BASARA “BASARA 257 ~HIEN~” Results

September 24, 2024

BASARA “BASARA 257 ~HIEN~”, 24/09/2024
Shin-Kiba 1st RING
??? Fans

1. Kota Sekifuda defeated KUBITO with a Crossface Lock Reversal (11:46).
2. Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi & Tsutomu Oosugi defeated Banana Senga & Yuki Kanzaki when Oosugi pinned Senga with the Tsuki no Ishi (7:10).
3. Yumehito Imanari & Mizuki Watase defeated Ryota Nakatsu & Lil’ Kraken when Imanari pinned Kraken with the Lariat (15:06).
4. Guts Ishijima, Hideyoshi Kamitani & Kuma Arashi defeated Takumi Tsukamoto, SAGAT & Minoru Fujita when Ishijima pinned SAGAT with the Ghostbuster (13:48).
5. UWA World Tag Team Titles: Takato Nakano & Masato Kamino (c) defeated Isami Kodaka & Ryuichi Sekine when Kamino pinned Sekine with the Lariat (15:33).
*V1 for Aijin Tag.

The main event was held under No Tag Rules. Aijin Tag defeated Sento Minzoku to retain the UWA World Tag Team Titles. The win tasted sweet for Masato Kamino because he pinned Ryuichi Sekine for the victory. Takato Nakani also spoke highly of Sekine and Isami Kodaka joked about how everything today is about Sekine. Aijin Tag would like to continue defending the UWA Tag Titles against more wrestlers from different promotions. Nakano wants to wreck havoc across the indies but Kamino would rather go do it in New Japan.

Masahiro Takanashi suddenly made his entrance at the end of the show while the others were still in the ring. He introduced himself as the 13th Union MAX Champion and was here to settle something that happened in BASARA four years ago. Minoru Fujita knew what he was talking about. He challenged Takanashi for the MAX Title in February 2020 and lost to him. But it was from that point on when everything clicked for Fujita. Since then he has won several championships, was crowned as the MVP of the Japanese indies, fell so gravely ill that he almost died, made a miraculous recovery and came back to wrestling to win more championships. There is one achievement left for him and that is to avenge his loss against Takanashi! Fujita and Takanashi will fight for the MAX Title on 11th October.

The BASARA Vs Ganbare☆Pro match got heated. First Yumehito Imanari attacked Ryota Nakatsu before the bell. Nakatsu responded by chasing after him with his baseball bat. Nakatsu also got intense with Mizuki Watase whenever they were facing off. The finish was Imanari pinning Lil’ Kraken with a Lariat but after the end Kraken got back up and attacked Imanari until they were kept apart.

Kota Sekifuda was a last minute replacement for Takeru Inoue in the opening match. Inoue had a fever and was unable to wrestle.


BASARA “TSUKAMOTO & NAKATSU ANNIVERSARY FESTIVAL!” Results

September 11, 2024

BASARA “TSUKAMOTO & NAKATSU ANNIVERSARY FESTIVAL! ~THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT~”, 11/09/2024
Shinjuku FACE
??? Fans – Unannounced

1. Isami Kodaka & Ryuichi Sekine defeated FUMA & Takeru Inoue when Sekine submitted Inoue with the Let’s Combine (12:13).
2. Fuminori Abe defeated Judomaster with a Wakigatame (6:45).
3. 4 Way Tag Match: Tsutomu Oosugi & Banana Senga defeated KUBITO & Daichi Kazato, SAGAT & Lil’ Kraken and Gouma Ryu & Yasu Urano when Senga pinned Ryu with a School Boy (12:11).
4. UWA World Tag Team Titles: Takato Nakano & Masato Kamino defeated Kota Sekifuda & Kaji Tomato (c) when Nakano pinned Sekifuda with the Takagari (13:39).
*Kota Sekifuda & Kaji Tomato fails in V5. Aijin Tag becomes the 37th UWA World Tag Team Champions!
5. Hardcore Match: Yusaku Ito defeated Takumi Tsukamoto with a Stacked Chair Shots (15:56).
6. Ryota Nakatsu Vs Naoki Tanizaki ended in a Double Knockout (13:40).

The former Sparky wrestlers fought each other to a double knockout. In the final moments of the match Naoki Tanizaki did the Implant for a nearfall and Ryota Nakatsu came back with a Thrust Kick followed by a Northern Lights Bomb. Both men were down and out by that point with neither being able to answer the 10 count. They were able to have the energy to talk afterwards. Nakatsu’s been wrestling for ten years now and his time in Sparky made up a lot of that time. Whether it was in BASARA or Dove Pro, Tanizaki has been a huge part of his wrestling career. Tanizaki said he always considered Nakatsu as a rival. He also promoted a Dove Pro show happening on 12th October that Nakatsu is also booked for. They will settle their match on another day but tonight they’re going to have a good drink together!

The show also celebrated Takumi Tsukamoto’s 15th anniversary in wrestling. He had a Hardcore Match against Yusaku Ito that featured steel cans and chairs as the main weapons. They kept doing moves to each other onto a pile of chairs but neither could win the match that way. So Ito decided to stack up on chairs and swing them at Tsukamoto for a powerful chairshot that finally put him down for the three count. Tsukamoto later said he lost to a thug and wants to have a rematch with that thug for his 20th anniversary. He also had kinder words to say about Ito, like calling him his little brother.

The UWA World Tag Team Titles have come to BASARA and now belong to Aijin Tag! A Frog Splash from Kota Sekifuda proved to be a big mistake when Takato Nakano blocked it with his knees. Nakano & Masato Kamino then upped the double team moves on him so Nakano could pin Sekifuda with the Takagari. The title change comes right before Kaji Tomato runs his own self produced show later this month. That has to sting at least a little bit. Isami Kodaka & Ryuichi Sekine announced after the show they want to challenge Aijin Tag for the belts on 24th September.


Wedding Matches Postponed, No Spoilers Show Getting Wacky, Aijin Tag Next In Line For UWA Tag Titles

August 29, 2024

DDT “FIGHTING BEER GARDEN 2024 IN SHINJUKU – DAY 2”, 30/08/2024
Shinjuku FACE

1. Toru Owashi & Yuki Ishida Vs Yuni & Keigo Nakamura
2. Rock ‘N’ Roll 4 Way Death Match: Akito Vs A.YAZAWA Vs To-y Vs Kazuma Sumi
3. Daisuke Sasaki, KANON & MJ Paul Vs Toru Owashi, Keigo Nakamura & Yuya Koroku
4. The Long Awaited New Series By Hisaya Imabayashi! Kaidan Shin Numabukuro Deathmatch 2: Shunma Katsumata Vs Jun Akiyama Vs Danshoku Dieno Vs Makoto Oishi
5. Special Single Match: Chris Brookes Vs Ilusion
6. Beer Garden Specialty Customer Lottery 8-Man Tag Match: Yuki Ueno, MAO, HARASHIMA, Tetsuya Endo, Yuki Iino, Kazuki Hirata, Yukio Naya, Takeshi Masada

Antonio Honda is unable to be at tomorrow’s show. Luckily a replacement has already been found. A.YAZAWA takes his place which is convenient because the Rock ‘N’ Roll 4 Way Death Match just so happens to be YAZAWA’s signature match.

The Right To Challenge Shield holders going into the show are Masahiro Takanashi (Blue), KANON (Black), Keigo Nakamura (Light Blue) and Shunma Katsumata (White).

DDT “WEDDING VENUE PRO WRESTLING SUMMER FESTIVAL IN SENTIR LA SAISON GIFU”, 31/08/2024
Gifu Sentir la Saison

1. Daisuke Sasaki & KANON Vs Soma Takao & Ilusion
2. 3 Way Match: Kazuki Hirata Vs Yuki Iino Vs To-y
3. Jun Akiyama & Yukio Naya Vs Tetsuya Endo & Keigo Nakamura
4. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Yuki Ueno, MAO & Shunma Katsumata Vs Takeshi Masada, Yuya Koroku & Kazuma Sumi

Due to a typhoon approaching Japan this weekend DDT have postponed this show. The rescheduled date will be announced soon.

