DDT “JUDGEMENT 2024 TOUR IN SHINJUKU”, 06/03/2024 Shinjuku FACE
1. Chris Brookes & Ilusion Vs To-y & Yuni
2. Special Tag Match: Makoto Oishi & Shishamo Power Vs Yoshitatsu & Antonio Honda
3. Kazuki Hirata Debut 14th Anniversary Vol. 1 ~ Special Single Match: Danshoku Dieno Vs Kazuki Hirata
4. Jun Akiyama, Kazusada Higuchi & Soma Takao Vs Daisuke Sasaki, KANON & MJ Paul
5. Special 6-Man Tag Match ~ DDT Vs AJPW: Tetsuya Endo, Yuki Iino & Tomomitsu Matsunaga Vs Ryuki Honda, Yuma Anzai & Ryo Inoue
6. Road To Judgement 2024! Special 6-Man Tag Match: Yuki Ueno, MAO & Shunma Katsumata Vs HARASHIMA, Takeshi Masada & Hideki Okatani
Both Yukio Naya and Rukiya are still out sick with the flu. Tomomitsu Matsunaga replaces Rukiya in the DDT Vs AJPW match, Soma Takao moves up to Naya’s spot in Match #4 and Yuni has been added to the opening bout.
A contract signing for the upcoming DDT Extreme Title match between Shunma Katsumata and Hideki Okatani will be held before the show.
BASARA “BASARA 243 ~TAKAGARI 23~”, 09/03/2024 Tokyo Takashimadaira Kumin Center
1. SAGAT Vs Munetatsu Nakamura
2. Daichi Kazato Vs Tsutomu Oosugi
3. Takumi Tsukamoto & Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi Vs Takato Nakano & Masato Kamino
4. KUBITO & Yasu Urano Vs Gouma Ryu & Banana Senga
5. Isami Kodaka, Ryuichi Sekine & Minoru Fujita Vs FUMA, Ryota Nakatsu & Fuminori Abe
Lil’ Kraken has also caught the flu and cannot wrestle this weekend. Munetatsu Nakamura will now face SAGAT and SAGAT’s place in the semi-main event has been filled in by Gouma Ryu.
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW LIVE TOUR 2024 SPRING”, 10/03/2024 Tokyo Itabashi Green Hall
1. Toga Vs Chika Nanase
2. Mizuki Vs Uta Takami
3. Yuki Aino Vs Kira Summer
4. Nao Kakuta & Haru Kazashiro Vs Mahiro Kiryu & HIMAWARI
5. Rika Tatsumi, Miu Watanabe & Shino Suzuki Vs Hyper Misao, Raku & Pom Harajuku
6. Yuki Kamifuku Vs Wakana Uehara
7. Miyu Yamashita, Moka Miyamoto & Kaya Toribami Vs Shoko Nakajima, Suzume & Arisu Endo
It’s been two years since the last Tokyo Joshi Pro show at Itabashi Green Hall. Even then they only had one show there that year and it was a fan club event. They have a number of wrestlers now who will wrestle in the venue for the first time.
BASARA “BASARA 244 ~UTAGE~”, 19/03/2024 Shin-Kiba 1st RING
1. Union MAX Title: Minoru Fujita (c) Vs Masato Kamino
The Union MAX Title match between Minoru Fujita and Masato Kamino is now confirmed to happen on 19th March. Kazusada Higuchi will also be on the show so maybe there will be an Iron Fist Tag Team Titles match too.
GANBARE☆PRO “GANPRO 2024 TRUE BLUE”, 20/03/2024 Tokyo Takashimadaira Kumin Center
1. Yoshiko Hasegawa Vs Riara
2. Yuna Manase & HARUKAZE Vs YuuRI & Banny Oikawa
3. Ken Ohka, Mizuki Watase & Munetatsu Nakamura Vs Yumehito Imanari, Tyson Maeguchi & Hartley Jackson
4. Special Tag Match: Keisuke Ishii & Shinichiro Tominaga Vs Makoto Oishi & Shiori Asahi
5. Spirit Of Ganbare World Tag Team Titles: Shuichiro Katsumura & Takuya Wada (c) Vs Shota & Soma Takao
Shiori Asahi is showing up in Ganbare☆Pro for the first time since 2017! He reunited with Makoto Oishi back then for a match against Shinichiro Tominaga that was built around Tominaga’s loose history with K-DOJO. The match is happening again except this time Tominaga is teaming with Keisuke Ishii.
With Yoshiko Hasegawa and Riara both leaving GanPro soon they get a chance to wrestle each other while still part of the Ganbare☆Joshi division.
GANBARE☆PRO “TONIGHT ON THE HILL WHERE YOU CAN SEE THE MOON 2024”, 28/03/2024 Tokyo Ueno Park Outdoor Stage
1. Yuna Manase & Banny Oikawa Vs Yoshiko Hasegawa & Riara
2. Hartley Jackson & HARUKAZE Vs Choun-Shiryu & YuuRI
3. GanPro’s Famous Survival 8-Man Tag Match: Ken Ohka & Shuichiro Katsumura Vs Takuya Wada & Mizuki Watase Vs Keisuke Ishii & Yumehito Imanari Vs Tyson Maeguchi & Kouki Iwasaki
4. Ueno Special 6-Man Tag Festival: Yuko Miyamoto, Isami Kodaka & Munetatsu Nakamura Vs Shota, Soma Takao & Shinichiro Tominaga
Also returning for a GanPro appearance soon is Kouki Iwasaki! He left the promotion at the end of 2022 to go freelance. This will be his first match in GanPro since back then.
Hartley Jackson & HARUKAZE teaming up again means it’s the return of the Lethal Weapon tag team!
The final GanPro match for both Hasegawa & Riara will be a tag match against Yuna Manase & Banny Oikawa.
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “GRAND PRINCESS ’24”, 31/03/2024 Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan
1. Ami Yumoto Debut Match: Nao Kakuta & Ami Yumoto Vs X & X
2. Aja Kong & Max The Impaler Vs Shoko Nakajima & Hyper Misao
3. Special Single Match: Minoru Suzuki Vs Maki Itoh
4. International Princess Title: Yuki Arai (c) Vs Yuki Kamifuku
5. Princess Tag Team Titles: Ryo Mizunami & Yuki Aino (c) Vs Suzume & Arisu Endo
6. Princess Of Princess Title: Miyu Yamashita (c) Vs Miu Watanabe
So let’s get this straight. Yuka Sakazaki graduated from TJPW in December, hasn’t wrestled a match anywhere else since for whatever reason and is now going to make a special appearance to compete at “GRAND PRINCESS ’24”? Yeah, beats me what’s going on or what she will do there. Mizuki wants to team with her again and is scared over the idea it won’t happen. Sakazaki helped train Juria Nagano so she can say goodbye to her there. What if Sakazaki wants to get in the ring with Masha Slamovich again? Or maybe she wants to fight Andreza Giant Panda while she still has the chance.
BAKA GAIJIN + FRIENDS “VOL. TWELVE: TEEN AGE RIOT”, 27/02/2024 Tokyo ARENA Shimokitazawa
No matches have been announced yet for tomorrow’s Baka Gaijin + Friends show. All that has been advertised is Chris Brookes, Masahiro Takanashi, MAO and Mad Dr. Ueki are all scheduled to appear.
