GANBARE☆PRO “KATTENI-SHIYAGARE 2024”, 23/09/2024 Yokohama Radiant Hall 240 Fans – No Vacancy
1. Jun Masaoka & Gaia Hox defeated Munetatsu Nakamura & Shota Kawakami when Hox pinned Kawakami with the Modified Package Piledriver (14:08).
2. London Machine, Choun-Shiryu & Tsukina Umino defeated PSYCHO, Rekka & HARUKAZE when Machine submitted HARUKAZE with the Argentine Backbreaker (12:20).
3. Yuna Manase & YuuRI defeated Moeka Haruhi & Maya Yukihi when Manase pinned Haruhi with the Lariat (12:35).
4. Hartley Jackson defeated Yumehito Imanari with the Piledriver (13:20).
5. Ken Ohka, Shuichiro Katsumura & Mizuki Watase defeated Tyson Maeguchi, Thanomsak Toba & Kouki Iwasaki when Katsumura submitted Maeguchi with the Triple Three 3 Lock (14:27).
6. Spirit Of Ganbare World Openweight Title: Keisuke Ishii (c) defeated Takuya Wada with the High Angle Double Arm DDT (18:51). *V3 for Keisuke Ishii.
Last month’s cancelled show delayed the Spirit Of Ganbare World Title match to today. In the meantime Keisuke Ishii got to wrestle Yuji Nagata recently and was inspired to use the Nagata Lock II on Takuya Wada. He had to let go due to a rope break but Ishii went back to his usual moveset and eventually won with the High Angle Double Arm DDT. Ishii encouraged Wada to keep fighting him and said they should have three more matches against each other. Ishii told the fans he will lead Ganbare☆Pro for as long as his willpower and body can handle it. Hartley Jackson entered the ring and told Ishii he is a strong champion, but Jackson is ichiban! He will face Ishii for the SOG Title in Osaka on 3rd November.
After Match #5 Mizuki Watase was confronted in the ring by Yuna Manase. She said Watase is doing more to carry the weight of GanPro in other promotions than anyone else. However Manase wants to make her name inside GanPro so she is challenging Watase & Shigehiro Irie for the Spirit Of Ganbare Tag Team Titles! Watase accepted her challenge, saying he and Irie want to defend the titles against anyone who is motivated regardless of their gender, nationality or what promotion the represent. Manase wants the title shot to happen on 14th October in the main event and she already decided YuuRI is going to be her tag partner. Whenever they team together they are called Nippon Ganbare☆Rengo. The move has Shuichiro Katsumura’s approval. He was going to challenge the champions with Ken Ohka but he’s happy to support his “cute little sisters” instead. Watase is Katsumura’s “nasty little brother” so he won’t be cheering for him.
At the start of the show Yumehito Imanari talked about being undefeated in GanPro ever since they went independent. He asked Michiyoshi Mishima to be rewarded with a SOG Title shot if he could beat Jackson today. Mishima agreed but Imanari ended up losing the match. That led to Jackson challenging Ishii for the title at the end of the show instead.
Another reason why Manase made her tag title challenge was to help push the Ganbare☆Joshi division towards the main event of GanPro cards. GanJo matches are usually held during the first half of the regular shows and when Match #3 was finished Manase asked Mishima to book a GanJo bout for the main event of the 14th October show. Mishima said he would think about it but Manase was not happy with that answer. Then the stuff already written above happened later as a compromise.
HARUKAZE finds herself in the opposite end from Imanari. She has yet to win a match in GanPro since the group went independent and vowed today would be her first victory. That didn’t happen because London Machine made her submit to the Argentine Backbreaker. Both of them tried pulling on each other’s masks during the match.
Even though Munetatsu Nakamura lost in the opening match, he made a request afterwards. Takashi Sasaki was in attendance and Nakamura asked him if he could be booked for the FREEDOMS show at Korakuen Hall on 10th October. Sasaki was impressed by how proactive Nakamura is to ask him directly instead of contacting the FREEDOMS office. However Jun Masaoka took offence and told both Nakamura & Shota Kawakami they need to practice more. A brawl broke out between the teams. Masaoka & Gaia Hox ended up getting the better of the GanPro rookies again.
At the end of the show Ohka interrupted Ishii’s closing speech to give everyone an announcement. GanPro will return to Korakuen Hall on 11th April, 2025! It will be GanPro’s first time booking Korakuen as an independent promotion. The previous times were all done under DDT or CyberFight’s control. Ishii said never in his 16 year career has he main evented a Korakuen show as a singles champion. He will do his best to headline Korakuen with the SOG Title and close out the show with fans chanting his name.
GANBARE☆PRO “TOKOROZAWA PARK SHOPPING BOX OFFICE”, 07/09/2024 Saitama Tokorozawa Park Town Shopping Arcade ??? Fans – Unannounced
1. Yuna Manase & YuuRI defeated Moeka Haruhi & HARUKAZE when YuuRI pinned HARUKAZE with the Swanton Bomb (11:30).
2. Ken Ohka, Shuichiro Katsumura & Yumehito Imanari defeated Mizuki Watase, Munetatsu Nakamura & Shota Kawakami when Imanari pinned Kawakami with the Lariat (25:07).
3. Yuji Nagata defeated Keisuke Ishii with the Nagata Lock 54 (14:57).
Keisuke Ishii got to have a special one-off match with Yuji Nagata today. It was a match Ishii wanted to have before he turns 40 early next year. He came close to winning with the Double Arm Driver but Nagata kicked out. Nagata fought back with an Exploder Suplex but Ishii returned fire with the Kneel Kick for the double down spot. Nagata got up first and soon trapped Ishii in the Nagata Lock II. He then switched over to the latest version of the move called the Nagata Lock 54 (it combines the Nagata Lock II with Shinjiro Otani’s King Cobra Hold). Ishii couldn’t fight out of it and had to tap out.
