DDT Around The World – September 2023

October 1, 2023

September was looking to be more of a quiet month for looking at the overseas adventures of the DDT extended family until the last week showed up like an avalanche. You can always get a lot of news to cover during tournament weekends. It’s a shame that the current state of the independent scene means those tentpole super weekend events don’t get as much coverage like they used to. Can’t blame them when WWE and AEW dominates everybody’s attention. It’s only going to get tougher when those two companies increase their schedules and reach out even further. This week’s news of WWE getting an ABEMA deal and having NOAH promote it on social media does not thrill me. I’ve seen how this story goes before. Even if some kind of big crossover does happen with WWE it is never worth it for the other company in the long run. And any pundit who says a project like NXT Japan will work as a gateway for getting WWE fans into Japanese wrestling is only fooling themselves. The appetite that audience has for non-WWE wrestling is just not there anymore.

Heading into October we have Konosuke Takeshita deep into a feud with The Golden Lovers. The lack of actual wrestling from Takeshita last month annoyed me. I get holding some wrestlers back for PPV but his standard of ring work has been missing from AEW TV recently. His storyline is also pulling in other wrestlers who are never hurting for screentime which makes me worry he is getting pushed to the side. Maki Itoh has finished up her latest North American tour, Shoko Nakajima had a quick trip to the USA and Miyu Yamashita was in the middle of wrestling in UK and Ireland when the month began. The big chunk of news that completely passed me by until it happened was Mizuki Watase going over to wXw in Germany with Shigehiro Irie. Oh and Tokyo Joshi Pro squeezed in a visit to China right at the deadline.

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Videos

Konosuke Takeshita In AEW Playlist


AEW “DYNAMITE”, 13/09/2023
Heritage Bank Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

The Invisible Hand, Don Callis, debuts his new masterpiece and next target!


AEW “RAMPAGE”, 22/09/2023
Heritage Bank Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

After his shocking turn on Chris Jericho, Guevara explains his actions!


AEW “DYNAMITE”, 27/09/2023
1st Bank Center, Broomfield, Colorado, USA

Don Callis, Takeshita & Guevara admire their work before WrestleDream!

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Results


OTT “WRESTLERAMA”, 02/09/2023
The Warehouse Red Cow, Dublin, Ireland

1. Session Moth Martina & Miyu Yamashita defeated Debbie Keitel & Emersyn Jayne (w/ Anita Vaughan) (9:36).

A few years ago the idea of Yamashita wrestling in OTT would have had me overjoyed but nowadays I don’t want to give the company much of my attention because of how people attached to them handled and disregarded Speaking Out. Her Irish wrestling debut had a slight change in plan thanks to the other team. Debbie Keitel was advertised to team with Anita Vaughan but she instead surprised everyone by bringing along Emersyn Jayne to be her partner instead.


MLW “FURY ROAD”, 03/09/2023
2300 Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

1. MLW Women’s World Featherweight Title No. 1 Contendership: B3CCA defeated Maki Itoh with the World Tour (7:42).

A singer showdown took place when Itoh made her first appearance in MLW. Itoh and B3CCA both love to be the centre of attention and literally fought over the microphone during their match. Itoh won that exchange and told B3CCA to “kiss my ass, bitch!” She also found a Singapore cane to beat up B3CCA with outside the ring. But Itoh made the grave mistake of missing the Flying Big Head, allowing B3CCA to give her a Death Valley Driver to the corner and then pin her with the World Tour 450 Splash.


AEW “ALL OUT”, 03/09/2023
United Center, Chicago, Illinois, USA

1. Konosuke Takeshita (w/ Don Callis) defeated Kenny Omega with the Powerdrive Knee (22:30).

A few days after Takeshita pinned Kenny Omega in England, he did it again back in America this time in a singles match. The match carried history over from Omega’s time in DDT, wearing new green and yellows tights based on what he wore in the early 2010s. Don Callis got involved though and brought the dreaded screwdriver into the match for Takeshita to use. However this time the referee stopped it from being used. It turned out Takeshita wouldn’t have needed it because he went on to beat Omega anyway, pulling down his kneepad to hit a raw Powerdrive Knee for the victory. The match even got ***** from Dave Meltzer! Okay, that doesn’t mean as much as it used to but it’s still a good accomplishment to have. Also let’s face it, when the wrestlers who complain about star ratings actually do get ***** from Meltzer they all of a sudden do a 180 and become grateful for it.


MYSTERY WRESTLING “MYSTERY WRESTLING 3”, 08/09/2023
Centre Aydelu, Gatineau, Quebec, Canada

1. Emi Sakura defeated Maki Itoh with La Magistral Cradle (?:??).

This year over in Canada Evil Uno has been running a Mystery Wrestling show on his Twitch channel every couple of months. The surprise headline match for the most recent event was a first time singles bout between Itoh and Emi Sakura. Itoh played a trick to escape from Sakura’s attacks by beginning to cry and then walking out of the match back to the locker room. She then reappeared from the opposite side of the room to attack a confused Sakura from behind. Sakura’s not someone you can beat with just one trick though. She ended up rolling Itoh into La Magistral Cradle to win the match.


GCW “CRUSHED UP”, 10/09/2023
Roulette Intermedium, New York City, New York, USA

1. Maki Itoh defeated Killer Kelly with a Tornado DDT (10:43).

Itoh’s current run with GCW ended here with a match against Killer Kelly. She’ll be back again later this year but what will be in store for her next? Her feud with Matt Cardona & Steph De Lander can be never ending but there has to be other stuff she wants to do in GCW next. Maybe she already found a new arch nemesis as you will see at the bottom of this post.


WXW “INNER CIRCLE”, 21/09/2023
wXw Wrestling Academy, Gelsenkirchen, Germany

1. Mizuki Watase defeated Danny Fray with a Diving Foot Stomp (7:23).
2. