Yukio Naya, Yuki Ishida & Ilusion defeated Sanshiro Takagi, Toru Owashi, Kazuki Hirata & Soma Takao when Naya pinned Hirata with the Choke Slam into the pool (8:12).
2. Crocodile Panda Drunk 3 Way Match: Masahiro Takanashi defeated HARASHIMA and Yukio Sakaguchi when Takanashi completed the Crocodile Panda game (R6 1:00).
3. Special Single Match: Daisuke Sasaki defeated El Unicorn with the Foot Crossface Lock (12:23).
4. The Scariest In History! Shin Numabukuro Ghost Story 3 Way Tag Death Match: Akito & Makoto Oishi Vs Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno Vs Antonio Honda & Saki Akai ended in a No Contest (13:00). (Ghost Story Artist: Hisaya Imabayashi)
5. BURNING Vs The 37KAMIINA!: MAO, Shunma Katsumata & Toi Kojima defeated Jun Akiyama, Yusuke Okada & Yuya Koroku when Katsumata pinned Koroku after the Oretachi no MADMAX (9:20).
6. Beer Garden Specialty Customer Lottery 6-Man Tag Match: Konosuke Takeshita, Naomi Yoshimura & Tetsuya Endo defeated Kazusada Higuchi, Yuki Ueno & Chris Brookes when Takeshita pinned Brookes with the Jumping Knee (18:20).

The fan lottery pitted determined the teams in the main event. Kazusada Higuchi found himself facing off against Konosuke Takeshita again but also his Harimao tag partner Naomi Yoshimura and Tetsuya Endo, the man he just defended the KO-D Openweight Title against. That’s not to say he was teaming with slouches though. Yuki Ueno & Chris Brookes carried their fair share of the match. Takeshita called the match fresh and fun because the other wrestlers have all evolved while he was in America. He can feel DDT’s momentum coming back and he will give it a boost with his KO-D Title match against Higuchi.

Daisuke Sasaki achieved a complete victory over El Unicorn, targeting his leg and removing his mask. His dirty tactics caught the attention of Ilusion who unexpectedly came to Unicorn’s aid and returned the mask to his rival. Unicorn got his second wind but Sasaki blocked a Moonsault with his knees and got the submission win with an Elevated Crossface Lock. Sasaki added insult to injury after the match by faking a handshake so he could low blow and unmask Unicorn one more time. Ilusion, HARASHIMA and Masahiro Takanashi then all ran in and chased him off. Both Unicorn and Sasaki will agree that this is not the end of their feud!

The Drunk 3 Way match was the only time anyone in the venue got to drink alcohol during the show. HARASHIMA, Takanashi and Yukio Sakaguchi all took shots in between rounds. They also played with a crocodile toy where you have to push in the toy’s teeth without it biting your finger. Whenever they got bit they would have a part of their face painted until they looked like a panda.

Demonio Uno appeared in the middle of the opening match and attacked some of the wrestlers.


Beer Garden Opening Early, Full Nelson Buster, Ishida Joins Harimao, Several Anniversary Celebrations

August 25, 2022

DDT “NON-ALCOHOLIC BEER GARDEN PRO WRESTLING”, 26/08/2022
Tokyo Ueno Park Amphitheater

0. Dark Match: MJ Paul & KANON Vs Hideki Okatani & Takeshi Masada
1. Bring Your Own Weapons Falls Count Anywhere 8-Man Tag Match: Sanshiro Takagi, Toru Owashi, Kazuki Hirata & Soma Takao Vs Yuji Hino, Yukio Naya, Yuki Ishida & Ilusion
2. Drunk 3 Way Match: Masahiro Takanashi Vs HARASHIMA Vs Yukio Sakaguchi
3. Special Single Match: Daisuke Sasaki Vs El Unicorn
4. The Scariest In History! Shin Numabukuro Ghost Story 3 Way Tag Death Match: Akito & Makoto Oishi Vs Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno Vs Antonio Honda & Saki Akai (Ghost Story Artist: Hisaya Imabayashi)
5. BURNING Vs The 37KAMIINA!: Jun Akiyama, Yusuke Okada & Yuya Koroku Vs MAO, Shunma Katsumata & Toi Kojima
6. Beer Garden Specialty Customer Lottery 6-Man Tag Match: Kazusada Higuchi, Tetsuya Endo, Konosuke Takeshita, Naomi Yoshimura, Yuki Ueno, Chris Brookes

The opening time for the venue was pushed forward by 30 minutes so DDT is changing the match order around a little bit. The original opening match is now a dark match. The show will begin properly at the regular time as advertised.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW PERFECTION”, 27/08/2022
Tokyo Ryogoku KFC Hall

1. 3 Way Match: Mizuki Vs Hyper Misao Vs Yuki Aino
2. Maki Itoh & Moka Miyamoto Vs Yuki Kamifuku & Mahiro Kiryu
3. Rika Tatsumi & Haruna Neko Vs Hikari Noa & Nao Kakuta
4. Yuka Sakazaki Vs Raku
5. Miyu Yamashita Vs Pom Harajuku
6. Shoko Nakajima & Miu Watanabe Vs Suzume & Arisu Endo

Kaya Toribami’s absence from Tokyo Joshi Pro shows due to a scheduling conflict will continue until after the 4th September show in Nagoya.

GANBARE☆PRO “TOKOROZAWA PARK TOWN SHOPPING STREET 2022”, 27/08/2022
Saitama Tokorozawa Park Town Shopping Street Special

1. GanJo Special 6-Woman Tag Match In Park Town Shopping District: Yuna Manase, Kakeru Sekiguchi & Yoshiko Hasegawa Vs Cherry, Moeka Haruhi & HARUKAZE
2. Eternal Rebellious Period And Late Rebellious Period vs Ishii’s Allied Tag Team: Yumehito Imanari & Tyson Maeguchi Vs Gota Ihashi & Kouki Iwasaki
3. ROMANCE DAWN Vs Super Beast Of The World & Hentai Of Toyama: Shota & Soma Takao Vs Aja Kong & Shinichiro Tominaga
4. Fresh Ariyama Presents Special 6-Man Tag Match: Ken Ohka, Shuichiro Katsumura & Keisuke Ishii Vs Tatsuhito Takaiwa, Mizuki Watase & SAGAT

YuuRI suffered a left hand injury at the last Ganbare☆Pro show. She hasn’t recovered from it yet so will miss this show. Cherry takes her spot.

GANBARE☆PRO “PUNCH DRUNK LOVE 2022”, 03/09/2022
Tokyo Narimasu Act Hall

1. GanPro Vs MAKAI: Keisuke Ishii Vs Yuki Kanzaki
2. GanJo Special Tag Match: Yuna Manase & YuuRI Vs Moeka Haruhi & Yoshiko Hasegawa
3. GanPro Special 6-Man Tag Match: Ken Ohka, Shuichiro Katsumura & Kouki Iwasaki Vs Soma Takao, Shinichiro Tominaga & Jun Masaoka
4. Hardcore Mixed Tag Match: Shigehiro Irie & Akane Fujita Vs Mizuki Watase & HARUKAZE
5. Spirit Of Ganbare World Openweight Title: Yumehito Imanari (c) Vs Hartley Jackson

Harcore Mixed Tag Matches are back in Ganpro. Mizuki Watase & HARUKAZE are still developing their manzai inspired tag team. They decided to name their team Full Nelson Buster. Will either of them use the move against Shigehiro Irie or Akane Fujita?

Yuki Kanzaki was originally an indie wrestler who turned into an All Japan trainee around 2017. However his official debut never took place due to hematoma and he left the company. After a year of recovery he became a stage actor and performed for MAKAI, eventually becoming affiliated with the project. He returned to pro wrestling in November of last year and spends time juggling between both roles.

DDT “JAPAN BAKERY MARKETING PRESENTS KONOSUKE TAKESHITA 10TH ANNIVERSARY ~NISHINARI BAY BLUES~”, 10/09/2022
Osaka Nishinari Kumin Center

1. MJ Paul & KANON Vs Hideki Okatani & Takeshi Masada
2. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title – Staggered Entre Battle Royal: Toru Owashi (c) Vs Yuki “Sexy” Iino Vs Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno Vs Yumehito “Fantastic” Imanari Vs Yusuke Okada Vs Yuya Koroku Vs Akito Vs Makoto Oishi Vs Soma Takao Vs Kazuki Hirata Vs Saki Akai Vs Yuki Ishida Vs Ilusion Vs El Unicorn
3. Yasu Urano, Antonio Honda & Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi Vs Masahiro Takanashi, Super Sasadango Machine & X
4. The 37KAMIINA Vs Brahmin Brothers: MAO, Shunma Katsumata & Toi Kojima Vs Brahman Shu, Brahman Kei & Brahman Sanshiro
5. Tokyo Joshi Pro 3 Way Tag Offer Match: Shoko Nakajima & Hyper Misao Vs Yuka Sakazaki & Mizuki Vs Miu Watanabe & Arisu Endo
6. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Kazusada Higuchi, Naomi Yoshimura & Yukio Naya Vs Tetsuya Endo, Jun Akiyama & Yuji Hino
7. Nobuyuki Onizawa’s Ochakan Radio Presents Special Tag Match: Minoru Suzuki & Yukio Sakaguchi Vs HARASHIMA & Shinya Aoki
8. Japan Bakery Marketing Co., Ltd. Presents Special Single Match: Konosuke Takeshita Vs Daisuke Sasaki
9. Special Tag Match ~ Sakuya Konohana Tag Vs CCK!: Konosuke Takeshita & Yuki Ueno Vs Chris Brookes & Kid Lykos

It’s a special show for Konosuke Takeshita so not only is he getting two matches, he wants to do them back to back!

DDT “WHO’S GONNA TOP? 2022 TOUR IS ASAKUSA”, 13/09/2022
Tokyo Asakusa Hanayashi Theater

0. Dark Match ~ Nariagari Offer Match: Tawaramachi Kid Jr. & Super Nikuyaki Machine Vs Sumo Ninja Kyu & Tadaki Toronomi
1. 3 Way Tag Match: Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno Vs Sanshiro Takagi & Akito Vs Yukio Sakaguchi & Kazuki Hirata
2. Asakusa Specialty Special Tag Match: MAO & Shunma Katsumata Vs Makoto Oishi & Yoshihiko
3. Tetsuya Endo, Jun Akiyama & Yusuke Okada Vs HARASHIMA, Toru Owashi & Yukio Naya
4. Harimao Vs The 37KAMIINA!: Kazusada Higuchi, Naomi Yoshimura & Yuki Ishida Vs Konosuke Takeshita, Yuki Ueno & Toi Kojima

Harimao has suddenly gone from tag team to a unit. Yuki Ishida asked to join them after yesterday’s show and he was accepted by both Kazusada Higuchi & Naomi Yoshimura. The three have teamed together before in 6-Man Tag Matches but now they’re going to do so as a united force.

DDT “STERNNESS 30TH ANNIVERSARY ~JUN AKIYAMA 30TH ANNIVERSARY~”, 18/09/2022
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Yusuke Okada Vs Yuya Koroku
2. Naomi Yoshimura Vs Takeshi Masada
3. Jun Akiyama Debut 30th Anniversary Match – Special 6-Man Tag Match: Jun Akiyama, Tetsuya Endo & Yoshinobu Kanemaru Vs Yuji Nagata, Konosuke Takeshita & Shunma Katsumata

30 years ago Jun Akiyama made his debut match against Kenta Kobashi in the semi-main event of an All Japan show in Korakuen Hall. That he is giving Takeshi Masada the same opportunity shows how much he has high hopes for the rookie.

Akiyama also thinks the opening match is important because it gets the audience excited for the rest of the show. That is why he is sticking Yusuke Okada in that spot with Yuya Koroku.

Cara Noir being on this show makes me wonder who Akiyama would book him against?

DDT “DRAMATIC DREAMS! VOL. 9 ~NO CLOUDS OVER THE MOON~”, 10/10/2022
Osaka Higashinari Ward Community Center

1. Special 6-Man Tag Match ~Smile Squash Vs DAMNATION T.A~: HARASHIMA, Yasu Urano & Akito Vs Minoru Fujita, MJ Paul & KANON
2. Special Tag Match Sterness Siege ~Men Of Ice Vs Men Of Melting Ice~: Jun Akiyama & Antonio Honda Vs Kuishinbo Kamen & Kikutaro
3. Special Single Match ~Road Of Former Champions~: Tetsuya Endo Vs Masahiro Takanashi

The former KO-D Openweight Champion and former DDT Universal Champion collide on Yukinori Matsui’s annual Osaka show. Matsui is also sticking Akiyama in with the jokers and bringing back Smile Squash for one night only.

Shuji Ishikawa and Harutoki will both be on the show. Harutoki is from Dotonbori Pro.

DDT “GET ALIVE 2022”, 12/10/2022
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Yuki Ishida 1st Anniversary Match: Yuki Ishida Vs X
2. Makoto Oishi 20th Anniversary Match: Makoto Oishi Vs X

Ishida will be celebrating the one year anniversary of his debut match on the same show as Makoto Oishi celebrating his 20th anniversary in wrestling. Oishi has made requests for his match and is looking forward to announcing it next week. Ishida is confused why his one year anniversary is being treated as just as much a big deal but he hopes people come to see it.


Omega (Not That One) Reunites, Kawamatsu Training For Muga, Non-Alcoholic Beer Garden Matches

August 10, 2022

DDT/ONLY WE “ROAD TO PETER PAN 2022 IN CHIBA”, 11/08/2022
Chiba 2AW Square

1. Yusuke Okada Vs Toi Kojima
2. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Daisuke Sasaki, MJ Paul & KANON Vs Kaji Tomato, Yuya Koroku & El Unicorn
3. Yukio Sakaguchi, Hideki Okatani & Hiroshi Yamato Vs Soma Takao, Yukio Naya & Yuki Ishida
4. ONLY WE x DDT Special Tag Match ~ Harimao Vs Ω: Kazusada Higuchi & Naomi Yoshimura Vs Yuji Hino & Makoto Oishi
5. Summer! Chiba! Swim Shorts! ONLY WE x DDT Special Swim Shorts Rumble: Yuji Hino Vs Kaji Tomato Vs Akito Vs MAO Vs Shunma Katsumata Vs Chris Brookes Vs Antonio Honda Vs Yuki “Sexy” Iino Vs Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno Vs Sanshiro Takagi Vs Hoshitango Vs Yukio Naya

The card is shuffled around a little bit after Yuji Hino & Makoto Oishi agreed to reform Ω as a special occasion. The K-DOJO unit had other members but it is these two who are getting together for a match against Harimao.

Rumours are going around that the White Briefs Man is making his way to Chiba in time to be at the show.

DDT “ROAD TO PETER PAN 2022 IN KORAKUEN ~LET’S SHOUT!~”, 14/08/2022
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Yuki “Sexy” Iino, Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno & X (w/ Yumehito “Fantastic” Imanari) Vs Sanshiro Takagi, Toru Owashi & Soma Takao
2. Daisuke Sasaki, MJ Paul & KANON Vs Yukio Sakaguchi, MAO & Yuki Ishida
3. Takeshi Masada Debut Match: HARASHIMA Vs Takeshi Masada
4. Right To Challenge Anytime, Anywhere Battle Royal: Yuji Hino Vs Chris Brookes Vs Shinya Aoki Vs Shunma Katsumata Vs Makoto Oishi Vs Kazuki Hirata Vs Yusuke Okada Vs Yukio Naya Vs Hideki Okatani Vs Yuya Koroku
5. Special Single Match: Asuka Vs Saki Akai
6. Masahiro Takanashi & Antonio Honda Vs Yuki Ueno & Toi Kojima
7. DDT Extreme Title – Fluorescent Lighttube IPPON Death Match: Akito (c) Vs Joey Janela
8. Road To WRESTLE PETER PAN 2022! Special Tag Match: Kazusada Higuchi & Naomi Yoshimura Vs Tetsuya Endo & Jun Akiyama

Seems like Tetsuya Endo and Jun Akiyama will be cleared to wrestle this weekend if they have not been already yet.

DDT “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2022”, 20/08/2022
Tokyo Ota Ward Gymnasium

1. Yusuke Okada, Yuya Koroku & Ilusion Vs Toi Kojima, Yuki Ishida & Takeshi Masada
2. 3 Way 6-Man Tag Match: Yuki “Sexy” Iino, Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno & X (w/ Yumehito “Fantastic” Imanari) Vs Yuji Hino, Yukio Naya & Super Sasadango Machine Vs Toru Owashi, Kazuki Hirata & Antonio Honda
3. Shinichiro Kawamatsu Debut Match ~ Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly Member Vs Bunkyo Ward Assembly Member: Shinichiro Kawamatsu, Sanshiro Takagi & Soma Takao Vs Osamu Nishimura, Makoto Oishi & Akito
4. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Naomi Yoshimura, Kota Umeda & Keisuke Okuda Vs HARASHIMA, Yukio Sakaguchi & Hideki Okatani
5. Special Mixed Tag Match: Jun Akiyama & Saki Akai Vs Chris Brookes & Asuka
6. International Special Hardcore Match: Joey Janela Vs Shunma Katsumata
7. DDT 25th Anniversary Special 6-Man Tag Match: Dick Togo, Daisuke Sasaki & KANON (w/ MJ Paul) Vs Konosuke Takeshita, MAO & Yasu Urano
8. DDT Universal Title: Masahiro Takanashi (c) Vs Yuki Ueno
9. KO-D Openweight Title: Kazusada Higuchi (c) Vs Tetsuya Endo

A press conference was held today for Shinichiro Kawamatsu and Osamu Nishimura to meet each other before their 6-Man Tag Match at “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2022”. Also in at the conference were Soma Takao and Akito. Kawamatsu said he’s been able to train for the match without having it interfere with his political duties. His wrestling style will be ground focused and he wants to see Nishimura use the Muga style against him. He brought along a T-shirt from 15 years ago that Nishimura autographed for him at the time. Nishimura was touched by this and said if Kawamatsu respects him that much, he will show him the Muga style in a DDT ring. Nishimura isn’t forgetting about Akito and Takao though. Even though it is a tag match, Nishimura will treat it like he’s fighting against three different opponents on his own to show how determined he is.

The match also means a lot to Takao because it is taking place in his home of Ota Ward and he some day hopes to become a city councilor. He would like to learn from both Kawamatsu and Nishimura to achieve that goal. Nishimura spent most of his time talking about his hometown Bunkyo and had to be reminded by Hisaya Imabayashi to talk about the wrestling match.

DDT “NON-ALCOHOLIC BEER GARDEN PRO WRESTLING”, 26/08/2022
Tokyo Ueno Park Amphitheater

1. MJ Paul & KANON Vs Hideki Okatani & Takeshi Masada
2. Bring Your Own Weapons Falls Count Anywhere 8-Man Tag Match: Sanshiro Takagi, Toru Owashi, Kazuki Hirata & Soma Takao Vs Yuji Hino, Yukio Naya, Yuki Ishida & Ilusion
3. Drunk 3 Way Match: Masahiro Takanashi Vs HARASHIMA Vs Yukio Sakaguchi
4. The Scariest In History! Shin Numabukuro Ghost Story 3 Way Tag Death Match: Akito & Makoto Oishi Vs Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno Vs Antonio Honda & Saki Akai (Ghost Story Artist: Hisaya Imabayashi)
5. BURNING Vs The 37KAMIINA!: Jun Akiyama, Yusuke Okada & Yuya Koroku Vs MAO, Shunma Katsumata & Toi Kojima
6. Special Single Match: Daisuke Sasaki Vs El Unicorn
7. Beer Garden Specialty Customer Lottery 6-Man Tag Match: Kazusada Higuchi, Tetsuya Endo, Konosuke Takeshita, Naomi Yoshimura, Yuki Ueno, Chris Brookes

The upcoming Beer Garden show may be a little different than usual but some of the traditions are sticking around. The main event 6-Man Tag will determine its teams by a lottery held at the start of the show. Randomly chosen fans will pick names or balls out of a box that decides who teams with who. Also on the card is Imabayashi’s annual ghost story. They can be so scary it’s fatal!

The grudge match between Daisuke Sasaki and El Unicorn is going ahead but without any stipulation added to it. Unicorn wants to get revenge for DAMNATION T.A constantly unmasking him. Sasaki was willing to put his hair on the line against Unicorn’s mask but that does not seem to be necessary for now.

It’s still supposed to be a non-alcohol Beer Garden show but three of the DDT wrestlers will do their damnedest to get drunk anyway. The drinking songs just aren’t the same when you only chug glasses of water to them. You know what I’m saying?

DDT doing a Fans Bring The Weapons match. What could go wrong?

DDT “DRAMATIC EXPLOSION 2022”, 04/09/2022
Aichi Nagoya Congress Center Event Hall

1. Special Single Match: Chris Brookes Vs Asuka
2. KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles: Daisuke Sasaki, MJ Paul & KANON (c) Vs Yukio Sakaguchi, Saki Akai & Hideki Okatani
3. Current Blast 6-Man Tag Death Match: Atsushi Onita, Shinya Aoki & Yukio Naya Vs Konosuke Takeshita, Shunma Katsumata & Toi Kojima

Eruption came out to defend El Unicorn from DAMNATION T.A’s bullying and ended up challenging them for the KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles.

DDT “JAPAN BAKERY MARKETING PRESENTS KONOSUKE TAKESHITA 10TH ANNIVERSARY ~NISHINARI BAY BLUES~”, 10/09/2022
Osaka Nishinari Kumin Center

1. Yasu Urano, Antonio Honda & Trans-Am ☆ Hiroshi Vs Masahiro Takanashi, Super Sasadango Machine & X
2. Nobuyuki Onizawa’s Ochakan Radio Presents Special Tag Match: Minoru Suzuki & Yukio Sakaguchi Vs HARASHIMA & Shinya Aoki
3. Japan Bakery Marketing Co., Ltd. Presents Special Single Match: Konosuke Takeshita Vs Daisuke Sasaki

Two matches that could not be more different are added to Konosuke Takeshita’s 10th Anniversary show. A dangerous encounter between Minoru Suzuki & Yukio Sakaguchi against HARASHIMA & Shinya Aoki is being sponsored by a local radio show. Then there is an odd bunch of wrestlers gathering together for a 6-Man Tag Match with one participant yet to be revealed.


DDT “KING OF DDT 2022 2ND ROUND” Results

June 19, 2022

DDT “KING OF DDT 2022 2ND ROUND”, 19/06/2022
Tokyo Korakuen Hall
430 Fans

0. Dark Match: Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno & Yumehito “Fantastic” Imanari defeated Toru Owashi & Kazuki Hirata when Dieno pinned Hirata with a Cradle (7:27).
1. DAMNATION T.A Vs Eruption!: MJ Paul & KANON Vs Yukio Sakaguchi & Hideki Okatani ended in a Double Countout (11:01).
2. THE KICKBOXING MATCH 2022: Hikaru Machida & Gota Ihashi defeated Shinya Aoki & Toi Kojima when Ihashi pinned Kojima with the Moonsault Press (R3 1:42).
3. MAO, Shunma Katsumata, Yusuke Okada & Yuya Koroku defeated Yuji Hino, Yukio Naya, Chris Brookes & Yuki Ishida when Katsumata pinned Ishida after the Oretachi no MADMAX (13:33).
4. King Of DDT 2022 – Round 2: Kazusada Higuchi defeated Masahiro Takanashi with the Brain Claw Slam (4:41).
5. King Of DDT 2022 – Round 2: Jun Akiyama defeated Yuki “Sexy” Iino with the Sexy Paradise Lock (11:34).
6. King Of DDT 2022 – Round 2: Yuki Ueno defeated Daisuke Sasaki with the WR (12:49).
7. King Of DDT 2022 – Round 2: Naomi Yoshimura defeated HARASHIMA with the Osaka Pride (19:24).

The King Of DDT moved over to Korakuen Hall for the 2nd Round. The top four matches of the show were all Quarter Final bouts. Naomi Yoshimura grabbed everyone’s attention by defeating his current tag partner and “big brother” figure HARASHIMA in the main event. It was an impressive result because everything about the match looked like HARASHIMA was going to take it. He hit the Somato but Yoshimura was too close to the ropes so he could easily reach for the rope break despite taking the full blow. HARASHIMA went for the Swan Dive Somato to finish the job but Yoshimura sprang up to his feet and caught him in mid air with the Harai Goshi! He followed up with the Throwaway Power Bomb but HARASHIMA was still fighting. HARASHIMA went for one more Somato but Yoshimura caught him again and swung him into the Osaka Pride. That was the end of it and Yoshimura pinned him for the three count!

Yuki Ueno had his own difficult mountain to climb over. Daisuke Sasaki has been a big thorn in his side based on their previous matches together. Just like in “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2021” last August, Sasaki busted Ueno open and focused on making him bleed further. Ueno’s 1st Round opponent KANON also pulled the ref out of the ring when Ueno had Sasaki pinned with the Frog Splash. However he avoided La Mistica and kicked out of the flash Hurricanrana, holding onto Sasaki’s arm the whole time so he could suddenly pull him into the WR. It ended up being a big win for Ueno, one that puts his failure to beat Sasaki last year to rest.

The dreaded hose Yuki Iino used in the opening round made its return this time attached to a portable vacuum cleaner. He tried using it on Jun Akiyama but Makoto Oishi tried stopping him. Oishi got the hose shoved into his mouth while the other end was stuck up Iino’s backside for his troubles. Akiyama grabbed the vacuum afterwards, stuck it up to Iino’s lips and switched it on to suck the life out of his opponent. Iino somehow kicked out after taking a Knee Smash and the Exploder Suplex. Akiyama then thought outside the box and placed Iino in the Paradise Lock, giving one side of Korakuen a full display of Iino’s butt in all of its glory. Akiyama then shoved both ends of the hose into Iino’s mouth and butt until Iino gave up to the Paradise Lock.

There was even more trickery in the first Quarter Final match of the show. Kazusada Higuchi waited for his opponent Masahiro Takanashi only to see Baliyan Akki and Antonio Honda walk out both disguised as him. The real Takanashi entered the ring from the other side to ambush Higuchi. The plan didn’t offer Takanashi much because Higuchi soon picked him up into the Canadian Backbreaker. That was when Plan B happened and the bell suddenly rang. DJ Nira was at the timekeeper’s desk and rang the bell early to distract Higuchi. Takanashi tried to take advantage and set up the Takatonic. However Higuchi blocked the move, grabbed Takanashi and delivered the Brain Claw Slam for the win.

At the end of the show the four remaining wrestlers in King Of DDT took part in the lottery to pair up for the next round. Whoever chose the same colour balls will face each other in the semi final. The result is Ueno Vs Yoshimura and Higuchi and Akiyama. Yoshimura later said he would have preferred to face Ueno in the final so he cannot lose to him now. Ueno has never beaten Yoshimura one on one so this is the next step for him to become the strongest wrestler in DDT. Akiyama is happy to talk about anything other than the match he had today. He thinks Higuchi has never stopped thinking about him so it is time they settle their problems in the ring. Higuchi said he needs to beat Akiyama if he is to become the new KO-D Openweight Champion.

It was slightly unusual to see wrestlers from BURNING and The 37KAMIINA teaming together. Shunma Katsumata thought all four of them were on the same page so he rushed ahead to attack Yuji Hino. He was the only one though and he simply bounced off Hino’s big chest. Luckily for him MAO was there to help him fight off Yukio Naya. MAO also gave Yusuke Okada & Yuya Koroku and extra hand to Suplex Hino. Chris Brookes set the match up for Yuki Ishida to take control but the rookie was overwhelmed with NeppoWER!! MAO & Katsumata gave him with a version of the MADMAX to end the match.