Nagata praised everyone in Ganbare☆Pro for fighting with passion as hot as the summer heat. He’ll never forget the cheers he got today at Tokorozawa Park Town because they sounded just as loud as the cheers you would get for a main event in the Tokyo Dome. Ishii told Nagata he became a fan of his ever since 1998 when he saw his match against Scott Norton for the IWGP Heavyweight Title. But Ishii cannot forget he is currently the Spirit Of Ganbare World Champion so he cannot get emotional over losing today’s match. He will set a new goal of getting stronger so he will one day beat Nagata. The two of them are open to having a rematch in the future.
DDT “MEET & GREET & FIGHT SEPTEMBER”, 04/09/2024 Shinjuku FACE
1. To-y & Kazuma Sumi Vs Keigo Nakamura & Yuya Koroku
2. Special Single Match: Yuki Iino Vs Kazuki Hirata
3. 3 Way Match: Takeshi Masada Vs Yuni Vs Ilusion
4. Special Single Match: Shinya Aoki Vs Makoto Oishi
A public contract signing for the KO-D Openweight Title match between Shinya Aoki and Tetsuya Endo will be held on this show. DDT is leaning more into the two men’s connections to Katsuhiko Nakajima as part of the marketing for the match.
The members of NωA have promised to perform all of their songs during the show for their final live perfomance together.
DDT “TAKESHI MASADA LOCAL TRIUMPH! DRAMATIC INFINITY 2024 TOUR IN OSAKA”, 07/09/2024 Osaka Sun Square Sports Center Sakai
1. Danshoku Dieno, Kazuki Hirata & Kazuma Sumi Vs Toru Owashi, Keigo Nakamura & Ilusion
2. HARASHIMA & Akito Vs Yukio Naya & Yuki Ishida
3. DAMNATION T.A Vs BURNING!: Daisuke Sasaki & MJ Paul Vs Tetsuya Endo & Yuya Koroku
4. Special Tag Match: MAO & Shunma Katsumata Vs Fuminori Abe & Antonio Honda
5. Special Single Match: Jun Akiyama Vs Makoto Oishi
6. Fight For The Right To Challenge Anytime, Anywhere Shield: KANON Vs Yuki Iino
7. Osaka Specialty Special Tag Match: Chris Brookes & Takeshi Masada Vs Yuki Ueno & To-y
It’s been confirmed that the Black Right To Challenge Shield held by KANON will be on the line when he takes on Yuki Iino.
DDT “FRIENDSHIP, EFFORT, VICTORY IN NAGOYA 2024”, 08/09/2024 Nagoya International Conference Center Event Hall
1. Takeshi Masada & Ilusion Vs Keigo Nakamura & Yuki Ishida
2. Chris Brookes & Antonio Honda Vs Toru Owashi & Kazuki Hirata
3. Daisuke Sasaki, KANON & MJ Paul Vs Yuki Iino, Yuya Koroku & Kazuma Sumi
4. Yuki Ueno, Shunma Katsumata & To-y Vs Jun Akiyama, Makoto Oishi & Akito
5. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Kota Ibushi, Shuji Ishikawa & Danshoku Dieno Vs HARASHIMA, Yasu Urano & Michael Nakazawa
6. Special Single Match: Ryuichi “Fire” Kawakami Vs Yukio Naya
7. DDT Universal Title: MAO (c) Vs Fuminori Abe
8. KO-D Openweight Title: Shinya Aoki (c) Vs Tetsuya Endo
Last week Ilusion was finally accepted into SCHADENFREUDE International. It has caused Match #1 here to be swapped around. The unit’s newest member is now teaming with Takeshi Masada against Keigo Nakamura & Yuki Ishida. This match also begins Ishida’s full time return to DDT.
DDT “ROJO PRO WRESTLING IN NARAHA TOWN ~J VILLAGE~”, 21/09/2024 J Village, Naraha Town, Fukushima
1. Falls Count Anywhere 10-Man Tag Match: Yuki Ueno, MAO, Shunma Katsumata, To-y & Yuki Ishida Vs Chris Brookes, Danshoku Dieno, Yukio Naya, Keigo Nakamura & Kazuma Sumi
DDT’s crew are going to cause some chaos over in To-y’s neck of the woods. He is still serving as an unofficial ambassador for Naraha Town in order to pay off the trillion yen debt he owes to the area. At least the rest of The 37KAMIINA are helping him out along with Ishida for a big Falls Count Anywhere match.
GANBARE☆PRO “KATTENI-SHIYAGARE 2024”, 23/09/2024 Yokohama Radiant Hall
1. Munetatsu Nakamura & Shota Kawakami Vs Jun Masaoka & Gaia Hox
2. PSYCHO, Rekka & HARUKAZE Vs London Machine, Choun-Shiryu & Tsukina Umino
3. Yuna Manase & YuuRI Vs Moeka Haruhi & Maya Yukihi
4. Hartley Jackson Vs Yumehito Imanari
5. Ken Ohka, Shuichiro Katsumura & Mizuki Watase Vs Tyson Maeguchi, Thanomsak Toba & Kouki Iwasaki
6. Spirit Of Ganbare World Openweight Title: Keisuke Ishii (c) Vs Takuya Wada
The postponed Spirit Of Ganbare World Title match has been rescheduled for 23rd September in Yokohama. That is the only surviving match from the show that was cancelled last month. Everything else on this card are new matches.