DDT “WEDDING ROJO PRO WRESTLING”, 31/08/2024
Gifu Sentir la Saison

1. Falls Count Anywhere Match: HARASHIMA & Akito Vs Danshoku Dieno & Makoto Oishi

DDT has also postponed the wedding pro wrestling match that was due to take place afterwards. It will be rescheduled along with the above show.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “ALWAYS BE A CHALLENGER ’24”, 08/09/2024
Nagoya International Conference Center Event Hall

1. 3 Way Match: Raku Vs Mahiro Kiryu Vs HIMAWARI
2. Toga Vs Kira Summer
3. Rika Tatsumi & Yuki Aino Vs Moka Miyamoto & Kaya Toribami
4. Yuki Kamifuku & Pom Harajuku Vs Wakana Uehara & Chika Nanase
5. Miyu Yamashita, Runa Okubo & Haru Kazashiro Vs Mizuki, Shino Suzuki & Uta Takami
6. Miu Watanabe & Suzume Vs Shoko Nakajima & Yoshiko Hasegawa
7. International Princess Title: Yuki Arai (c) Vs Arisu Endo

Yoshiko Hasegawa starts out her residency with Tokyo Joshi Pro by teaming with the woman she lost against last weekend. Will things turn out better for her by teaming with Shoko Nakajima instead of fighting her?

Most of the women who went to England are back in Japan. Miyu Yamashita is heading over to America this weekend first for a few more international matches. When she returns she will team with the two teenagers Runa Okubo & Haru Kazashiro.

The other three coming back from England are being thrown together into a 3 Way Match against each other. Raku, Mahiro Kiryu and HIMAWARI will show the fans what they learned from their visit to London.

DDT “NO SPOILERS X BEER GARDEN PRO WRESTLING IN UENO”, 10/09/2024
Tokyo Ueno Park Outdoor Stage

1. Makoto Oishi, Yukio Naya & Yuki Ishida (w/ Furitsuke Kamen) Vs Masahiro Takanashi, Akito & Ilusion
2. Tetsuya Endo, Yuki Iino & Yuki Ishida Vs Poison Sawada JULIE, Yuni & Kazuma Sumi
3. Daisuke Sasaki, KANON & MJ Paul Vs Pero Pero Master, Toru Owashi From 20 Years Ago & Kazuki Hirata
4. Special Single Match: Takeshi Masada Vs Yoshihiko
5. Special 4 Way Match: Someone Who Looks Like MAO Vs Someone Who Looks Like Chris Brookes Vs Someone Who Looks Like HARASHIMA Vs Someone Who Looks Like Keigo Nakamura
6. Special 6-Man Tag Match ~ The 37KAMIINA Vs Shin The 37KAMIINA: Yuki Ueno, Shunma Katsumata & To-y Vs Sauna Oyakata, Keizo Matsuda & Takayuki Ueki

The No Spoiler show is filling up with more wacky ideas with the expectation that nobody going to see the show will spoil it online. A group of wrestlers are claiming to be the new version of The 37KAMIINA and are challenging the originals to a match to prove they are superior. Keizo Matsuda & Takayuki Ueki are familiar enough but Sauna Master is going to be Danshoku Dieno doing some sort of, well, sauna master gimmick.

Pero Pero Master is, or at least in previous apperances was Antonio Honda doing a Hulk Hogan gimmick. Toru Owashi is also going to time travel back to being 20 years younger somehow.

Also on the card are appearances by Poison Sawada JULIE and Furitsuke Kamen.

BASARA “TSUKAMOTO & NAKATSU ANNIVERSARY FESTIVAL!”, 11/09/2024
Shinjuku FACE

1. Fuminori Abe Vs Judomaster
2. Isami Kodaka & Ryuichi Sekine Vs FUMA & Takeru Inoue
3. 4 Way Tag Match: KUBITO & Daichi Kazato Vs SAGAT & Lil’ Kraken Vs Gouma Ryu & Yasu Urano Vs Tsutomu Oosugi & Banana Senga
4. UWA World Tag Team Titles: Kota Sekifuda & Kaji Tomato (c) Vs Takato Nakano & Masato Kamino
5. Hardcore Match: Takumi Tsukamoto Vs Yusaku Ito
6. Ryota Nakatsu Vs Naoki Tanizaki

Earlier this month Aijin Tag challenged Kota Sekifuda & Kaji Tomato for the UWA World Tag Team Titles but had to wait in line because the champions already had a title defence lined up. That was done and dusted at a Big Japan show this week so Takato Nakano & Masato Kamino are now next in line to get a title shot.

DDT “TETSUYA ENDO LOCAL TRIUMPH! DRAMATIC INFINITY 2024 TOUR IN SHIROISHI”, 14/09/2024
Miyagi Shiroishi White Cube

1. Daisuke Sasaki, KANON & MJ Paul Vs Yuki Ueno, Shunma Katsumata & Kazuma Sumi
2. Jun Akiyama Vs Yuya Koroku
3. Special 6-Man Tag Match: MAO, Gorgeous Matsuno & Keigo Nakamura Vs HARASHIMA, Danshoku Dieno & Kazuki Hirata
4. Shiroishi Specialty Special Single Match: Tetsuya Endo Vs Makoto Oishi

The special homecoming match for Tetsuya Endo will give him a chance to say goodbye to Makoto Oishi in his own personal way.

Gorgeous Matsuno returns so he can form a trio of Tohoku wrestlers with MAO & Keigo Nakamura.

DDT “DRAMATIC INFINITY 2024 TOUR IN SAPPORO – DAY 1”, 15/09/2024
Hokkaido Sapporo Sun Plaza

1. Tetsuya Endo & Yuki Iino Vs Noriyuki Yoshida & Yuki Ishida
2. Special Single Match: Takeshi Masada Vs Makoro Oishi
3. Special Tag Match: Shinya Aoki & HARASHIMA Vs MAO & Keigo Nakamura
4. KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles: Daisuke Sasaki, KANON & MJ Paul (c) Vs Yuki Ueno, Shunma Katsumata & To-y

Both Tomoya and Noriyuki Yoshida will be on next month’s Sapporo weekend shows. The odd thing is Yoshida’s match is already announced for Day 1 but not Tomoya’s…

DDT “DRAMATIC INFINITY 2024 TOUR IN SAPPORO – DAY 2”, 16/09/2024
Hokkaido Sapporo Sun Plaza

1. Daisuke Sasaki, KANON & MJ Paul Vs Tomoya, Akito & Kazuki Hirata
2. Special 6-Man Tag Match: MAO, Shunma Katsumata & To-y Vs HARASHIMA, Yukio Naya & Kazuma Sumi
3. Special Single Match: Shinya Aoki Vs Yuya Koroku
4. Special Single Match: Chris Brookes Vs Danshoku Dieno

… while Tomoya’s match for Day 2 is already booked but not Yoshida’s.

DDT “REMBRANDT LARIAT SERIES 2024 COMEBACK ~BATTLE OF THE CORAL~”, 23/09/2024
Rembrandt Hotel Tokyo Machida Coral Room

1. Special Single Match: Antonio Honda Vs Kazuki Hirata
2. Special Tag Match: Yuki Ueno & MAO Vs HARASHIMA & Danshoku Dieno
3. Special Single Match: Shunma Katsumata Vs Makoto Oishi

Oishi’s set of goodbye matches continues with a bout against Shunma Katsumata. The two have had a teacher and student kind of relationship over the years.


BASARA “BASARA 255 ~HIEN~” Results

August 13, 2024

BASARA “BASARA 255 ~HIEN~”, 13/08/2024
Shin-Kiba 1st RING
??? Fans – Unannounced

1. Takumi Tsukamoto & SAGAT defeated Isami Kodaka & Takeru Inoue when SAGAT pinned Inoue with the Goregrind (9:40).
2. Takato Nakano defeated Kota Sekifuda with the Takagari (7:37).
3. Daisuke Sekimoto defeated Ryota Nakatsu with the Big Bang Catastrophe (14:59).
4. Kengo Mashimo & Fuminori Abe defeated Ryuichi Sekine & FUMA when Abe submitted Sekine with a Back Knee Hold (13:36).
5. Kuma Arashi defeated Masato Kamino with the Diving Senton (11:58).

