DDT/Sasadango Vs NJPW/Yano Round 2 Announced

April 21, 2026

DDT/NJPW “ONE-ON-ONE CONFRONTATION PART 2 ~TEAM SASADANGO VS TEAM YANO 5-ON-5 ELIMINATION TAG BATTLE~”, 08/06/2025
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Team Sasadango Vs Team Yano: X Vs X
2. Team Sasadango Vs Team Yano: X Vs X
3. Team Sasadango Vs Team Yano: X Vs X
4. Team Sasadango Vs Team Yano: X Vs X
5. Team Sasadango Vs Team Yano: X Vs X

A joint press conference was held on Monday between DDT and New Japan to announced a follow up event to last year’s “One Match” show that pitted Super Sasadango Machine against Toru Yano in Korakuen Hall. It was a show that helped heal a decade long rift between the two companies. This time around DDT and New Japan want to hold a similar event but have it be built around sportsmanship so the format is going to be a 5 Vs 5 Team Elimination Challenge. At the press conference Sasadango and Yano both talked about the respect they gained for each other after last year’s match and how much of a learning experience it was for the two companies to understand what they can each provide for the pro wrestling world.

Much like last year, the show will be held as a dual PPV broadcast airing on both NJPW World and Wrestle Universe with each feed being its own complete production. Just like the wrestlers, there was mutual respect earned among the production teams after last year’s show. Yano wants the match to have a definitive winner this time instead of the agreed upon double countout that happened last time. He is ready to call up wrestlers from New Japan’s Hontai unit to be on his team. When Sasadango heard that, he pointed out that he doesn’t currently belong to any DDT unit so he is free to pick whoever he wants in the company to join his team.

The two agreed that they need to be flexible over the rules of the match and they might organize a meeting leading up to the show to hammer out all the details. Sasadango suggested they may include some extra wrestlers placed in reserve should their original picks get injured or decide to leave their company before the match takes place. He also wondered if the 5 Vs 5 format just means five singles matches or if it will be possible to have tag bouts take place? Yano understands the idea and is open to it, again pointing out that the rules need to be flexible for this situation. They both seem to understand that the show will consist of five matches but some may end up being tag team matches instead of singles. The press conference ended with Sasadango saying he trusts New Japan will not betray DDT and Yano said the same vice versa.


Quick News While I’m Still In Vegas

April 17, 2026

DDT “MOTSUNABE BUSTER”, 18/04/2026
ACROS Fukuoka

1. Special Single Match: Daichi Sato Vs Kazuki Hirata
2. Takeshi Masada & Yuya Koroku Vs Danshoku Dieno & Akito
3. Special Tag Match: Junta Miyawaki & Hinata Kasai Vs Yuki Ishida & Kumadori
4. Jun Akiyama & Azul Dragon Vs Yukio Naya & Masami Inahata
5. DAMNATION T.A Vs STRANGE LOVE CONNECTION!: Hideki Okatani, MJ Paul & Ilusion Vs MAO, KANON & Viento Maligno (w/ KIMIHIRO)
6. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Yuki Ueno, To-y & Yuni Vs Chris Brookes, HARASHIMA & Antonio Honda
7. DDT Universal Title: Kazuma Sumi (c) Vs Shunma Katsumata

I want to keep this post brief while I’m still in Vegas because I have a list of other things to do. Here is the match order for tomorrow’s DDT show. It will be the first time Kumadori works one of DDT’s regular shows outside of Tokyo.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW INSPIRATION”, 18/04/2026
TOKYO SQUARE In Itabashi

1. Kakeru Sekiguchi & Mahiro Kiryu Vs Kira Summer & Chika Nanase
2. Mifu Ashida Vs Papillon Akemi
3. Mei Suruga Vs Ren Konatsu
4. Rika Tatsumi & Shion Kanzaki Vs Arisu Endo & Haru Kazashiro

Those in Tokyo Joshi Pro who stayed behind in Japan have their own show coming up tomorrow.

DDT “YAMADA SUISAN CO., LTD. PRESENTS GATHERING! THE THREE UNAGI SIBLINGS! ~IN ONE POND~”, 19/04/2026
Kagoshima Shibushi City “Unagi Station” Special Venue

1. Daichi Sato Vs Masami Inahata
2. Kazuma Sumi Vs Yuni Vs Danshoku Dieno & Kazuki Hirata
3. Tokyo Joshi Pro Offer Match: Rika Tatsumi & Haru Kazashiro Vs Arisu Endo & Ren Konatsu
4. Special Tag Match: Shishamo Power & Gota Ihashi Vs Yuki Ishida & Hinata Kasai
5. Hideki Okatani & Ilusion Vs Takeshi Masada & Junta Miyawaki
6. Special 8-Man Tag Match: Yuki Ueno, Jun Akiyama, Shunma Katsumata & To-y Vs MAO, KANON, Yukio Naya & Viento Maligno (w/ KIMIHIRO)
7. Gathering! The Three Unagi Siblings! ~In One Pond~ Special 6-Man Tag Match: Unagi Mask, Super Unagi Mask & Unagi Mask Woman Vs Aja Kong, Chris Brookes & Antonio Honda

That TJPW crew will also being showing up at DDT’s sponsored event with the seafood company.

DDT “ROAD TO KING OF DDT 2026”, 22/04/2026
Shinjuku FACE

1. 3 Way Tag Match: Hideki Okatani & MJ Paul Vs Naomi Yoshimura & Akito Vs Danshoku Dieno & Kazuki Hirata
2. Junta Miyawaki Three Match Trial – Match 1: Junta Miyawaki Vs Antonio Honda
3. Special 8-Man Tag Match: MAO, KANON, Yuki Iino & Viento Maligno (w/ KIMIHIRO) Vs Kazuma Sumi, Kumadori, Rukiya & Hinata Kasai
4. Special 8-Man Tag Match: Yuki Ueno, Shinya Aoki, Shunma Katsumata & To-y Vs Takeshi Masada, Yuya Koroku, Daichi Sato & Masami Inahata
5. Special Single Match: Chris Brookes Vs Ilusion
6. Special Tag Match: Minoru Suzuki & HARASHIMA Vs Yukio Naya & Yuki Ishida

The next Shinjuku FACE show is made up of a lot of preview tags for King Of DDT.

DDT “YACCHINA FIGHT 2026”, 25/04/2026
Yokohama Radiant Hall

1. Danshoku Dieno & Antonio Honda Vs Kazuki Hirata & Naomi Yoshimura
2. MAO, KANON, Yuki Iino, Yukio Naya & Viento Maligno Vs Kazuma Sumi, Junta Miyawaki, Tomomitsu Matsunaga, Yuni & Yuki Ishida
3. Shinya Aoki Vs Rukiya
4. Special Tag Match: Yuki Ueno & Akito Vs Daichi Sato & Masami Inahata
5. FANTÔMES DRAMATIC Vs DAMNATION T.A!: Chris Brookes, HARASHIMA & Hinata Kasai Vs Hideki Okatani, MJ Paul & Ilusion
6. paleyouth Vs The 37KAMIINA!: Takeshi Masada & Yuya Koroku Vs Shunma Katsumata & To-y

More King Of DDT preparations to be found here.