Tsukina Umino is from Ice Ribbon. She recently fought and lost to YuuRI in a match for the ICExInfinity Title. One of her teammates is London Machine, a masked gimmick that has mostly appeared in ChocoPro. I think in one of his first appearances it was Seiya Morohashi under the mask but I don’t know if it’s been him every time.
DDT “DRAMATIC INFINITY 2024 ~ 3 HOUR SPECIAL~”, 29/09/2024 Tokyo Korakuen Hall
1. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Yuki Ueno, MAO & Kaisei Takeshi Vs Chris Brookes, Takeshi Masada & Masahiro Takanashi
DDT’s next Korakuen Hall show has sold out thanks to Kaisei Takeshi.
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “GARAFES ~ SPRING IDOL LUNCH MEETING”, 12/10/2024 Tokyo GOTANDA G6/G7
This October will be the next time when The Up Up Girls (Pro Wrestling) performs at a Garafes show. Pom Harajuku and Wakana Uehara will be there alongside them to take part in one or two wrestling matches held on top of a mat placed on the stage.
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW LIVE TOUR 2024 AUTUMN”, 13/10/2024 Saitama Kasukabe Fureai Cube
Kira Summer’s sister Miki Fortune is coming over to Tokyo Joshi Pro for a match! She has been wrestling since 2009 and is active in the Australian scene. Earlier this year she travelled to Japan and spent a little bit of time wrestling in Ice Ribbon. Now her next visit to the country is to check out first hand what her sister’s been up to in TJPW.
DDT “MEMORIES OF SUMMER VACATION 2024”, 25/08/2024 Tokyo Korakuen Hall 1,369 Fans – Super No Vacancy
1. 3 Way Match: Antonio Honda defeated Kazuki Hirata and Toru Owashi when Honda pinned Hirata with a Backslide Pin (0:10).
1a. Rematch: Toru Owashi defeated Kazuki Hirata and Antonio Honda when Owashi pinned Honda with a School Boy (7:43).
2. Chris Brookes, Masahiro Takanashi & Takeshi Masada defeated Makoto Oishi, Yuni & Ilusion when Takanashi pinned Ilusion with the Uwabami (10:50).
3. MAO, Shunma Katsumata & To-y defeated Jun Akiyama, Tomomitsu Matsunaga & Keigo Nakamura when Katsumata pinned Matsunaga with a German Suplex (10:11).
4. Soma Takao 15th Anniversary ~ Special Single Match: Keisuke Ishii defeated Soma Takao with the Kneel Kick (9:02).
5. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Daisuke Sasaki, Ryuichi “Fire” Kawakami & KANON defeated HARASHIMA, Yukio Naya & Kazuma Sumi when Kawakami pinned Naya with a Lariat (12:29).
6. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Tetsuya Endo, Yuki Iino & Yuya Koroku defeated Kota Ibushi, Danshoku Dieno & Akito when Endo pinned Akito with the Burning Star Press (20:30).
7. KO-D Openweight Title: Shinya Aoki defeated Yuki Ueno (c) with the Modified Manjigatame (19:49). *Yuki Ueno fails in V8. Shinya Aoki becomes the 83rd KO-D Openweight Champion!
A packed house at Korakuen Hall got to see a newsworthy DDT show where the top championship of the company changed hands. Yuki Ueno’s nine month reign as KO-D Openweight Champion has come to an end by Shinya Aoki’s hands. The two have been linked together for a while now with Ueno looking up to the MMA fighter but perhaps that is ultimately what cost him to lose the title. Aoki surprised Ueno by using a Topé Suicida out of the ring. The Dropkicks to the face from Ueno couldn’t keep Aoki down and neither could the BME. When Ueno set up his WR finisher Aoki countered it into a Cobra Twist and transitioned the move into a Modified Manjigatame. The hold took Ueno down to the ground and he had no choice but to give up.
After the match Aoki praised Ueno for being strong and even told everyone how much he likes him. But losers have to leave the ring. Ueno bowed to everyone and left while Aoki applauded him. The new champion promised to protect what he has taken from Ueno. He also declared he wants to get revenge on Katsuhiko Nakajima for harming the championship’s reputation while defending the title against any of the Right To Challenge Anytime, Anywhere holders. He expected one of them to come out and challenge him but he got someone completely different instead. Tetsuya Endo!
Aoki wasn’t impressed and called Endo the weakest person who could challenge him. He talked about how much Endo has struggled ever since Nakajima knocked him out. Others like Ueno and MAO struggled too but Endo may as well be sleeping compared to them. Endo understands why Aoki would reject his challenge but that is why it must be Endo who should hold the belt and be the one to find revenge! Aoki argued that the reason he brought up Nakajima in the first place was because nobody in DDT did. Endo then asked Aoki if he ever lost a match that changed his life? Was there someone there to help him at the time? Aoki can be like that for Endo if he accepts the challenge. Aoki understood and a title match between them will take place in Nagoya on 8th September.
Finally Kota Ibushi came home to DDT. A lot has changed since he left but really, a lot has stayed the same too. He started the match off against Endo and their back and forth ended with a respectful handshake. Then the match turned over to more of DDT’s silly side as Danshoku Dieno kept kissing Yuki Iino over and over. Then when Akito put Yuya Koroku in a Figure 4 Leg Lock, Dieno performed the Danshoku Nightmare over Koroku. Ibushi also carried Koroku face first into Dieno’s Hell Gate at the corner. Endo got revenge by pushing Dieno and Ibushi into each other for the Lip Lock. He then hit Akito with a Handspring Kick followed by the Swivel Torture Rack Bomb. Akito kicked out of that but was put away with the Burning Star Press.
