Princess Cup Day 3, YuuRI’s Ice Ribbon Gambit

July 16, 2023

Four shows to write about tomorrow. First BASARA, then Tokyo Joshi Pro, then DDT and then Ganbare☆Pro. I’m going to need a cold can of Coke by the time I’m done.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TOKYO PRINCESS CUP”, 17/07/2023
Tokyo Ryogoku KFC Hall

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

The Tokyo Princess Cup turns its attentions to Yuki Kamifuku Vs Nao Kakuta and Yuki Aino Vs Miu Watanabe for Day 3.

GANBARE☆PRO “FRENCH CONNECTION 2023”, 17/07/2023
Tokyo Takashimadaira Kumin Center

1. Tyson Maeguchi Vs Yuki Kanzaki
2. Yumehito Imanari & Yoshiko Hasegawa Vs Hartley Jackson & HARUKAZE
3. YuuRI Vs Riara
4. Shinichiro Tominaga Vs Shingo
5. Ken Ohka & Shota Vs Kuma Arashi & Koji Doi
6. Keisuke Ishii, Mizuki Watase & Munetatsu Nakamura Vs Shuichiro Katsumura, Soma Takao & HIROYA

YuuRI will be wrestling at an Ice Ribbon show in the afternoon. She is aiming to win the ICEx∞ Title from Totoro Satsuki and then show up at GanPro with the belt!

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

1. Tokyo Princess Cup – Quarter Final: Miyu Yamashita Vs Moka Miyamoto
2. Tokyo Princess Cup – Quarter Final: Rika Tatsumi Vs Shoko Nakajima
3. Tokyo Princess Cup – Quarter Final: Winner Of Match 1E Vs Winner Of Match 1F
4. Tokyo Princess Cup – Quarter Final: Winner Of Match 1G Vs Winner Of Match 1H

Rika Tatsumi and Shoko Nakajima both make it to the Quarter Finals where they will meet.


Princess Cup Undercard, Sakaguchi’s 50th Birthday Coming Up

July 12, 2023

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TOKYO PRINCESS CUP”, 15/07/2023
Tokyo Ryogoku KFC Hall

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

The Tokyo Princess Cup begins this weekend. The plan for the undercard on these shows is to put wrestlers from upcoming tournament matches in preview tag matches. So for example Rika Tatsumi and Raku are on opposite teams in the same match, Suzume and Shoko Nakajima are on opposite teams, so on and so forth. Hikari Noa and Yuki Arai are the exception because Arai isn’t available to wrestle until their tournament match on 22nd July.

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

1. Yukio Sakaguchi 50th Birthday Match ~ Special 6-Man Tag Match: Yukio Sakaguchi, Saki Akai & Hideki Okatani Vs Shuji Ishikawa, Thanomsak Toba & Masahiro Takanashi
2. DDT Extreme Title: Kazuki Hirata (c) Vs HARASHIMA

Yukio Sakaguchi is turning 50 years old on 26th July! So to celebrate it DDT is putting together a special match for him. Eruption are going to take on a team made up of wrestlers with some sort of connection to him. Shuji Ishikawa has been a rival of his in the past, Thanomsak Toba is a training buddy and Masahiro Takanashi is his little brother equivalent from Shuten-dōji.

Konosuke Takeshita will be on the show.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “GARAFES ~DAIHONMEI!! TOTSUGEKI! SOMERSAULT DROP~”, 30/07/2023
Tokyo Ueno Park Outdoor Stage

1. Hikari Noa & Toga Vs Raku & Moka Miyamoto
2. Miu Watanabe Vs HIMAWARI

Earlier this year Tokyo Joshi Pro held a couple of matches at an idol festival. They are doing it again at the end of this month. The two matches will take place on a mat placed on the concert stage instead of a wrestling ring.

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

1. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title – Battle Royal: Sanshiro Takagi (c) Vs X
2. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Chris Brookes, Masahiro Takanashi & Sakura Hirota Vs Yuki Ueno, MAO & Toy Kojima
3. Saki Akai Debut 10th Anniversary Match Vol. 2 ~ Special 6-Woman Tag Match: Saki Akai, Maya Yukihi & Asuka Vs Takumi Iroha, Rina Yamashita & X

Sakura Hirota is invited to celebrate Saki Akai’s 10th Anniversary. Will she bust out the Akai cosplay again?

While Sanshiro Takagi has been recovering from injury he had been tempting fate on Twitter, talking about how vulnerable he is while as the current Iron Man Heavymetalweight Champion. Stuff like asking the wrestlers not to even think about Low Kicking his injured leg when they meet up for example. Nobody has taken advantage of his perdicament and he remains the champion at the moment.


GanPro Is Being Invaded, New TJPW PPV, Kong Vs Sasadango

July 10, 2023

DDT “60TH BIRTHDAY & 20TH ANNIVERSARY ALL TOGETHER! ~ GORGEOUS NIGHT”, 16/07/2023
Fukushima Toyota Crown Arena Sub Arena

1. Daisuke Sasaki, MJ Paul & KANON Vs Yusuke Okada, Toy Kojima & Yuya Koroku
2. 4 Way Match: Yuki Ueno Vs Yuki “Sexy” Iino Vs Akito Vs Kazuma Sumi
3. Kazuki Hirata & Yuni Vs Saki Akai & Hideki Okatani
4. BURNING Vs Harimao!: Tetsuya Endo & Jun Akiyama Vs Kazusada Higuchi & Yuki Ishida
5. Special Tag Match: Yuji Hino & Makoto Oishi Vs Chris Brookes & Takeshi Masada
6. Fukushima Specialty Special 6-Man Tag Match: Gorgeous Matsuno, HARASHIMA & Yukio Sakaguchi Vs Toru Owashi, Danshoku Dieno & Antonio Honda

Originally Yuki Ueno was not booked on this show but his schedule has since opened up. So DDT is throwing him into the 3 Way Match, turning it into a 4 Way.

GANBARE☆PRO “FRENCH CONNECTION 2023”, 17/07/2023
Tokyo Takashimadaira Kumin Center

1. YuuRI Vs Riara
2. Tyson Maeguchi Vs Yuki Kanzaki
3. Yumehito Imanari & Yoshiko Hasegawa Vs Hartley Jackson & HARUKAZE
4. Shinichiro Tominaga Vs Shingo
5. Keisuke Ishii, Mizuki Watase & Munetatsu Nakamura Vs Shuichiro Katsumura, Soma Takao & HIROYA
6. Ken Ohka & Shota Vs Kuma Arashi & Koji Doi

There’s changes to the top end of the card after the events of yesterday. Kuma Arashi showed his true intentions when he betrayed Ken Ohka. The reason he is here in Ganbare☆Pro is not to team with Ohka but to invade the company with his old WRESTLE-1 teammate Koji Doi! The duo known as DoiKuma want to take over GanPro and turn it into a successful company in their own way. Ohka is now teaming with Shota to protect their home promotion from this invasion.

HIROYA is from Gamshara Pro Wrestling in Kyushu, or GamPro for short.

DDT “ROJO PRO WRESTLING IN HANDMADE IN JAPAN FES 2023”, 22/07/2023
Tokyo Big Sight West Hall 1 & 2

1. Falls Count Anywhere 4 Way Match: HARASHIMA Vs MAO Vs Hideki Okatani Vs Kazuma Sumi

Summer means it’s time for the annual Falls Count Anywhere match at the Handmade In Japan Festival. Who knows if any of the spectators will be inspired to become pro wrestlers themselves someday.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW MIDSUMMER ATHLETIC AMUSEMENT PARK PRO WRESTLING”, 27/07/2023
??? Athletic Amusement Park

1. Red Team Vs White Team: X Vs X

Contestants: Mizuki, Rika Tatsumi, Hyper Misao, Yuki Aino, Yuki Kamifuku, Nao Kakuta, Hikari Noa, Miu Watanabe, Raku, Suzume, Arisu Endo, Moka Miyamoto, Pom Harajuku, Mahiro Kiryu, Kaya Toribami and Yuki Arai.

At some point recently Tokyo Joshi Pro went out to an athletic amusement park and recorded an entire PPV of outdoor wrestling challenges. 16 wrestlers were split into two teams for a series of matches and challenges with the winning team receiving a luxorious prize.

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

1. Special Single Match: Aja Kong Vs Super Sasadango Machine

Niigata is not just a homecoming show for Shoko Nakajima. One of the locals there is also Super Sasadango Machine. Now the last time Sasadango was in TJPW he was supposed to have a match with Hyper Misao. It all turned out to be a gigantic stunt for Misao to announce her marriage. So, er… is there something Aja Kong wants to tell everybody?