DDT “ECHIGO LARIAT”, 29/04/2026
Niigata Higashi Ward Plaza

1. Kazuma Sumi Vs Hinata Kasai
2. Takeshi Masada & Yuki Ishida Vs Kazuki Hirata & Akito
3. Jun Akiyama, Junta Miyawaki, Tomomitsu Matsunaga & Masami Inahata Vs KANON, Yuki Iino, Yukio Naya & Viento Maligno (w/ KIMIHIRO)
4. paleyouth Vs The 37KAMIINA!: Yuya Koroku & Daichi Sato Vs Shunma Katsumata & To-y
5. FANTÔMES DRAMATIC Vs DAMNATION T.A!: Chris Brookes, HARASHIMA & Antonio Honda Vs Hideki Okatani, MJ Paul & Ilusion
6. Special Tag Match: Yuki Ueno & Super Sasadango Machine Vs MAO & Danshoku Dieno

This show has completely sold out already.

BASARA “BASARA 306 ~UTAGE~”, 01/05/2026
Shin-Kiba 1st RING

1. 4 Way Tag Match: Ryota Nakatsu & Daichi Kazato Vs Takumi Tsukamoto & Daiki Shimomura Vs Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi & Tsutomu Oosugi Vs Lil’ Kraken & Akira Jo
2. Isami Kodaka & Shuji Ishikawa Vs SAGAT & Minoru Fujita
3. Takeru Inoue Vs Yasu Urano
4. Turnabout Pro Wrestling Trial: Ayato Yoshida Vs Banana Senga Vs Gouma Ryu
5. Iron Fist Tag Team Titles: Takato Nakano & Masato Kamino (c) Vs FUMA & Seiya Morohashi

It’s pretty cool to see Isami Kodaka and Shuji Ishikawa teaming up again.

DDT “SAPPORO GOLDEN BATTLE 2026”, 02/05/2026
Hokkaido Sapporo Sun Plaza

1. Sapporo Studio Five Presents Special 6-Man Tag Match: Yuki Ueno, Shunma Katsumata & To-y Vs Chris Brookes, HARASHIMA & Antonio Honda
2. KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles: Takeshi Masada, Yuya Koroku & Daichi Sato (c) Vs MAO, KANON & Viento Maligno (w/ KIMIHIRO)

The young trio of paleyouth will next defend the KO-D 6-Man Tag Titles against Strange Love Connection.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “YES! WONDERLAND ’26”, 04/05/2026
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Ryo Mizunami Vs Toga
2. Mizuki, Mei Suruga & Uta Takami Vs Yuki Aino, Raku & Pom Harajuku
3. International Princess Title: Suzume (c) Vs Haru Kazashiro

With the Las Vegas show now out of the way, Suzume is confirmed to be the defending International Princess Champion going into the title match against Haru Kazashiro next month.

There is also expected to be a Princess Tag Team Titles match between The IInspiration and Daydream on this show but it has not been officially announced yet. Miu Watanabe set it up in Vegas by telling The IInspiration that Rika Tatsumi would like to meet them.

Look at the participants in Match #2 and tell me it won’t be anarchy.


DDT “DREAM LIGHTS ~HOW DO YOU LIKE DDT WEDNESDAY~” Results

April 15, 2026

DDT “DREAM LIGHTS ~HOW DO YOU LIKE DDT WEDNESDAY~”, 15/04/2026
Tokyo Korakuen Hall
??? Fans – Unannounced

0. Dramatic Dark Match: Yoshihiko defeated Ilusion with the Reincarnation (15:03).
1. Jun Akiyama & Rukiya defeated Akito & Masami Inahata when Rukiya pinned Inahata with a Running Elbow Butt (7:32).
2. 3 Way Tag Match: Kazuma Sumi & Yuni defeated Danshoku Dieno & Kazuki Hirata and Naomi Yoshimura & Kumadori when Sumi submitted Hirata with a Cross Armbreaker (7:36).
3. Special 8-Man Tag Match: MAO, KANON, Viento Maligno (w/ KIMIHIRO) & Yuya Aoki defeated Shunma Katsumata, Junta Miyawaki, To-y & Yuki Ishida when KANON pinned Ishida with the GURU-GURU Driver (11:26).
4. Special Single Match: YOH defeated Antonio Honda with an Anaconda Vice (13:45).
5. KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles: Takeshi Masada, Yuya Koroku & Daichi Sato (c) defeated Chris Brookes, HARASHIMA & Hinata Kasai when Masada pinned Kasai with the Masada No Chikara KOBU Mukimuki (12:54).
*V2 for paleyouth.
6. DDT Extreme Title – Hardcore Table Crash Match: Hideki Okatani (c) defeated Yukio Naya by Table Crash (14:40).
*V1 for Hideki Okatani.
7. KO-D Openweight Title: Yuki Ueno (c) defeated Yuki Iino by Referee Stoppage with a Body-Scissors Sleeper Hold (21:44).
*V7 for Yuki Ueno.

Right from the start Yuki Iino tried to take down Yuki Ueno with overwhelming power in his latest challenge for the KO-D Openweight Title. Even when Ueno tried to counter attack with high risk dives out of the ring and also from the top of the entrance to one of the seating sections. Iino caught him after that one and slammed him onto the floor before doing The Apex Elbow. Back in the ring Iino used his power to slam his way out of the Blackout Sleeper and then brought back the Bubba Bomb to set up a low angle Spear for a nearfall. There were more Spears dealt by Iino but Ueno wouldn’t stay down for long. Instead once he found the chance to grab Iino in a Sleeper Hold, Ueno fought to keep a hold of it unil Iino lost consciousness to end the match via TKO.

After the match Ueno told Iino he wants them to keep wrestling each other for the KO-D Title over and over whether it happens five years down the line, ten years down the line or even 100 years down the line! Ueno then brought up another Yuki that is in DDT. He turned to Yuki Ishida at ringside and talked about how lost he must be feeling now that Kazusada Higuchi has retired and Harimao disbanded. Ueno encouraged Ishida to give it his absolute all no matter what path he takes, because it will be the right path for him. Once he does, Ueno will look forward to the day Ishida asks him for a title shot. Backstage, Ueno also gave encouraging words about Iino. Iino recently described himself at being at his peak and it will be all downhill for him from here. Ueno disagrees because DDT has HARASHIMA, Jun Akiyama, Sanshiro Takagi and even Gorgeous Matsuno all still going to the best of their abilities that go beyond physical strength, speed and stamina. As for his next title defence, Ueno assumes it will be against the winner of the King Of DDT tournament which is why he is not entering it this year.

Hideki Okatani got what he wanted and then some when he decided to fight Yukio Naya in a Hardcore Table Crash Match. The rules allowed either a pinfall, submission or table break to decide the winner while everything else goes (barring weapons the referee would deem too dangerous). The two attacked each other with chairs and even a keyboard while the other members of Strange Love Connection built a castle of chairs outside the ring. Naya knocked it down by giving Okatani a Giant Swing into it. DAMNATION T.A interfered to stop Naya from winning, allowing Okatani to put his opponent through a table outside the ring with a Sunset Flip Power Bomb to defend the DDT Extreme Title. After the match Okatani told Naya he is truly a monster and the one who is destined to succeed after Higuchi. It is for that very reason that Okatani swears he will do whatever he can to tear Naya down! Naya accepted he lost the match but said he doesn’t have any injuries coming out of it so he will get revenge by beating Okatani in a standard match with regular rules.