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW LIVE TOUR 2024 SPRING”, 03/03/2024 Shinjuku FACE
1. 3 Way Match: Suzume Vs Mahiro Kiryu Vs Kaya Toribami
2. Uta Debut Match: Miu Watanabe & Uta Vs Raku & Shino Suzuki
3. Kirra Debut Match: Nao Kakuta & Kirra Vs Arisu Endo & Chika Nanase
4. Rika Tatsumi Vs Haru Kazashiro
5. Shoko Nakajima & Hyper Misao Vs Yuki Kamifuku & Pom Harajuku
6. Miyu Yamashita & Moka Miyamoto Vs Wakana Uehara & Toga
7. Ryo Mizunami & Yuki Aino Vs Mizuki & HIMAWARI
This show is a happening a few days before the first anniversary of Toga’s debut match against Miyu Yamashita. So they get to be on opposite sides of the ring again to celebrate it.
The debuts of Uta and Kirra are coming up this Sunday. We’ll likely get their official ring names in the next few days. Uta’s debut puts her in the ring with the rest of the active Up Up Girls. Kirra’s first match also involved Chika Nanase who only just debuted over the weekend.
BASARA “BASARA 243 ~TAKAGARI 23~”, 09/03/2024 Tokyo Takashimadaira Kumin Center
1. Lil’ Kraken Vs Munetatsu Nakamura
2. Daichi Kazato Vs Tsutomu Oosugi
3. Takumi Tsukamoto & Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi Vs Takato Nakano & Masato Kamino
4. KUBITO & Yasu Urano Vs SAGAT & Banana Senga
5. Isami Kodaka, Ryuichi Sekine & Minoru Fujita Vs FUMA, Ryota Nakatsu & Fuminori Abe
Masato Kamino has stepped forward wanting to be Minoru Fujita’s next opponent for the Union MAX Title. The challenge was accepted but is not happening just yet.
DDT “JUDGEMENT 2024 ~27TH ANNIVERSARY 5 HOUR SPECIAL~”, 17/03/2024 Tokyo Korakuen Hall
1. “Intern Wrestler” Tsubasa Suzuki Debut Match: Soma Takao Vs Tsubasa Suzuki
2. Yuya Koroku Return Match: To-y, Ilusion & Rukiya Vs Yuni, Yuya Koroku & Kazuma Sumi
3. Toru Owashi & Gorgeous Matsuno Vs Akito & Shinichiro Kawamatsu
4. SCHADENFREUDE International Vs DAMNATION T.A!: Chris Brookes, Masahiro Takanashi & Antonio Honda Vs Daisuke Sasaki, KANON & MJ Paul
5. Special Tag Match: Kazusada Higuchi & Yukio Naya Vs Shuji Ishikawa & Yoshitatsu
6. Special Single Match: Sanshiro Takagi Vs Ken Ohka
7. Special Single Match: KONOSUKE TAKESHITA Vs Yuma Aoyagi
8. KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles – Belt Contra Dissolution: Jun Akiyama, Danshoku Dieno & Makoto Oishi (c) Vs Kazuki Hirata, Naruki Doi & Shinya Aoki
9. KO-D Tag Team Titles: Tetsuya Endo & Yuki Iino (c) Vs Ryuki Honda & Yuma Anzai
10. DDT Extreme Title: Shunma Katsumata (c) Vs Hideki Okatani
11. DDT Universal Title: MAO (c) Vs Takeshi Masada
12. KO-D Openweight Title: Yuki Ueno (c) Vs HARASHIMA
The 27th Anniversary of DDT’s first show contains 12 matches so they will not overrun the 5 hour timeslot in Korakuen Hall this time. The DDT Universal Title is up for grabs as well as who will get to defend that championship in American this April. MAO believes he is now the greatest DDT Universal Champion ever and wanted his next defence to be at the Philadelphia show. However Takeshi Masada really wants to be in the same position and wanted to challenge MAO before then so he can take that spot instead. MAO only wants to be challenge by wrestlers he thinks can be trusted with the Universal Title. He doesn’t believe Masada is at that level yet but the audience support for the challenger convinced MAO to give him the chance.
The newest unit in DDT could quickly become champions before we know it. Zuncha♪Muscle Survivor will now face D.O.A for the KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles after Naruki Doi pinned Makoto Oishi yesterday. Just like with D.O.A’s previous defences, high stakes must be on the line for both teams. Doi decided that if his team loses then they will split up. That sounds like a serious stipulation until you find out Doi does not want to be part of Kazuki Hirata’s new unit so he isn’t going to lose any sleep if they lose and never have to team up again.
Shuji Ishikawa returns to DDT for the first time since last July. He is coming off of a bad split with All Japan and now has new responsibilities as the GM of Evolution Joshi. So if this is his only DDT appearance for the year I’ll take it.
The Intern Wrestler Tsubasa Suzuki gets Soma Takao for his first match.
GANBARE☆PRO “GANPRO 2024 TRUE BLUE”, 20/03/2024 Tokyo Takashimadaira Kumin Center
1. Spirit Of Ganbare World Tag Team Titles: Shuichiro Katsumura & Takuya Wada (c) Vs Shota & Soma Takao
Right before Shota leaves Ganbare☆Pro to go freelance he & Soma Takao are getting what could be their final shot at the Spirit Of Ganbare Tag Team Titles. It is a championship that ROMANCE DAWN has never won. Shota would love to claim it and defend it wherever he goes next. GROUND ABSOLUTE will try and stop that because Shuichiro Katsumura isn’t looking to lose either of his championships anytime soon.
DDT “APRIL FOOL 2024”, 07/04/2024 Tokyo Korakuen Hall
1. Special Single Match: Shinya Aoki Vs Chihiro Hashimoto
2. Dramatic Dream Tag Match: Yuki Ueno & MAO Vs Zack Sabre Jr. & Chris Brookes
A big surprise was dropped in DDT yesterday when Chris Brookes invited his friend Zack Sabre Jr. to come over for a match. Sabre has a few DDT tapes in his collection back home so the place was always on his bucket list. Sadly his hopes of fighting Yoshihiko or the Ladder aren’t possible at the moment so he identified DDT’s two strongest singles champions as wrestlers he would like to fight. Yuki Ueno & MAO are just as excited to do the match as Sabre & Brookes are.
There is also going to be a rematch from a DDT bout that took place at Tokyo Dome City Hall in December 2022. On that night Chihiro Hashimoto beat Shinya Aoki clean and Aoki wants to avenge that loss to her. He expects the rematch to be as dramatic as sumo wrestler Shinichi Suzukawa’s return from injury was!
DDT “DDT X ZEEKSTAR TOKYO SPECIAL PERFORMANCE ~ DDZT”, 26/04/2024 Tokyo Sumida Ward General Gymnasium
1. KO-D Openweight Title: Yuki Ueno (c) Vs X
The next KO-D Title defence after the 27th Anniversary show will be in April at a DDT collaborative show with the Zeekstar Tokyo handball team. Either Ueno or HARASHIMA will be the defending champion.