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

1. Sakisama & Mei Saint-Michel Vs X & X
2. Tokyo Princess Cup – Semi Final: X Vs X
3. Tokyo Princess Cup – Semi Final: X Vs X

We haven’t seen the last of NEO Biishiki-gun yet. I mean why would we? They haven’t said anything about going away for good or anything like that. Sakisama & Mei Saint-Michel decided they want to have a tag match at the penultimate show of the Tokyo Princess Cup.


Tokyo Princess Cup 2023 Brackets

July 10, 2023

The first round draw for this year’s Tokyo Princess Cup took place today at the Kanda Myojin Shrine in Tokyo. 14 of the 16 participants were in attendance with Yuki Arai and Raku both missing due to having other priorities. Arai’s spot in the bracket was already decided in advance because 22nd July is the only date she is available to wrestle on that week.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TOKYO PRINCESS CUP”, 15/07/2023
Tokyo Ryogoku KFC Hall

1. Tokyo Princess Cup – Round 1A: Miyu Yamashita Vs Mizuki
2. Tokyo Princess Cup – Round 1B: Hyper Misao Vs Moka Miyamoto

The big match of Round 1 is right at the start of the bracket! It’s been well establish that the Princess Cup has been Miyu Yamashita’s Achilles’ heel for her entire career. She has entered every tournament and never won any of them, even during her most dominant periods in Tokyo Joshi Pro. For two of those years Yamashita was eliminated by Mizuki so this drawing sounds like bad luck for her. However Yamashita thinks if she can knock out the current Princess Of Princess Champion in the 1st Round then the odds are good she will finally win this damn tournament for once! Mizuki already has a person in mind she wants to nominate as her next challenger for the Princess Title. That will only be revealed if she wins the Princess Cup because otherwise she will most likely defend against the tournament winner instead. She’ll have to exterminate every monster standing in her way to do it, starting with Yamashita.

Moka Miyamoto hasn’t left a strong impression on Hyper Misao so far based on the few singles matches they’ve had against each other. For that reason Misao does not want to drop her guard and get eliminated in the 1st Round. She also hopes Mizuki will beat Yamashita because she would rather face her in Round 2 instead of the monster Yamashita! Miyamoto told Misao she has gotten stronger since their last match. She will do her best not to fall for any of Misao’s tricks.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TOKYO PRINCESS CUP”, 16/07/2023
Tokyo Ryogoku KFC Hall

1. Tokyo Princess Cup – Round 1C: Raku Vs Rika Tatsumi
2. Tokyo Princess Cup – Round 1D: Suzume Vs Shoko Nakajima

It’s been a good summer for Rika Tatsumi so far. The International Princess Champion is using this tournament to kick off the second half of the season. She knows Raku will be a tough opponent but nobody is going to stop her from reaching her goal. Tatsumi wants to win the Princess Cup so she will achieve TJPW’s ultimate grand slam!

The bee meets the kaiju in Round 1. Suzume wants to grow as big as Shoko Nakajima is this summer so she needs to be ready to sting any opponent put in front of her. Nakajima is celebrating 10 years as a pro wrestler this summer and she is cherishing the time. She’s aware of how much of a threat Suzume has become so she cannot afford to lose against her junior! She wants fans to keep an eye out for her while she goes on a rampage through the bracket.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TOKYO PRINCESS CUP”, 17/07/2023
Tokyo Ryogoku KFC Hall

1. Tokyo Princess Cup – Round 1E: Yuki Kamifuku Vs Nao Kakuta
2. Tokyo Princess Cup – Round 1F: Yuki Aino Vs Miu Watanabe

Every year when Yuki Kamifuku enters the Princess Cup she talks about how much she hates competing in tournaments and never wants to take part in them. This year however there are a lot of wrestlers from Generation Z taking part so she decided to stop complaining and start taking it seriously. Otherwise she will get annoyed from hearing the younger wrestlers use that excuse against her. Nao Kakuta just pinned Kamifuku at “SUMMER SUN PRINCESS ’23” over the weekend. Her summer has just begun and she wants to make it the hottest summer of her life!

Yuki Aino thinks the block she landed in is fate. She was eliminated by Kakuta in the first round last year and was eliminated by Miu Watanabe the year before. She also has a mutual connection with Kamifuku. She will have to get past this group in order to achieve her goal of reaching at least the semi-finals. Watanabe has faced Aino a lot of times and if she advances would like to meet Kakuta in Round 2 because it would be their first singles match against each other. Watanabe is also last year’s runner up and she pointed out she has reached one round further than the previous year for the last 4 years. She’s been in the final 8, then the final 4 and then the final 2. Does the pattern end with her winning the entire thing?

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TOKYO PRINCESS CUP”, 22/07/2023
Tokyo Ryogoku KFC Hall

1. Tokyo Princess Cup – Round 1G: Arisu Endo Vs Mahiro Kiryu
2. Tokyo Princess Cup – Round 1H: Hikari Noa Vs Yuki Arai

With two Princess Cup appearances already under her belt, Arisu Endo has yet to make it past the opening round. Her first time in the tournament was losing to Mahiro Kiryu too. In fact, Endo has never won a Round 1 match in any tournament she’s entered. The only time she made it to a 2nd Round was by default due to uneven entry numbers. So she definitely wants to win against Kiryu. She has decent odds because Kiryu’s form in the Princess Cup isn’t that good either. The only tournament match she ever won was against… Arisu Endo. Their match happens in the final show of a three day series of events so she aims to raise her spirits at the first two shows in preparation while keeping an eye on what Endo will do.

Ever since Hikari Noa made her debut she’s experienced some bittersweet memories during the summertime. Losing her match at Ota Ward Gymnasium over the weekend is just the latest one for her. She wants to enjoy the rest of the summer and shine brighter to make up for it. Noa’s match against Yuki Arai is a rematch from last year’s 2nd Round. Noa won that only to fall to the eventual tournament winner Yuka Sakazaki in the next round.

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

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

The opening round is in Ryogoku KFC Hall across four shows. Then the remaining rounds move over to Korakuen Hall.

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

1. Tokyo Princess Cup – Semi Final: X Vs X
2. Tokyo Princess Cup – Semi Final: X Vs X

The bracket gets interrupted when it reaches the final four. The semi-final match ups will be decided with a lottery.

NEO Biishiki-gun have decided to attend this this show. They will have a tag team match with opponents to be determined at a later date.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TOKYO PRINCESS CUP”, 13/08/2023
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Tokyo Princess Cup – Final: X Vs X

Just like last year, Maki Itoh won’t be at the Princess Cup final because she has a booking in another country the same day.


Ota Ward Title Match Talk, BASARA On The Road Back To Korakuen, Akai’s Rivals Vs Akai’s Classmates

July 4, 2023

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “SUMMER SUN PRINCESS ’23”, 08/07/2023
Tokyo Ota Ward Gymnasium

1. Juria Nagano Comeback Match: Suzume & Arisu Endo Vs Moka Miyamoto Vs Juria Nagano
2. Mahiro Kiryu, Haruna Neko, HIMAWARI & Shino Suzuki Vs Kaya Toribami, Toga, Haru Kazashiro & Runa Okubo
3. Ryo Mizunami & Nao Kakuta Vs Yuki Kamifuku & Asuka
4. DEFY Women’s Title: Vert Vixen (c) Vs Hikari Noa
5. 3 Way Tag Match: Shoko Nakajima & Hyper Misao Vs Aja Kong & Raku Vs Max The Impaler & Pom Harajuku
6. Nyla Rose Vs Miu Watanabe
7. EVE Title: Miyu Yamashita (c) Vs Sawyer Wreck
8. Sakisama & Mei Saint-Michel Vs Yuki Arai & Wakana Uehara
9. International Princess Title: Rika Tatsumi (c) Vs Yuki Arai
10. Princess Of Princess Title: Mizuki (c) Vs Maki Itoh

Miyu Yamashita was in London this past weekend wrestling in EVE. She successfully defended the EVE Title against “The Unbreakable” Rhio (filling in for Yamashita’s original opponent Emersyn Jayne). After the show Yamashita recorded a video message telling Sawyer Wreck she wants to put the EVE Title on the line for their match at “SUMMER SUN PRINCESS ’23”.

GANBARE☆PRO “WRESTLE SEKIGAHARA II”, 09/07/2023
Tokyo Ota Ward Gymnasium

1. Munetatsu Nakamura Vs Masahiro Takanashi
2. YuuRI & Tomoka Inaba Vs Takumi Iroha & Mio Momono
3. Riara Vs Sayaka Unagi
4. Yoshiko Hasegawa Vs Miyuki Takase
5. Keisuke Ishii, Shigehiro Irie & Soma Takao Vs Akito, Shota & Shinichiro Tominaga
6. Spirit Of Ganbare World Tag Team Titles Next Challengers Decision Survival 4 Way Tag Match: Ken Ohka & Kuma Arashi Vs Hartley Jackson & HARUKAZE Vs Minoru Fujita & Daiki Shimomura Vs Tsuyoshi Okada & Yuki Kanzaki
7. Special Single Match: Yumehito Imanari Vs El Lindaman
8. Spirit Of Ganbare World Tag Team Titles: Hikaru Sato & Tyson Maeguchi (c) Vs Shuichiro Katsumura & Takuya Wada
9. Spirit Of Ganbare World Openweight Title: Mizuki Watase (c) Vs Isami Kodaka

The contracts for the two championship matches have been signed. Isami Kodaka said he wants to win the Spirit Of Ganbare Title so he can keep wrestling in Ganbare☆Pro. He respects Mizuki Watase for carrying GanPro after Ken Ohka’s position on top faded away. Watase said he can win any battle because of the support from the fans. If this match really is about GanPro Vs BASARA then Watase urges the BASARA fans to hurry up and buy tickets to the show.