We’re going to have to wait a while longer for Hinata Kasai to win his first match. He wasn’t able to do it here when FANTÔMES DRAMATIC challenged paleyouth for the KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles. With Chris Brookes & HARASHIMA doing what they could to neutralize Yuya Koroku & Daichi Sato, it came down to Kasai trying to find some way to finish off Takeshi Masada. He put him in an STF but it didn’t work, he punched him with a closed fist to set up a Backslide Pin but that didn’t work either. Masada then quickly used the Masada No Chikara KOBU Mukimuki to pin Kasai and ensure paleyouth remain the champions. They were then challenged to a title match by MAO, KANON & Viento Maligno from SLC. That will happen on 2nd May.

When Antonio Honda and YOH worked together at the Super Sasadango Machine Vs Yasu Urano show last year, they ended up discovering they are kindred spirits. Today they met again in the ring, this time as opponents in a wrestling match. YOH cut off Honda from telling a Gongitsune joke until he also hurt his knee and decided to tell one of his own. Honda joined in so they could tell the joke together before getting back to fighting each other. Honda went into the books of Antonio Inoki and Hiroyoshi Tenzan by using their moves to try and win. But YOH fought back and made Honda give up to the Anaconda Vice. YOH told Honda that today he has finally gotten over his fear of foxes so they can do Gongitsune together again, maybe this time in New Japan? Honda loves the idea but is that ever going to happen?

Yuya Aoki made his first appearance for DDT in a long time, mixing it up with a lot of the roster in an 8-Man Tag Match. He started off squaring up with Junta Miyawaki but also got to fight Shunma Katsumata, To-y & Ishida throughout the match. Ishida tried to fight fire with fire against KANON but ended up getting burned. KANON out-Lariated him and scored the pinfall with the GURU-GURU Driver.

The appearance of Kumadori in Match #2 inspired Danshoku Dieno to come up with a special rule. Everyone agreed that Kumadori must spend the entire match inside the ring and he is forbidden from stepping outside! It was already a 3 Way Tag Match so the chaotic layout made it a little easier for him to follow the rule. He also astonished Dieno, Kazuki Hirata and Kazuma Sumi when they all grabbed him by the groin and discovered something was unusual about the size. Dieno fell into a depression until Hirata encouraged him to go into the Hell Gate position. Naomi Yoshimura and Yuni were thrown face first into it but Kumadori blocked it… with his groin. With that taken care off, Sumi put Hirata in a Cross Armbreaker to win by submission. He then told everyone that size doesn’t matter.

Rukiya got to score the pinfall in the opening match by beating the newcomer Masami Inahata. With Jun Akiyama and Akito not being able to get the advantage, Rukiya ended up hitting Inahata with a Running Elbow Butt twice. The first time was a nearfall but Inahata couldn’t kick out of the second. The two still confronted each other after the match.

The dark match was originally planned to be Sanshiro Takagi against Ilusion but Takagi is out of action with facial injuries. Ilusion had to go into the show not knowing who his new opponent would be so he demanded the match should have no time limit applied. Hisaya Imabayashi agreed to it and revealed Ilusion had to fight Yoshihiko! It was a dark match for the ages with dives and cheating galore from both wrestlers. Ilusion got to hit Yoshihiko with a chair while the ref was down and then frame Yoshihiko for using the weapon. He even gave Yoshihiko a Low Blow but couldn’t put it away with the Swanton Bomb. Yoshihiko got revenge by giving a Low Blow back to Ilusion and then scored the win by using the Reincarnation.


Mune Returning From Injury, Aniki Vs Toga, Hiroshi’s 15th Anniversary

April 13, 2026

I am making the (somewhat foolish) trip to Las Vegas this week to see Tokyo Joshi Pro amongst other wrestling shows (also Golden Knights ice hockey and a Battlebots taping of all things). Updates on here might get delayed while I’m over there but if I find time to write about them, it will show up eventually. Before I go there will be a DDT Around The World article coming up along with a guide for the TJPW Las Vegas show. They are both coming up tomorrow.

DDT “DREAM LIGHTS ~HOW DO YOU LIKE DDT WEDNESDAY~”, 15/04/2026
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

0. Dramatic Dark Match: Ilusion Vs X
1. Jun Akiyama & Rukiya Vs Akito & Masami Inahata
2. 3 Way Tag Match: Kazuma Sumi & Yuni Vs Danshoku Dieno & Kazuki Hirata Vs Naomi Yoshimura & Kumadori
3. Special 8-Man Tag Match: MAO, KANON, Viento Maligno (w/ KIMIHIRO) & Yuya Aoki Vs Shunma Katsumata, Junta Miyawaki, To-y & Yuki Ishida
4. Special Single Match: YOH Vs Antonio Honda
5. KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles: Takeshi Masada, Yuya Koroku & Daichi Sato (c) Vs Chris Brookes, HARASHIMA & Hinata Kasai
6. DDT Extreme Title – Hardcore Table Crash Match: Hideki Okatani (c) Vs Yukio Naya
7. KO-D Openweight Title: Yuki Ueno (c) Vs Yuki Iino

This is the match order for Wednesday’s DDT show in Korakuen Hall. At the moment it has not been announced who Ilusion will face in the dark match.

GANBARE☆PRO “HATAAGE 13TH ANNIVERSARY – MAD MAX 2026”, 29/04/2026
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Munetatsu Nakamura, Shota Kawakami & Sentaro Motoshima Vs Choun Shiryu, PSYCHO & Yuya Susumu
2. Moeka Haruhi Vs Ram Kaichow
3. YuuRI Vs Utami Hayashihita
4. Ken Ohka 25th Anniversary Match: Ken Ohka & Guts Ishijima Vs Masaaki Mochizuki & Ryota Nakatsu
5. Minoru Suzuki & Shuichiro Katsumura Vs Hideki “Shrek” Sekine & Akira Shoji
6. Spirit Of Ganbare World Tag Team Titles: Yumehito Imanari & Shinichiro Tominaga (c) Vs Takuya Wada & Tyson Maeguchi
7. Spirit Of Ganbare World Openweight Title: Mizuki Watase (c) Vs Keisuke Ishii

In good news, Munetatsu Nakamura has been cleared to return to the ring after spending the last three months recovering from a herniated cervical disc. Ganbare☆Pro has added him to their Korakuen show at the end of the month, putting him in the opener along with Choun Shiryu to even out the teams.

BASARA “BASARA 306 ~UTAGE~”, 01/05/2026
Shin-Kiba 1st RING

1. Turnabout Pro Wrestling Trial: Ayato Yoshida Vs Banana Senga Vs Gouma Ryu
2. Iron Fist Tag Team Titles: Takato Nakano & Masato Kamino (c) Vs FUMA & Seiya Morohashi

The specter of Union Pro continues to hang over BASARA with the latest challengers approaching Aijin Tag. The duo of FUMA & Seiya Morohashi are the next team to challenge for the Iron Fist Tag Team Titles.

Hang on we just had Ayato Yoshida on trial last month. What the hell kind of trouble has he gotten into this time?

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “YES! WONDERLAND ’26”, 04/05/2026
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Ryo Mizunami Vs Toga
2. International Princess Title: Suzume (c) Vs Haru Kazashiro

Yesterday Ryo Mizunami announced she has rejoined Sendai Girls after previously being affiliated with them from 2007-2012. If there was any worry that the news means she would no longer appear in TJPW anymore than fear not because she is showing up for Golden Week to have a singles match against Toga!

BASARA “TRANS-AM ★ HIROSHI GOLDEN 15TH ANNIVERSARY”, 15/05/2026
Shin-Kiba 1st RING

1. Kazuki Hirata Vs Daichi Kazato
2. Minoru Fujita & Antonio Honda Vs Isami Kodaka & Takumi Tsukamoto
3. MEN’S Teioh, Tsutomu Oosugi & Banana Senga Vs Takato Nakano, Masato Kamino & Takeru Inoue
4. Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi Vs Ayumu Honda

I’m thinking over the fifteen years of Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi and wonder how things could have been if he never suffered that shoulder injury back in 2014. Back then DDT struck a deal with All Japan for AJPW to “rent” Hiroshi for six months. He then dislocated his shoulder right before he was supposed to start his AJPW excursion. When he recovered he got to do a handul of tours with them in 2015 and 2016 but it wasn’t anything worth talking about at the time. And then he made the switch from Americana pro wrestler into the yoga weirdo we see today. But he’s our yoga weirdo so it’s nice to see this milestone get celebrated. Whenever he hangs out with Ayumu Honda he always speaks on his behalf, often misinterpretating his promos. Honda will get a chance to shut him up on his special day.

One of Hiroshi’s influences is on the card. He has both fought and teamed with MEN’S Teioh several times back in Hiroshi’s Union Pro days.


Hikari Noa Returning To Wrestling

April 11, 2026

“UNAGI KABUKI 3RD ANNIVERSARY -MORE CRAZY THAN THREE MEALS A DAY-”, 21/06/2026
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

Earlier today Sayaka Unagi held a press conference to promote her upcoming independent show scheduled for Korakuen Hall on 21st June. That specific date is important to her because on 21st June, 2023 she established her own company Unagi Kabuki. It was created in order for Unagi to promote her own events without running a full scale promotion or be bound to any particular style of pro wrestling. So the date means this show is going to be held on the company’s 3rd Anniversary. She’s been thinking for months about who she wanted to wrestle with at this show and was here to reveal who that person will be.

It is Hikari Noa! The former Tokyo Joshi Pro wrestler and member of The Up Up Girls (Pro Wrestling) left the industry under a haze of rumours in 2024 both personal and professional mashed together. Unagi said she always wanted to be in the ring with Noa again and it looked like it would never happen because both of them left their home companies at different times. But she worked hard towards making it happen and the two will team up together against opponents yet to be decided. Hikari Noa’s ring name is also slightly changed, going from 乃蒼ヒカリ to ノア・ヒカリ. I thought that means her ring name would now be spelt Hikari Noah but I’ve since been told that’s not the case.

Noa gave some comments, starting off with a public apology towards everyone who supported her or were inconvenienced by the worry she caused two years ago. She also expressed her gratitude towards Unagi for giving her a place to pursue her dreams again. Unagi then told the story of how she reconnected with Noa after losing contact with her. She heard rumours online about Noa working as a spa therapist in Yokohama and found out it was true so she simply booked a reservation with her. When they reunited, Unagi gradually learned that Noa hadn’t grown to hate pro wrestling and even though the idea of someday coming back for another match sounded fun. Unagi also thought she at least deserves to end her wrestling career on her own terms so she persuaded her to do this match. Noa said she’s only just recently started paying attention to the wrestling scene again but there are many wrestlers she would love to fight. Unagi suggested there may be some wrestlers who won’t want to fight her because of her scandalous image but for now Noa is focusing on her first match back taking place on 21st June.

————————————————————————

It took a year longer than I thought it would but finally Hikari Noa is back! Or at least she is for the moment. It sounds like she wants to do this match and then decide afterwards what her future in wrestling is actually going to be. Her departure from TJPW in 2024 was a sad one. She allegedly got into a situation with a superfan friend of hers that went sour and led to some dirty laundry being aired out on social media, mainly that Noa gave the friend access to restricted information coming from the idol side of her Up Up Girls career. Her absence from wrestling was publicly presented as her taking time off for health reasons but there was always suspicion it was more like a suspension or possibly even a contract termination over it. If she decides to stick around wrestling who knows if TJPW will ever welcome her back if she wants to go there.

What a devilishly creative woman that Sayaka Unagi is. She is constantly finding ways to get attention for her endeavors and I don’t think anybody thought she would play a role in getting Hikari to return to the ring. Unfortunately this is all I’m going to write about for Hikari’s return. Unless she regularly starts showing up at one of the wrestling promotions orbiting around CyberFight and Wrestle Universe I have enough on my plate to pay attention to what she’s doing next. Still, I’m happy to at least know another chapter in her career is approaching even if it only turns out to be a brief and final one.


Hardcore Table Crash, King Of DDT Preview Matches, Matsui Shines A Light On The New Gen

April 10, 2026

DDT “DDT X MOP WRESTLE TOUR 2026 IN MITSUI OUTLET PARK MARINE PIA KOBE”, 11/04/2026
Hyogo Mitsui Outlet Park Marine Pia Kobe

1. Jun Akiyama & Yuni Vs Chris Brookes & Hinata Kasai
2. Takeshi Masada, Yuya Koroku & Daichi Sato Vs Kazuma Sumi, Shunma Katsumata & Kazuki Hirata
3. Antonio Honda, Junta Miyawaki & Yuki Ishida Vs MAO, Yukio Naya & Tomomitsu Matsunaga
4. The 37KAMIINA Vs DAMNATION T.A!: Yuki Ueno & To-y Vs Hideki Okatani & Ilusion
5. MOP Tag Team Titles: KANON & Viento Maligno (c) (w/ KIMIHIRO) Vs HARASHIMA & Masami Inahata

The result of tomorrow’s main event will have an effect on Sunday’s card.

DDT “DDT X MOP WRESTLE TOUR 2026 IN MITSUI OUTLET PARK HOKURIKU OYABE”, 12/04/2026
Toyama Mitsui Outlet Park Hokuriku Oyabe

1. HARASHIMA & Masami Inahata Vs Tomomitsu Matsunaga & Hinata Kasai
2. Kazuma Sumi & Takeshi Masada Vs Kazuki Hirata & Yuki Ishida
3. FANTÔMES DRAMATIC Vs DAMNATION T.A!: Chris Brookes & Antonio Honda Vs Hideki Okatani & Ilusion
4. Special 8-Man Tag Match: Yuki Ueno, Shunma Katsumata, To-y & Junta Miyawaki Vs MAO, Yukio Naya, Yuya Koroku & Daichi Sato
5. MOP Tag Team Titles: KANON & Viento Maligno (c) Vs Jun Akiyama & Yuni

The losing team on Saturday’s MOP Tag Team Titles match will be sent to the curtain jerking position on Sunday.