Today was the beginning of BASARA’s new brand split when it comes to running shows at Shin-Kiba 1st RING. The “HIEN” shows promise to present Hard Mode style wrestling while BASARA’s usual presentation is being saved for “SOUEN” events. In the main event Masato Kamino lost to the visitor Kuma Arashi but the two were in good spirits with each other after the match. Takato Nakano joined up with Kamino to have a toast with fans to close out the show. The two of them promised to lead this new direction for BASARA and pull each other in many different directions.

Fuminori Abe outwrestled Ryuichi Sekine in a preview of the next Iron Fist Tag Team Titles match. Abe countered the Let’s Combine into a Cradle for a nearfall and then turned that into a Back Knee Hold to make Sekine submit. Sekine will always admit when he is beaten and that happened today. He promised he will fight harder to beat Astronauts in the title match. Abe thinks highly of Sekine because he is a wonderful and genuine person. But he is not going to let him take the titles away from him, no matter how explosive he will be.

In what could have been an ode to Keith Lee, the Big Bang Catastrophe was used by Daisuke Sekimoto to win his match against Ryota Nakatsu.

After Nakano won his match against Kota Sekifuda, he reminded the crowd that Sekifuda is one-half of the UWA World Tag Team Champions with Kaji Tomato. Since Nakano just defeated him, he wants Aijin Tag to get a title shot! Sekifuda said he only just lost the BJW Jr. Heavyweight Title to Ikuto Hidaka and he will die before he loses this championship too. He and Tomato already have a title defence lined up somewhere else anyway so he declined Nakano’s challenge. Nakano warned him that Aijin Tag will be waiting to take the titles from them.

The opening match was changed around because Lil’ Kraken suffered a back injury yesterday. Isami Kodaka & Takeru Inoue were meant to be opponents but were now on the same team. Inoue’s original partner Takumi Tsukamoto teamed up with SAGAT instead.

Kodaka was asked after the show if the Chouten ~Itadaki~ will happen this year and if the brand split will have any effect on it? He is considering having the tournament once BASARA has settled into the new format. He has an idea to split the field in half between “HIEN” and “SOUEN” wrestlers because he does not intend to have many of them work on both brands.


Princess Cup Quarter Finals, Hien, Ueno And Aoki Face Off, First Few EVE X TJPW Matches

August 5, 2024

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TOKYO PRINCESS CUP”, 10/08/2024
Osaka Edion Arena #2

1. 3 Way Match: Pom Harajuku Vs Mahiro Kiryu Vs Runa Okubo
2. Arisu Endo & Chika Nanase Vs Moka Miyamoto & Kaya Toribami
3. Miu Watanabe, Raku, Shino Suzuki & Uta Takami Vs Shoko Nakajima, Wakana Uehara, Haru Kazashiro & Kira Summer
4. Miyu Yamashita & Maki Itoh Vs Masha Slamovich & Toga
5. Tokyo Princess Cup – Quarter Final: Suzume Vs Yuki Arai
6. Tokyo Princess Cup – Quarter Final: Mizuki Vs Zara Zakher
7. Tokyo Princess Cup – Quarter Final: Yuki Kamifuku Vs Yuki Aino
8. Tokyo Princess Cup – Quarter Final: Rika Tatsumi Vs Ryo Mizunami

Eight women remain in the Tokyo Princess Cup. From this point onwards the bracket will get shuffled up so no one who wins will immediately know who they will face in the semi finals. Usually the lottery will happen at the end of the show.

Maki Itoh’s latest tour with GCW brings her going from Japan to America back to Japan and then to America once more. Masha Slamovich is on the Japan tour too and she is teaming with Toga to take on 121000000.

This will be the first time all four current members of The Up Up Girls (Pro Wrestling) are teaming together for an 8-Woman Tag Match.

HIMAWARI won’t be at the show because she is making a stage appearance somewhere else that day. Whatever the performance is about involves a lot of swordplay.

BASARA “BASARA 254 ~HIEN~”, 13/08/2024
Shin-Kiba 1st RING

1. Masato Kamino Vs Kuma Arashi
2. Ryota Nakatsu Vs Daisuke Sekimoto
3. Takato Nakano Vs Kota Sekifuda
4. Isami Kodaka & Lil’ Kraken Vs Takumi Tsukamoto & Takeru Inoue
5. Ryuichi Sekine & FUMA Vs Kengo Mashimo & Fuminori Abe

The new schedule for BASARA splitting their “UTAGE” show between red and blue brandings begins here. “HIEN” shows promise to contain Hard Mode level matches. The appearances of Kengo Mashimo, Kota Sekifuda, Daisuke Sekimoto and Kuma Arashi going against the BASARA roster is a good way to start things off.

DDT “FIGHTING BEER GARDEN 2024 IN SHINJUKU – DAY 1”, 15/08/2024
Shinjuku FACE

1. Daisuke Sasaki, KANON & MJ Paul Vs Toru Owashi, To-y & Keigo Nakamura
2. Special 3 Way 6-Man Tag Match: Yuki Ueno, MAO & Shunma Katsumata Vs Tetsuya Endo, Yuki Iino & Yuya Koroku Vs Jun Akiyama, Makoto Oishi & Yukio Naya
3. Blindfold Hidden Breast 4 Way Match: Chris Brookes Vs Antonio Honda Vs Super Sasadango Machine Vs Kazuma Sumi
4. Drunk Match: HARASHIMA Vs Masahiro Takanashi
5. International Special 4 Way Match: Danshoku Dieno Vs Joey Janela Vs Effy Vs Takeshi Masada
6. International Special Single Match: Danhausen Vs Kazuki Hirata

What is more powerful than Kazuki Hirata dancing to “Tokyo GO!”? Maybe Danhausen dancing to “Tequila”? It is a Beer Garden show after all.

During the week Joey Janela revealed he has been suffering from gallstone pancreatitis. It sounded like he was going to be out of action for a while but instead he went ahead and wrestled in GCW as scheduled. He is also determined to be in Japan for the tour and DDT on their end has not said anything that suggests otherwise.

DDT “MEMORIES OF SUMMER VACATION 2024 TOUR IN YOKOHAMA”, 17/08/2024
Yokohama Radiant Hall

1. Shunma Katsumata & Kazuki Hirata Vs Makoto Oishi & Yuni
2. Chris Brookes & Takeshi Masada Vs Antonio Honda & Ilusion
3. Daisuke Sasaki, Ryuichi “Fire” Kawakami, KANON & MJ Paul Vs HARASHIMA, Soma Takao, Keigo Nakamura & Kazuma Sumi
4. Special Tag Match: MAO & Jun Akiyama Vs Tetsuya Endo & Yuya Koroku
5. Special Single Match: Danshoku Dieno Vs Michael Nakazawa
6. Yukio Naya’s Birthday Celebration Match ~ Special Single Match: Yukio Naya Vs Yuki Iino
7. Special Tag Match: Yuki Ueno & To-y Vs Shinya Aoki & Akito

Before the KO-D Openweight Title match between Yuki Ueno and Shinya Aoki takes place on 25th August, they will have one prelim tag match against each other on the 17th.

EVE/TOKYO JOSHI PRO “EVE X TJPW: JAPAN & UK WRESTLING UNITE!”, 24/08/2024
Conway Hall, London, England

1. Aja Kong & Max The Impaler Vs Safire Reed & Zizi
2. EVE Title: Nina Samuels (c) Vs Miyu Yamashita

Over the weekend EVE announced the first two matches of the “EVE X TJPW” show. Miyu Yamashita gets a chance to become a two time EVE Champion when she takes on the defending champion Nina Samuels. Also Max The Impaler is coming over as an extra guest star to team with Aja Kong. Good luck to Safire Reed & Zizi because they are going to need it!