DDT “INTO THE FIGHT 2024”, 25/02/2024 Tokyo Korakuen Hall 1,600 Fans – Super No Vacancy Full House
1. Chris Brookes, Masahiro Takanashi & Antonio Honda defeated Yuki Iino, Yuni & Ilusion when Brookes pinned Yuni with the Our Love Letter (8:48).
2. Daisuke Sasaki & KANON defeated Akito & Soma Takao when KANON pinned Takao after the Freedom Call (8:24).
3. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Kazuki Hirata, Naruki Doi & Shinya Aoki defeated Danshoku Dieno, Makoto Oishi & Toru Owashi when Doi pinned Oishi with a Crucifix Pin (9:05).
4. Special Single Match: To-y defeated MJ Paul with a School Boy (7:12).
5. Kazusada Higuchi & Yoshitatsu defeated Yukio Naya & Rukiya when Higuchi pinned Rukiya with the Brain Claw Slam (10:58).
6. DDT Universal Title: MAO (c) defeated Hikaru Machida with the Michinoku Driver II (14:27). *V5 for MAO.
7. Kaisei Takechi Debut Match ~ Special 6-Man Tag Match: Yuki Ueno, Shunma Katsumata & Kaisei Takechi defeated Tetsuya Endo, Hideki Okatani & Takeshi Masada when Ueno pinned Okatani with the BME (20:19).
Today’s DDT show was a little bit different than usual. The big attraction was the debut pro wrestling match of Kaisei Takechi, a member of a famous dance group in Japan called THE RAMPAGE, which itself is part of an entertainment collective called EXILE TRIBE. In 2022 Takechi took a role on a TV drama about wrestling called Fukumen D. That show featured involvement from DDT (represented on the show as a fictional company called BBT, Brave Battle Truth) and it led to the two sides coming up with this deal. The hype behind today’s debut led to best business DDT’s had at Korakuen Hall in years. Tickets had been sold out for weeks thanks to THE RAMPAGE fanbase buying them up to see Takechi’s big performance.
For the main event Takechi wanted to team with Yuki Ueno, the reigning KO-D Openweight Champion who coached him during training. He also wanted to be in the ring against wrestlers his own age so DDT decided the match would be Ueno, Shunma Katsumata & Takechi against Tetsuya Endo, Hideki Okatani & Takeshi Masada. These are all wrestlers considered by DDT to be part of the same generation. Takechi got to get time fighting each one of his three opponents during the match. He also got moments to do double team moves with his tag partners. He was able to land a Diving Cross Body to Endo and slam Masada with a Full Nelson Buster. The finish however came down to Ueno pinning Okatani with the Best Moonsault Ever.
With his team declared the winners, Takechi loudly proclaimed after the match that pro wrestling is the best! He said the power of everyone who came to support him is amazing and inspired him to do even better. There is still a lot he would like to do inside the ring so if he ever gets another chance he will take it. He didn’t appreciate how Okatani treated him during the match so he would like to fight him again. There are 15 other members of THE RAMPAGE so he hopes any of the DDT Fans who are impressed with him will take up an interest in following the group. The same goes for any of THE RAMPAGE’s fans if they liked what they saw from DDT today. Ueno teased that perhaps one day Takechi will fight him for the KO-D Title but he’ll have to work a little harder to get there. So this might not be the last we will see of Kaisei Takechi in DDT!
MAO’s adventure with the DDT Universal Title took him over to fight against a high level kickboxer. Hikaru Machida. The two had unfinished business over a KO-D Tag Team Titles defence one year ago and Machida was looking to avenge losing that match. A battle of strikes broke out and then the two fought outside the ring over by one of Korakuen’s staircases. Machida hit his patented Iai Punch but MAO reached for the ropes to avoid getting pinned. MAO then used a Stunner to break out of the strikes and pinned Machida with the Michinoku Driver II to win.
MAO was full of praise for Machida and then called himself the best DDT Universal Champion ever. He announced his plans to defend the title at “DDT GOES PHILADELPHIA!” in America on 4th April. However Takeshi Masada suddenly entered the ring with his own idea. He wants to win the title from MAO before they go to America so Masada will be the champion in Philadelphia. MAO told Masada he only has one rule for this championship. He only wants challengers he feels comfortable entrusting the title with should they beat him for it. He thinks that is too high of a hurdle for Masada to climb but if the fans want to see the match, he will agree to do it at DDT’s 27th Anniversary show on 17th March.
Today is Rukiya’s 23rd birthday so he was eager to do his best in his tag match. Yoshitatsu patronised him by giving him a pat on the head and rubbing his hair. Yukio Naya played his part to keep Rukiya in the fight. He hit Kazusada Higuchi with a Knee Lift so Rukiya could then do the Proto Bomb but Yoshitatsu made it in to break the pin. Naya then had to break the pin when Higuchi gave Rukiya the Doctor Bomb. Rukiya used what energy he had left to throw Elbow Strikes until Higuchi knocked him down with a Lariat and pinned him with the Brain Claw Slam.
To-y was supposed to take on HARASHIMA but unfortunately the match was cancelled because HARASHIMA tested positive for covid over the weekend. MJ Paul became To-y’s new opponent and he attacked him with a chair outside the ring. To-y rebounded and had Paul on the ropes when the rest of DAMNATION T.A decided to interfere. Thankfully To-y had Katsumata in his corner and he stopped KANON from doing a chair attack. To-y then rolled up Paul with a School Boy during the chaos and got the 3 count for the upset victory.
While Jun Akiyama was away in America this weekend wrestling in AEW, the other two members of D.O.A teamed with Toru Owashi to take on Kazuki Hirata’s new unit. Zuncha♪Muscle Survivor’s first match together was a successful one and it was a win against two-thirds of the KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Champions! The non-wrestling fans in Korakuen were given an eyeful thanks to Danshoku Dieno pulling the back of his tights down and laying himself over the top turnbuckle. Even Toru Owashi went above expectations by using the Lip Lock on Naruki Doi. A lot of wrestlers got their faces pressed against Dieno’s butt until Doi trapped Makoto Oishi with a Crucifix Pin to win the match.
Doi admitted it is shocking that Zuncha♪Muscle Survivor won their first match and it ended with him pinning a champion. That means they should get the next shot at the KO-D 6-Man Tag Titles! Oishi argued that he is the weakest wrestler in DDT so Doi shouldn’t be proud of the result. Doi disagreed because Hirata is the weakest. Oishi won’t accept the challenge unless the other team puts something on the line. Doi suggested his team put their hair on the line but Oishi refused because they all have short cuts. Oishi then offered to disband Zuncha♪Muscle Survivor if they lose. Oishi thinks that idea is too much but Doi said he would be happy with either winning the titles or breaking up the team he doesn’t even want to be part of. The challenge was accepted and will take place on 17th March. Later backstage Shinya Aoki made demands for a rematch with Chihiro Hashimoto. He lost to Hashimoto on a DDT show at the end of December 2022 and wants revenge! DDT later announced that match will go ahead at the 7th April Korakuen show.
DAMNATION T.A also used a chair as a weapon to help set up their win against Akito & Soma Takao. After a ref bump, Daisuke Sasaki kicked Takao below the belt and then hit both opponents with the chair. Then Sasaki & KANON gave Takao the Freedom Call for the tainted win.