Endo welcomed Ibushi back to DDT after the match and had a question for him. Does Ibushi still love pro wrestling? Ibushi says he still loves it. Endo was happy to hear it and said he’ll be here in DDT waiting for Ibushi anytime. Dieno wanted to hear Ibushi give his honest opinion about how he feels right now. He then handed him a cue card to read (a bunch of people in DDT used to do this for Ibushi during his first main event push). Ibushi admitted there was a time when he didn’t know if he really loved wrestling. But coming back to a DDT ring today was something he enjoyed. He had a good time but his true love is only at 60 points out of 100 right now. He will keep wrestling in AEW and DDT to find the wrestling that he enjoys so his love will reach back up to 100. He then asked Makoto Oishi why he is quitting DDT soon? When Oishi told him it was to be with his family, Ibushi then asked why was his voice sounding so hoarse? Oishi reminded him it’s been like that for a long time. Backstage Ibushi told reporters he has the money and the fame. The only thing that’s missing for him is the fun. Akito told him he would like to see him appear in DDT regularly but Ibushi has only committed to one other date so far on 8th September.
Yukio Naya felt humiliated after today’s show thanks to Ryuichi “Fire” Kawakami. The latest part of their feud saw Kawakami pin Naya thanks to some foul play. HARASHIMA & Kazuma Sumi played their part as best as they could against DAMNATION T.A so Naya could beat Kawakami by himself with a Choke Slam. But MJ Paul pulled the referee away during the pin count. Naya then fought off Daisuke Sasaki & KANON until Kawakami hit him in the back with a Chair and pinned him with a Lariat. Kawakami said he will beat Naya again in their singles match on 8th September and then go on to challenge for the KO-D Title. Naya tried to fight him again but Sasaki hit him with the chair and Kawakami put him down with the Thunder Fire Bomb. Backstage Naya promised to get revenge and make Kawakami regret ever talking about the KO-D Title so casually.
The 15th Anniversary of Soma Takao’s debut match put him against someone who has been linked to him for most of his career. Keisuke Ishii was one of Takao’s tag partners in his debut and they want on to wrestle together as part of Team Drift. Ishii didn’t take it easy on his friend though. They fought up to the aisleway where Ishii gave Takao the Double Arm Driver onto the floor. Takao just about made it back to the ring to avoid being counted out. He fought back using a Double Stomp and the Perfect Driver for nearfalls. But Ishii caught him with a Frankensteiner and won the match with the Kneel Kick.
Two Right To Challenge Shield holders were on opposite teams for Match #3 so there was a little more risk of a Shield changing hands. Jun Akiyama kept grabbing To-y’s hair and did it even more after Shunma Katsumata complained about it. Keigo Nakamura went after Katsumata but things ended evenly between the two Shield holders. Tomomitsu Matsunaga got a nearfall on Katsumata with a Lariat. Katsumata turned things around with a Neckbreaker and Thrust Kick. He then scored the pin on Matsunaga with a German Suplex.
Today was another attempt by Ilusion to convince Chris Brookes he belongs in SCHADENFREUDE International. He even put Brookes in the Octopus Stretch during their match. Masahiro Takanashi wanted to thank Makoto Oishi for everything he’s done but it was just a trick to attack him. Oishi then tried singing a birthday song for Brookes but got attacked for that too. Takeshi Masada blocked Yuni’s Moonsault and Brookes tried to finish the match with the Praying Mantis Bomb but Yuni avoided it. The match came down to Ilusion and Takanashi trying to pin each other with different cradle moves. Takanashi got the better of Ilusion and got the three count with the Uwabami. Brookes wasn’t convinced by Ilusion’s performance.
The 3 Way Match to open the show featured voice actor and wrestling fan Tetsu Inada as a special guest commentator. However Antonio Honda pinned Kazuki Hirata seconds into the match before Toru Owashi could even do anything. Hisaya Imabayashi got mad like he always does and admitted he is getting tired of this. Inada took the microphone from him and demanded a restart because he wanted to see an exciting match. The match begun again but the wrestlers were showing low energy, causing Inada to get mad again. Hirata tried to do his dance but Inada asked him to do something new. Inada then joined in with Honda’s Gongitsune joke and together they attempted the Super Pheonix Fire Thunder Ultra Gongitsune attack! However they both missed. Owashi rolled up Honda with a School Boy and Hirata did the same to Inada. Both of them got a three count pin but since Inada was never a match participant, Owashi was the winner.
At the very end of the show MAO & Katsumata told the fans that Ueno losing the title is not going to stop The 37KAMIINA’s momentum. ShunMao intends to challenge for the KO-D Tag Team Titles and KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles again. Backstage they said the championship has been turning rotten ever since they had to vacate it due to Katsumata’s injury. No reign since then has been as good as theirs so they want to start a new era for the championship. MAO also described Ibushi’s return today as Golden Star Syndrome. The middle aged fans who came to the show are only chasing shadows because the glory days from Ibushi’s time are gone. DDT has been drowning in muddy waters ever since and it is thanks to the likes of ShunMao that things have started to pick up for the company. MAO is telling the fans not to lose their minds from Golden Star Syndrome and they should not be taking the current generation for granted.
The 37KAMIINA are also going to be part of Kaisei Takeshi’s return match on 29th September. Takeshi, Ueno & MAO will take on Brookes, Takanashi & Masada from SCHADENFREUDE International on 29th September!