Last year at the first “WRESTLE SEKIGAHARA” there was a match between Shuichiro Katsumura and Minoru Suzuki. GanPro interviewed Takuya Wada as part of the promotion for the match and he went along to watch it. One year later and Wada cannot believe he is now wrestling on the show! Tyson Maeguchi is in a similar mindset because he only won his first match at last year’s show and now he is going into this year’s event as a champion. Meanwhile Hikaru Sato is wondering will the actual Spirit Of Ganbare Tag Team Title belts ever arrive? He is fine with carrying around the tournament trophies instead because he cannot imagine what Hentai Punch Drunkers would look like wearing championship belts.

There is history that already exists between Yumehito Imanari and El Lindaman. They both entered the 2020 Tenkaichi Jr. Tournament in ZERO1 and faced each other in a couple of tag matches in the same company a year later. Lindaman also invited Imanari to train with him in 2022 while Imanari was the SOG Champion preparing for the title defence against Shigehiro Irie. The two know each other’s feelings and Imanari knew he was destined to wrestle Imanari in a singles match some day. He does not know if there is anybody in wrestling as sincere as Lindaman so he promises to wrestle at 120% for him. Lindaman said the Imanari Vs Irie match changed his perception of pro wrestling and he’s been trying to rediscover it ever since. He does not know if this match with Imanari will give him the answer he’s looking for but it will bring him one step closer.

BASARA “BASARA 224 ~TAKAGARI 18~”, 17/07/2023
Tokyo Takashimadaira Kumin Center

1. Daiki Shimomura & Minoru Fujita Vs Lil’ Kraken & Leo Isaka
2. Takato Nakano Vs Fuminori Abe
3. FUMA & Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi Vs Tsutomu Oosugi & Banana Senga
4. Isami Kodaka Vs Daichi Kazato
5. Takumi Tsukamoto & Yasu Urano Vs Ryota Nakatsu & SAGAT

There is one more BASARA show taking place before they return to Korakuen Hall. A few of the matches here builds up to what’s going to happen later in the month.

DDT “SOYOKAZE PRO WRESTLING”, 17/07/2023
Tokyo Sumida Park Breeze Square

1. X Vs X
2. X Vs X
3. X Vs X

DDT is holding a free outdoor show at the 14th annual Soyokaze Tsunagu Festival. There will be three matches held with Tetsuya Endo, Danshoku Dieno, HARASHIMA, Chris Brookes and Shinichiro Kawamatsu as the wrestlers advertised so far.

GANBARE☆PRO “MACHIDA KANSAI PRO WRESTLING FESTIVAL”, 22/07/2023
Tokyo Machida GION Stadium

1. Shuichiro Katsumura Vs Munetatsu Nakamura
2. Cherry & Riara Vs HARUKAZE & Yoshiko Hasegawa
3. Ken Ohka, Seiya Morohashi & HIROYA Vs Keisuke Ishii, Shota & Shinichiro Tominaga

GanPro gets to continue CyberFight’s relationship with FC Machida Zelvia. A wrestling ring will be set up outside the stadium on the day of Zelvia’s home game against JEF United Chiba. Matches will be held for free in front of spectators going to see the football match.

BASARA “BASARA 225 ~SENGUNBANBA~”, 23/07/2023
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. FUMA & Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi Vs Lil’ Kraken & Akira Jo
2. 3 Way Match: Daichi Kazato Vs Gouma Ryu Vs Yasu Urano
3. IRON FIST Tag Team Titles Next Challengers 3 Way Match: Ryuichi Sekine & Ryota Nakatsu Vs Fuminori Abe & Takuya Nomura Vs Tsutomu Oosugi & Banana Senga
4. Isami Kodaka Vs SHO
5. IRON FIST Tag Team Titles Unification Match: Takato Nakano & Masato Kamino (c) Vs Daiki Shimomura & Minoru Fujita (i/c)
6. Union MAX Title & CCW Canadian Heavyweight Title: Takumi Tsukamoto (M/c) Vs SAGAT (C/c)

Ryuichi Sekine accepted Ryota Nakatsu’s request to team up again. What sounded like a one time idea may end up lasting longer though because they are entering a No. 1 Contenders match for the IRON FIST Tag Team Titles. They have to take on two former champion teams Astronauts and Speed Of Sounds at the same time.

I haven’t paid attention to what Akira Jo has been doing since his days in DNA. That was seven years ago? Time sure does fly by.

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

1. Saki Akai Debut 10th Anniversary Match Vol. 2 ~ Special 6-Woman Tag Match: Saki Akai, Maya Yukihi & Asuka Vs Takumi Iroha, Rina Yamashita & X

There are several big matches planned for Saki Akai to celebrate her 10 years in wrestling. This one in August has Akai teaming with two of her most recent important opponents Maya Yukihi and Asuka. She spent 2022 in rivalries with both women in DDT. The other team consists of Takumi Iroha and Rina Yamashita along with a third partner yet to be revealed. Iroha and Yamashita’s connection to Akai is they all debuted in the same year. That might provide a clue as to who the third wrestler is going to be.

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

1. Current Blast Death Match: Atsushi Onita Vs X

Last week Yukio Sakaguchi challenged Atsushi Onita to give him a shot at the All Asia Tag Team Titles. Onita would only agree if it took place in the exploding death match being planned for Osaka on 20th August. Makes sense because the other champion Yoshitatsu is advertised for the show. However the next day everyone found out that Onita broke his wrist during the Hardcore Tag Match after taking a kick from Sakaguchi. He is about to get surgery for the injury and intends not to miss next month’s Osaka show.

Shigehiro Irie, Kotaro Suzuki and Tsutenkakuka will also be on the show.


Damn Injury Bug, SHO Coming To BASARA, Miyu And Shoko 10th Anniversary

June 28, 2023

DDT “DDT YOKOHAMA UNLIMITED SPECIAL”, 01/07/2023
Yokohama Radiant Hall

1. Daisuke Sasaki & MJ Paul Vs Yusuke Okada & Kazuma Sumi
2. Yuki “Sexy” Iino, Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno & Yumehito “Fantastic” Imanari Vs Akito, MAO & Antonio Honda
3. Kazusada Higuchi & Yuki Ishida Vs Saki Akai & Yuya Koroku
4. BURNING Vs DISASTER BOX!: Tetsuya Endo & Jun Akiyama Vs Toru Owashi & Kazuki Hirata
5. Special Tag Match: Yuji Hino & Makoto Oishi Vs HARASHIMA & Soma Takao
6. Special Hardcore Tag Match: Atsushi Onita & Toy Kojima Vs Yukio Sakaguchi & Hideki Okatani
7. International Special Tag Match: Yuki Ueno & Yuni Vs Nick Wayne & Takeshi Masada

Two injuries are forcing changes to a few DDT cards in July. Sanshiro Takagi tore his left calf and will be out of action until “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2023” on 23rd July. Rukiya suffered a cracked sternum over the weekend and has no expected date to return yet.

DDT “DRAMATIC DREAMS! VOL. 10 ~SPARE MYSELF AND SPARE MY NAME~”, 02/07/2023
Osaka Komikyo Higashinari Civic Center

1. Dosukoi Thank You Vs DDT’s Most Green Boy Combo: Yusuke Okada & Yuki Ishida Vs Kazuma Sumi & Ilusion
2. Pheromones Vs Former Smile Squash Vs Yoga Sumo ~Between Compliance And The Taste Of Pheromones~: Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno Vs Yasu Urano & Soma Takao Vs Toru Owashi & Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi
3. Diabolical DAMNATION T.A Vs Men With A Thousand Skills: Daisuke Sasaki & MJ Paul Vs Tsubasa & Makoto Oishi
4. “Did You Hear That? I Heard That Guy’s A Prick” Special Tag Match: Tetsuya Endo & Kuishinbo Kamen Vs Kikutaro & Antonio Honda
5. Special 6-Man Tag Match – Japan-US Young Wrestling Summit!: MAO, Toy Kojima & Yuni Vs Nick Wayne, Kohei Kinoshita & Yuya Koroku
6. Special Tag Match – One Hundred Tales Of Osaka ~Saki Akai, Her Biggest Crisis Before Retirement~: Yukio Sakaguchi & Saki Akai Vs Kazuki Hirata & No Name
7. Right Before Ryogoku! Road To KOKUGIKAN Special 6-Man Tag Match: Yuji Hino, Jun Akiyama & Hideki Okatani Vs HARASHIMA, Kazusada Higuchi & Akito
8. Magnitude Kishiwada 30th Anniversary Match ~You Guys Will Know When You See It~: Dick Togo, Magnitude Kishiwada & Black Buffalo Vs Shigehiro Irie, Yuto Kikuchi & Takeshi Masada
9. Special Single Match – WR ~Wrestling & Respect~: Yuki Ueno Vs HUB

Takagi’s injury means he has to pull out of Yukinori Matsui’s big show this weekend. Yuto Kikuchi from Dotonbori Pro is coming in as a last minute replacement for him.

Ilusion replaces Rukiya in the opening match.

DDT “DDT TANABATA SPECIAL 2023 IN SHINJUKU”, 07/07/2023
Shin-Kiba 1st RING

1. Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno Vs Toru Owashi & Kazuma Sumi
2. Kazusada Higuchi, Yuki Ishida & Ilusion Vs Yukio Sakaguchi, Saki Akai & Hideki Okatani
3. DISASTER BOX Vs BURNING!: HARASHIMA & Kazuki Hirata Vs Jun Akiyama & Yusuke Okada
4. Special Single Match: Daisuke Sasaki Vs Toy Kojima
5. KANON Debut 4th Anniversary Match ~ Special Tag Match: TAKA Michinoku & KANON Vs Tetsuya Endo & Yuya Koroku
6. International Special Single Match: Yuki Ueno Vs Nick Wayne
7. Road To PETER PAN 2023! Special Tag Match: Yuji Hino & Makoto Oishi Vs Chris Brookes & Masahiro Takanashi

The aftermath of the KO-D Tag Team Titles match over the weekend sees Toy Kojima looking for revenge against DAMNATION T.A. He is aiming right for the leader by challenging Daisuke Sasaki to a singles match! Does he have something in store because charging straight towards Sasaki and his gang hasn’t worked out for him much lately. There’s only so many chairshots his body can take.

GANBARE☆PRO “WRESTLE SEKIGAHARA II”, 09/07/2023
Tokyo Ota Ward Gymnasium

1. Munetatsu Nakamura Vs Masahiro Takanashi
2. YuuRI & Tomoka Inaba Vs Takumi Iroha & Mio Momono
3. Riara Vs Sayaka Unagi
4. Yoshiko Hasegawa Vs Miyuki Takase
5. Keisuke Ishii, Shigehiro Irie & Soma Takao Vs Akito, Shota & Shinichiro Tominaga
6. Spirit Of Ganbare World Tag Team Titles Next Challengers Decision Survival 4 Way Tag Match: Ken Ohka & Kuma Arashi Vs Hartley Jackson & HARUKAZE Vs Minoru Fujita & Daiki Shimomura Vs Tsuyoshi Okada & Yuki Kanzaki
7. Special Single Match: Yumehito Imanari Vs El Lindaman
8. Spirit Of Ganbare World Tag Team Titles: Hikaru Sato & Tyson Maeguchi (c) Vs Shuichiro Katsumura & Takuya Wada
9. Spirit Of Ganbare World Openweight Title: Mizuki Watase (c) Vs Isami Kodaka

The announced match order for “WRESTLE SEKIGAHARA II”.

English commentary for the show on Wrestle Universe will be provided by Chris Brookes and Mr. HAKU.

DDT “ROAD TO PETER PAN 2023 IN AOMORI”, 15/07/2023
Aomori Hamanasu Hall

1. Toru Owashi & Kazuki Hirata Vs Yusuke Okada & Yuni
2. 3 Way Match: Yuki “Sexy” Iino Vs Akito Vs Antonio Honda
3. Daisuke Sasaki, MJ Paul & KANON Vs Yuki Ueno, Toy Kojima & Takeshi Masada
4. Special Single Match: Yukio Sakaguchi Vs Yuki Ishida
5. Falls Count Anywhere Special 6-Man Tag Match: Tetsuya Endo, Jun Akiyama & Yuya Koroku Vs HARASHIMA, Hideki Okatani & Kazuma Sumi
6. Special Tag Match: Yuji Hino & Makoto Oishi Vs Chris Brookes & Kazusada Higuchi

Hideki Okatani has gradually been finding his footing in hardcore matches so he is a suitable replacement for Takagi in the Falls Count Anywhere match.

An upset that saw Yuki Ishida pin Yukio Sakaguchi results in a singles match between the two getting booked. Ishida used his new Dokusoi Hold to score a three count on the veteran. Is Sakaguchi going to be prepared for it the next time?

DDT “60TH BIRTHDAY & 20TH ANNIVERSARY ALL TOGETHER! ~ GORGEOUS NIGHT”, 16/07/2023
Fukushima Toyota Crown Arena Sub Arena

1. Daisuke Sasaki, MJ Paul & KANON Vs Yusuke Okada, Toy Kojima & Yuya Koroku
2. 3 Way Match: Yuki “Sexy” Iino Vs Akito Vs Kazuma Sumi
3. Kazuki Hirata & Yuni Vs Saki Akai & Hideki Okatani
4. BURNING Vs Harimao!: Tetsuya Endo & Jun Akiyama Vs Kazusada Higuchi & Yuki Ishida
5. Special Tag Match: Yuji Hino & Makoto Oishi Vs Chris Brookes & Takeshi Masada
6. Fukushima Specialty Special 6-Man Tag Match: Gorgeous Matsuno, HARASHIMA & Yukio Sakaguchi Vs Toru Owashi, Danshoku Dieno & Antonio Honda

This is unexpected. Takagi’s replacement in the Fukushima main event is Danshoku Dieno! Since it is an important match for Gorgeous Matsuno, Dieno is not going to be “Dandy” on the day. Granted there’s not much difference between regular Dieno and Pheromones Dieno but it’s still a nice gesture from the guy.

BASARA “BASARA 225 ~SENGUNBANBA~”, 23/07/2023
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Isami Kodaka Vs SHO
2. IRON FIST Tag Team Titles Unification Match: Takato Nakano & Masato Kamino (c) Vs Daiki Shimomura & Minoru Fujita (i/c)
3. Union MAX Title & CCW Canadian Heavyweight Title: Takumi Tsukamoto (M/c) Vs SAGAT (C/c)

A double championship match headlines BASARA’s return to Korakuen Hall next month. SAGAT won the Chouten ~Itadaki~ and challenged Takumi Tsukamoto for the Union MAX Title afterwards. That’s not all because SAGAT also offered to defend the CCW Canadian Heavyweight Title he won from Tsukamoto back in March.

Masato Kamino is fit for return from his knee injury so he & Takato Nakano can go reclaim the IRON FIST Tag Team Titles. They are still technically the champions but Kamino’s injury caused an interim title to be created in his absence. Daiki Shimomura & Minoru Fujita from Sento Minzoku won that prize but would prefer to be acknowledged as the actual champions. That all leads to the unification match happening at Korakuen.

BASARA takes on New Japan when Isami Kodaka faces SHO! Interactions between the two at “ALL STAR JR FESTIVAL 2023” earlier this year weren’t forgotten by either wrestler so the challenge was thrown out for a singles match. Kodaka even told SHO he would be happy to fight under normal rules instead of Hardcore or a death match. His reason for that decision is to prove he does not need to use weapons to beat SHO. Can SHO truthfully say the same given his reputation as a House Of Torture member? A lot of pride is on the line because Kodaka sees himself as a big figure on the independent scene facing the challenge of New Japan head on.

Nothing has been decided on this yet but Ryota Nakatsu said he wants to team with Ryuichi Sekine again on the show. They used to be together in BASARA as Cavalry. However Nakatsu just wants this to be a one time reunion. He is still a member of Sparky, although that unit is about to begin winding down. Nakatsu eventually wants all four members of Sparky to get together again so they can send it off and go their seperate ways. That won’t be happening anytime soon because of Naoki Tanizaki and Akiyori Takizawa’s schedules so that gives Nakatsu the chance to reunite with Sekine in the meantime.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW INSPIRATION”, 17/08/2023
Shin-Kiba 1st RING

1. Pom Harajuku Vs Mahiro Kiryu
2. Saki Akai, Haru Kazashiro & Runa Okubo Vs HIMAWARI, Toga & Shino Suzuki
3. Mizuki Vs Aiger
4. Debut 10th Anniversary Memorial Match: Miyu Yamashita Vs Shoko Nakajima

17th August, 2013 was the date when Miyu Yamashita and Shoko Nakajima had their professional debut match on the pre-show of a DDT Sumo Hall show. They teamed together in a losing effort against the two other first generation TJPW wrestlers Chikage Kiba & KANNA. It’s perfect timing that the next “TJPW INSPIRATION” show is booked on the 10 year anniversary of that match. The main event will be Yamashita against Nakajima one on one for the first time since “GRAND PRINCESS ’22”.