SCHADENFREUDE International found a convoluted way to win the opening match. But before that happened Antonio Honda got to tell his latest Gongitsune joke and engage in a twisted nipple battle with Yuki Iino. Later Chris Brookes & Masahiro Takanashi physically manipulated Yuni & Ilusion into doing a Rolling Cradle on each other. CDK then piled on top of them to score the pinfall.
After the match Brookes told the fans he had a present for them and it is a dramatic dream that involves a friend of his. Out walked Zack Sabre Jr. from New Japan down to the ring! He is here because he wants to have a match in DDT! Brookes asked him who he would like to face. Sabre said Yoshihiko and the Ladder. Unfortunately Yoshihiko’s asking price is too high and the Ladder he’s thinking of has been retired for years. Sabre then said he would like to fight two champions so how about Yuki Ueno & MAO? Brookes can even team with him so it can be a tag match! Ueno & MAO heard the challenge and came down to the ring to accept it. It will happen on the 7th April Korakuen show.
DDT announced the next KO-D Title match after 17th March will be at Sumida Ward General Gymnasium on 26th April. Also Konosuke Takeshita will appear at “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2024” at Sumo Hall on 21st July.
Yesterday DDT announced they terminated the contract of their ring announcer Ken Kato. Their reasoning was Kato made inappropriate comments on social media and showed no remorse over them when was given a stern warning. DDT then fired him because his behaviour was seen as a breach of contract. The weird thing about this story is very few people online seem to know what it was Kato did to get into trouble. His profile is already scrubbed from the DDT site and his Twitter account is gone. There is a streaming site he also has an account with but nobody outside the company has been able to find out what he did or where it happened. Whatever it was, DDT does not condone it and are putting changes in place for their wrestlers and staff to avoid this from happening again.
DDT “INTO THE FIGHT 2024 TOUR IN YOKOHAMA”, 23/02/2024 Yokohama Radiant Hall
1. Tetsuya Endo & Yuki Iino Vs Kazusada Higuchu & Makoto Oishi
2. Daisuke Sasaki & KANON Vs MAO & Kazuki Hirata
3. Danshoku Dieno Vs Rukiya
4. Special Single Match: Yoshitatsu Vs Soma Takao
5. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Yuki Ueno, Shunma Katsumata & To-y Vs HARASHIMA, Yukio Naya & Hideki Okatani
6. KO-D 10-Man Tag Team Titles: Chris Brookes, Masahiro Takanashi, Antonio Honda, Takeshi Masada & Mecha Mummy (c) Vs Maya Yukihi, Ram Kaichow, Rina Yamashita, Sanshiro Takagi & Akito
Kazuma Sumi suffered a left knee injury during the week and has been taken off this weekend’s shows as a precaution. Makoto Oishi replaces him on Friday’s show in Yokohama.
DDT “INTO THE FIGHT 2024”, 25/02/2024 Tokyo Korakuen Hall
1. Chris Brookes, Masahiro Takanashi & Antonio Honda Vs Yuki Iino, Yuni & Ilusion
2. Daisuke Sasaki & KANON (w/ MJ Paul) Vs Akito & Soma Takao
3. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Danshoku Dieno, Makoto Oishi & Toru Owashi Vs Kazuki Hirata, Naruki Doi & Shinya Aoki
4. Kazusada Higuchi & Yoshitatsu Vs Yukio Naya & Rukiya
5. Special Single Match: HARASHIMA Vs To-y
6. DDT Universal Title: MAO (c) Vs Hikaru Machida
7. Kaisei Takechi Debut Match ~ Special 6-Man Tag Match: Yuki Ueno, Shunma Katsumata & Kaisei Takechi Vs Tetsuya Endo, Hideki Okatani & Takeshi Masada
Then on Sunday’s show Ilusion is filling in for Sumi.
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “GRAND PRINCESS ’24”, 31/03/2024 Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan
1. Aja Kong & Max The Impaler Vs Shoko Nakajima & Hyper Misao
2. Special Single Match: Minoru Suzuki Vs Maki Itoh
3. International Princess Title: Yuki Arai (c) Vs Yuki Kamifuku
4. Princess Tag Team Titles: Ryo Mizunami & Yuki Aino (c) Vs Suzume & Arisu Endo
5. Princess Of Princess Title: Miyu Yamashita (c) Vs Miu Watanabe
Today Maki Itoh visited the Piledriver clothing shop in Harajuku hoping to see Minoru Suzuki. The reason for this was so Itoh could ask Suzuki to team up with her at “GRAND PRINCESS ’24”. Her selling point was the cutest person in the world joining forces with the worst personality in the world again. They have been on the same team once before in DDT back in December 2022. It created buzz back then and still gets attention today so Itoh wanted to team with Suzuki again. However Suzuki came up with an even more buzzworthy idea. He and Itoh should fight each other on the show in a singles match! Itoh was left speechless by the suggestion but regained her composure and accepted the challenge. She promised to end Suzuki’s legendary career in Sumo Hall! Suzuki shrugged her off, telling Itoh her wrestling career is the size of his little finger by comparison.
DDT “NEPPA OVER FLOWERS 3 ~TOTONOI TO YOU~”, 14/02/2024 Shinjuku FACE 500 Fans – Super No Vacancy Full House
1. Hideki Okatani, Yuni & Ilusion defeated Takeshi Masada, Kazuma Sumi & Rukiya when Okatani pinned Rukiya with the Double Arm Suplex (5:47).
2. Yakushiyu Presents ~DDT Sauna Club Vs DDT Public Bath Club~: Kazusada Higuchi & Makoto Oishi defeated Kazuki Hirata & Naya Tonttu when Oishi pinned Hirata with the Jikiden Tornado Clutch (8:17).
3. Aqua Yu-kari Presents ~Shunma Katsumata’s Sauna Room~: Shunma Katsumata Vs Kuroshio TOKYO Japan ended in a Draw after a Double Backslide Pin (9:45).
4. SeaSaunaShack Presents ~Mao Inoue’s Sauna Room~ – Ring-Out 3-Count Match: MAO defeated Chris Brookes by Countout (13:46).
5. Hokuoh Presents ~Toy Kojima’s Sauna Room~: Masato Tanaka defeated To-y with the Sliding D (13:22).
6. KO-D Openweight Title ~Naniwa Kenko Land-Yu Presents Yuki Ueno’s Sauna Room~: Yuki Ueno (c) defeated Danshoku Dieno with a Dropkick (32:38). *V2 for Yuki Ueno.
The entirety of Shinjuku FACE was taken over by The 37KAMIINA for their third annual self produced show. However in the main even the crowd was behind Danshoku Dieno rather than Yuki Ueno for the KO-D Openweight Title match. To be fair Dieno did bring his pet dog Haku with him to the ring and everybody loves him so Ueno knew what he was in for. This could likely be Dieno’s last chance at fighting for the KO-D Title and he fought like it was. He used the Gaydo Clutch, the Canadian Destroyer version of the Danshoku Driver and the Moonsault. However Ueno used one of Dieno’s own tricks against him by giving him the Lip Lock followed by a rush of attacks. Dieno did hit best to keep fighting but a well placed Dropkick to the face put him down for the count. Ueno thanked Dieno for facing him today and showing so much heart. He remembers hearing Dieno say if he won the title today it would have changed his life. According to Ueno his own life changed a long time ago when he discovered DDT and met Dieno. He encouraged Dieno to keep sticking a middle finger up to others and continue to be his rival. Dieno said he has mixed feelings right now but he thinks DDT is really fun. He’ll get his own back by making Haku attract all the fans away from Ueno at the merch table after the show!