“NEW YEAR’S EVE PRO WRESTLING 2023 ~TOSHIWASURE! SHUFFLE 6-MAN TAG TOURNAMENT~” Results

December 31, 2023

“NEW YEAR’S EVE PRO WRESTLING 2023 ~TOSHIWASURE! SHUFFLE 6-MAN TAG TOURNAMENT~”, 31/12/2023
Tokyo Korakuen Hall
778 Fans

1. Shuffle 6-Man Tag Tournament – Round 1: HARASHIMA, Kota Sekifuda & Yuji Hino defeated Takeshi Masada, Akira & Koji Iwamoto when HARASHIMA pinned Masada with the Somato (7:06).
2. Shuffle 6-Man Tag Tournament – Round 1: Kazusada Higuchi, Yasufumi Nakanoue & Kohei Kinoshita defeated Soma Takao, Kazumasa Yoshida & Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi when Kinoshita pinned Hiroshi with the Blockbuster Hold (6:51).
3. Shuffle 6-Man Tag Tournament – Round 1: Yukio Naya, Hideyoshi Kamitani & Minoru Suzuki Vs Danshoku Dieno, Daichi Hashimoto & Ikuto Hidaka ended in a Time Limit Draw (10:00).
3a. Overtime – 1 Count Fall Rules: Yukio Naya, Hideyoshi Kamitani & Minoru Suzuki defeated Danshoku Dieno, Daichi Hashimoto & Ikuto Hidaka when Suzuki submitted Dieno with the Sleeper Hold (4:45).
4. Shuffle 6-Man Tag Tournament – Round 1: Tetsuya Endo, Daisuke Sekimoto & Fuminori Abe defeated Hideki Okatani, Yuki Ishikawa & Brahman Shu (w/ Brahman Kei) when Abe submitted Shu with the Manjigatame (6:03).
5. So Daimonji, Ender Kara, Leyton Buzzard & Tempesta defeated Kazumi Kikuta, Kazuki Hashimoto, Kazuma Sumi & Rukiya when Buzzard pinned Rukiya with the Firebird Splash (8:37).
6. Shuffle 6-Man Tag Tournament – Semi Final: HARASHIMA, Kota Sekifuda & Yuji Hino defeated Kazusada Higuchi, Yasufumi Nakanoue & Kohei Kinoshita when Sekifuda pinned Kinoshita with the Ironman (5:48).
7. Shuffle 6-Man Tag Tournament – Semi Final: Yukio Naya, Hideyoshi Kamitani & Minoru Suzuki Vs Tetsuya Endo, Daisuke Sekimoto & Fuminori Abe ended in a Time Limit Draw (10:00).
7a. Overtime – 1 Count Fall Rules: Tetsuya Endo, Daisuke Sekimoto & Fuminori Abe defeated Yukio Naya, Hideyoshi Kamitani & Minoru Suzuki when Sekimoto pinned Kamitani with a Lariat (1:20).
8. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Takuya Nomura, Abdullah Kobayashi & Kankuro Hoshino defeated Yuki Ueno, Kazuki Hirata & Antonio Honda when Kobayashi pinned Honda with a Modified School Boy (13:32).
9. Shuffle 6-Man Tag Tournament – Final: Tetsuya Endo, Daisuke Sekimoto & Fuminori Abe defeated HARASHIMA, Kota Sekifuda & Yuji Hino when Endo pinned Sekifuda with the Burning Star Press (13:33).

On the final day of 2023 DDT, Big Japan and a scoop of the indies all joined together at Korakuen Hall to take part in the annual New Year’s Eve Shuffle Tag Team Tournament. This year was the third year in a row the tournament consisted of 6-Man Tag matches. Every team taking part consisted of a DDT wrestler, a BJW wrestler and a wild card independent wrestler. But before any of the matches began, Samurai TV presented the Japan Indie Grand Prix Awards for 2023. The full results for those can be found at the bottom of this report.

Shuffle 6-Man Tag Tournament – Round 1

Smile Lizard King Kong Vs Lonely Hot College Students

The opening round began with HARASHIMA, Kota Sekifuda & Yuji Hino all joining forces to fight a team that no longer had an accurate team name. Yuya Aoki pulled out sick and had to be replaced with Akira who is not single like Takeshi Masada & Koji Iwamoto are. Although you could still argue he might have been feeling lonely anyway without being near his new friends anyway. They isolated HARASHIMA but Masada could not get the job done. Instead the tables were turned on him and HARASHIMA scored the pin with the Somato.

Team Katagi Returns Vs The Kind People

Style was the name of the game here. Team Katagi Returns all showed up wrestling in sunglasses and flashy shirts looking to boss around their opponents. Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi tried to settle them down with some karaoke, buying Soma Takao & Kazumasa Yoshida some time to regroup. Hiroshi tried it again to distract Kohei Kinoshita but ended up getting pinned with the Blockbuster Hold for his troubles.

Big Bombers Kai Vs Anal Destruction Hidaka

The big draw for this year’s tournament made his appearance in the third match. Minoru Suzuki showed up with no concern that Danshoku Dieno, Daichi Hashimoto & Ikuto Hidaka were all plotting to defeat him one way or another. It didn’t matter because whatever they threw at Suzuki, he just countered it and twisted them into submission holds. The match ended in a time limit draw so it went to 1 Count sudden death rules. Hidaka was convinced to settle himself on the top turnbuckle with his tights pulled down so Dieno & Hashimoto could throw their opponents face first into his rear end. The plan worked until it was Suzuki’s turn. He simply stopped in front of Hidaka and spanked him! Hashimoto then force fed Dieno the wasabi paste but the Lip Lock aimed for Suzuki was sent to Hashimoto instead! Suzuki used the Sleeper Hold on Dieno to squeeze the wasabi out of him until he gave up.

Go For It! The Three Inokori Brothers Vs Bati Bati F’N In The Sky

You can always count on The Brahman Brothers to come into this tournament with their partners already brainwashed into acting like them. It happened here with Hideki Okatani & Yuki Ishikawa. Together their obscene fighting styles left the opponents doubled over in pain due to where the attacks were targeted. However Fuminori Abe was able to trap Brahman Shu in the Manjigatame so his team could escape to the next round with enough of their collective dignity still intact.

Non-Tournament 8-Man Tag Match

There were two matches outside of the tournament. The first of which focused on PROJECT: HAVOC, the unit of wrestlers currently invading Big Japan led by So Daimonji. Facing them were the collective team of mostly young DDT and BJW wrestlers. Despite the best efforts of the combined home team, HAVOC overwhelmed them and won out in the end.

Shuffle 6-Man Tag Tournament – Semi Final

Smile Lizard King Kong Vs Team Katagi Returns

Over to the semi finals now where Smile Lizard King Kong continued to show their combined strength. The normally powerful Kazusada Higuchi & Yasufumi Nakanoue were instead powerless to save Kinoshita from getting flattened with Flying Body Press after Flying Body Press from their opponents, ending with Sekifuda folding him over with the Ironman pin for the 3 count.

Big Bombers Kai Vs Bati Bati F’N In The Sky

The other semi finals treated fans to a couple of important matchups. First was a preview of Tetsuya Endo against Yukio Naya in the D-Oh Grand Prix final happening on 3rd January. The other was Suzuki and Daisuke Sekimoto getting the rare chance to fight each other! Their battle ended in a stalemate because the time ran out. When sudden death began the match scrambled into Hideyoshi Kamitani trying to pin Sekimoto only to get defeated instead with Sekimoto’s Lariat. Endo and Naya had a staredown in the middle of the ring after the match.

Non-Tournament Special 6-Man Tag Match

The second non-tournament match was a straightforward DDT Vs Big Japan 6-Man Tag. Well I say straightforward but the match involved Antonio Honda and Abdullah Kobayashi both getting rope burn between their legs, the DDT team all dancing to “What Does The Fox Say”, then the Big Japan team dancing to “Tokyo GO!” until Takuya Nomura stopped them. But that was only because he wanted to lead the dance and use that power to overpower his opponents. Kobayashi ended up using Honda’s Gongitsune against him and rolled him up with a School Boy to get Big Japan the victory.

Shuffle 6-Man Tag Tournament – Final

Smile Lizard King Kong Vs Bati Bati F’N In The Sky

Sadly the show has not yet returned to running long enough that it reaches up to the clock striking midnight to bring in the new year. But the finalists were still able to take each other on without having to worry about a time limit. Sekimoto and Hino got into a big chop battle while HARASHIMA took out Abe with the Somato. Sekifuda almost pinned Endo with the Ironman but was then flipped upside down with the Tetsuya In the Sky. It was all there for Endo to take it and he finished Sekifuda off with the Burning Star Press, making Bati Bati F’N In The Sky the winners of this year’s tournament!

Japan Indie Grand Prix Awards 2023

MVP

1. Kazuki Hirata (DDT)
2. Fujita “Jr.” Hayato (Michinoku Pro)
3. Fuminori Abe (Freelance)
4. Chris Brookes (DDT)
5. HARUKAZE (Ganbare☆Pro)

Best Bout

1. Fujita “Jr.” Hayato Vs Hiromu Takahashi (Michinoku Pro, 15th October)
2. Fuminori Abe Vs Takuya Nomura (Kakuto Tanteidan, 12th October)
3. Yuji Okabayashi Vs Yuya Aoki (Big Japan, 4th May)
4. Hiromu Takahashi Vs Kazuki Hirata (DDT, 12th November)
5. Chris Brookes Vs Yuki Ueno (DDT, 12th November)

Best Unit

1. Astronauts (Freelance/Big Japan)
2. Pheromones (DDT)
3. Lethal Weapon (Ganbare☆Pro)
4. Eruption (DDT)
5. The 37KAMIINA (DDT)

Best Show

1. DDT @ Ryogoku Kokugikan, 12th November
2. Kakuto Tanteidan @ Shinjuku FACE, 12th October
3. Big Japan @ Yokohama Budokan, 4th May
4. Michinoku Pro @ Yahaba Townsmen Gymnasium, 15th October
5. 666 @ Korakuen Hall, 2nd, August

Best Newcomer

1. Munetatsu Nakamura (Ganbare☆Pro)
2. Kazumasa Yoshida (Big Japan)
3. Takeshi Masada (DDT)
4. Yusaki Ito (Dove Pro)
5. Yuki Kanzaki (TTT)


New Year’s Eve Trios Give Their Comments

November 15, 2023

“NEW YEAR’S EVE PRO WRESTLING 2023 ~TOSHIWASURE! SHUFFLE 6-MAN TAG TOURNAMENT~”, 31/12/2023
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Shuffle 6-Man Tag Tournament – Round 1A: DDT X, Big Japan X & Dream Slot X Vs DDT X, Big Japan X & Dream Slot X
2. Shuffle 6-Man Tag Tournament – Round 1B: DDT X, Big Japan X & Dream Slot X Vs DDT X, Big Japan X & Dream Slot X
3. Shuffle 6-Man Tag Tournament – Round 1C: DDT X, Big Japan X & Dream Slot X Vs DDT X, Big Japan X & Dream Slot X
4. Shuffle 6-Man Tag Tournament – Round 1D: DDT X, Big Japan X & Dream Slot X Vs DDT X, Big Japan X & Dream Slot X
5. X Vs X
6. Shuffle 6-Man Tag Tournament – Semi Final: Winners Of Match 1A Vs Winners Of Match 1B
7. Shuffle 6-Man Tag Tournament – Semi Final: Winners Of Match 1C Vs Winners Of Match 1D
8. X Vs X
9. Shuffle 6-Man Tag Tournament – Final: X, X & X Vs X, X & X

Bati Bati F’N In The Sky: Tetsuya Endo, Daisuke Sekimoto & Fuminori Abe
Big Bombers Kai: Yukio Naya, Hideyoshi Kamitani & Minoru Suzuki
Team Katagi Returns: Kazusada Higuchi, Yasufumi Nakanoue & Kohei Kinoshita
Anal Destruction Hidaka: Danshoku Dieno, Daichi Hashimoto & Ikuto Hidaka
The Kind People: Chris Brookes, Kazumasa Yoshida & Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi
Lonely Hot College Students: Takeshi Masada, Yuya Aoki & Koji Iwamoto
Smile Lizard King Kong: HARASHIMA, Kota Sekifuda & Yuji Hino
Go For It! The Three Inokori Brothers: Hideki Okatani, Yuki Ishikawa & Brahman Shu (w/ Brahman Kei)

Most of the wrestlers taking part in this year’s Shuffle 6-Man Tag Tournament got together for the lottery to determine who will team with who. Every trio in the tournament is made up of a DDT wrestler, a Big Japan wrestler and a “Dream Slot” wrestler from a group made up of freelancers and people from other promotions. The wrestlers in attendance all gave comments about the teams they ended up in along with their chances to do well.

Tetsuya Endo remembers teaming up with Daisuke Sekimoto in 2020 but they were eliminated in the semi final. He thinks with Fuminori Abe joining them they have no choice but to win this time. Abe told them he’ll do his best not to hold them back. Their team name is Bati Bati F’N In The Sky.

The big attraction this year is Minoru Suzuki competing in the New Year’s Eve tournament for the first time. He is in the same team as Yukio Naya & Hideyoshi Kamitani who teamed together last year as part of a trio called Big Bombers. So they are all called Big Bombers Kai this time around. Suzuki said if he wins three matches in one night then that means he gets paid for three matches so even thought he is here to have fun, he still wants to win.

In 2018 Kazusada Higuchi & Yasufumi Nakanoue were Team Katagi so for their reunion they get to be Team Katagi Returns! The third member Kohei Kinoshita was not here today so they will see him at the show.

Suzuki already has a target on his back. Or more like lower down below his back. Ikuto Hidaka is taking the Anal power of Danshoku Dieno with the Destructive power of Daichi Hashimoto and merging them together with him in the middle in order to defeat Suzuki’s team! Suzuki however threatened to destroy Hidaka’s anus first. Hashimoto has been on the tournament winning team for the last two years so he wants to make it three in a row.

A more calm energy is flowing through the next trio taking part. Kazumasa Yoshida is happy to be teaming with a bunch of kind people so it only makes sense to call themselves The Kind People. He hopes they can win without being rude. Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi is aiming to prove flexibility can defeat toughness. Chris Brookes is happy he doesn’t have to team with Kota Sekifuda.

I guess Lonely Hot College Students is an accurate name because Yuya Aoki was the only person on that team to show up today. He assured everyone he will hold a strategy meeting with Takeshi Masada & Koji Iwamoto to work out how they will win the tournament.

HARASHIMA & Sekifuda originally decided on calling their team Smile Lizard Gorilla. However when the absent Yuji Hino found out about it he asked them to change it to Smile Lizard King Kong. Sekifuda feels confident the three of them will develop a chemical reaction that will bring them to success.

The final team is made up of the remaining wrestlers who were not picked. That is not always a bad place to be because in 2021 a team called LEFTOVERS made up of the last picked wrestlers ended up winning the whole thing. Will it work out that way for Hideki Okatani, Yuki Ishikawa & The Brahman Brothers? Maybe not. Brahman Shu admitted he has no hopes or dreams over their chances. Ishikawa however wants to behave as wild as he can because it is his first time being with Okatani and the Brahmans.


“NEW YEAR’S EVE PRO WRESTLING 2022 ~TOSHIWASURE! SHUFFLE 6-MAN TAG TOURNAMENT~” Results

December 31, 2022

“NEW YEAR’S EVE PRO WRESTLING 2022 ~TOSHIWASURE! SHUFFLE 6-MAN TAG TOURNAMENT~”, 31/12/2022
Tokyo Korakuen Hall
615 Fans – No Vacancy

1. Shuffle 6-Man Tag Tournament – Round 1: MAO, Yuya Aoki & Yuko Miyamoto defeated Yukio Naya, Hideyoshi Kamitani & Kikutaro when MAO pinned Kikutaro after a Double Choke Slam from Naya & Kamitani (8:06).
2. Shuffle 6-Man Tag Tournament – Round 1: Kazusada Higuchi, Kota Sekifuda & MUSASHI Vs Chris Brookes, Daisuke Sekimoto & Isami Kodaka ended in a Time Limit Draw (10:00).
2a. Overtime – 1 Count Fall Rule: Kazusada Higuchi, Kota Sekifuda & MUSASHI defeated Chris Brookes, Daisuke Sekimoto & Isami Kodaka when Higuchi pinned Brookes with a Cradle Turnback (1:03).
3. Shuffle 6-Man Tag Tournament – Round 1: Yuki Ueno, Daichi Hashimoto & Yuma Aoyagi defeated Tetsuya Endo, Yasufumi Nakanoue & Brahman Shu (w/ Brahman Kei) when Aoyagi pinned Kei with a School Boy (7:58).
4. Shuffle 6-Man Tag Tournament – Round 1: HARASHIMA, Yuki Ishikawa & Masashi Takeda defeated Takeshi Masada, Takuya Nomura & Masato Tanaka when Takeda pinned Masada with the Reverse U Crash (8:31).
5. Ryuji Ito, Abdullah Kobayashi, Jaki Numazawa & Kankuro Hoshino defeated Danshoku Dieno, Antonio Honda, Kazuki Hirata & Shunma Katsumata when Ito pinned Hirata with the Biribiri Dragon Splash (14:27).
6. Shuffle 6-Man Tag Tournament – Semi Final: MAO, Yuya Aoki & Yuko Miyamoto defeated Kazusada Higuchi, Kota Sekifuda & MUSASHI when Aoki pinned Sekifuda with the Blue Storm (10:15).
7. Shuffle 6-Man Tag Tournament – Semi Final: Yuki Ueno, Daichi Hashimoto & Yuma Aoyagi defeated HARASHIMA, Yuki Ishikawa & Masashi Takeda when Ueno pinned Ishikawa with the Rolling Guillotine Ace Crusher (11:16).
8. Special 8-Man Tag Match: Konosuke Takeshita, Drew Parker, Cara Noir & RSP defeated Yuji Okabayashi, Kazumi Kikuta, Takuho Kato & Kazumasa Yoshida when Takeshita pinned Yoshida with the Zahi (15:23).
9. Shuffle 6-Man Tag Tournament – Final: Yuki Ueno, Daichi Hashimoto & Yuma Aoyagi defeated MAO, Yuya Aoki & Yuko Miyamoto when Hashimoto pinned MAO with the Rising DDT (19:21).

Last year’s tournament being built around trios matches was kept around for this year’s edition. Each team featured one DDT wrestler, one Big Japan wrestler and one wild card all of which were random combinations. For everyone involved it was their last chance to grab some glory in the ring before the new year begins.

Shuffle 6-Man Tag Tournament – Round 1

Ika Ra Takeshi Ki Asu Manji Hai (Driver’s High) Vs Big Bombers

The atmosphere of the show was set early by the team called Big Bombers. Their entrance included a video of MAO, Yuya Aoki & Yuko Miyamoto all travelling together for a road trip on motorbikes. Their opponents attempted to use a game of Rock, Paper, Scissors to determine who starts but Kikutaro misunderstood. He thought it was just a charade to jump Big Bombers while they weren’t looking so he charged them on his own and got beaten up for it. Kikutaro had even more bad luck, the worse of which involved MAO manipulating Yukio Naya & Hideyoshi Kamitani into Double Choke Slamming their own partner. MAO slipped in for the pin afterward to keep his team’s road trip going.

Team 2023 Vs Super J Cups

The only time limit draw on the show took place in the second match. The Super J Cups are called that because it is a trio of junior heavyweight champions. Supposedly. Kazusada Higuchi’s weight was announced in the venue as 99.999999kg so he was really pushing it. Higuchi spent the end of the match fighting with Daisuke Sekimoto too so nobody was complaining about getting to see that heavyweight battle. It built up to Sekimoto leading Chris Brookes & Isami Kodaka into a Triple Topé Suicida aimed at Higuchi, Kota Sekifuda & MUSASHI. The time limit was reached right when Sekimoto gave Higuchi the German Suplex. When overtime began Sekimoto went straight for the pin but Higuchi kicked out immediately. Brookes tagged in and caught Higuchi in a Prawn Hold. However Higuchi reversed the move and rolled himself on top of Brookes to steal the 1 Count pin needed to win.

Zero Hyaku Vs BraNoue In The Sky With Diamonds

If there is one thing everyone knows about The Brahman Brothers its that they like to stay clean, am I right? Tetsuya Endo & Yasufumi Nakanoue shared their concerns and carried around disinfectant spray. Oh, the two of them were also Brahman-ised and happy to take part in their cheating during the match. Yuma Aoyagi fought back by covering his arms with the metal hoses and Lariating both Brahmans but he ended up pinning Brahman Kei by mistake so the match continued. Nakanoue placed a stake up to Yuki Ueno’s butt (after disinfecting the butt first of course) and Brahman Shu hit it with a chairshot. The gameplan then fell apart due to miscommunication. Endo accidentally hit Kei over the head with a steel tray and then the suitcase thrown by Nakanoue hit Shu instead of Aoyagi. It ended up costing them the match and Zero Hyaku advanced at their expense.

Emi Chichichi (Wara Chichichi) Vs Team Kansai

Round 1 almost closed out with a little bit of death match flavour. Masashi Takeda brought out a pair of scissors which annoyed the referee Yukinori Matsui. When that was taken away we were left with a match on the regular level of danger. I mean Takeda and Masato Tanaka were still on opposite sides of the ring here. We also had HARASHIMA and Takuya Nomura trading kicks against each other. Takeshi Masada though ended up getting the worst of everything. He took a Swan Dive Body Press from HARASHIMA, a Double Stomp from Yuki Ishikawa and was finished off with the Takeda’s Reverse U Crash.

Non-Tournament 8-Man Tag Match

DDT and Big Japan got threw some of their veterans together for an inter-promotional 8-Man Tag. Danshoku Dieno was back to his old self looking for men in the audience to kiss during his entrance. Shunma Katsumata took to taunting Ryuji Ito when the opportunity presented itself. Antonio Honda tried to tell a Gongitsune joke but Jaki Numazawa cut him off so he could tell his own jokes. Gongitsune groaned after every punchline. Kazuki Hirata put on the Hirata GO! glasses and danced until Kankuro Hoshino placed fox ears over his head. The music changed to “What Does The Fox Say” and the two danced until Hirata realised what was going on and fainted. Dieno set himself up in the Hell Gate position in the corner to charge up his teammate’s attacks. Abdullah Kobayashi then revealed he has the same ability, it only works once every four years. Kobayashi then formed his own Hell Gate. Ito placed a steel plate over his chest, used Kobayashi to charge it up and then did the Dragon Splash onto Hirata to give Big Japan the win. Ito declared Big Japan as the winners of the feud against DDT but Dieno refused to accept defeat. Ito and Dieno threw challenges at each other and both left the ring in a huff.

Shuffle 6-Man Tag Tournament – Semi Final

Ika Ra Takeshi Ki Asu Manji Hai (Driver’s High) Vs Super J Cups

People still didn’t believe that Higuchi is a junior heavyweight so he tried vaulting the top rope along with his tag partners. The whole thing didn’t work because Sekifuda & MUSASHI were both pulled down and Higuchi tripped. The Driver’s High team capitalised and all three hit Handspring Back Elbows to the opposition. Sekifuda recovered and keep trying to go for the win until Aoki cut him off and stole the win with the Blue Storm.

Zero Hyaku Vs Emi Chichichi (Wara Chichichi)

The death match flavour did show up in this match. Takeda took out his scissors again but put them away, promising to fight fair. Zero Hyaku had a lot of communication problems when Ueno tried to direct Hashimoto & Aoyagi into setting up a Triple Power Bomb properly. The match then broke down when chairs were brought into the ring. Ishikawa and even HARASHIMA threw chairshots at their opponents. Ueno took the chair and hit HARASHIMA with it. Takeda then pulled out a stapler and stapled a show poster onto Ueno’s chest! Ueno got his revenge by stapling the poster onto Ishikawa’s forehead and then pinning him with the Rolling Guillotine Ace Crusher.