Saki Akai will also be on the show because the 10th anniversary of her own debut pro wrestling match is one day off. Her first DDT bout happened the next day. Now there’s a bit of trivia that will catch people off guard. Miyu Yamashita, Shoko Nakajima and Saki Akai all debuted on the same weekend. And Akai debuted AFTER the other two.


A Shingo Is Coming To GanPro, Hirata Makes The Rules Now, Big Bang 2023

June 26, 2023

BASARA “BASARA 223 ~KOO~”, 27/06/2023
Shin-Kiba 1st RING

1. Chouten ~Itadaki~ 2023 – A Block Final: Daiki Shimomura Vs SAGAT
2. Chouten ~Itadaki~ 2023 – B Block Final: Fuminori Abe Vs Ryota Nakatsu
3. Roundabout Pro Wrestling Trial: Shiori Asahi Vs Banana Senga Vs Gouma Ryu
4. Isami Kodaka & Minoru Fujita Vs Daichi Kazato & Tsutomu Oosugi
5. Takumi Tsukamoto, Takato Nakano & Yasu Urano Vs FUMA, Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi & Lil’ Kraken
6. Chouten ~Itadaki~ 2023 – Final: X Vs X

Tomorrow is the final rounds of the Chouten ~Itadaki~ 2023.

DDT “DDT PRO WRESTLING IN SHIROISHI CASTLE”, 08/07/2023
Miyagi Shiroishi Castle Honmaru Square

1. Kazuki Hirata, Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno Vs Yuki Ueno, Toy Kojima & Gorgeous Matsuno
2. Daisuke Sasaki & KANON Vs Hideki Okatani & Kazuma Sumi
3. Shiroishi Specialty Special 6-Man Tag Match: Tetsuya Endo, Yusuke Okada & Yuya Koroku Vs HARASHIMA, Yukio Sakaguchi & Antonio Honda

DDT will be holding a free wrestling show at Shiroishi Castle as part of a local public event. Tetsuya Endo will be in the main event because he is the hometown hero. If there is rainy weather on the day then the show will move over to Shiroishi City Central Public Hall.

GANBARE☆PRO “FRENCH CONNECTION 2023”, 17/07/2023
Tokyo Takashimadaira Kumin Center

1. YuuRI Vs Riara
2. Tyson Maeguchi Vs Yuki Kanzaki
3. Yumehito Imanari & Yoshiko Hasegawa Vs Hartley Jackson & HARUKAZE
4. Shinichiro Tominaga Vs Shingo
5. Ken Ohka & Kuma Arashi Vs Shota & Munetatsu Nakamura
6. Mizuki Watase & Keisuke Ishii Vs Shuichiro Katsumura & Soma Takao

The first Ganbare☆Pro show taking place after “WRESTLE SEKIGAHARA II” will feature the GanPro debut of Shingo. No not that one. It’s DEEP MMA fighter Shingo Suzuki under his pro wrestling name. His opponent Shinichiro Tominaga has been appointed as GanPro’s gatekeeper for the match.

DDT “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2023”, 23/07/2023
Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan

1. Takeshi Masada Vs Kazuma Sumi
2. Sanshiro Takagi, Shinichiro Kawamatsu & Yuni Vs Masahiro Takanashi, Toy Kojima & Rukiya
3. Yuki “Sexy” Iino, Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno & Yumehito “Fantastic” Imanari Vs Akito, Soma Takao & Yoshitomo Shimohigashi
4. 3 Way 6-Man Tag Match: Naruki Doi, Toru Owashi & Kazuki Hirata Vs Minoru Fujita, MJ Paul & KANON Vs Kotaro Suzuki, Yusuke Okada & Yuya Koroku
5. Special Tag Match: Chiitan☆ & Pokotan Vs Andreza Giant Panda & Super Sasadango Machine
6. Special Tag Match ~ Yukio Naya Return Match: HARASHIMA & Yukio Naya Vs Jun Akiyama & Shigehiro Irie
7. Special Single Match: TAKA Michinoku Vs MAO
8. Special Single Match: KONOSUKE TAKESHITA Vs Yuki Ueno
9. KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles: Kazusada Higuchi, Ryota Nakatsu & Yuki Ishida (c) Vs Yukio Sakaguchi, Saki Akai & Hideki Okatani
10. Mexico Kanko Presents Dramatic Dream Match: Daisuke Sasaki Vs El Desperado
11. DDT Universal Title: Tetsuya Endo (c) Vs Matt Cardona (w/ Steph De Lander)
12. KO-D Openweight Title – Good Com Asset Presents: Yuji Hino (c) Vs Chris Brookes

This is the full card for DDT’s return to Sumo Hall although maybe the first three matches will be demoted to pre-show status. The main event now has a sponsor. Konosuke Takeshita’s recent makeover in AEW is being taken to another level because in DDT his name is now fully romanized and written all upper case. I’ll write KONOSUKE TAKESHITA for the results but I’m happy sticking to writing his name the normal way everywhere else. I do however endorse any podcast shouting out his name in all caps every time from this point forward. MAO gets a special match with TAKA Michinoku who has been a big influence for him. It’s a rematch from five years ago too. Yukio Naya returns from injury and his first match back also includes Shigehiro Irie showing up in DDT again.

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

1. DDT Extreme Title: Kazuki Hirata (c) Vs HARASHIMA

For many, many, many years Kazuki Hirata has been fighting as an underdog against wrestlers who are way more powerful than he could ever dream to be. Now that he is the DDT Extreme Champion he gets to make the rules and it makes him want to fight the strongest opponents he knows on a more even playing field. HARASHIMA is his first challenger and he is someone who is very familiar with how the Extreme Title works. No matter what kind of funny stipulations Hirata comes up with, HARASHIMA will be game and ready for them.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW INSPIRATION”, 17/08/2022
Shin-Kiba 1st RING

1. Mizuki Vs Aiger

It’s been seven years since Mizuki was last in a match with the haunted joshi wrestler known only as Aiger. The two of them knew each other back in LLPW-X. Another reason the match is happening is because of rumours going around that Aiger will soon be disappearing from the wrestling scene later this year. Reports are speculating it will be happening around the same time Mizuki Endo retires from pro wrestling.

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

1. Current Blast Death Match: Atsushi Onita Vs X
2. KO-D Openweight Title: Yuji Hino (c) Vs X

DDT’s next big show after “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2023” will be the newly announced “DDT BIG BANG 2023” in September. The selling point of the show will be the first exploding death match to take place inside a big indoor Tokyo venue since 2015. I think that is referring to the main event of Naoshi Sano’s self produced Sumo Hall show that happened that year. Atsushi Onita told Sanshiro Takagi he wants to fight Jun Akiyama in the match in order to make it a battle between two former All Japan wrestlers.

The show will also be the date of the next KO-D Openweight Title defence after “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2023”. So either Yuji Hino or Chris Brookes will be the defending champion on the day.


DDT “WHAT ARE YOU DOING 2023” Results

June 25, 2023

DDT “WHAT ARE YOU DOING 2023”, 25/06/2023
Tokyo Korakuen Hall
755 Fans

0. Dark Match: Yuki “Sexy” Iino, Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno, Toru Owashi & Yuni Vs Akito, Soma Takao, Kazuma Sumi & Rukiya ended in a No Contest (5:44).
1. Special Single Match: Naruki Doi defeated Takeshi Masada with a Cradle (7:04).
2. Ryota Nakatsu, Yuki Ishida, Yusuke Okada & Yuya Koroku defeated Yukio Sakaguchi, Saki Akai, Hideki Okatani & Sanshiro Takagi when Ishida pinned Sakaguchi with the Dosukoi Hold (9:22).
3. Special Single Match: HARASHIMA defeated Minoru Fujita by Disqualification after Fujita attacked the Referee (7:31).
4. International Special Single Match: Tetsuya Endo defeated Nick Wayne with the Burning Star Press (13:44).
5. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Yuji Hino, Jun Akiyama & Makoto Oishi defeated Kazusada Higuchi, Masahiro Takanashi & Antonio Honda when Hino submitted Honda with the King Kong Sleeper (13:23).
6. KO-D Tag Team Titles: Daisuke Sasaki & MJ Paul defeated Yuki Ueno & Toy Kojima when Sasaki submitted Kojima with the Crossface Lock (15:29).
*DAMNATION T.A becomes the 77th KO-D Tag Team Champions!
7. DDT Extreme Title – 3 Way Dance: Kazuki Hirata defeated MAO and Yoshihiko (21:25).
7a. MAO and Kazuki Hirata eliminated Yoshihiko with a Double Reincarnation Cutback (17:36).
7b. Kazuki Hirata eliminated MAO with the Miracle One Shot Cradle (21:25).
*Kazuki Hirata becomes the 58th DDT Extreme Champion!