HARASHIMA then praised Ueno for a great match and called him the current ace of DDT. He is turning 50 years old later this year and when he took part in Yukio Sakaguchi’s retirement match HARASHIMA realized something. He wants to become KO-D Champion again by any means necessary because he is the undisputed ace of DDT! Ueno spoke about admiring HARASHIMA growing up but he is not like that anymore. He will take on HARASHIMA as the champion and surpass him as DDT’s undisputed ace! The title bout will take place at DDT’s 27th Anniversary show in Korakuen Hall on 17th March.
Forget the name Toy Kojima because he is now called To-y! The announcement was put out on short notice but he later explained online that his parents were fans of the manga artist Atsushi Kamijo and a series he made called “To-y”. They loved it so much that he was named Toi/Toy for that reason. So he decided to change his ring name to To-y starting today. For his first match under his new moniker, To-y took on Masato Tanaka. He got a nearfall with the Kojima In Wonderland (not sure if that name will change) but Tanaka won in the end using the Sliding D. To-y took the loss in his stride and said he will continue to evolve and move forward. Tanaka admitted he is jealous of him because To-y is currently one-half of the All Asia Tag Team Champions. Tanaka has never held an All Japan championship in his illustrious career.
On the day when Josh Barnett announced his plans to bring Bloodsport to Japan, DDT just so happened to use the same match environment for their own warped ideas. MAO and Chris Brookes already agreed to make their match reduce countouts down to three seconds but nobody expected the ring ropes to be removed too. It made things clear that both were determined to win the match by Countout. Brookes relied on interference from Masahiro Takanashi and Takeshi Masada but MAO was able to fight off the numbers game and knock Brookes out of the ring for three seconds to win. MAO calls this rule a new era for pro wrestling. It just needs a stupid name to go with it. He came up with calling it the Shimokitazawa No-Rope Death Match.
Shunma Katsumata has lost his two previous singles matches against Kuroshio TOKYO Japan in DDT. He didn’t lose the third match but he didn’t win it either. Instead he and Kuroshio locked each other into a Double Backslide Pin and both got the three count, ending the match in a draw. They argued over the result until the match sponsor handed the prize over to both of them. They seemed happy to share the prize until Kuroshio ran off with it and Katsumata chased after him. If that’s not bad enough, Kuroshio said backstage he prefers baths to saunas.
A magical warrior was summoned to the surface when tensions grew between members of DDT’s sauna club and public bath club. Kazuki Hirata needed a partner to help him defend the sauna club’s honour so out came Naya Tonttu. Fighting against them were Kazusada Higuchi & Makoto Oishi. Both were armed with towels and permitted to use them against their opponents. Unfortunately Naya though the room was too cold and he left Hirata to fight by himself. He would return whenever the room warmed up but it wasn’t enough and Oishi pinned Hirata to win. However Oishi went too far after the match when he talked crap about saunas only to find out the match sponsor has a sauna too. Oishi was given a Choke Slam by Naya and everybody posed over his unconcious body.
Yuya Koroku announced he will return from injury on 17th March.
DDT “INTO THE FIGHT 2024 TOUR IN NAGOYA”, 12/02/2024 Aichi Nagoya City Higashi Sports Center 252 Fans – Super No Vacancy Full House
1. 3 Way Match: Shunma Katsumata defeated Kazuki Hirata and Toru Owashi when Katsumata pinned Hirata with a Backslide Pin (7:08).
2. Yuki Iino & Hideki Okatani defeated KANON & MJ Paul when Iino pinned Paul with the Low-Altitude Spear (10:32).
3. Nagoya Specialty Special 6-Man Tag Match: Sanshiro Takagi, Yoshitatsu & Yukio Naya defeated Lowther, Jack Kennedy & Kazuma Sumi when Yoshitatsu pinned Sumi with the This Is My WWE (12:07).
4. HARASHIMA & Kazusada Higuchi defeated Jun Akiyama & Rukiya when HARASHIMA pinned Rukiya with the Somato (12:08).
5. Special Single Match: Daisuke Sasaki defeated Makoto Oishi with the Crossover Face Lock (10:58).
6. Special Single Match: Tetsuya Endo defeated Akito with the Swivel Torture Rack Bomb (10:24).
7. The 37KAMIINA Vs SCHADENFREUDE International!: Yuki Ueno & MAO defeated Chris Brookes & Takeshi Masada when Ueno submitted Masada with the Twister (21:05).
Before the main event began MAO told Chris Brookes that the days of settling things in the ring are over. Today is the beginning of the era of outside the ring brawling! MAO showed what he meant by bringing out a kick scooter and using it to chase his opponents around ringside. Unfortunately the venue floor was covered in judo mats and MAO crashed his scooter by tripping over the edge of one. MAO then continued fighting with Brookes around the building including on top of a high pile of mats they found in a corner of the room. The two of them were at risk of getting counted out but the match was decided when Yuki Ueno used Cara Noir’s finisher the Blackout Sleeper on Takeshi Masada. Ueno then turned the move into the Twister hold to make Masada submit in the ring.
After the match MAO challenged Brookes to have their upcoming singles match on Wednesday take place completely outside of the ring! Brookes suggested the match should have a 30 count or even a 40 count for being outside. A fed up Yukinori Matsui told them a 10 count or even a 5 count is too long for them so they might as well make it a 3 count. MAO and Brookes both loved the idea and surprisingly agreed to it! Their match on Wednesday only needs 3 seconds outside the ring to make it end in a countout.
BURNING still has a misfiring problem. During Tetsuya Endo’s match with Akito the two of them fought on the ring apron with Yuki Iino standing nearby. Akito kicked Iino from the apron and lured him into a charge. Iino tried to swipe Akito’s legs with a Lariat but Akito hopped over him and Iino ended up clipping Endo by the feet instead. Endo recovered to beat Akito and he forgave Iino after the match. He figured out it was Akito’s strategy to make that happen so it wasn’t entirely Iino’s fault. Maybe it’s 30% or 40% his fault but that’s it. Endo’s solution is to have them switch things up so they can start building up momentum as the KO-D Tag Team Champions.
Yesterday Daisuke Sasaki declared he is moving on from the KO-D Tag Titles scene and will no longer lose any singles matches. He lived up to the claim by beating Makoto Oishi today but he still needed interference from KANON & MJ Paul to pull it off.
Yoshitatsu is one of Jack Kennedy’s mentors and praised him for fighting hard against Yukio Naya. He would like to face him again whether it is in DDT or anywhere else. Sanshiro Takagi said they should do that match in the Nagoya Dome!