The biggest combat sporting event to happen in Japan for years was taking place a few minutes away from Korakuen Hall while DDT was running this show. As the Tokyo Dome was hosting THE MATCH in front of over 56,000 people, DDT tried to capitalize on this with their own mega fighting bout called THE KICKBOXING MATCH to an audience of 430. The match itself was a tag team bout held under kickboxing rules. Shinya Aoki wished he was at the Tokyo Dome instead, until he got to see the round girl Sanae Takebayashi do her job. He changed his tone pretty quickly after that. Toi Kojima took the match more seriously and looked to be the better fighter against Gota Ihashi. Aoki met his match against Hikaru Machida and the two fought out of the ring over to the special ring announcer Miyata Mitsuru. Both of them decided to attack him instead before going back to the ring to continue the match. In the 3rd Round, Machida used the Irai Punch on Kojima to knock him out. But rather than end the match there, Machida got Ihashi to do a Moonsault and pick up the win that way. Afterwards it was announced that Ihashi’s prize for winning is qualification to fight at an upcoming KNOCK OUT event produced by Mitsuru. He was against the idea at first but was convinced into accepting the invitation. Unfortunately Ihashi later found out Mitsuru couldn’t find a suitable opponent matching his size so the plan may be scrapped for now.

The opening match between Eruption and DAMNATION T.A went out of control when the four wrestlers involved wouldn’t stop fighting each other. Yukio Sakaguchi and MJ Paul squared off with each other while Hideki Okatani and KANON provoked each other into a fight. All of them continued fighting outside the ring until they were counted out.

In the dark match Yumehito Imanari kept Toru Owashi off his game by purposefully filming him while they wrestled. Danshoku Dieno also put Kazuki Hirata into a disadvantage by taking the Hirata GO! glasses and stuffing them into his tights. That later backfired when Dieno put Hirata in position for the Danshoku Driver. When Hirata’s head was pulled into Dieno’s tights, his music began playing. Hirata then pulled his head out revealing he landed perfectly into the GO! Glasses and is now wearing them! However Imanari gave Hirata a DDT into Dieno’s backside and Dieno then sat on top of him for the pin.

Shinichiro Kawamatsu, the active member of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly who recently held the Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title appeared halfway through the show to give an important announcement. He is going to do make his official pro wrestling debut at “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2022” on 20th August! He wanted to show his gratitude to DDT for winning the Iron Man Title and Sanshiro Takagi made the suggestion for him to wrestle an actual match. Kawamatsu agreed to it, feeling regret for relying on his bodyguard and doing nothing but submit during his last appearance. He owes it to all pro wrestling fans to give it a proper shot and is finding time to train inbetween his political duties. He would like Hirata to be his opponent because he lost the Iron Man Title to him by submission. He thinks Hirata owes him a debt that should be repaid.

The international wrestler teased for “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2022” is Joey Janela! He will make his DDT debut one week earlier on 14th August but his first match announced is at the Ota Ward Gymnasium show. “The Bad Boy” will take on Shunma Katsumata in a Hardcore Match! Katsumata began calling himself “The Happy Boy” in response to this news.

The Beer Garden show is back for 2022 at a new venue. This year’s edition will be held outdoors at the Ueno Park Amphitheater. For the moment the show is being marketed as a “Non-Alcoholic” show but that may change if the pandemic laws change closer to the show.

The 37KAMIINA announced they will be guests on the TV chat show “The World Unknown To Matsuko” airing on 21st June.


Video – Antonio Honda Vs Sakura Hirota

September 17, 2021

DDT “FIGHTING BEER GARDEN 2019 ~ALL OUT DAY~”, 29/07/2019
Shinjuku FACE
417 Fans – No Vacancy

Gongitsune Vs World’s Strongest Married Woman: Antonio Honda Vs Sakura Hirota


Video – Beer Garden Customer Lottery Match

August 4, 2021

DDT “BEER GARDEN-LIKE PRO WRESTLING 2021 DAY 3”, 01/08/2021
Shinjuku FACE
223 Fans – Super No Vacancy Full House

The Annual Tradition! Customer Lottery Match: Jun Akiyama, Konosuke Takeshita & Tetsuya Endo Vs Yuki Ueno, Kazusada Higuchi & Naomi Yoshimura