Believe it or not Kazuki Hirata is now a singles champion! For weeks leading up to the 3 Way Dance, everybody including Hirata himself expected him to be taken out of the picture very quickly so MAO and Yoshihiko would fight each other over the vacant DDT Extreme Title. Instead Hirata persisted against his two opponents. He and MAO used their combined power to roll over from Yoshihiko’s Reincarnation and together pin the doll to eliminate it from the match. MAO took control of the match but none of his big moves could work. Hirata ended up countering the Michinoku Driver II into the Miracle One Shot Cradle to pull off the shock of all shocks. He is now the new Extreme Champion!

Hirata now finds himself in a position he never thought about previously. As a champion he now gets to nominate his challengers. Hisaya Imabayashi asked him who he wants to face in his first defence on 30th July. Hirata said there is a lot of people he wants to fight and he gets to pick the rules that will make him beat them too. So his first opponent is his DISASTER BOX stablemate HARASHIMA! He admits he can never beat HARASHIMA in a regular head-to-head fight but he can come up with funny rules that will even the odds. HARASHIMA accepted the challenge because he is a mutltiple time Extreme Champion and has fought in many different kinds of matches over the years.

Poor Toy Kojima suffered so much abuse at the hands of DAMNATION T.A and unfortunately it was all for nothing. The vacant KO-D Tag Team Titles were on the line when Kojima & Yuki Ueno represented The 37KAMIINA against Daisuke Sasaki & MJ Paul. Ueno & Kojima used their new double team move the My MADMAX on Sasaki but Paul broke up the pin. Then when Kojima used the Kojima In Wonderland on Sasaki, the injured KANON ran down to the ring armed with a stungun! The referee Tomomitsu Matsunaga ran over to stop KANON from entering the ring and missed Sasaki giving two Low Blows to Kojima. Sasaki stayed on the offensive and made Kojima tap to the Crossface Lock to make DAMNATION T.A the new Tag Champions. Backstage Sasaki said Kojima must never forget this day because today is the day he experienced absolute despair and humiliation! Now that DAMNATION T.A is back to full force, they are going to make the second half of 2023 crazy for everybody. Sasaki also said if Ueno, Kojima or anybody else wants to do something about it they are always welcome to join DAMNATION T.A.

Jun Akiyama found a way to fit in with Ω by wearing their shirt along with a bandana and sunglasses. The fun and games for Yuji Hino sort of stopped when Antonio Honda tried standing up to him on behalf of his friend Chris Brookes. The match then moved on to Hino and Kazusada Higuchi squaring off again while Makoto Oishi dealt with Masahiro Takanashi. Honda tagged in ready for his moment when he tripped over the ropes and fell like he always does. But instead of telling a Gongitsune joke, Honda asked himself why does he always fall down? He figured out it’s to get back up! If his best friend Brookes goes back to England, he will get back up. If he gets injured, he will get back up. He will always get back up because he is chasing his dream! A fired up Honda then poked Hino in the eyes and knocked him down with the Bionic Elbow for a nearfall. Unfortunately Hino recovered and countered the Octopus Hold into the King Kong Sleeper to make Honda give up.

After the match Ω called for Brookes’ attention while Honda was being tended to outside the ring. Oishi lambasted him for taking it easy while Hino’s been working hard in the ring week after week. How can Brookes become the KO-D Openweight Champion when all of Hino’s hard work has made him reach his perfect condition? Hino calmed Oishi down and asked Brookes when he can start wrestling again? Brookes said 7th July. Hino said that is a long way off so he is going to make sure that date will become Brookes’ retirement match! Backstage Brookes admits he is feeling guilty over not being able to wrestle because of his injury. He promised to do his best when he returns as his way of showing thanks for everyone who fought for him while he’s been out of action.

Nick Wayne was thrown into the deep end for his Japanese DDT debut when he took on Tetsuya Endo. The young American went for impactful moves like the Poison Hurricanrana and Dragon Suplex. But Endo hit back with the Tetsuya In The Sky and also caught him in mid-air to set up the Swivel Torture Rack Bomb. Wayne kicked out of both moves but became a sitting duck for the Burning Star Press. Endo thinks Wayne will absorb the Japanese way of wrestling during his stay here and it will expand his range. It makes Endo look forward to having a rematch some day. One he thinks he will still win of course. Wayne told reporters he is very inspired by the wrestlers in DDT and being in the same environment makes him feel like he can give 100% every match.

The match between HARASHIMA and Minoru Fujita started off awkwardly when Fujita refused to shake his opponent’s hand and instead give him the HERO! pose. He then accepted HARASHIMA’s handshake but only so he could cheap shot him afterwards. Fujita continued fighting dirty by using the ropes for pin leverage and bringing a chair into the ring. He threw the chair at HARASHIMA right when he was setting up the Somato. Then he gave Yukinori Matsui a Low Blow to purposely get disqualified. Fujita also gave HARASHIMA a Low Blow before doing another HERO! pose and leaving.

In a KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles match preview, Harimao scored a big win over Eruption with an unlikely result. Yuki Ishida ended up pinning Yukio Sakaguchi! He used a move that looks similar to a backwards Gannosuke Clutch to get the three count. He told Ryota Nakatsu that he used “Dokusoi” spirit to beat Sakaguchi so the two of them agreed to call the move the Dosukoi Hold. The move is based on a sumo technique so you can bet Ishida wants to use it again at Sumo Hall. However Sakaguchi wants him to know today’s result isn’t the end of their story so he shouldn’t be getting carried away. Saki Akai was interested to fight Nakatsu for the first time today because they are both from Kyoto. Unfortunately for Sanshiro Takagi, his time in the ring today didn’t last long. According to a tweet he posted after the show he tore a muscle in his leg during the match.

Naruki Doi was the latest big name opponent for the super rookie Takeshi Masada to face one on one. Masada did quite well and looked to be on his way towards scoring a huge upset. But Doi countered the Samurai Driver ’01 into a Cradle to win instead.

Strange bedfellows were put together for the dark match because Toru Owashi & Yuni had to team with Pheromones. Usually the likes of them would be their opponents. We found out the reason why because Akito wanted to ruin Yuni’s reputation by getting pictures of him doing lewd stuff with Pheromones in the ring! Imabayashi told Akito off because creating a scandal like that would harm CyberFight too. Still when Yuki Iino & Danshoku Dieno stacked themselves in the corner with their backsides exposed, Akito tried to force Yuni head first into there. It didn’t matter to him if Kazuma Sumi & Rukiya had to suffer the same fate. Just when Akito looked like he was going to succeed, Imabayashi cancelled the match. Akito went out of control throwing more wrestlers into butts until Soma Takao stopped him. Akito then invited Takao to help him destroy Pheromones. Takao tried not to listen but was eventually convinced to join Akito’s side.

The injured Shunma Katsumata was at ringside for the final two matches. He had to vacate both the Extreme Title and KO-D Tag Title due to a foot injury. He told the fans it will be a while until he gets back to wrestling again but he is currently feeling fine with his recovery.

Also making an appearance today was Yukio Naya. He came here to announce his return match from injury will be “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2023” on 23rd July! He’s been recovering from a fractured right ankle since the end of March. His goal once he returns is to reach the top of DDT in the shortest amount of time possible.

Shota was at the show during the opening announcements. He was there to promote Ganbare☆Pro’s big event “WRESTLE SEKIGAHARA II” at Ota Ward Gymnasium on 9th July.

DDT will also be going to Ota Ward this Autumn. They announced “DDT BIG BANG 2023” will take place there on 9th September. Another announcement regarding the event will be revealed tomorrow.