DDT “DREAM LIGHTS ~HOW DO YOU LIKE DDT WEDNESDAY~”, 15/04/2026
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

0. Dramatic Dark Match: Ilusion Vs X
1. 3 Way Tag Match: Kazuma Sumi & Yuni Vs Danshoku Dieno & Kazuki Hirata Vs Naomi Yoshimura & Kumadori
2. Jun Akiyama & Rukiya Vs Akito & Masami Inahata
3. Special 8-Man Tag Match: MAO, KANON, Viento Maligno (w/ KIMIHIRO) & Yuya Aoki Vs Shunma Katsumata, Junta Miyawaki, To-y & Yuki Ishida
4. Special Single Match: YOH Vs Antonio Honda
5. KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles: Takeshi Masada, Yuya Koroku & Daichi Sato (c) Vs Chris Brookes, HARASHIMA & Hinata Kasai
6. DDT Extreme Title – Hardcore Table Crash Match: Hideki Okatani (c) Vs Yukio Naya
7. KO-D Openweight Title: Yuki Ueno (c) Vs Yuki Iino

Hideki Okatani wanted something a little more exciting than just a Hardcore Match for him and Yukio Naya to fight in for the DDT Extreme Title. He decided to add an extra Table Crash rule so the match can be won by either pinfall, submission or from putting your opponent crashing through a table.

DDT “MOTSUNABE BUSTER”, 18/04/2026
ACROS Fukuoka

1. Takeshi Masada & Yuya Koroku Vs Danshoku Dieno & Akito
2. Jun Akiyama & Azul Dragon Vs Yukio Naya & Masami Inahata
3. DAMNATION T.A Vs STRANGE LOVE CONNECTION!: Hideki Okatani, MJ Paul & Ilusion Vs MAO, KANON & Viento Maligno (w/ KIMIHIRO)
4. Special Single Match: Daichi Sato Vs Kazuki Hirata
5. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Yuki Ueno, To-y & Yuni Vs Chris Brookes, HARASHIMA & Antonio Honda
6. Special Tag Match: Junta Miyawaki & Hinata Kasai Vs Yuki Ishida & Kumadori
7. DDT Universal Title: Kazuma Sumi (c) Vs Shunma Katsumata

We’re starting to get more Kumadori appearances in DDT taking place outside of Tokyo. This show will be his first match taking place in Fukuoka.

DDT “ROAD TO KING OF DDT 2026”, 22/04/2026
Shinjuku FACE

1. Junta Miyawaki Three Match Trial – Match 1: Junta Miyawaki Vs Antonio Honda
2. Special Single Match: Chris Brookes Vs Ilusion
3. Special Tag Match: Minoru Suzuki & HARASHIMA Vs Yukio Naya & Yuki Ishida

In a preview of the King Of DDT opening round, Minoru Suzuki and Yukio Naya will clash in a tag match.

Junta Miyawaki will be starting a three match trial series to truly experience the essence of DDT during his year long stay here. Antonio Honda will be his first opponent.

Kumadori will be on this show too.

DDT “YACCHINA FIGHT 2026”, 25/04/2026
Yokohama Radiant Hall

1. Shinya Aoki Vs Rukiya
2. Special Tag Match: Yuki Ueno & Akito Vs Daichi Sato & Masami Inahata
3. paleyouth Vs The 37KAMIINA!: Takeshi Masada & Yuya Koroku Vs Shunma Katsumata & To-y

In another King Of DDT preview, Takeshi Masada and To-y will cross paths in a tag bout.

DDT “ECHIGO LARIAT”, 29/04/2026
Niigata Higashi Ward Plaza

1. paleyouth Vs The 37KAMIINA!: Yuya Koroku & Daichi Sato Vs Shunma Katsumata & To-y
2. FANTÔMES DRAMATIC Vs DAMNATION T.A!: Chris Brookes, HARASHIMA & Antonio Honda Vs Hideki Okatani, MJ Paul & Ilusion
3. Special Tag Match: Yuki Ueno & Super Sasadango Machine Vs MAO & Danshoku Dieno

A couple of days before the KO-D Tag Team Titles are defended, FANTÔMES DRAMATIC will take on DAMNATION T.A in trios action. Daisuke Sasaki won’t be back wrestling in Japan just yet so it is up to Ilusion to show everyone how the new leader gets things done.

DDT “DRAMATIC DREAMS! VOL. 13 ~MY SPIRIT GUARDS MY LORD IN THE EAST~”, 17/05/2026
Osaka City Sumiyoshi Community Center

0. Special Dark Match ~ Young Warrior Wrestling Summit: Takahiro Hirakimoto, Sora Fujikawa & Koki Fujimoto Vs Tetsuya Goto, Masaya Ishikawa & Hinata Kasai
1. Mixed Martial Arts Match – Irregular 2 Round System: Bushimasa Vs Tyson Maeguchi
2. Kansai Vs DDT, A Battle For Freedom!: HUB, Tsubasa & Billy Ben Kid Vs Junta Miyawaki, Viento Maligno & Yuni
3. A 6-Man Tag Match That Tests How Far A Young Heel With 4 Years And 9 Months Of Experience Can Assert Himself When Surrounded By Seasoned Veterans: Magnitude Kishiwada, MJ Paul & Ilusion Vs CIMA, Akito & Yasu Urano
4. Special Tag Match ~ Encounter With A Wrestling Master: Dick Togo & Hideki Okatani Vs Shunma Katsumata & Kohei Kinoshita
5. Special Tag Match ~ Laughter Brings Fortune: MAO & KANON (w/ KIMIHIRO) Vs Kuishinbo Kamen & Kikutaro
6. Special Tag Match ~ Infinite Stimulation Anniversary: Zack Sabre Jr. & Chris Brookes Vs HARASHIMA & Shinya Aoki

Yukinori Matsui will be giving some of the spotlight will be shining on the young generation of wrestlers. Some of them will be sharing the ring with Dick Togo while Ilusion will be facing CIMA in a 6-Man Tag Match. Also Junta Miyawaki, Viento Maligno & Yuni are taking on an trio of Osaka veterans HUB, Tsubasa & Billy Ben Kid.

The MMA bout between Bushimasa and Tyson Maeguchi will use alternate rules for the two rounds. Round 1 is MMA Rules with a three minute time limit. Round two is Tire Boxing rules where both fighters need to keep one foot stepping inside the same tire while they try to punch each other out for one minute. Bushimasa did this kind of fight on the show two years ago and it only lasted for those two rounds.

The dark match is filled with young wrestlers. Takahiro Hirakimoto is from Dove Pro, Sora Fujikawa is from Dotonbori Pro, Koki Fujimoto is from KOBE Meriken, Tetsuya Goto is from Pro Wrestling Shi-en, Masaya Ishikawa is from Dotonbori and as we already know Hinata Kasai is from DDT.