As part of Takeshi Masada’s sponsorship with Bodix bodywear, several models known as the BB Girls were in attendance. Imabayashi got to take a group photo in the ring with them at the start of the show.
I’m travelling over to London this weekend to see a bunch of wrestling including the “EVE X TJPW” show. Posting of results and reports may be delayed but I hope to have most of them kept up to date within a day or two.
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TOKYO PRINCESS CUP”, 23/08/2024 Shinjuku FACE
1. Wakana Uehara Vs Kira Summer
2. Rika Tatsumi Vs Chika Nanase
3. Mizuki & Pom Harajuku Vs Yuki Kamifuku & Runa Okubo
4. Suzume & Arisu Endo Vs Shoko Nakajima & Uta Takami
5. Miu Watanabe, Shino Suzuki & Haru Kazashiro Vs Moka Miyamoto, Kaya Toribami & Toga
6. Tokyo Princess Cup – Semi Final: Yuki Aino Vs Zara Zakher
7. Tokyo Princess Cup – Semi Final: Yuki Arai Vs Ryo Mizunami
The very busy weekend kicks off tomorrow with the Tokyo Princess Cup final four. Yuki Aino, Zara Zakher, Yuki Arai and Ryo Mizunami are all that’s left in the tournament fighting for a spot in the final.
BAKA GAIJIN + FRIENDS “FUCKED UP FEST”, 24/08/2024 Tokyo Nakano Moonstep
1. Special Single Match: Mr. Bueno Vs To-y
2. Special Tag Team Match: Munetatsu Nakamura & Kota Ibushikoshi Vs Keigo Nakamura & Kazuma Sumi
3. Special Single Match: Tyrannosaurus Inoue Vs Tyrannosaurus Morozumi
4. Special Tag Team Match: Masahiro Takanashi & Chie Koishikawa Vs Thanomsak Toba & Sayaka
5. International 4 Way Dance: Mecha Mummy Vs Dr. Gore Vs Shivam Vs Jake De Leon
6. Triple Threat Match: Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi Vs Antonio Honda Vs Yasu Urano
7. Special Single Match: Maya Yukihi Vs Ram Kaichow
8. Hardcore 4 Way Match: Shunma Katsumata Vs MAO Vs Chris Brookes Vs Mad Dr. Ueki
I have no idea if I’ll be able to get results of this show on the day it happens. Hopefully social media will have what I’m looking for.
EVE/TOKYO JOSHI PRO “EVE X TJPW: JAPAN & UK WRESTLING UNITE!”, 24/08/2024 Conway Hall, London, England
0. Pre-Show Match: X Vs X
1. HIMAWARI Vs Mahiro Kiryu
2. Alex Windsor Vs Lena Kross
3. Session Moth Martina Vs Raku
4. Zizi & Safire Reed Vs Aja Kong & Max The Impaler
5. EVE Title: Nina Samuels (c) Vs Miyu Yamashita
Should be a good time on Saturday.
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TOKYO PRINCESS CUP”, 25/08/2024 Tokyo Korakuen Hall
1. Shoko Nakajima Vs Yoshiko Hasegawa
2. Mizuki & Haru Kazashiro Vs Mei Suruga & Uta Takami
3. Tokyo Princess Cup – Final: X Vs X
The rest of the card for Sunday’s final will be announced at some point after tomorrow’s show.
DDT “MEMORIES OF SUMMER VACATION 2024”, 25/08/2024 Tokyo Korakuen Hall
1. 3 Way Match: Kazuki Hirata Vs Toru Owashi Vs Antonio Honda
2. Chris Brookes, Masahiro Takanashi & Takeshi Masada Vs Makoto Oishi, Yuni & Ilusion
3. MAO, Shunma Katsumata & To-y Vs Jun Akiyama, Tomomitsu Matsunaga & Keigo Nakamura
4. Soma Takao 15th Anniversary ~ Special Single Match: Soma Takao Vs Keisuke Ishii
5. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Daisuke Sasaki, Ryuichi “Fire” Kawakami & KANON Vs HARASHIMA, Yukio Naya & Kazuma Sumi
6. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Kota Ibushi, Danshoku Dieno & Akito Vs Tetsuya Endo, Yuki Iino & Yuya Koroku
7. KO-D Openweight Title: Yuki Ueno (c) Vs Shinya Aoki
It’s a loaded show DDT is putting together for Sunday. Yuki Ueno defends the KO-D Openweight Title against Shinya Aoki while needing eyes at the back of his head for any potential Right To Challenge cash in attempts. Kota Ibushi finally returns to DDT and people will be watching to see what physical condition he is in. Soma Takao celebrates his 15th Anniversary by getting in the ring with Keisuke Ishii again, just like old times.
GANBARE☆PRO “TOKOROZAWA PARK SHOPPING BOX OFFICE”, 07/09/2024 Saitama Tokorozawa Park Town Shopping Arcade
1. Yuna Manase & YuuRI Vs Moeka Haruhi & HARUKAZE
2. Ken Ohka, Shuichiro Katsumura & Yumehito Imanari Vs Mizuki Watase, Munetatsu Nakamura & Shota Kawakami
3. Keisuke Ishii Vs Yuji Nagata
Ishii is only a few months away from turning 40 years old so he asked Ganbare☆Pro to get him a big name opponent to mark the end of the final summer in his 30’s. They pulled off a big one because Ishii’s opponent is Yuji Nagata from New Japan! It is a non-title match but Ishii knows he cannot lose while he is the Spirit Of Ganbare Champion. The match is happening at an outdoor show at Tokorozawa Park Town so fingers crossed there will not be any bad weather on the day.