DDT “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2023”, 23/07/2023
Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan

1. Takeshi Masada Vs Kazuma Sumi
2. Sanshiro Takagi, Shinichiro Kawamatsu & Yuni Vs Masahiro Takanashi, Toy Kojima & Rukiya
3. Yuki “Sexy” Iino, Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno & Yumehito “Fantastic” Imanari Vs Akito, Soma Takao & Yoshitomo Shimohigashi
4. 3 Way 6-Man Tag Match: Naruki Doi, Toru Owashi & Kazuki Hirata Vs Minoru Fujita, MJ Paul & KANON Vs Kotaro Suzuki, Yusuke Okada & Yuya Koroku
5. Special Tag Match: Chiitan☆ & Pokotan Vs Andreza Giant Panda & Super Sasadango Machine
6. Special Tag Match ~ Yukio Naya Return Match: HARASHIMA & Yukio Naya Vs Jun Akiyama & Shigehiro Irie
7. Special Single Match: TAKA Michinoku Vs MAO
8. Special Single Match: KONOSUKE TAKESHITA Vs Yuki Ueno
9. KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles: Kazusada Higuchi, Ryota Nakatsu & Yuki Ishida (c) Vs Yukio Sakaguchi, Saki Akai & Hideki Okatani
10. Mexico Kanko Presents Dramatic Dream Match: Daisuke Sasaki Vs El Desperado
11. DDT Universal Title: Tetsuya Endo (c) Vs Matt Cardona (w/ Steph De Lander)
12. KO-D Openweight Title: Yuji Hino (c) Vs Chris Brookes


Homecoming Weekend In TJPW, DDT Extreme 3 Way Dance, DEFY Women’s Title Match

June 23, 2023

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW LIVE TOUR IN SPRING ’23”, 24/06/2023
Kobe Art Center

1. Kaya Toribami Vs Haru Kazashiro
2. Yuki Arai Vs HIMAWARI
3. Nao Kakuta Vs Toga
4. 3 Way Match: Yuki Kamifuku Vs Hikari Noa Vs Shino Suzuki
5. Shoko Nakajima & Hyper Misao Vs Raku & Pom Harajuku
6. Rika Tatsumi & Miu Watanabe Vs Yuki Aino & Mahiro Kiryu
7. Mizuki, Suzume & Arisu Endo Vs Miyu Yamashita, Maki Itoh & Moka Miyamoto

This weekend sees the return of Miyu Yamashita and Maki Itoh from their American tours. But before their local homecoming show takes place on Sunday, first they have to go to Mizuki’s homecoming show in Kobe.

DDT “WHAT ARE YOU DOING 2023”, 25/06/2023
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

0. Dark Match: Yuki “Sexy” Iino, Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno, Toru Owashi & Yuni Vs Akito, Soma Takao, Kazuma Sumi & Rukiya
1. Special Single Match: Naruki Doi Vs Takeshi Masada
2. Yukio Sakaguchi, Saki Akai, Hideki Okatani & Sanshiro Takagi Vs Ryota Nakatsu, Yuki Ishida, Yusuke Okada & Yuya Koroku
3. Special Single Match: HARASHIMA Vs Minoru Fujita
4. International Special Single Match: Tetsuya Endo Vs Nick Wayne
5. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Yuji Hino, Jun Akiyama & Makoto Oishi Vs Kazusada Higuchi, Masahiro Takanashi & Antonio Honda
6. KO-D Tag Team Titles: Daisuke Sasaki & MJ Paul Vs Yuki Ueno & Toy Kojima
7. DDT Extreme Title – 3 Way Dance: MAO Vs Kazuki Hirata Vs Yoshihiko

It’s only fitting that the Survival 3 Way main event is now called the 3 Way Dance. Shunma Katsumata will be in attendance to watch over MAO, Kazuki Hirata and Yoshihiko all fighting for the DDT Extreme Title he had to vacate. He also had to vacate the KO-D Tag Team Titles as well remember but it seems he is only the “special observer” for the main event.

The full card for “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2023” will be revealed at the end of the show.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “SUMMER SUN PRINCESS ’23”, 08/07/2023
Tokyo Ota Ward Gymnasium

1. Juria Nagano Comeback Match: Suzume & Arisu Endo Vs Moka Miyamoto Vs Juria Nagano
2. Mahiro Kiryu, Haruna Neko, HIMAWARI & Shino Suzuki Vs Kaya Toribami, Toga, Haru Kazashiro & Runa Okubo
3. Ryo Mizunami & Nao Kakuta Vs Yuki Kamifuku & Asuka
4. DEFY Women’s Title: Vert Vixen (c) Vs Hikari Noa
5. 3 Way Tag Match: Shoko Nakajima & Hyper Misao Vs Aja Kong & Raku Vs Max The Impaler & Pom Harajuku
6. Nyla Rose Vs Miu Watanabe
7. Miyu Yamashita Vs Sawyer Wreck
8. Sakisama & Mei Saint-Michel Vs Yuki Arai & Wakana Uehara
9. International Princess Title: Rika Tatsumi (c) Vs Yuki Arai
10. Princess Of Princess Title: Mizuki (c) Vs Maki Itoh

Earlier this week Vert Vixen sent a video to Tokyo Joshi Pro telling them she wants to put the DEFY Women’s Title on the line in her match against Hikari Noa. The match means a lot to Vixen because when she was a child her father travelled to Japan on business trips and he would come back with gifts and stories for her. She got to tour Japan with TJPW in April where she teamed with Noa twice and together they won both matches. Vixen is so confident she will beat Noa she wants their match to be a title match so she can make her father proud. She previously had a successful title defence against Miyu Yamashita during Yamashita’s US excursion. Noa was touched by Vixen’s idea and accepted the challenge. She wants to win a singles championship and go wrestle overseas again. She warns Vixen that she fought in a death match and became even stronger since the last time they were in the ring together.

GANBARE☆JOSHI “GANJO FIGHTING SPIRITS ’23”, 16/07/2023
Tokyo Ryogoku KFC Hall

1. Ami Manase & Marika Kobashi Vs Makoto & Asuka
2. Banny Oikawa Comeback Match: Miyako Matsumoto & Banny Oikawa Vs Cherry & Alex Lee
3. GanJo Three Big Singles Match: Riara Vs Sumire Natsu
4. GanJo Three Big Singles Match: Yoshiko Hasegawa Vs SAKI
5. GanJo Three Big Singles Match: YuuRI Vs Misa Kagura

Three important singles matches highlight the next Ganbare☆Joshi card. YuuRI’s grudge match with Misa Kagura was already announced. Yoshiko Hasegawa meets SAKI in the ring again for the first time in three years. A battle between hostesses will take place when Riara takes on Sumire Natsu.

Banny Oikawa’s return to wrestling has her teaming with Miyako Matsumoto. Her entry into GanJo is because of Matsumoto so that makes sense. Alex Lee being on the opposite side is unexpected because she’s been with Matsumoto in her previous appearances here. Cherry is part of the match because she was one of Oikawa’s trainers.

I’ve noticed that all of Ami Manase’s matches so far included Marika Kobashi. They’ve been both opponents and teammates. Their next task together is facing Makoto & Asuka. That pair often teams together as Las Fresa de Egoistas.


Hino’s Emotional Journey, Survival 3 Way, My MADMAX

June 15, 2023

DDT “WHAT ARE YOU DOING 2023 TOUR IN HAKODATE”, 16/06/2023
Hakodate City General Wholesale Center Distribution Hall

1. Daisuke Sasaki & MJ Paul Vs Toy Kojima & Rukiya
2. SILVER QUEEN Infomercial Match: Sanshiro Takagi & Kazuki Hirata Vs MAO & Yoshihiko
3. Hakodate Specialty Special Single Match: Yuki Ishida Vs Akinori Ariji
4. Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno Vs Akito & Kazuma Sumi
5. HARASHIMA & Hideki Okatani Vs Kazusada Higuchi & Yuya Koroku
6. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Yuji Hino, Makoto Oitshi & Yukio Sakaguchi Vs Tetsuya Endo, Jun Akiyama & Yusuke Okada

Lately Yuji Hino is going through a small emotional journey over the “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2023” main event. He started out being annoyed over Chris Brookes getting injured and now thanks to a heartfelt speech from Antonio Honda he feels sympathy for his next challenger. It’s probably a good thing he gets to deal with a different set of opponents tomorrow. Get his head back in check and focus on what’s in front of him.

BASARA “BASARA 222 ~OENSOGURA~”, 17/06/2023
Miyagi-no Cultural Center

1. Lil’ Kraken Vs Yasu Urano
2. FUMA & Daichi Kazato Vs Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi & SAGAT
3. Daiki Shimomura & Takato Nakano Vs Tsutomu Oosugi & Banana Senga
4. Isami Kodaka Vs MUSASHI
5. Chouten ~Itadaki~ 2023 – Round 2 B Block: Ryota Nakatsu Vs Minoru Fujita
6. Chouten ~Itadaki~ 2023 – Round 2 B Block: Takumi Tsukamoto Vs Fuminori Abe

Takumi Tsukamoto is getting a live performance for his entrance by a local saxophone player.