There is still room on the card for Shuji Ishikawa, Shigehiro Irie, Kazuaki Mihara and Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi.

DDT “D GENERATIONS 9”, 20/05/2026
Tokyo Ueno Park Outdoor Stage

1. Takeshi Masada Produce Match: X Vs X

What is Takeshi Masada planning for the next D GENERATIONS show? Last year on a Beer Garden show he put together a pretty crazy Hardcore Tag Match.


Takagi Injured, Upcoming DDT Cards Changed Around

April 7, 2026

DDT “DDT X MOP WRESTLE TOUR 2026 IN MITSUI OUTLET PARK MARINE PIA KOBE”, 11/04/2026
Hyogo Mitsui Outlet Park Marine Pia Kobe

1. Jun Akiyama & Yuni Vs Chris Brookes & Hinata Kasai
2. Takeshi Masada, Yuya Koroku & Daichi Sato Vs Kazuma Sumi, Shunma Katsumata & Kazuki Hirata
3. Antonio Honda, Junta Miyawaki & Yuki Ishida Vs MAO, Yukio Naya & Tomomitsu Matsunaga
4. The 37KAMIINA Vs DAMNATION T.A!: Yuki Ueno & To-y Vs Hideki Okatani & Ilusion
5. MOP Tag Team Titles: KANON & Viento Maligno (c) (w/ KIMIHIRO) Vs HARASHIMA & Masami Inahata

Yesterday on the “UNIVERSE MAGIC” show Sanshiro Takagi suffered an injury to his right eye. He has since been diagnosed with a orbital fracture as well as a nasal bone fracture so he will be out of action for a while. He was supposed to challenge for the MOP Tag Team Titles this weekend but will now be replaced by HARASHIMA. That decision has shuffled the rest of Saturday’s and Sunday’s cards around.

DDT “DDT X MOP WRESTLE TOUR 2026 IN MITSUI OUTLET PARK HOKURIKU OYABE”, 12/04/2026
Toyama Mitsui Outlet Park Hokuriku Oyabe

1. Kazuma Sumi & Takeshi Masada Vs Kazuki Hirata & Yuki Ishida
2. FANTÔMES DRAMATIC Vs DAMNATION T.A!: Chris Brookes & Antonio Honda Vs Hideki Okatani & Ilusion
3. HARASHIMA & Masami Inahata Vs Tomomitsu Matsunaga & Hinata Kasai
4. Special 8-Man Tag Match: Yuki Ueno, Shunma Katsumata, To-y & Junta Miyawaki Vs MAO, Yukio Naya, Yuya Koroku & Daichi Sato
5. MOP Tag Team Titles: KANON & Viento Maligno (c) Vs Jun Akiyama & Yuni

HARASHIMA will be teaming with Masami Inahata on both shows this weekend because of how the MOP Tag Titles matches are being set up.

DDT “DREAM LIGHTS ~HOW DO YOU LIKE DDT WEDNESDAY~”, 15/04/2026
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

0. Dramatic Dark Match: Ilusion Vs X
1. 3 Way Tag Match: Kazuma Sumi & Yuni Vs Danshoku Dieno & Kazuki Hirata Vs Naomi Yoshimura & Kumadori
2. Jun Akiyama & Rukiya Vs Akito & Masami Inahata
3. Special 8-Man Tag Match: MAO, KANON, Viento Maligno (w/ KIMIHIRO) & Yuya Aoki Vs Shunma Katsumata, Junta Miyawaki, To-y & Yuki Ishida
4. Special Single Match: YOH Vs Antonio Honda
5. KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles: Takeshi Masada, Yuya Koroku & Daichi Sato (c) Vs Chris Brookes, HARASHIMA & Hinata Kasai
6. DDT Extreme Title: Hideki Okatani (c) Vs Yukio Naya
7. KO-D Openweight Title: Yuki Ueno (c) Vs Yuki Iino

Takagi’s injury means he is no longer able to wrestle Ilusion at next Wednesday’s Korakuen Hall show. Ilusion is still expected to have a singles match on the pre-show but for now his opponent is unknown.

DDT “YAMADA SUISAN CO., LTD. PRESENTS GATHERING! THE THREE UNAGI SIBLINGS! ~IN ONE POND~”, 19/04/2026
Kagoshima Shibushi City “Unagi Station” Special Venue

1. Daichi Sato Vs Masami Inahata
2. Hideki Okatani & Ilusion Vs Takeshi Masada & Junta Miyawaki
3. Kazuma Sumi Vs Yuni Vs Danshoku Dieno & Kazuki Hirata
4. Tokyo Joshi Pro Offer Match: Rika Tatsumi & Haru Kazashiro Vs Arisu Endo & Ren Konatsu
5. Special 8-Man Tag Match: Yuki Ueno, Jun Akiyama, Shunma Katsumata & To-y Vs MAO, KANON, Yukio Naya & Viento Maligno (w/ KIMIHIRO)
6. Special Tag Match: Shishamo Power & Gota Ihashi Vs Yuki Ishida & Hinata Kasai
7. Gathering! The Three Unagi Siblings! ~In One Pond~ Special 6-Man Tag Match: Unagi Mask, Super Unagi Mask & Unagi Mask Woman Vs Aja Kong, Chris Brookes & Antonio Honda

The promise Gota Ihashi got to team with Shishamo Power is being made a reality.


BK-G Title Match, DDT Back In Korakuen Already, TJPW Inspiration

April 6, 2026

BAKA GAIJIN + FRIENDS “VOL. 29: TONIC IMMOBILITY”, 07/04/2026
Tokyo ARENA Shimokitazawa

1. BK-G Openweight Title: Mr. Bueno (c) Vs Antonio Honda

For tomorrow’s Baka Gaijin + Friends show, Antonio Honda has challenged Mr. Bueno for the BK-G Openweight Title. This will be Bueno’s first title defence since becoming the champion last December.

DDT “DREAM LIGHTS ~HOW DO YOU LIKE DDT WEDNESDAY~”, 15/04/2026
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

0. Dramatic Dark Match: Sanshiro Takagi Vs Ilusion
1. 3 Way Tag Match: Kazuma Sumi & Yuni Vs Danshoku Dieno & Kazuki Hirata Vs Naomi Yoshimura & Kumadori
2. Jun Akiyama & Rukiya Vs Akito & Masami Inahata
3. Special 8-Man Tag Match: MAO, KANON, Viento Maligno (w/ KIMIHIRO) & Yuya Aoki Vs Shunma Katsumata, Junta Miyawaki, To-y & Yuki Ishida
4. Special Single Match: YOH Vs Antonio Honda
5. KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles: Takeshi Masada, Yuya Koroku & Daichi Sato (c) Vs Chris Brookes, HARASHIMA & Hinata Kasai
6. DDT Extreme Title: Hideki Okatani (c) Vs Yukio Naya
7. KO-D Openweight Title: Yuki Ueno (c) Vs Yuki Iino

While Tokyo Joshi Pro is hanging out in Las Vegas for their next USA show, DDT is staying in Japan to run Korakuen Hall instead. Yuya Aoki is making his proper DDT debut on the show to team with Strange Love Connection in an 8-Man Tag Match.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW INSPIRATION”, 18/04/2026
TOKYO SQUARE In Itabashi

1. Kakeru Sekiguchi & Mahiro Kiryu Vs Kira Summer & Chika Nanase
2. Mifu Ashida Vs Papillon Akemi
3. Mei Suruga Vs Ren Konatsu
4. Rika Tatsumi & Shion Kanzaki Vs Arisu Endo & Haru Kazashiro

This month’s “TJPW INSPIRATION” show will have Rika Tatsumi & Shion Kanzaki teaming up for the first time, Ren Konatsu having to deal with Mei Suruga all by herself, Mifu Ashida taking on the guest Papillon Akemi and more twin magic hijinks between Kakeru Sekiguchi & Mahiro Kiryu.

