Tag Tournaments This Weekend, BASARA Kickstarts Their 2022, Super Dragon Takaiwa

January 14, 2022

DDT “SWEET DREAMS! 2022 TOUR IN HIROSHIMA”, 15/01/2022
Hiroshima Marina Hop

1. MAO Vs Yuki Ishida
2. Daisuke Sasaki & MJ Paul Vs Naomi Yoshimura & Toui Kojima
3. Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno & Yuki “Sexy” Iino Vs Rey Paloma & Antonio Honda
4. Yuji Hino, Chris Brookes & Akito Vs Toru Owashi, Kazusada Higuchi & Hideki Okatani
5. Hiroshima Specialty Special Tag Match: HARASHIMA & Soma Takao Vs Kenshin Chikano & Kazuki Hirata
6. The 37KAMIINA Vs BURNING!: Konosuke Takeshita, Yuki Ueno & Shunma Katsumata Vs Tetsuya Endo, Jun Akiyama & Yuya Koroku

Akito is moved out of the opening 3 Way match and replacing Yukio Naya in Match #4. The 3 Way is now just a singles between MAO and Yuki Ishida.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TOKYO JOSHI 2022 WINTER”, 15/01/2022
Shinjuku FACE

1. Moka Miyamoto Vs Kaya Toribami
2. Nao Kakuta Vs Arisu Endo
3. 3 Way Match: Hikari Noa Vs Suzume Vs Haruna Neko
4. Miyu Yamashita, Maki Itoh, Pom Harajuku & Mahiro Kiryu Vs Rika Tatsumi, Miu Watanabe, Nodoka Tenma & Yuki Aino
5. 2nd “Futari wa Princess” Max Heart Tournament – Round 1D: Marika Kobashi & Raku Vs Yuki Kamifuku & Asuka
6. 2nd “Futari wa Princess” Max Heart Tournament – Round 1C: Yuka Sakazaki & Mizuki Vs Shoko Nakajima & Hyper Misao

The remaining Max Heart Tournament 1st Round matches take place tomorrow.

BASARA “BASARA 181 ~TAKAGARI 7~”, 16/01/2022
Takashimadaira Ward Community Center

1. Ryota Nakatsu & Lil Kraken Vs Takumi Tsukamoto & Masato Kamino
2. Daichi Kazato Vs SAGAT
3. Fuminori Abe Vs Yasu Urano
4. Takato Nakano Vs Masahiro Takanashi
5. Elimination 6-Man Tag Match: Isami Kodaka, Daiki Shimomura & Minoru Fujita Vs FUMA, Yusuke Kubo & Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi

Things have been a little quiet with BASARA over the new year. Their wrestlers have been bouncing around the indies but Sunday will be the first BASARA show of 2022.

DDT “SWEET DREAMS! 2022 TOUR IN FUKUOKA”, 16/01/2022
Fukuoka Nishitetsu Hall

1. Shunma Katsumata, Toui Kojima & Sho-Ki Vs Chris Brookes, Naomi Yoshimura & You-sei☆Estrella
2. Shishamo Power Debut Match: Shishamo Power & Antonio Honda Vs Akito & Yukio Naya
3. DDTeeeen!! Special Single Match: El Unicorn Vs Vent Vert Jack
4. 3 Way Match: HARASHIMA Vs Yuji Hino Vs Yuki Ishida
5. Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno & Yuki “Sexy” Iino Vs Soma Takao & Kazuki Hirata
6. Daisuke Sasaki & MJ Paul Vs Kazusada Higuchi & Hideki Okatani
7. The 37KAMIINA Vs BURNING!: Konosuke Takeshita, Yuki Ueno & MAO Vs Tetsuya Endo, Jun Akiyama & Yuya Koroku

Azul Dragon was supposed to be on the show but pulled out after showing symptoms of a fever. This is also maybe the most I have ever written about Azul Dragon in the decade plus I’ve spent doing this blog.

Naya is cleared to return on Sunday.

DDT “SWEET DREAMS! 2022 TOUR IN YOKOHAMA”, 22/01/2022
Yokohama Radiant Hall

1. 3 Way Match: Toru Owashi Vs Kazuki Hirata Vs Yuji Hino
2. Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno, Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Yumehito “Fantastic” Imanari Vs HARASHIMA, Naomi Yoshimura & Akito
3. Jun Akiyama & Antonio Honda Vs Yukio Naya & Yuki Ishida
4. The 37KAMIINA Vs Eruption!: Yuki Ueno, Shunma Katsumata & MAO Vs Yukio Sakaguchi, Kazusada Higuchi & Hideki Okatani
5. Chris Brookes & Saki Akai Vs Soma Takao & Maya Yukihi
6. DAMNATION T.A Vs Fujita Pro Wrestling School!: Daisuke Sasaki & MJ Paul Vs Minoru Fujita & Yasu Urano
7. The 37KAMIINA Vs BURNING!: Konosuke Takeshita & Toui Kojima Vs Tetsuya Endo & Yuya Koroku

There is more to keep an eye on main event feud than just Konosuke Takeshita and Tetsuya Endo going at each other. The younger generation rivalry between Toui Kojima and Yuya Koroku has the potential to blossom into something cool too.

There is also more Saki Akai Vs Maya Yukihi as the build up to their match continues.

DDT “SWEET DREAMS! 2022 ~ULTIMATE TAG LEAGUE 2022 OPENING ROUND~”, 30/01/2022
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Sanshiro Takagi & Antonio Honda Vs Toru Owashi & Yuki Ishida
2. Kazusada Higuchi, Yukio Sakaguchi, Saki Akai & Hideki Okatani Vs Akito, Soma Takao, Toui Kojima & Yuya Koroku
3. Ultimate Tag League 2022 – B Block: Shunma Katsumata & MAO Vs Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno & Yuki “Sexy” Iino
4. Ultimate Tag League 2022 – B Block: HARASHIMA & Naomi Yoshimura Vs Chris Brookes & Masahiro Takanashi
5. Ultimate Tag League 2022 – A Block: Tetsuya Endo & Jun Akiyama Vs Yuji Hino & Yukio Naya
6. Ultimate Tag League 2022 – A Block: Konosuke Takeshita & Yuki Ueno Vs Shuji Kondo & Kazuki Hirata
7. DDT Universal Title: Daisuke Sasaki (c) Vs Minoru Fujita

The Ultimate Tag League 2022 begins!

For the first time since Hideki Okatani joined the unit, Eruption in its entirety are all teaming together.

GANBARE☆PRO “BAD COMMUNICATION 2022”, 27/02/2022
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Spirit Of Ganbare World Openweight Title: Tatsuhito Takaiwa (c) Vs Kouki Iwasaki

The “Super Dragon” Tatsuhito Takaiwa already took down Ken Ohka in his first Spirit Of Ganbare Title defence. With the face of Ganbare☆Pro taken down it will be up to someone younger to win the title. Takaiwa instantly had someone in mind and told Kouki Iwasaki to step forward and take the shot.


Video – Tatsuhito Takaiwa Vs Ken Ohka For The Spirit Of Ganbare Title

January 13, 2022

GANBARE☆PRO “TROPIC THUNDER 2022”, 10/01/2022
Tokyo Itabashi Green Hall
108 Fans

Spirit Of Ganbare World Openweight Title: Tatsuhito Takaiwa (c) Vs Ken Ohka


CyberFight Festival 2022 Announced

January 11, 2022

“CYBERFIGHT FESTIVAL 2022”, 12/06/2022
Saitama Super Arena

Last year the CyberFight promotions all got together to put on the first “CYBERFIGHT FESTIVAL” supershow in Saitama Super Arena. It was such a success that they are bringing it back this year! The joint show will again be presented by DDT, NOAH, Tokyo Joshi Pro & Ganbare☆Pro. So far no decisions have been made for any championship bouts or interpromotional matches to take place on the show. Everyone is keeping an eye on what is going on within each of the groups before they will put any potential cards together.

A press conference was held today by representatives of each company to announce the show.

Sanshiro Takagi said the first “CYBERFIGHT FESTIVAL” got the best reaction they could get. It was a show where the distinct charms of all four companies were on display for everyone to see. So they wanted to hold it again to show the world how appealing pro wrestling is.

Naomichi Marufuji described how last year each group showed their own colours and the clash of ideologies between them was festival worthy. This year each group will get to show how much they have grown which he thinks will make the show even more exciting.

Akito hopes the festival will become established as an annual event. He wants it where wrestling fans will know that every June there will be the “CYBERFIGHT FESTIVAL” to look forward to. While last year’s show was built around rivalries, title bouts and offer matches Akito thinks they can do stuff this year that couldn’t be done back then.

Tetsuya Koda thinks TJPW made a strong impression towards fans of the other companies by surprising them with great matches and good wrestlers who were not well known. TJPW has gotten more new fans since then so while the situation won’t be the same this year he is sure the other fanbases will be even more excited to see TJPW again and have higher expectations.

Ken Ohka thought Ganpro could have left a mark on the first festival but he wasn’t satisfied with being stuck in the pre-show. He promises Ganpro will provide hot and soulful matches that will beat anything the other companies will put together.


GANBARE☆PRO “YUMEHITO IMANARI PRODUCE ~GANBARE PRIME 2021~” Results

January 10, 2022

GANBARE☆PRO “YUMEHITO IMANARI PRODUCE ~GANBARE PRIME 2021~”, 10/01/2022
Tokyo Itabashi Green Hall
109 Fans

1. Hardcore Mixed Tag 1 DAY Tournament – Round 1: Shigehiro Irie & Itsuki Aoki defeated Yumehito Imanari & Miss Mongol when Irie pinned Imanari with a Turnback Backslide Pin (7:08).
2. Hardcore Mixed Tag 1 DAY Tournament – Round 1: Shota & Asuka defeated Mizuki Watase & Cherry when Asuka pinned Watase with the Moonsault Press (10:19).
3. Pocchari Joshi Pro Wrestling TRIGGER 1st: Yuna Manase defeated Totoro Satsuki with the Lariat (8:03).
4. Dreamer’s Bridge ~Ganbare☆Pro Wrestling Vs HOT JAPAN~: Yuya Aoki, Andy Wu & Tsugutaka Sato defeated Keisuke Ishii, Shinichiro Tominaga & Kouki Iwasaki when Aoki pinned Tominaga with the Kesagiri Chop (21:24).
5. A Clinical Trial Match Between Men With Painted Faces: SAGAT defeated Hajime with the Goregrind (8:48). (Special Referee: The Great Yume)
6. Hardcore Mixed Tag 1 DAY Tournament – Final: Shigehiro Irie & Itsuki Aoki defeated Shota & Asuka when Irie pinned Shota with an Avalanche Samoan Drop onto the Chair (14:06).

The 6th and last Ganbare☆Pro show in three days was a chaotic affair all put together by Yumehito Imanari. His show was built around a Hardcore Mixed Tag Tournament, one with so many hot matches that it would become a must-watch video on WRESTLE UNIVERSE. Unfortunately for Imanari he was eliminated from his own tournament in the very first match. He & Miss Mongol fell to Shigehiro Irie & Itsuki Aoki. Then the Weekend Lovers of Shota & Asuka went over Mizuki Watase & Cherry. The final was the craziest match of the lot and ended with Irie giving Shota a top rope Samoan Drop onto chairs. Despite Imanari’s lack of success in the ring, he was still proud with how the show went. Ganpro may be small but he knows it can go all the way to the top!

The match between SAGAT and Hajime became so intense it needed a special referee to watch over it. Imanari came out as The Great Yume, knocked out Daisuke Kiso with an uppercut and took over as the ref!

The Ganpro and HOT JAPAN teams got into a war of words after their match and started brawling in the ring. Imanari was one of the wrestlers trying to pull them apart but Keisuke Ishii gave him a Fisherman Buster for his troubles. HOT JAPAN were confused enough from seeing Ishii attack his own ally that they calmed down and stopped fighting.


GANBARE☆PRO “NEW YEAR SPECIAL! GANBARE☆PRO WRESTLING PLAYERS ASSOCIATION” Results

January 10, 2022

GANBARE☆PRO “NEW YEAR SPECIAL! GANBARE☆PRO WRESTLING PLAYERS ASSOCIATION”, 10/01/2022
Tokyo Itabashi Green Hall
110 Fans – Super No Vacancy Full House

1. Hong Kong International Women’s Police Man defeated Hong Kong International Police Man with the Policewoman Dynamic (4:48).
2. New Year Special Tag Match: Shigehiro Irie & Nobuhiro Shimatani defeated Keisuke Ishii & Taison Maeguchi when Shimatani pinned Maeguchi with a School Boy (8:52).
3. New Year’s Gift Battle Royal: HARUKAZE defeated Mizuki Watase by Ring Out (11:36).
Order Of Elimination: Yuna Manase, Kouki Iwasaki, Shuichiro Katsumura, Yumehito Imanari & Shinichiro Tominaga, Shota & Soma Takao, Moeka Haruhi, Mizuki Watase.
4. “Lion King” Ken Ohka 44 Year Old Commemorative Match ~44 Year Old Lions~: Brahman Shu & Brahman Kei defeated Ken Ohka & Minoru Fujita when Kei pinned Ohka after Fujita hit Ohka with a suitcase (12:00).

He wasn’t able to win the Spirit Of Ganbare Title earlier today but Ken Ohka was still in the party mood for the big match of this show. He wanted to celebrate being 44 years old with other wrestlers his age like Minoru Fujita and The Brahman Brothers went pear-shaped when Ohka and Fujita fought over who should use the Brahman’s suitcase as a weapon. Fujita got fed up and threw the suitcase right in Ohka’s face! The Brahmans pinned Ohka and Fujita stormed off with them. Ohka wasn’t upset though. He is still loving life at age 44. When told the fans when he turns 45 he wants to invite John Cena or Brock Lesnar over to Itabashi for a singles match!

The Battle Royal came down to HARUKAZE and Mizuki Watase fighting each other over the ropes and ring apron. Both of them fell down to the floor but HARUKAZE went through the middle ropes and was therefore never eliminated. That resulted in her winning the match and the cash prize of 100,000 yen! The rest of the participants chased her out of the ring all wanting the money for themselves.

Yuna Manase wasn’t there for the opening match and was replaced by the similar looking Hong Kong International Women’s Police Man. She arrested Hong Kong International Police Man after beating him and led him out of the ring in handcuffs.


GANBARE☆PRO “TROPIC THUNDER 2022” Results

January 10, 2022

GANBARE☆PRO “TROPIC THUNDER 2022”, 10/01/2022
Tokyo Itabashi Green Hall
108 Fans

1. Ganpro New Year Battle 2022 2nd Round: Shuichiro Katsumura, Tyson Maeguchi & Moeka Haruhi defeated Shota, Nobuhiro Shimatani & HARUKAZE when Katsumura submitted Shota with a Triangle Choke (10:50).
2. Hatsuyume Special Tag Match 2nd Round: SAKI & Hikari Shimizu defeated Yuna Manase & Rina Amikura when SAKI pinned Amikura with the Choroild (10:50).
3. New Year Special Single Match 2nd Round: Soma Takao defeated Shinichiro Tominaga with a Cradle (11:19).
4. Ganpro Vs Takaiwa Army Full Scale Battle 2nd Round: Keisuke Ishii & Kouki Iwasaki defeated 5th Black Tiger & Kenya Maeda when Iwasaki pinned Maeda with the Back Drop Hold (9:55).
5. RENEGADES Are Back! New Year Special Tag Team Match: Shigehiro Irie & Mizuki Watase defeated Yumehito Imanari & Baliyan Akki when Watase pinned Akki after the Made In Ohio (12:56).
6. Spirit Of Ganbare World Openweight Title: Tatsuhito Takaiwa (c) defeated Ken Ohka with the Avalanche Death Valley Bomb (14:58).
*V1 for Tatsuhito Takaiwa.

The second of this month’s Ganbare☆Pro tripleheaders began with the inaugural Spirit Of Ganbare Title defence. Tatsuhito Takaiwa’s first challenger was none other than the face of Ganpro, Ken Ohka. The challenger’s never say die attitude drove Takaiwa into doing multiple Death Valley Bombs but Ohka kept kicking out. Ohka was finally defeated when he was given the Death Valley Bomb from the top rope. Takaiwa told him he could challenge for the belt again anytime. He’ll be waiting for him. But first Takaiwa has another challenger in mind. He called out Kouki Iwasaki and nominated him for the next title shot. Iwasaki couldn’t stay quiet anymore and thanked the champion for giving him the opportunity. They agreed to hold the title match in the main event of Korakuen Hall on 27th February! Shinjiro Otani gave Iwasaki encouragement at the end of the show.

RENEGADES are back and so is Mizuki Watase’s suit! He and Shigehiro Irie didn’t miss a beat teaming together again and wiped out Yumehito Imanari & Baliyan Akki in their return match. Irie & Watase even brought back their Double Stomp/Fire Thunder combo called Made In Ohio to win the match.

Shinichiro Tominaga asked Soma Takao & Shota if he could join ROMANCE DAWN but he was turned down. He spent the rest of the match begging them to join but they explained to him he didn’t meet the age limit (ROMANCE DAWN are both 34, Tominaga is 33).

The opening match saw Shuichiro Katsumura & Moeka Haruhi bring back THE HALFEE entrance with Tyson Maeguchi filling in as the third member. He had trouble lip-synching to the song.

During the opening announcements Ohka referred to himself, Imanari and Otani as Ganpro’s “Hot Blooded Three Musketeers”.


GANBARE☆PRO “MINORITY REPORT 2022” Results

January 8, 2022

GANBARE☆PRO “MINORITY REPORT 2022”, 08/01/2022
Kitazawa Town Hall
101 Fans

1. PocchaJo Vs ChocoPro Full Scale Battle!: Baliyan Akki & Yuna Mizumori defeated Yumehito Imanari & Yuna Manase when Mizumori pinned Manase with the Supergirl (10:18).
2. Hatsuyume Special Tag Match: Moeka Haruhi & Ayame Sasamura defeated HARUKAZE & Ann Cham when Haruhi pinned HARUKAZE with the Diving Foot Stomp (12:29).
3. Ganpro New Year Battle 2022: Shota, Soma Takao & Taison Maeguchi defeated Shuichiro Katsumura, Shigehiro Irie & Nobuhiro Shimatani when Takao pinned Shimatani with the Official Endless Waltz (12:14).
4. New Year Special Single Match: Keisuke Ishii defeated Mizuki Watase with the High Angle Double Arm DDT (14:15).
5. Takaiwa Army Vs Ganpro Full Scale Battle!: Ken Ohka, Shinichiro Tominaga & Kouki Iwasaki defeated Tatsuhito Takaiwa, 5th Black Tiger & Kenya Maeda when Ohka pinned Maeda with the Fire Spear (13:54).

The final show of today’s Ganbare☆Pro tripleheader saw Ken Ohka lead his team to battle against Tatsuhito Takaiwa and his army. A low from the 5th Black Tiger to Ohka gave Takaiwa the opening to hit the Death Valley Bomb. But Ohka recovered and hit the Fire Spear to both Takaiwa and then Kenya Maeda while Shinichiro Tominaga & Kouki Iwasaki held everyone else back to win the match.

Afterwards Ohka approached Shinjiro Otani and asked him for advice before the Monday’s Spirit Of Ganbare Title match. Otani slapped him across the face to fire him up and said he’s seen Takaiwa cross the line many times. Ohka has to take him seriously in order to win the title from him. Ohka took his words to heart and told everyone to expect him to win the championship and bring it to Korakuen Hall next month! Takaiwa said he is looking forward to the match because Ohka has become more challenging and charismatic since their last singles match.

Keisuke Ishii gave Mizuki Watase a big performance to show he means business. He gave Watase a Fisherman Suplex from the entrance ramp to the floor during the match! Those who know Ishii’s love for King’s Road wrestling will understand how much the ramp spot means to him.


GANBARE☆PRO “MOEKA HARUHI PRODUCE ~PARADISE AFTER THE RAIN 2022~” Results

January 8, 2022

GANBARE☆PRO “MOEKA HARUHI PRODUCE ~PARADISE AFTER THE RAIN 2022~”, 08/01/2022
Kitazawa Town Hall
92 Fans

1. After The Rain, Gokigen: Kaori Yoneyama defeated Sayaka with the Gruncho (6:30).
2. Rain And Bumblebees: Shuichiro Katsumura defeated Thanomusaku Toba and Fuminori Abe when Katsumura submitted Toba with the Ninja Choke (11:12).
3. Rain And Then Downpour: Ken Ohka & Miyako Matsumoto defeated Nobuhiro Shimatani & HARUKAZE when Matsumoto pinned HARUKAZE with the Miyakoko Clutch (11:22).
4. I Like The Rain: Yuna Manase, Rina Yamashita & Tsubasa Kuragaki defeated Moeka Haruhi, Makoto & Cherry when Manase pinned Haruhi with the Suzuki Dynamic (17:17).

The second of today’s Ganbare☆Pro shows was produced by Moeka Haruhi. Even though she picked up the loss in the main event, she was still the happiest person in the room. Everyone gathered together in the ring with her to end the show by singing “Compass Of Your Heart”. Haruhi said she could fill the treasure of happiness right around the corner and she will give everyone an even more passionate match next time.


GANBARE☆PRO “SHOTA PRESENTS INDIE WRESTLING SUMMIT 2022” Results

January 8, 2022

GANBARE☆PRO “SHOTA PRESENTS INDIE WRESTLING SUMMIT 2022”, 08/01/2022
Kitazawa Town Hall
102 Fans

1. Ganpro Vs Reiwa Bubble: Ken Ohka & Yumehito Imanari defeated Masayuki Mitomi & Kentaro Yasu when Ohka pinned Yasu with the Fire Spear (10:20).
2. Independent Women’s Bout: Ayame Sasamura defeated Chie Koishikawa with the Blockbuster Hold (5:42).
3. Independent Dream Bout: Chris Brookes Vs Hagane Shinno ended in a Double Pinfall (16:15).
4. This Is Indie Wrestling Summit! Special 6-Man Tag Match: TORU, Jun Tonsho & Tatsuya Hanami defeated Takumi Tsukamoto, MAO & Baliyan Akki when TORU pinned Akki with the Vertical Drop Brainbuster (15:06).
5. ROMANCE DAWN Vs Aka Rangers!: Takashi Sasaki & GENTARO defeated Shota & Soma Takao when Sasaki pinned Shota with the D-Geist (20:15).

The exciting new voyage that is ROMANCE DAWN has hit a few rocks in the form of Aka Rangers. The veteran tag team took the fresh pairing to school and taught them an important lesson: pro wrestling is not just about making memories. Takashi Sasaki could feel Shota’s passion in the ring but asks if he is satisfied with only doing that. GENTARO is a little less harsh and is open to wrestling Shota in a Best 2 out of 3 Falls match with a 61 minute time limit. Soma Takao said he isn’t aiming to be the best in DDT or Ganbare☆Pro this year. Instead he wants to be active in as many promotions as he can so ROMANCE DAWN will be recognised everywhere.

Jun Tonsho tried to roll up MAO for the Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title after their match but failed to win it.


Video – Asuka Vs Moeka Haruhi For The Independent World Jr. Heavyweight Title

January 7, 2022

GANBARE☆PRO “MAGICIANS RED 2020”, 23/11/2020
Tokyo Itabashi Green Hall
??? Fans – Withheld

Independent World Jr. Heavyweight Title: Asuka (c) Vs Moeka Haruhi