Special 8-Man Tag Match

Before the final could take place there was another non-tournament match to get through. Konosuke Takeshita led a team of foreign wrestlers against Yuji Okabayashi and his band of Strong BJ fighters. The DDT related side won this one. Everything was built up to Takeshita, Drew Parker and RSP doing stereo Swanton Bombs along with the Fable on Kazumi Kikuta, Takuho Kato & Kazumasa Yoshida. Takeshita then pinned Yoshida with the Zahi. After the match backstage RSP said he first wrestled in Japan for Big Japan but now he considers himself part if DDT. Takeshita thinks 2023 will see the full return of wrestlers travelling everywhere around the world. Cara Noir did not say anything. Okabayashi is impressed by how much Takeshita has improved since the last time they fought. However he is also happy with the knowledge that his Chops are still effective against Takeshita. Kikuta told the DDT team not to get carried away just because they won. Kato spoke about Parker’s success since leaving Big Japan. He considers himself close to Parker because they are the same age and their birthdays are only a few days apart. Yoshida was happy to get to fight Takeshita.

Shuffle 6-Man Tag Tournament – Final

Ika Ra Takeshi Ki Asu Manji Hai (Driver’s High) Vs Zero Hyaku

The final came down to this. The Driver’s High team came out all wearing gear matching with Miyamoto’s. Late in the match MAO & Aoki focused on Missile attacks to Hashimoto until the tables turned. Ueno caught MAO with the Dropkick, Aoyagi hit the Rockstar Buster and Hashimoto hit the Shining Wizard. MAO kicked out of both at one so Hashimoto had to drop him with the Rising DDT, crowning Zero Hyaku as the tournament winners!

The winners received their prize from Sayoko Mita. Aoyagi was happy to win because this was his first New Year’s Eve show. Hashimoto said the team went from Zero to Hyaku! Ueno admitted he never expected Hashimoto to be so mischievous and Aoyagi to be so nice. He doesn’t know what to expect in 2023 but the three of them will continue to change pro wrestling. Aoyagi wants the three of them to reunite for next year’s tournament but he was told it can only happen if the random lottery somehow pairs the three of them together again.

Japan Indie Grand Prix Awards 2022

MVP

1. Kazusada Higuchi
2. Drew Parker
3. Fujita Jr. Hayato
4. Konosuke Takeshita
5. Yumehito Imanari

Best Bout

1. MUSASHI Vs Fujita Jr. Hayato (Michinoku Pro, 1st July)
2. Jun Kasai Vs El Desperado (JUST TAP OUT, 12th September)
3. Hartley Jackson Vs Mizuki Watase (Ganbare☆Pro, th )
4. Drew Parker Vs Masashi Takeda (FREEDOMS, 16th November)
5. Konosuke Takeshita Vs Tetsuya Endo (DDT, 20th March)

Best Unit

1. Pheromones
2. The 37KAMIINA
3. Astronauts
4. CDK
5. Speed Of Sounds

Best Box Office

1. Big Japan @ Yokohama Budokan, 5th May
2. Ganbare☆Pro @ Ota Ward Gymnasium, 10th July
3. Michinoku Pro @ Korakuen Hall, 1st July
4. FREEDOMS @ Yokohama Budokan, 3rd May
5. DDT @ Ryogoku Kokugikan, 20th March

Best Newcomer

1. Daiju Wakamatsu
2. Yukio Naya
3. Takeshi Masada
4. HARUKAZE
5. Jun Masaoka


Teams Chosen For New Year’s Eve Tournament

November 28, 2022

“NEW YEAR’S EVE PRO WRESTLING 2022 ~TOSHIWASURE! SHUFFLE 6-MAN TAG TOURNAMENT~”, 31/12/2022
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Shuffle 6-Man Tag Tournament – Round 1: X, X & X Vs X, X & X
2. Shuffle 6-Man Tag Tournament – Round 1: X, X & X Vs X, X & X
3. Shuffle 6-Man Tag Tournament – Round 1: X, X & X Vs X, X & X
4. Shuffle 6-Man Tag Tournament – Round 1: X, X & X Vs X, X & X
5. Danshoku Dieno, Antonio Honda, Kazuki Hirata & Shunma Katsumata Vs Ryuji Ito, Abdullah Kobayashi, Jaki Numazawa & Kankuro Hoshino
6. Shuffle 6-Man Tag Tournament – Semi Final: X, X & X Vs X, X & X
7. Shuffle 6-Man Tag Tournament – Semi Final: X, X & X Vs X, X & X
8. Special 8-Man Tag Match: Konosuke Takeshita, Drew Parker, Cara Noir & RSP Vs Yuji Okabayashi, Kazumi Kikuta, Takuho Kato & Kazumasa Yoshida
9. Shuffle 6-Man Tag Tournament – Final: X, X & X Vs X, X & X

Ika Ra Takeshi Ki Asu Manji Hai (Driver’s High) – MAO, Yuya Aoki & Yuko Miyamoto
Team 2023 – Chris Brookes, Daisuke Sekimoto & Isami Kodaka
Zero Hyaku – Yuki Ueno, Daichi Hashimoto & Yuma Aoyagi
Big Bombers – Yukio Naya, Hideyoshi Kamitani & Kikutaro
Emi Chichichi (Wara Chichichi) – HARASHIMA, Yuki Ishikawa & Masashi Takeda
Bara No Ue In The Sky With Diamonds – Tetsuya Endo, Yasufumi Nakanoue & Brahman Kei (w/ Brahman Shu)
Team Kansai – Takeshi Masada, Takuya Nomura & Masato Tanaka
Super J Cups – Kazusada Higuchi, Kota Sekifuda & MUSASHI

The eight teams for the New Year’s Eve Shuffle 6-Man Tag Tournament were all chosen last week. Each team combines together one DDT wrestler, one Big Japan wrestler and one wrestler from outside those two companies. Each trio came up with their own team names based on a something that connects the three wrestlers together. In some cases there was a stretch. Take the Super J Cups for example. Kazusada Higuchi, Kota Sekifuda & MUSASHI were the last three wrestlers remaining after the draw. All three are currently champions but Sekifuda & MUSASHI are both in the Jr. Heavyweight division. Sekifuda told Higuchi that for one night only he gets to move down from Heavyweight to Jr. Heavyweight, which is why Super J Cups became their name.

There are two non-tournament matches also taking place on the show. Both of them are DDT Vs Big Japan 8-Man Tag matches. One of them sees a DDT team of international talent led by Konosuke Takeshita taking on Yuji Okabayashi and his band of Strong BJ fighters. The other has DDT’s comedy troupe pitted against BJW’s Death Match division.


“NEW YEAR’S WRESTLING 2021 ~TOSHIKOSHI! SHUFFLE 6-MAN TAG TOURNAMENT” Results

December 31, 2021

“NEW YEAR’S WRESTLING 2021 ~TOSHIKOSHI! SHUFFLE 6-MAN TAG TOURNAMENT”, 31/12/2021
Tokyo Korakuen Hall
655 Fans – No Vacancy

1. Shuffle 6-Man Tag Tournament – Round 1: Kazusada Higuchi, Ryuji Ito & Shiro Koshinaka Vs Chris Brookes, Takuya Nomura & Minoru Fujita ended in a Time Limit Draw (10:00).
1a. Overtime – 1 Count Fall Rule: Chris Brookes, Takuya Nomura & Minoru Fujita defeated Kazusada Higuchi, Ryuji Ito & Shiro Koshinaka when Fujita pinned Ito with the Modified Samson Clutch (0:52).
2. Shuffle 6-Man Tag Tournament – Round 1: HARASHIMA, Daichi Hashimoto & Kengo Mashimo defeated Soma Takao, Yuya Aoki & Shuji Ishikawa when Hashimoto submitted Aoki with the STF (9:06).
3. Shuffle 6-Man Tag Tournament – Round 1: Konosuke Takeshita, Yuji Okabayashi & Kuishinbo Kamen defeated Naomi Yoshimura, Kota Sekifuda & Brahman Kei (w/ Brahman Shu) when Takeshita pinned Kei with a Cradle (5:17).
4. Shuffle 6-Man Tag Tournament – Round 1: MAO, Yasufumi Nakanoue & Shigehiro Irie defeated Akito, Daisuke Sekimoto & Jun Kasai when MAO pinned Akito with the Cannonball 450 (8:50).
5. MUSASHI, Daisuke Kanehira, Takafumi & Tatsuya Hanami defeated Takuho Kato, Kosuke Sato, Hideki Okatani & Yuki Ishida when MUSASHI submitted Ishida with the Modified Sasorikatame (13:40).
6. Shuffle 6-Man Tag Tournament – Semi Final: HARASHIMA, Daichi Hashimoto & Kengo Mashimo defeated Chris Brookes, Takuya Nomura & Minoru Fujita when Mashimo pinned Fujita with the Vertical Drop Brainbuster (11:41).
7. Shuffle 6-Man Tag Tournament – Semi Final: Konosuke Takeshita, Yuji Okabayashi & Kuishinbo Kamen Vs MAO, Yasufumi Nakanoue & Shigehiro Irie ended in a Time Limit Draw (15:00).
7a. Overtime – 1 Count Fall Rule: Konosuke Takeshita, Yuji Okabayashi & Kuishinbo Kamen defeated MAO, Yasufumi Nakanoue & Shigehiro Irie when Kamen pinned MAO with a Crushed La Magistral Cradle (0:44).
8. 3 Way Tag Match: Stan Kobayashi & Kazuki Hirata defeated Jaki Numazawa & Antonio Honda Vs Danshoku Dieno & Kankuro Hoshino when Kobayashi pinned Hona with the Bakachinga Anal Elbow (14:21).
9. Shuffle 6-Man Tag Tournament – Final: HARASHIMA, Daichi Hashimoto & Kengo Mashimo defeated Konosuke Takeshita, Yuji Okabayashi & Kuishinbo Kamen when HARASHIMA pinned Kamen with the Somato (16:19).