DDT “LET’S GO FOR 5 X 1 DDT!” 2026, 01/05/2026
Hokkaido Sapporo Sun Plaza

1. KO-D Tag Team Titles: Chris Brookes & HARASHIMA (c) Vs Daisuke Sasaki & Ilusion

While Daisuke Sasaki is wrestling overseas, Ilusion has declared himself the new leader of DAMNATION T.A while he is away. With this new found power he has challenged Chris Brookes & HARASHIMA for the KO-D Tag Team Titles with Sasaki as his partner once Sasaki comes back to Japan.


King Of DDT 2026

April 6, 2026

This year’s King Of DDT tournament will have three previous winners taking part alongside four first timers. Every match in the tournament will have no time limit. The bracket ends at the semi finals were the four remaining wrestlers will be paired together via lottery.

HARASHIMA (17th Appearance, 2010 & 2013 Winner)
Danshoku Dieno (8th Appearance)
MAO (7th Appearance, 2024 Winner)
Chris Brookes (6th Appearance, 2023 Winner)
Yukio Naya (6th Appearance)
KANON (5th Appearance)
Takeshi Masada (4th Appearance)
Hideki Okatani (4th Appearance)
To-y (3rd Appearance)
Shinya Aoki (3rd Appearance)
Yuya Koroku (2nd Appearance)
Daichi Sato (2nd Appearance)
Kaisei Takechi (1st Appearance)
Junta Miyawaki (1st Appearance)
Kazuma Sumi (1st Appearance)
Minoru Suzuki (1st Appearance)

DDT “KING OF DDT 2026 1ST ROUND”, 04/05/2026
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. King Of DDT – Round 1A: Danshoku Dieno Vs Kaisei Takechi
2. King Of DDT – Round 1B: To-y Vs Takeshi Masada
3. King Of DDT – Round 1C: Minoru Suzuki Vs Yukio Naya
4. King Of DDT – Round 1D: Chris Brookes Vs Junta Miyawaki
5. King Of DDT – Round 1E: HARASHIMA Vs Daichi Sato
6. King Of DDT – Round 1F: Shinya Aoki Vs KANON
7. King Of DDT – Round 1G: Hideki Okatani Vs Yuya Koroku
8. King Of DDT – Round 1H: MAO Vs Kazuma Sumi

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DDT “KING OF DDT 2026 2ND ROUND”, 09/05/2026
Shinjuku FACE

1. King Of DDT – Round 2: Winner Of Match 1A Vs Winner Of Match 1B
2. King Of DDT – Round 2: Winner Of Match 1C Vs Winner Of Match 1D
3. King Of DDT – Round 2: Winner Of Match 1E Vs Winner Of Match 1F
4. King Of DDT – Round 2: Winner Of Match 1G Vs Winner Of Match 1H

————————————————————————

DDT “KING OF DDT 2026 FINAL!!”, 31/05/2026
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. King Of DDT – Semi Final: X Vs X
2. King Of DDT – Semi Final: X Vs X
3. King Of DDT – Final: X Vs X


DDT “CHANGE AGE 2026 ~TOBIKIRI ZENKAI POWER~” Results

April 5, 2026

DDT “CHANGE AGE 2026 ~TOBIKIRI ZENKAI POWER~”, 05/04/2026
Tokyo Korakuen Hall
??? Fans – Unannounced

0. Dark Match: Rukiya defeated Yuni with the Proto Bomb (6:12).
1. Takeshi Masada, Yuya Koroku & Daichi Sato defeated Kazuma Sumi, Masami Inahata & Hinata Kasai when Masada pinned Kasai with a PK (8:25).
2. Variety King Decision Match: Hisaya Imabayashi defeated Toru Owashi, Danshoku Dieno, Super Sasadango Machine, Kazuki Hirata, Antonio Honda and Akito when Imabayashi submitted Hirata with a Sleeper Hold (13:41).
3. DAMNATION T.A Vs STRANGE LOVE CONNECTION!: Yukio Naya & Viento Maligno defeated Hideki Okatani & Ilusion when Naya pinned Ilusion with The World’s Best Back Drop (8:27).
4. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Yuki Iino, Jun Akiyama & Junta Miyawaki defeated Yuki Ueno, Shinya Aoki & To-y when Iino pinned Ueno with the Spear (10:59).
5. Special Single Match: Kaisei Takechi defeated Makoto Oishi with the BREAK IT DOWN (9:46).
6. KO-D Tag Team Titles: Chris Brookes & HARASHIMA defeated MAO & KANON (c) (w/ KIMIHIRO) when HARASHIMA pinned KANON with the Swan Dive Somato (12:26).
*STRANGE LOVE CONNECTION fails in V5. FANTÔMES DRAMATIC become the 89th KO-D Tag Team Champions!
7. Special 6-Man Tag Match ~ Harimao Last Match: Naomi Yoshimura, Ryota Nakatsu & Yuki Ishida (w/ Kazusada Higuchi) defeated Shunma Katsumata, Kota Umeda & Kouki Iwasaki when Ishida pinned Katsumata with the Flame Palm (19:56).

If it was Kazusada Higuchi he would want to wrestle a little bit longer but today he had to retire from pro wrestling, ending his eleven year career over a neck injury. Having already wrestled his last match due to doctor’s orders, Higuchi had to serve as a second for Harimao in the main event 6-Man Tag Match. The sumo themed unit agreed to split up because of Higuchi’s retirement and today would be their last match together. Their opponents were three wrestlers who Higuchi grew up with in the DDT New Attitude developmental brand that existed from 2014 to 2018. It brought back some old rivalries likes the one between Ryota Nakatsu and Kota Umeda. Higuchi did take one more chance to get physical by throwing Chops at all of the wrestlers who were brought over to him at ringside. Yuki Ishida got rid of Kouki Iwasaki with the Leg Scoop Suplex while on the other side Shunma Katsumata wiped out Naomi Yoshimura with a Topé Con Hilo. The match came down to Ishida receiving one last fighting spirit from Higuchi to hit Katsumata with the Flame Palm for the three count.