Last weekend Yuna Manase had a rocky trip to America that ended in joy. She was scheduled for two Kitsune shows but could only make the second date due to travel issues. However it all worked out for her in the end because she won her 3 Way Match and became the new Kitsune World Champion! This should be her first match back in GanPro since winning the title.
DDT “SUMIDA DRAMATIC DREAM! ~FREE SEATING PRO WRESTLING SHOW~”, 04/11/2024 Tokyo Higashin Arena (Sumida City Gymnasium)
1. KO-D Openweight Title: Yuki Ueno (c) Vs X
The next scheduled KO-D Title defence after this weekend is set for Higashin Arena when DDT will hold a free show there in November. Any of the Right To Challenge Shield holders are welcome to use their cash in and be the challenger for that show as long as they still have their Shield by the time it takes place.
DDT “MEET & GREET & FIGHT”, 02/08/2024 Shinjuku FACE
1. Right To Challenge Anytime, Anywhere 3 Way Match: Yuni Vs Ilusion Vs Kazuma Sumi
2. Right To Challenge Anytime, Anywhere Single Match: KANON Vs Yukio Naya
3. Right To Challenge Anytime, Anywhere Match Staggered Entry Battle Royal: Tetsuya Endo Vs Yuki Iino Vs Daisuke Sasaki Vs MJ Paul Vs Chris Brookes Vs Masahiro Takanashi Vs Antonio Honda Vs Takeshi Masada Vs HARASHIMA Vs Toru Owashi Vs Danshoku Dieno Vs Makoto Oishi Vs Kazuki Hirata Vs To-y Vs Keigo Nakamura Vs Yuya Koroku
The DDT version of Money In The Bank is back and ready to leave a trail of chaos in its wake this summer. This year there will be five Right To Challenge Anytime, Anywhere prizes up for grabs across three matches. Three contracts will go to the last three survivors of a Battle Royal featuring all of DDT’s mainstays. One will go to the winner of KANON Vs Yukio Naya. The final one will go to the winner of the 3 Way Match between Yuni, Ilusion and Kazuma Sumi. So by the time the five holders are determined it will be a group of wrestlers spreading all over the main event, midcard and rookie scenes.
There are also some slight changes to the rules for the prize this year. The contracts will become active from 10th August to 23rd November. They can be cashed in on any DDT related show held during that period for either a KO-D Openweight Title shot, a DDT Universal Title shot or a DDT Extreme Title shot. If a contract holder directly loses a match on a DDT show then the contract is given to whoever beats them. That is not a new rule but limiting it happening to just DDT related events is a new change.
DDT/GCW “NEVER ENDING NOISY SUMMER”, 12/08/2024 Tokyo Korakuen Hall
1. Special 8-Man Tag Match: Yuki Ueno, Masha Slamovich, Yuni & Ilusion Vs Maki Itoh, Chris Brookes, Takeshi Masada & Marcus Mathers
2. DDT Variety Team Vs The Mothership: Kazuki Hirata & Antonio Honda Vs Allie Katch & Dark Sheik
3. DDT Vs GCW Special Tag Match: Daisuke Sasaki & KANON Vs Rina Yamashita & Broski Jimmy
4. DDT Vs GCW Special Tag Match: Tetsuya Endo & Yuki Iino Vs Gringo Loco & 1 Called Manders
5. DDT Vs GCW Special Single Match: Danshoku Dieno Vs Effy
6. GCW World Title – 3 Way Hardcore Match: Mance Warner (c) Vs Shunma Katsumata Vs Joey Janela
7. DDT Universal Title: MAO (c) Vs Alex Zayne
The full DDT Vs GCW card is here. Some of the new tag matches added includes BURNING facing Gringo Loco & 1 Called Manders as well as DAMNATION T.A having to deal with the odd couple team of Rina Yamashita & Broski Jimmy. Are Allie Katch & Dark Sheik prepared for the silliness of Kazuki Hirata & Antonio Honda? That’s not all, Masha Slamovich and Marcus Mathers find themselves dropped deep into the DDT roster for an 8-Man Tag Match. There will be more DDT and Tokyo Joshi Pro involvement later on in GCW’s tour of Japan but I’ll write about it in tomorrow’s DDT Around The World article.
DDT “MEMORIES OF SUMMER VACATION 2024 TOUR IN YOKOHAMA”, 17/08/2024 Yokohama Radiant Hall
1. Special Single Match: Danshoku Dieno Vs Michael Nakazawa
2. Yukio Naya’s Birthday Celebration Match ~ Special Single Match: Yukio Naya Vs Yuki Iino
On the day Yukio Naya turns 30 years old he will celebrate it by fighting Yuki Iino in a big heavyweight match.
DDT “MEMORIES OF SUMMER VACATION 2024”, 25/08/2024 Tokyo Korakuen Hall
1. Soma Takao 15th Anniversary ~ Special Single Match: Soma Takao Vs Keisuke Ishii
2. KO-D Openweight Title: Yuki Ueno (c) Vs Shinya Aoki
A fitting opponent for Soma Takao. When he debuted in DDT 15 years ago one of his teammates was Keisuke Ishii. The two then went on to grow up in wrestling together with the rest of the Young Communication generation and then joined forces with Shigehiro Irie to create Team Drift. This match as added importance because Ishii is the current Spirit Of Ganbare World Champion.
Heads up, I have a really busy travel week this week. Unfortunately that means I don’t have the time to write any previews for “SUMMER SUN PRINCESS ’24” or “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2024”. I will try my best to post match results, show reports and any other news whenever I can but it may come a few days late before I’m caught up on anything.