DDT “INTO THE FIGHT 2024 TOUR IN SHINJUKU”, 07/02/2024 Shinjuku FACE
1. Kazuki Hirata & Danshoku Dieno Vs Chris Brookes & Masahiro Takanashi
2. Jun Akiyama, Yoshitatsu & Soma Takao Vs Toru Owashi, Akito & Kazuma Sumi
3. DDT Extreme Title Next Challenger Match – Hardcore Match: Hideki Okatani Vs MJ Paul
4. Special Tag Match ~ DDT Vs AJPW: Takeshi Masada & Rukiya Vs Ryuki Honda & Yuma Anzai
5. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Yuki Ueno, MAO & Shunma Katsumata Vs Kazusada Higuchi, Yukio Naya & Makoto Oishi
6. KO-D Tag Team Titles: Daisuke Sasaki & KANON (c) Vs Tetsuya Endo & Yuki Iino
7. Yukio Sakaguchi Retirement Match: Yukio Sakaguchi Vs HARASHIMA
Tomorrow we bid farewell to the wrestling career of Yukio Sakaguchi.
Yesterday Hideki Okatani put out a message asking for his match against MJ Paul to be turned into a Hardcore Match. Paul sent a letter via courier to the DDT office that was simply a large, bloody “OK” smeared on the page. Challenge accepted.
There will be contract signings for the upcoming KO-D Openweight Title and DDT Universal Title matches held before this show begins.
DDT “NEPPA OVER FLOWERS 3 ~TOTONOI TO YOU~”, 14/02/2024 Shinjuku FACE
1. Hideki Okatani, Yuni & Ilusion Vs Takeshi Masada, Kazuma Sumi & Rukiya
2. ~DDT Sauna Club Vs DDT Open Bath Club~: Kazuki Hirata & Naya Tonttu Vs Kazusada Higuchi & Makoto Oishi
3. ~Toy Kojima’s Sauna Room~: Toy Kojima Vs Masato Tanaka
4. ~Shunma Katsumata’s Sauna Room~: Shunma Katsumata Vs Kuroshio TOKYO Japan
5. ~Mao Inoue’s Sauna Room~: MAO Vs Chris Brookes
6. KO-D Openweight Title ~Yuki Ueno’s Sauna Room~: Yuki Ueno (c) Vs Danshoku Dieno
A conflict has suddenly broken out between the DDT Sauna Club and the DDT Open Bath Club. Although Kazuki Hirata declined to join The 37KAMIINA, he still gets to participate in the Sauna Club away from matches. While heading out to a riverbed one day Hirata confronted Kazusada Higuchi & Makoto Oishi from the Open Bath Club and an argument broke out between them. Hirata found himself outnumbered when all of a sudden somebody who looked like Yukio Naya showed up to protect him. That being is Naya Tonttu, the mythical guardian of the DDT Sauna Club! Hirata convinced him to team up against the Open Bath Club at The 37KAMIINA’s sold out show next week.
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “PRO WRESTLING WINTER FESTIVAL 2024 IN JOETSU DAY 1 – SHOKO NAKAJIMA IS BACK ~ NIIGATA HOMECOMING PERFORMANCE”, 17/02/2024 Niigata Dúo CEREZO
1. 3 Way Match: Mizuki Vs Raku Vs Shino Suzuki
2. Kaya Toribami Vs Haru Kazashiro
3. Rika Tatsumi Vs Zara Zakher
4. Yuki Aino & Pom Harajuku Vs Mahiro Kiryu & HIMAWARI
5. Suzume & Arisu Endo Vs Yuki Kamifuku & Toga
6. Miyu Yamashita Vs Wakana Uehara
7. Shoko Nakajima & Hyper Misao Vs Miu Watanabe & Moka Miyamoto
The homecoming show for Shoko Nakajima sees her team up with Hyper Misao as Kyoraku Kyomei again. They cannot get full revenge on Daydream for being eliminated from the Max Heart Tournament but they still get to fight Miu Watanabe. Teaming with her here is Moka Miyamoto.
A first time singles match between Miyu Yamashita and Wakana Uehara is on the show. Zara Zakher also continues her tour with a match against Rika Tatsumi.
DDT “INTO THE FIGHT 2024”, 25/02/2024 Tokyo Korakuen Hall
1. Chris Brookes, Masahiro Takanashi & Antonio Honda Vs Yuki Iino, Yuni & Kazuma Sumi
2. Daisuke Sasaki & KANON (w/ MJ Paul) Vs Akito & Soma Takao
3. Kazusada Higuchi & Yoshitatsu Vs Yukio Naya & Rukiya
4. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Danshoku Dieno, Makoto Oishi & Toru Owashi Vs Kazuki Hirata, Naruki Doi & X
5. Special Single Match: HARASHIMA Vs Toy Kojima
6. DDT Universal Title: MAO (c) Vs Hikaru Machida
7. Kaisei Takechi Debut Match ~ Special 6-Man Tag Match: Yuki Ueno, Shunma Katsumata & Kaisei Takechi Vs Tetsuya Endo, Hideki Okatani & Takeshi Masada
Kaisei Takechi is responsible for selling out the show so no question he gets the main event slot.
So it looks like Hirata got Naruki Doi on board to join his new unit. He isn’t the only one though because Hirata is teasing another addition will be revealed at Korakuen Hall. Is he going for something Dragon System flavored as the unit’s theme I wonder?
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “GRAND PRINCESS ’24”, 31/03/2024 Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan
1. Princess Of Princess Title: Miyu Yamashita (c) Vs Miu Watanabe
DDT “INTO THE FIGHT 2024 TOUR IN NAGANO”, 04/02/2024 Nagano Act Hall 220 Fans – No Vacancy
1. Hideki Okatani defeated Rukiya with a Modified Neck Lock (10:00).
2. Sanshiro Takagi, Yoshitatsu & Yukio Naya defeated Chris Brookes, Takeshi Masada & Kazuma Sumi when Yoshitatsu pinned Sumi with the This Is My WWE (10:10).
3. Daisuke Sasaki & KANON defeated Yuki Iino & Akito when Sasaki submitted Akito with the Crossface Lock (17:22).
4. Special Tag Match: Yukio Sakaguchi & Antonio Honda defeated Kazuki Hirata & Kazusada Higuchi when Sakaguchi pinned Hirata with the God’s Right Knee (17:21).
5. Nagano Specialty Special 6-Man Tag Match: Jun Akiyama, Toru Owashi & Akihiro defeated Danshoku Dieno, Makoto Oishi & Tetsuya Endo when Akihiro pinned Oishi with the Reincarnation (15:29).
6. Special Tag Match: Yuki Ueno & Shunma Katsumata defeated HARASHIMA & Soma Takao when Ueno pinned Takao with the BME (17:51)
Yuki Ueno & Shunma Katsumata used today’s main event to show their intent that The 37KAMIINA are at the center of DDT right now. Katsumata did a dive off of the entrance gate onto their opponents and did another dive out of the ring to wipe out HARASHIMA. Ueno went on to pin Soma Takao with the BME. They told the Nagano fans that they will have even more championship belts with them the next time they come back here. Backstage Ueno hyped up his KO-D Openweight Title defence against Danshoku Dieno while Katsumata promised to finally beat Kuroshio TOKYO Japan at the same show on 14th February. Ueno said he cannot be the kind of KO-D Champion that Dieno, HARASHIMA or Konosuke Takeshita all were but he will stand across the ring from Dieno as his own type of great champion.