Higuchi’s retirement ceremony took place after the match. He took commemorative photos with Harimao and then the DNA wrestlers. After that the next group of people to appear were Shuji Ishikawa, Yuji Hino and KUBITO who were tied to Higuchi as tag partners, rivals or training buddies at various times. Higuchi then received an anonymous letter from his alledged trainer. This mystery person is apparantely not in Japan at the moment but he wanted to tell Higuchi he is proud of him for becoming a top class wrestler and for leaving the ring with his body still intact. More wrestlers entered the ring to gift Higuchi with bouquets including Jun Akiyama, HARASHIMA, Danshoku Dino, Antonio Honda, Yuki Ueno, Tetsuya Endo and Konosuke Takeshita.

Finally Higuchi was reunited with the other Eruption members Yukio Sakaguchi & Saki Akai. Not only that but Hideki Okatani entered the ring holding the Eruption gown that Higuchi had gifted to him when Higuchi left the unit. Okatani returned it back to him. Sanshiro Takagi was the last person to give a bouquet and everyone got together for a big group photo. Higuchi got on the microphone and said today he has run out of his strength and he’s come to the conclusion that this is the best decision he could make. He can only express is gratitude and is grateful to everyone in DDT. He also used the Wrestle Universe broadcast to tell Yoshihiro Takayama and Masahiro Takanashi that everyone here is waiting for their return. While Higuchi will no longer live in the ring, he will continue to move forward step by step in the ring of life.

FANTÔMES DRAMATIC have gotten their hands on their first proper championship by winning the KO-D Tag Team Titles! Things went crazy from the get go when The Apex lifted up KIMIHIRO and threw him onto everybody grouped together outside the ring. Strange Love Connection found that their own teamwork was being evenly matched by Chris Brookes & HARASHIMA. The challengers separated KANON from MAO and focused all of their attacks on the former. KANON was able to kick out after taking a Piledriver followed by the Somato but HARASHIMA used the souped up Swan Dive version of his finisher to win the tag titles. Later backstage MAO said his goal with this title run was to help KANON loosen up and he thinks they accomplished that. They can rebound by going after any championship but for the moment he wants the both of them to aim for the Top 3 in this year’s King Of DDT tournament.

While Fandora were celebrating their title win, Ilusion got into the ring while wearing all of the KO-D 10-Man Tag Team Title belts over his body. He claimed to be the new leader of DAMNATION T.A and because he has more title belts than Fandora, he is using his position to challenge them for the KO-D Tag Titles. He then unveiled a banner of Daisuke Sasaki to reveal that Sasaki will be his partner for the match. HARASHIMA accepted the challenge for 1st May because so that can be Sasaki’s first match back in DDT after coming home from his North American excursion. Before that takes place, Brookes said Fandora will go win the KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles on 15th April.

It was a special match between teacher and student when Makoto Oishi found himself being challenged by Kaisei Takechi. It’s been lightly thrown around that Takechi would officially surpass Oishi as soon as he could beat him in the ring. But Takechi has yet to win a singles match so he couldn’t afford to take his mentor lightly. Oishi took his student to school with basic moves as well as a well times Dropkick to the knee as a counter for the Flying Forearm. Takechi took a page out of Higuchi’s book by using the Brain Claw to break his way out of Oishi’s Fujiyama Knee Lock. He then showed off his new Choke Slam/Rock Bottom finisher called the BREAK IT DOWN, pinning Oishi to get his first ever singles victory.

Takechi was then suddenly met by Danshoku Dieno after the match. Dieno was there to propose the two of them have a singles match some day. Takechi agreed, saying he has no reason to refuse a challenge. Hisaya Imabayashi then decided since the two of them are entering the King Of DDT tournament, this can be one of the 1st Round matches! Takechi and Dieno shook hands over the idea but Takechi then stopped Dieno from leaning in for a kiss. He made a promise to Dieno that he is going to exceed his expectations. Backstage Takechi was asked if his agency is worried about him wrestling Dieno. He said DDT has the rights to book that match but admits if the card has to change, it is because LDH did not want it to happen. Dino acknowledged that there is an unwritten no contact agreement in place with him and Takechi but Takechi is officially a DDT wrestler so it is inevitable that Danshoku Dieno would be unleashed on him eventually.

There was a little bit of confusion among Yuki Ueno’s team when Shinya Aoki decided to stop up him pinning Junta Miyawaki early in the 6-Man Tag Match. Ueno then had Jun Akiyama properly stopping him from pinning Yuki Iino by hitting him with the Knee Strike. To-y did a big dive onto everyone so Ueno could be left alone to fight Iino. But the WR was countered into a Short-Range Spear followed by a full fledged one to give Iino a big win over the KO-D Openweight Champion. Iino asked Ueno how it felt to lose for the fist time after so long because Iino will soon take the belt and prove he is the strongest in DDT! Ueno asked him if he has any dreams for the future but Iino answered he has no time to think about that. He is busy living every day to its fullest.

Okatani and Yukio Naya gave everyone a preview of their DDT Extreme Title match by brawling around ringside while Ilusion and Viento Maligno wrestled each other. Naya toughed it out by taking chair shots and being thrown into the front row. He then refused to budge when he put Ilusion in a Crab Hold and invited Okatani to try and physically break it up. MJ Paul interfered to finally make some progress but Maligno was able to get him out of the ring. Naya recovered and Choke Slammed Okatani to stop him from using the chair again. After that he pinned Ilusion with The World’s Best Back Drop.

A really important designation was on the line in Match #2. All of the DDT goofballs were gathered together to determine who is the king of DDT’s “Variety” wrestlers! However the show was already running on a tight schedule so Imabayashi wanted everyone to do their entrances all at once. Kazuki Hirata suggested they start wrestling before the entrances and then play everyone’s music as the match progresses. They all brawled down to the ring, taking Imabayashi down with them and continued fighting until Toru Owashi’s song played. He ran to the back to make his entrance and ring introduction. This would next happen to Super Sasadango Machine, then Akito, then Dieno, then Antonio Honda and finally Kazuki Hirata. Except the heavy usage of the music system blew out the venue’s amplifier during Hirata’s entrance. The wrestlers (including Saki Akai and Tetsu Inada) all formed a daisy chain connecting from Dieno over to the amplifier in order to charge it back up to full repair. Hirata got to do his entrance until Imabayashi suddenly put him in a Sleeper Hold and tapped him out! Imabayashi was declared the winner and he ordered everyone to get out so the show could continue.

As previously mentioned way up above, FANTÔMES DRAMATIC will soon be challenging for the KO-D 6-Man Tag Titles. Hinata Kasai will be on the challenger team and he got to fight the champions paleyouth in today’s opening bout. He had a tough go at fighting Takeshi Masada & Daichi Sato until Kazuma Sumi tagged in to even things out. Yuya Koroku found himself fighting Masami Inahata to a stalemate. paleyouth then gathered their wits about them to team up on Kasai, ultimately leading to Masada pinning Kasai with a Penalty Kick. He showed off one of the title belts to him after the match, causing Kasai to hit him with an Elbow Strike in response. Koroku then grabbed Kasai and threw him out of the ring.

After graduating from high school and becoming a college student, Yuni showed up wearing a new costume for his match against Rukiya. A big Moonsault from Yuni was blocked by Rukiya sticking his feet up. He got the win with the Proto Bomb but it took two of them to get the result after Yuni kicked out of it the first time.