DDT “AFTER PETER PAN 2024 IN SHINJUKU”, 26/07/2024 Shinjuku FACE
1. Special Single Match: Kazuki Hirata Vs Yuni
2. Special Single Match: HARASHIMA Vs Keigo Nakamura
3. Special Single Match: Yuki Iino Vs MJ Paul
No real clues in the lineup for what direction DDT will go next after Sumo Hall.
Ryuichi “Fire” Kawakami will be on the show.
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “GARAFES DASH!! ~SCORCHING SUMMER SPLASH~”, 27/07/2024 Tokyo Ueno Park Outdoor Stage
1. Raku Vs Uta Takami
2. Miu Watanabe & Suzume Vs Pom Harajuku & Shino Suzuki
The next Tokyo Joshi Pro appearance at the Garafes is later this month. The Up Up Girls (Pro Wrestling) also recently announced a new trainee called Kana. She was born in Kanagawa on 5th August, 2005 and is 156cm tall. Her goal is to become both a regular pro wrestler and idol.
BASARA “BASARA 254 ~ICHIMIDOUSHIN~”, 04/08/2024 Tokyo Korakuen Hall
1. Takeru Inoue Debut Match: Takeru Inoue Vs X
2. Special Single Match: Isami Kodaka Vs Yuki Ishikawa
3. Union MAX Title: Minoru Fujita (c) Vs Yasu Urano
All of Minoru Fujita’s defences of the Union MAX Title so far have been against BASARA wrestlers. Yasu Urano is going to be his first outsider opponent. For Fujita it may be the first time he feels like BASARA’s leader as their champion.
GANBARE☆PRO “UNCUT DIAMONDS 2024”, 16/08/2024 Shin-Kiba 1st RING
1. Spirit Of Ganbare World Tag Team Titles: Shigehiro Irie & Mizuki Watase (c) Vs Ken Ohka & Shuji Ishikawa
2. Spirit Of Ganbare World Openweight Title: Keisuke Ishii (c) Vs Takuya Wada
In just over a year and a half Takuya Wada has accomplished plenty in Ganbare☆Pro. He already held a championship here and now has a chance to take the Spirit Of Ganbare World Title from Keisuke Ishii.
Ken Ohka has called upon Shuji Ishikawa to challenge Shigehiro Irie & Mizuki Watase for the Spirit Of Ganbare Tag Team Titles. Ohka is on a mission to show everyone that wrestlers born in the 1970s are still up to snuff.
GANBARE☆PRO “DISASTER ARTIST 2024”, 15/07/2024 Tokyo Takashimadaira Kumin Center 286 Fans – Super No Vacancy Full House
1. Takuya Wada & Yujiro Yamamoto defeated Munetatsu Nakamura & Shota Kawakami when Wada submitted Nakamura with the Gm UP!! (9:50).
2. SAKI, Yuko Sakurai & Yuki Mashiro defeated HARUKAZE, Yuna Manase & Banny Oikawa when SAKI pinned HARUKAZE with the Running Brainbuster (8:58).
3. Fire Festival – A Block: Yumehito Imanari (10) defeated Satsuki Nagao (10) with the Lou Thesz Press (11:19).
4. Moeka Haruhi Return Match: Shuichiro Katsumura & YuuRI defeated Yusaku Ito & Moeka Haruhi when YuuRI pinned Haruhi with a German Suplex (12:09).
5. Ken Ohka, Keisuke Ishii & Tyson Maeguchi defeated Shigehiro Irie, Mizuki Watase & Rekka when Ohka pinned Watase with the Flame Spear (12:13).
6. Spirit Of Ganbare World Openweight Title: Keisuke Ishii (c) defeated Hong Kong International Police Man with the Momoiro Kick (15:59). *V2 for Keisuke Ishii.
Today was a big show for Ganbare☆Pro because it drew the largest crowd they have ever had at Takashimadaira Kumin Center! The main event was advertised as Keisuke Ishii defending the Spirit Of Ganbare World Title against Hong Kong International Police Man. However when it was time for the match to happen Police Man was nowhere to be found. Instead Choun-Shiryu walked out as his replacement! Ishii was still able to beat him using the Momoiro Kick, his name for the Kneel Kick. After the match he thanked “Police Man” because it was the first singles match they ever had together. Takuya Wada then entered the ring and challenged Ishii for the championship. It will take place on 16th August. Wada and the other wrestlers from the 1970s group then joined together in the ring to close out the show.
Ken Ohka was able to beat one of the Spirit Of Ganbare Tag Team Champions by pinning Mizuki Watase with the Flame Spear. Shigehiro Irie taunted Ohka after the match by raising his title belt in the air. At the end of the show Ohka sent a video call to Shuji Ishikawa on his phone. Ohka asked Ishikawa if they could team up and challenge for the Spirit Of Ganbare Tag Titles on 16th August. Ishikawa agreed to the idea. Ohka originally wanted Isami Kodaka or Minoru Fujita to be his partner but Kodaka is unavailable and Fujita turned him down.
It was a special return to the ring for Moeka Haruhi. She has been away from wrestling for over a year in order to donate a kidney to her sister. For her comeback match Haruhi was teaming up with Yusaku Ito, a wrestler who has received a kidney transplant. She was disappointed to lose the match but thanked Shuichiro Katsumura & YuuRI for protecting GanPro during her hiatus. She also thanked everyone for supporting her during this period especially when there were times she felt at her weakest. Today is the beginning of her second chapter and it will start with her joining GanPro on a full time basis! She promised the fans they next time they see her she will win her match.