The “Hero Of Nagano” Toru Owashi (who admitted he isn’t actually local because his hometown Saku City is a fair distance away from Nagano Act Hall) was in the semi-main event but may of had his spotlight stolen by Akihiro. It was Akihiro who scored the pin by doing its Reincarnation finisher on Makoto Oishi. Meanwhile Jun Akiyama was more concerned about avoiding his face being pressed into Dieno’s backside. That is what happened to Tetsuya Endo when Akihiro gave him a Top Rope Frankensteiner across the ring.
It’s only a few more days until Yukio Sakaguchi’s retirement match to today he wanted to do something a little bit different. He appeared for his tag match wearing a costume identical to Antonio Honda! He wanted to just have fun but Kazuki Hirata still found a way to annoy him and get angry as the match progressed. Honda dedicated his Gongistune spot to Sakaguchi’s upcoming retirement. Hirata then offered Sakaguchi a pair of Hirata GO! Glasses so they could dance together one last time. He accepted them, they danced to the music and then Hirata tried pinning Sakaguchi with the Miracle One Shot Cradle. Sakaguchi kicked out and hit Hirata with the God’s Right Knee for the win.
After the match Hirata called Sakaguchi a scary person who bullied him a lot but he can’t help but feel lonely now that Sakaguchi is retiring. He will never forget seeing him dressed like Honda today and dancing along with him. Sakaguchi praised Kazusada Higuchi for how strong his Chops were today, he thanked Honda for always telling good stories and he admitted to Hirata he had fun today. He brought up Hirata winning the MVP Award during the Japan Indie Grand Prix Awards and asked if Hirata will use the prize money to treat him to a meal? Hirata had to tell him the award did not include any prize money.
Today was the first time in a long, long time that Akito and Yuki Iino were teaming together without any trace of Pheromones around to get in the way. However Iino has no memory of their time together in ALL OUT. Akito asked him before the match if he remembers being in that unit? Iino asked what was that because he is a member of BURNING and that is all he thinks about. That answer was still good enough for Akito to put his complete trust in him again. However DAMNATION T.A were able to redirect things and make Iino Spear Akito by accident, leading to Daisuke Sasaki tapping out Akito with the Crossface Lock while Iino and KANON got into a fight outside the ring.
This Is My WWE is the name of Yoshitatsu’s Diving Knee Kick finisher. Don’t let The Rock find out about that. Sanshiro Takagi attacked both Chris Brookes & Takeshi Masada with a Double Stunner after the match. He then taunted Masada by pouring mousse over his head and rubbing his hair with it.
DDT “ROJO PRO WRESTLING IN NARAHA TOWN”, 18/11/2023 Fukushima Tenjin Misaki Sports Park ??? Fans – Unannounced
1. Falls Count Anywhere 3 Way Tag Match: MAO & Toy Kojima Vs Kazusada Higuchi & Makoto Oishi Vs Yukio Naya & Kazuma Sumi (Special Referee: Shunma Katsumata)
DDT “SWEET DREAMS! 2024”, 28/01/2024 Tokyo Korakuen Hall 1,120 Fans – Super No Vacancy
1. Special 10-Man Tag Match: HARASHIMA, Tomoya, Antonio Honda, Takeshi Masada & Kazuma Sumi defeated Sanshiro Takagi, Toru Owashi, Akito, Shinichiro Kawamatsu & Yuni when Sumi pinned Yuni with a School Boy (7:07).
2. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Daisuke Sasaki, KANON & Bryan Keith (w/ MJ Paul) defeated Tetsuya Endo, Yuki Iino & Rukiya after KANON pinned Rukiya with the Freedom Call (8:39).
3. Yukio Sakaguchi Korakuen Final Match ~ Special Single Match: Yukio Sakaguchi defeated Hideki Okatani with the God’s Right Knee (5:42).
4. MAO Birthday Commemorative Match: MAO & TAKA Michinoku defeated Chris Brookes & Masahiro Takanashi when MAO pinned Takanashi with the Cannonball 450 (8:45).
5. DDT Extreme Title – Who Is The Fated One!? Toy Kojima Challenge Death Match: Shunma Katsumata defeated Kazuki Hirata (c) (8:33).
5a. Kazuki Hirata pinned Shunma Katsumata with the Miracle One Shot Cradle (0:57). *Toy Kojima fails his challenge.
5b. Shunma Katsumata submitted Kazuki Hirata with a Crab Hold (4:04). *Toy Kojima fails his challenge.
5c. Kazuki Hirata pinned Shunma Katsumata with the Miracle One Shot Cradle (7:42). *Toy Kojima fails his challenge.
5d. Shunma Katsumata pinned Kazuki Hirata with a School Boy (8:33). *Toy Kojima passes his challenge. Kazuki Hirata fails in V6. Shunma Katsumata becomes the 59th DDT Extreme Champion!
6. KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles – DEAD OR ALIVE Contra DEAD OR ALIVE: Jun Akiyama, Danshoku Dieno & Makoto Oishi (c) defeated Hikaru Sato, Kazusada Higuchi & Ryo Kawamura when Oishi pinned Kawamura with the Jikiden Tornado Clutch (8:20). *V3 for D.O.A.
7. Special Single Match: KONOSUKE TAKESHITA defeated Naruki Doi with the Wagamama (10:58).
8. KO-D Openweight Title: Yuki Ueno (c) defeated Yukio Naya with the Twister (23:35). *V1 for Yuki Ueno.
Yuki Ueno’s run as KO-D Openweight Champion has just begun and in his first defence he put down Yukio Naya, shutting down the D-Oh Grand Prix winner’s momentum. The champion went for big dives from the get go but took high risk damage of his own when Naya gave him an Avalanche Choke Slam. Naya also blocked the BME with his knees and used a Wrist-Clutch Back Drop. Ueno was only able to break the pin thanks to a rope break. He switched to using Dropkicks and got a nearfall with the BME. Naya tried fighting back using Knee Strikes but Ueno grabbed him in a Face Lock and pulled him into a Twister hold, making Naya give up. After the match Ueno said Naya has nothing to be ashamed about. He is a great wrestler not because he crawled from the bottom up to the top but because he uses pro wrestling to stand up for himself. Ueno will take what he learned from Naya today and carry them on his own shoulders.
Ueno was told the next KO-D Title defence is scheduled for 17th March. He expected to hear that and already has an opponent in mind. He wants to defend the KO-D Title against Danshoku Dieno and he is willing to do it before the mandatory March defence. The 37KAMIINA will be holding a produce show in Shinjuku FACE on 14th February and Ueno can defend the title against Dieno there. Sanshiro Takagi entered the ring and told Ueno his request cannot be met. The KO-D Title is DDT’s top championship and its matches need to attract large audiences. Ueno explained he does not want this match for the venue size or as an easy title defence. He chooses Dieno because Dieno is the most amazing guy and interesting wrestler in DDT. Takagi accepted his reasoning and gave permission for the match to go ahead. Dieno told Ueno what he said to Jun Akiyama three years ago. He knows the champ will not let him win and DDT does not want him to become the KO-D Champion but if you flash the belt in front of his face he is going to want it! And if he does win the belt who knows what direction he will take DDT in!