The annual New Year’s Eve Shuffle Tag Tournament switched over to a trios format for the end of 2021. Each team consisted of a DDT wrestler, a Big Japan wrestler and a “Dream Slot” wrestler from another company or batch of freelancers.

Shuffle 6-Man Tag Tournament – Round 1

I’ll Do It!! Vs Three Brothers Kawaii

Fans didn’t have to wait long for the reveal of Chris Brookes & Takuya Nomura’s mystery partner. It was Minoru Fujita! Their combined cuteness went to a 10 minute stalemate against the rugged trio of Kazusada Higuchi, Ryuji Ito & Shiro Koshinaka. In the final seconds Fujita hit Ito with the SAYONARA but time ran out before the pin. Sudden death overtime meant One Count Fall rules to win. Koshinaka misfired the Hip Attack and hit Ito by accident, allowing Fujita to get the 1 Count to win.

Ikemen’s Vs LEFTOVERS

Next up the team of Soma Takao, Yuya Aoki & Shuji Ishikawa all walked out dressed and posing like Masahiro Chono. They continued the Chono tribute by locking in a Triple STF to HARASHIMA, Daichi Hashimoto & Kengo Mashimo. They got a taste of their own medicine at the end when Hashimoto locked Aoki into his own version of the STF to win. He then encouraged his own team to do Chono’s pose.

Deadlifters Vs I Dream Of Twins, Lizards And Naomi

Things got weirder because next up was The Brahman Brothers entering the ring with Naomi Yoshimura & Kota Sekifuda behind them carrying stuffed toy lizards. Konosuke Takeshita and Yuji Okabayashi brought out chairs looking ready for a fight until they had powder thrown in their faces. Kuishinbo Kamen tried to help but couldn’t do much. Takeshita was given a Low Blow but found a way in his doubled over state to block a Sunset Flip and press down to get the three count.

Ugo Association Vs Team Saiyuki

Before this match began Shigehiro Irie and MAO shook hands to show that their problems are in the past and they can work together. Jun Kasai announced he created a new move and it is punching MAO a lot. MAO took a beating from Akito, Daisuke Sekimoto & Kasai but toughed it out so Yasufumi Nakanoue & Irie could come for the rescue. Akito then got singled out and fell to the trademark moves of his opponents.

Non-Tournament 8-Man Tag Match

The buffer match after Round 1 brought together a mixture of wrestlers from across the indies. DDT & Big Japan were represented by their young generation of Takuho Kato, Kosuke Sato, Hideki Okatani & Yuki Ishida. Their opponents were MUSASHI from Michinoku Pro, Daisuke Kanehira from HEAT-UP, Takafumi from ZERO1 & Tatsuya Hanami from 2AW. In the end MUSASHI picked up the win by making Ishida submit.

Shuffle 6-Man Tag Tournament – Semi Final

Three Brothers Kawaii Vs LEFTOVERS

The semi-finals had a tense start when Hashimoto and HARASHIMA declined to shake the other team’s hands. Fujita and Mashimo had a back and forth that ended with Fujita asking for a handshake only to get attacked. HARAHSIMA and Nomura got into a spirited kick-off and Fujita almost pinned Mashimo with the SAYONARA. The tables were turned when Fujita was hit with a Triple Super Kick and Mashimo pinned him with the Vertical Drop Brainbuster.

Deadlifters Vs Ugo Association

Kamen was targeted as the weak link in this match. While Takeshita & Okabayashi cancelled out Nakanoue & Irie the dying moments of the match fell down to Kamen and MAO. Kamen was caught in the Clothespin submission but held out for the last 30 seconds so the match could end in a draw. When Sudden Death began Kamen was quickly given more big blows but when MAO attempted La Magistral Cradle, Kamen blocked it and stole the win with the 1 Count fall.

3 Way Tag Match

The other non-tournament match brought the show back to weird territory. Danshoku Dieno jumped into the Hell Gate position, Kazuki Hirata started dancing, Kankuro Hoshino vanished to be replaced by Kenshiro Hoshino, then Abdullah Kobayashi disappeared and Stan Kobayashi took his place. To cap it all off, Jaki Numazawa left and returned as RoboCop! Antonio Honda was ready to finish the match but tripped and injured his knee. Kobayashi ended up using Dieno’s backside to charge up his Lariat arm and pin Honda with the Bakachinga Elbow.

Shuffle 6-Man Tag Tournament – Final

LEFTOVERS Vs Deadlifters

Poor old Kuishinbo Kamen has never won a tournament in his career. His run of luck in these things is so bad that back in Osaka Pro it was a known flaw that he would get eliminated early in their annual tournaments. By making it to the final, today could have finally been his day. Sadly it just wasn’t to be. He brought out some fun antics at the beginning but was there to win with his partners as the match heated up. Okabayashi floored HARASHIMA with a Lariat and Takeshita wiped out Hashimoto & Mashimo with a Topé. But HARASHIMA regained control of the match against Kamen and pinned him with the Somato to win the final.

The tournament winners celebrated and HARASHIMA said he felt good fortunes with his team this year. They were all the last people picked in the lottery draft which is why they called themselves LEFTOVERS in the first place. Hashimoto agreed and thinks it is a sign that the new year will be good to them. He’d like LEFTOVERS to team together for next year’s Shuffle Tag show but doesn’t know if that will happen. Mashimo credited all of the wrestlers involved for making today and exciting tournament and he invited all of them out for a group photo to end the show.

Japan Indie Grand Prix Awards 2021

MVP

1. Konosuke Takeshita
2. Takuya Nomura
3. Drew Parker
4. Takumi Tsukamoto
5. Jun Kasai

Best Bout

1. Takuya Nomura Vs Daisuke Sekimoto (Big Japan, 18th October)
2. The Great Sasuke Vs Jinsei Shinzaki (Michinoku Pro, 4th June)
3. Jun Akiyama Vs Konosuke Takeshita (DDT, 21st August)
4. HARASHIMA Vs Yuji Okabayashi (DDT, 21st November)
5. Tetsu Inada Vs Shota Okamura (Hiragana Muscle, 1st September)

Best Unit

1. Pheromones
2. Astronauts
3. Speed Of Sounds
4. The 37KAMIINA
5. E.R.E

Best Box Office

1. Hiragana Muscle @ Korakuen Hall, 1st September
2. DDT @ Fujitsu Stadium Kawasaki, 21st August
3. CyberFight Festival @ Saitama Super Arena, 6th June
4. Big Japan @ Sapporo Chateraise Gateaux Kingdom, 20th September
5. Masahiro Takanashi Produce @ Shinjuku FACE, 1st August

Best Newcomer

1. Drew Parker
2. Tomoya Hirata
3. Yumehito Imanari
4. Tetsu Inada
5. Kosuke Sato