Lately Yumehito Imanari has been over in ZERO1 competing in the Fire Festival tournament. As part of their relationship with GanPro, Imanari’s final block match against Satsuki Nagao was allowed to take place on this show. Imanari was able to win, ending his tournament run with two victories out of five matches and 10 points in total. Since he is the first wrestler in his block to complete all his matches and many are currently tied on 10 points he is unlikely to advance to the final. He compared fighting Nagao to fighting against Masato Tanaka and Shinjiro Otani.
DDT “WHAT ARE YOU DOING 2024 TOUR IN SHINJUKU”, 05/06/2024 Shinjuku FACE 344 Fans – Super No Vacancy
1. Yukio Naya & Keigo Nakamura defeated Kazusada Higuchi & Kazuma Sumi when Nakamura pinned Koroku with the Modified Crucifix Pin (7:09).
2. Special Tag Match: MAO & Shunma Katsumata defeated Danshoku Dieno & Kazuki Hirata by TKO when MAO knocked out Hirata with the Iai Kick (11:58).
3. Jun Akiyama, Atsushi Kotoge & Tomomitsu Matsunaga defeated Tetsuya Endo, Yuki Iino & Yuya Koroku when Kotoge pinned Koroku with the Killswitch (11:15).
4. Daisuke Kiso Referee 14th Anniversary Match ~ Special Tag Match: Keisuke Ishii & Shigehiro Irie defeated To-y & Yuni when Ishii pinned Yuni with the Double Arm Driver TURBO (10:49).
5. IWA Japan SETUP World Tag Team Titles – CDK 5th Anniversary Match ~ Special Tag Match: Chris Brookes & Masahiro Takanashi defeated Makoto Oishi & Shiori Asahi when Brookes pinned Oishi after the H.O.D (8:19). *V1 for CDK.
6. KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles: HARASHIMA, Akito & Yasu Urano defeated Daisuke Sasaki, KANON & MJ Paul (c) when Akito pinned KANON after the Somato from HARASHIMA (13:43). *DAMNATION T.A fails in V1. Smile Squash becomes the 55th KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Champions!
7. KO-D Openweight Title: Yuki Ueno (c) defeated Sanshiro Takagi with the BME (24:01). *V5 for Yuki Ueno.
Yuki Ueno had to take on a version of Sanshiro Takagi that no longer had any restrictions or responsibilities to worry about. Takagi is feeling the most freedom he has had in years and fought Ueno in the most unfiltered DDT match they could have for the KO-D Openweight Title. There was an out of the ring brawl, Dramatic Dream bike crashes and broken plastic boxes aplenty. Takagi used the regular Stone Cold Stunner as well as a top rope Stunner for nearfalls. Ueno countered another Stunner by Dropkicking Takagi in the back of the head. He then used one of Takagi’s own finishers against him by doing the Sit Down Himawari Bomb. Takagi kicked out of it but was a sitting duck for the BME, giving Ueno the win.
After the match Ueno told Takagi how much he loves DDT. His life changed when he met Takagi and discovered this company. Today his life changed again because he was able to fight Takagi in a KO-D Title match that left him feeling completely worn out. As the champion he will continue to take on the dreams of the people he beats so someday he and Takagi will bring DDT to the Tokyo Dome together! Takagi praised Ueno for being strong and becoming even stronger. He then called MAO into the ring to confirm the “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2024” main event on 21st July will be Ueno Vs MAO for the KO-D Title! DDT’s first show in Sumo Hall was 15 years ago and Takagi is confident those two will put on a main event worthy of the venue.
The Smile Squash reunion has achieved its goal when the unit became the new KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Champions! It is a significant achievement for the trio because both HARASHIMA and Yasu Urano have never held the title in their long careers while Akito wanted to win the belts with both of them. Akito scored the pin thanks to HARASHIMA hitting the Somato on KANON while KANON was trying to put Akito in the Cobra Twist. Akito gave a history lesson of the group after the match, explaining they originally broke up in a way that left bad tastes in their mouths but they got over it like adults. HARASHIMA said his generation will continue to do their best and he would like to defend the titles for 10 years! DAMNATION T.A however are made they lost another championship in their first defence. This keeps happening whenever they win a tag team title! Daisuke Sasaki blamed KANON and asked him if he’s trying to get into the Guinness Book of Records for having the most 0 defence title reigns? Sasaki, KANON & MJ Paul all want a rematch right away.
CDK celebrated their 5th year anniversary as a team by having an impromptu defence of the IWA Japan SETUP World Tag Team Titles against Makoto Oishi & Shiori Asahi. After CDK won the match Masahiro Takanashi suggested they should hold their own show featuring different wrestlers from all of the different promotions he and Chris Brookes regularly appear in to celebrate their 5th anniversary even more.
Also celebrating his anniversary in wrestling today was the referee Daisuke Kiso. He put together a match between Keisuke Ishii & Shigehiro Irie against To-y & Yuni for the occasion. Both Ishii & Irie were thankful to Kiso for being invited to take part.
Recent events in NOAH led to Jun Akiyama inviting Atsushi Kotoge over to DDT to learn a new thing or two. Together with Tomomitsu Matsunaga they defeated BURNING when Kotoge pinned Yuya Koroku with the Killswitch. Everyone then discovered that Kotoge did not come here on his own. Go Shiozaki appeared after the match! He keeps hearing that Tetsuya Endo & Yuki Iino want to fight him so how about Shiozaki & Kotoge challenge them for the KO-D Tag Team Titles? Endo agreed and the match will take place at Sumo Hall on 21st July!