The semi-main event was a first time ever meeting between Konosuke Takeshita and Naruki Doi. Takeshita dealt a big blow by giving Doi a Brainbuster on the floor outside the ring. Back in the ring Doi had to rely on speed to try and keep one step ahead of his opponent’s power. He used the V9 Clutch to counter a Lariat for a nearfall. There was one power spot Doi got the better of. That was for a Brainbuster that led to the Doi 555 and Bakatare Sliding Kick combo for another two count. Takeshita blocked the Muscular Bomb and used Doi’s rolling attempt to throw him over with a German Suplex. He then hit the Wagamama to get the victory. Takeshita called it a fun match that made him feel like Takeshita the young wrestling fan again. He never forgets that feeling wherever he goes. He wants to fight Doi again and next time it should be in America.
The D.O.A branding is safe again for the time being. The name was up for grabs along with the KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles for the second time after Hikaru Sato complained about his catchphrase being stolen by them. Akiyama was the first one to stand against Sato and Kazusada Higuchi in the ring. Ryo Kawamura ended up sparring with Dieno and made the mistake of putting him in a Triangle Choke. Makoto Oishi kept trying to bring out wasabi and eventually succeeded in wiping it over Dieno’s backside. Both of them regretted it when Kawamura shoved Oishi face first in there but Oishi recovered and flash pinned Kawamura with the Jikiden Tornado Clutch. He celebrated the successful title defence by saying he is well aware that other people use the phrase “Dead Or Alive” so we are all D.O.A! He hoped Akiyama & Dieno would join in but he was left alone in the ring. Sato questioned if the team really are D.O.A because they show no intentions of staying alive and act like they only want to die.
The fate of the DDT Extreme Title all rested on Toy Kojima’s shoulders. Kazuki Hirata and Shunma Katsumata were wrestling each other under 2-Count Fall rules for the belt but the match result would only stand if Kojima could pass a challenge given to him backstage. He didn’t have to wait long for his first task because Hirata pinned Katsumata with the Miracle One Shot Cradle in under a minute. Kojima had to endure bumps for 30 seconds but he couldn’t so the match restarted. Katsumata then submitted Hirata with a Crab Hold so Kojima’s task was to drink a bottle of cola in one go. He couldn’t do that either. Hirata pinned Katsumata with the Miracle Cradle again so Kojima had to play Pop-Up Pirate for 10 turns without losing. He lost in the first turn. Katsumata used a School Boy to pin Hirata so Kojima had to play with a Kendama toy. He was given three goals to swing the ball onto the cup. He did it on his third and final go, making Katsumata the new Extreme Champion!
Katsumata thanked Hirata for coming up with such a fun ruleset. He also announced that after talking with the other members of the group, Kazuki Hirata has been accepted as the newest member of The 37KAMIINA! Unfortunately Hirata changed his mind and no longer wants to be part of the team. Why? Because he wants to create his own brand new unit instead! He later found Naruki Doi backstage and kept pestering him to join this new stable. Doi is reluctant but may have been talked into joining. Meanwhile Katsumata was asked for who he wants his challenger to be for his first defence on 17th March. He suggested Hideki Okatani so they could renew their rivalry over the title. However MJ Paul then came out to attack Okatani, handed Katsumata a piece of paper saying he wanted to challenge him and then he attacked Katsumata too. Katsumata and Okatani worked together to fend off Paul’s attack. Hisaya Imabayashi came up with a solution. Okatani and Paul will face each other on 7th February and the winner will get the title shot for 17th March.
MAO was having a big birthday bash and invited the likes of TAKA Michinoku and CDK to be at the party. One present he got was to be the headpiece of the Kaientai spot with poor Masahiro Takanashi being the victim. Somehow Chris Brookes got to be on the good side of that present. CDK fought back using their double team moves to wrap their opponents into each other but it couldn’t get them the win. Instead TAKA dropped Takanashi with the Michinoku Driver II and MAO pinned him with the Cannonball 450. MAO is happy to start off being 27 years old with a win. He said no matter where his career goes, TAKA Michinoku’s name will always be around him because he is his hero. TAKA said he is proud to be an influence to people outside of K-DOJO and JTO. He calls MAO one of the few genius young wrestlers he’s seen and that geniuses often don’t see it in themselves. He is sure he can become the KO-D Champion some day. CDK were disappointed to lose but everyone in SCHADENFREUDE International was happy to see Brookes be healthy and wrestle again.
Today was the final time Yukio Sakaguchi would wrestle in Korakuen Hall. He was given a singles match against his former Eruption teammate Hideki Okatani for the occasion. It was a chance for Sakaguchi to test how Okatani could fight by himself. Okatani took all the kicks he could and fought back with the Double Arm Suplex. But Sakaguchi blocked the Quetzalcoatl and put Okatani down with the God’s Right Knee to end the match. His message to Okatani backstage was to ask what is his strength? He needs to find that answer in order to change from what he is now. Okatani thanked Sakaguchi for the lesson and will use the DDT ring to show him what he learned.
The services of Bryan Keith were used by DAMNATION T.A to fight what’s currently left of BURNING along with Rukiya. MJ Paul interfered to take the Spear from Yuki Iino instead of KANON. Keith used the Emerald Tiger Driver on Rukiya then left him for the others to pick at the pieces. Daisuke Sasaki & KANON used a Vietnam Driver & Diving Elbow combination called the Freedom Call to finish Rukiya off. Sasaki called BURNING worthless and thinks the group should disband. KANON made fun of them, telling them to go home and drink their mothers’ protein. Iino complained about KANON needing Paul’s help because he doesn’t want to take the Spear. Tetsuya Endo thinks he needs to improve his accuracy because today’s performance wasn’t up to snuff. But he is confident that if he and Iino hit DAMNATION T.A right, they will win the KO-D Tag Team Titles from them.
The opening match went ahead with No Tag Rules. Takagi quickly gave Kazuma Sumi the Stunner but was then caught in a Train Attack that included the referee getting involved. HARASHIMA and Toru Owashi got to fight each other until Akito came in to target HARASHIMA’s leg. So did Tomoya and Shinichiro Kawamatsu in what turned out to be a battle between pro wrestling politicians. Antonio Honda paused the match for his Gongitsune joke but it backfired. Yuni gave Takeshi Masada a Tornado DDT but then missed a Moonsault aimed for Sumi. That allowed Sumi to roll up the school boy with the School Boy for the win.
The first set of wrestlers to enter this year’s King Of DDT are a mix of previous winners and finalists to mark the 20th Anniversary of the tournament. Poison Sawada JULIE (2004 winner), Sanshiro Takagi (2009 finalist), Danshoku Dieno (2012 finalist), HARASHIMA (2010 & 2013 winner, 2017 finalist) and Shuji Ishikawa (2016 winner) have all been announced to be taking part.
Kaisei Takechi’s debut match on 25th February has him teaming up with Yuki Ueno & Shunma Katsumata. They will be against Tetsuya Endo, Hideki Okatani & Takeshi Masada.
Posted by JamieOD 
Dramatic DDT 