DDT “WHAT ARE YOU DOING 2023 TOUR IN SAPPORO DAY 1”, 17/06/2023
Sapporo ii-one Stadium

1. Hideki Okatani Vs Yuki Ishida
2. 2 Vs 3 Handicap Match: Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno Vs Yusuke Okada, Kazuma Sumi & Rukiya
3. Special Tag Match: Andreza Giant Panda & Saki Akai Vs Akito & Kazuki Hirata
4. Sapporo Specialty Special 8-Man Tag Match: Tetsuya Endo, Jun Akiyama, Yuya Koroku & Noriyuki Yoshida Vs Sanshiro Takagi, HARASHIMA, Tomoya & Makoto Oishi
5. DAMNATION T.A Vs The 37KAMIINA!: Daisuke Sasaki & MJ Paul Vs MAO & Toy Kojima
6. Special Tag Match: Yuji Hino & Yukio Sakaguchi Vs Kazusada Higuchi & Takeshi Masada

Brookes still has allies like Kazusada Higuchi & Takeshi Masada offering to fight Hino on his behalf while he recovers.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW LIVE TOUR IN SPRING ’23”, 18/06/2023
Tokyo Ryogoku KFC Hall

1. Moka Miyamoto Vs Runa Okubo
2. Hikari Noa & Haru Kazashiro Vs Mahiro Kiryu & Shino Suzuki
3. Miu Watanabe Vs Toga
4. Yuki Kamifuku Vs Wakana Uehara
5. Hyper Misao & Yoshiko Hasegawa Vs Raku & Pom Harajuku
6. Shoko Nakajima & Arisu Endo Vs Nao Kakuta & Kaya Toribami
7. Rika Tatsumi & Suzume Vs Yuki Aino & HIMAWARI

Mizuki is not at the show because she will be in America for Deadlock Pro that day. Yuka Sakazaki will be with her at that show too. Their match over there has gone through a bunch of changes. It was supposed to be The Magical Sugar Rabbits Vs Miyu Yamashita & Hyan. First, Hyan had to pull out of the show because of a scheduling conflict so she is replaced with Vert Vixen. Then news of Sakazaki’s injury came out so Mizuki is now teaming with Emi Sakura. Those two teaming together again is newsworthy by itself.

This weekend’s show has a couple of firsts. It is the first main event match for HIMAWARI. It’s the first time Hyper Misao & Yoshiko Hasegawa are teaming together. It is also Runa Okubo’s first singles match of her career.

DDT “WHAT ARE YOU DOING 2023 TOUR IN SAPPORO DAY 2”, 18/06/2023
Sapporo ii-one Stadium

1. Daisuke Sasaki & MJ Paul Vs Hideki Okatani & Kazuma Sumi
2. Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno Vs Sanshiro Takagi & Yukio Sakaguchi
3. Kazuki Hirata & Saki Akai Vs Akito & Sanae Takebayashi
4. Special Single Match: Andreza Giant Panda Vs Pokotan
5. Sapporo Specialty Special Tag Match: Yuji Hino & Tomoya Vs Kazusada Higuchi & Yuki Ishida
6. Jun Akiyama & Noriyuki Yoshida Vs HARASHIMA & Takeshi Masada
7. BURNING Vs The 37KAMIINA!: Tetsuya Endo, Yusuke Okada & Yuya Koroku Vs Yuki Ueno, MAO & Toy Kojima

The cowards aren’t putting Andreza Giant Panda Vs Pokotan in the main event. Boo!

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW LIVE TOUR IN SPRING ’23”, 24/06/2023
Kobe Art Center

1. Kaya Toribami Vs Haru Kazashiro
2. Yuki Arai Vs HIMAWARI
3. Nao Kakuta Vs Toga
4. 3 Way Match: Yuki Kamifuku Vs Hikari Noa Vs Shino Suzuki
5. Shoko Nakajima & Hyper Misao Vs Raku & Pom Harajuku
6. Rika Tatsumi & Miu Watanabe Vs Yuki Aino & Mahiro Kiryu
7. Mizuki, Suzume & Arisu Endo Vs Miyu Yamashita, Maki Itoh & Moka Miyamoto

The American tours are ending for Yamashita and Maki Itoh. Both will be back in Japan for Tokyo Joshi Pro next weekend. Sakazaki will be home with them too. She is advertised for an autograph session at the show.

Both Wakana Uehara and Runa Okubo are missing the show due to scheduling conflicts.

DDT “WHAT ARE YOU DOING 2023”, 25/06/2023
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

0. Dark Match: Yuki “Sexy” Iino, Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno, Toru Owashi & Yuni Vs Akito, Soma Takao, Kazuma Sumi & Rukiya
1. Yukio Sakaguchi, Saki Akai, Hideki Okatani & Sanshiro Takagi Vs Ryota Nakatsu, Yuki Ishida, Yusuke Okada & Yuya Koroku
2. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Yuji Hino, Jun Akiyama & Makoto Oishi Vs Kazusada Higuchi, Masahiro Takanashi & Antonio Honda
3. Special Single Match: Naruki Doi Vs Takeshi Masada
4. Special Single Match: HARASHIMA Vs Minoru Fujita
5. International Special Single Match: Tetsuya Endo Vs Nick Wayne
6. KO-D Tag Team Titles: Daisuke Sasaki & MJ Paul Vs Yuki Ueno & Toy Kojima
7. DDT Extreme Title – Survival 3 Way Match: MAO Vs Kazuki Hirata Vs Yoshihiko

A third party wants to fight MAO and Kazuki Hirata over the vacant DDT Extreme Title! A few days ago Yoshihiko pinned both of them at the same time and believes it now qualifies to be part of the title match. A 3 Way Match was suggested and MAO liked the idea because he wants to fight Yoshihiko more often. They all agreed to make it under elimination rules because everybody expects Hirata will get immediately pinned. Since the match is headlining the show it would be a waste to set up a 3 Way only for it to end so quickly. All three wrestlers are happy with the decision. Yoshihiko gets to fight for a championship, MAO gets to fight Yoshihiko again and Hirata gets to be in the main event even if might only for a few seconds!

The 37KAMIINA are getting prepared for the vacant KO-D Tag Team Titles match. When Shunma Katsumata was having his surgery, he came up with a new tag team finishing move for Yuki Ueno & Toy Kojima to use. Every duo combination in The 37KAMIINA so far has their own version of the MADMAX finisher. This one is called the My MADMAX because Katsumata thought of it by himself. They all held a training session together along with Rukiya being used as the crash test dummy. After a few practice tries, the My MADMAX was discovered to be a Spike Air Raid Crash. They all believe the move is easier to use on Daisuke Sasaki. However if they can pull it off on MJ Paul then it will be even more damaging to an opponent his size.

Honda already said his piece defending Brookes against Hino. Now he has to step in the ring and meet Hino face to face with the help of Higuchi & Masahiro Takanashi. They need the help because Hino & Makoto Oishi have Jun Akiyama on their side!

The match order other than the main event and dark match has not been determined yet.

GANBARE☆PRO “GHOST HUNTERS 2023”, 30/06/2023
Tokyo Takashimadaira Kumin Center

1. HARUKAZE & YuuRI Vs Yoshiko Hasegawa & Kaho Matsushita
2. Riara Vs Haruka Umesaki
3. Special Just Before Ota Ward! Imanari-gun Vs Katsumura-gun All-Out Battle!!: X Vs X
4. Special Just Before Ota Ward! Imanari-gun Vs Katsumura-gun All-Out Battle!! Elimination 6-Man Tag Match: X, X & X Vs X, X & X
5. Special Tag Match: Ken Ohka & Kuma Arashi Vs Keisuke Ishii & Shota

Imanari-gun: Yumehito Imanari, Mizuki Watase, Soma Takao & Tyson Maeguchi

Katsumura-gun: Shuichiro Katsumura, Minoru Fujita, Yuki Kanzaki & Munetatsu Nakamura

The woman Sayaka Unagi is sending to assess Riara is Haruka Umesaki from Diana! Umesaki is the current W.W.W.D Champion in that promotion.

DDT “DDT YOKOHAMA UNLIMITED SPECIAL”, 01/07/2023
Yokohama Radiant Hall

1. Special Hardcore Tag Match: Atsushi Onita & Toy Kojima Vs Yukio Sakaguchi & Hideki Okatani
2. International Special Tag Match: Yuki Ueno & Yuni Vs Nick Wayne & Takeshi Masada

Katsumata came up with another idea to help Kojima grow. He’s making Kojima team with Atsushi Onita for a Hardcore Tag Match against Eruption! Katsumata would team with Kojima himself but while he is out injured, he thinks Onita is more than a suitable replacement to do something crazy.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “SUMMER SUN PRINCESS ’23”, 08/07/2023
Tokyo Ota Ward Gymnasium

1. Juria Nagano Comeback Match: Juria Nagano Vs X
2. Nyla Rose Vs Miu Watanabe
3. Miyu Yamashita Vs Sawyer Wreck
4. Sakisama & Mei Saint-Michel Vs Yuki Arai & Wakana Uehara
5. International Princess Title: Rika Tatsumi (c) Vs Yuki Arai
6. Princess Of Princess Title: Mizuki (c) Vs Maki Itoh

Nyla Rose’s new opponent is Miu Watanabe!

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

1. Current Blast Death Match: Atsushi Onita Vs X

After a few weeks of hype, DDT have announced the next former WWE wrestler to appear on their shows is… Yoshitatsu… Yay…

At least there’s an explosion death match on the show.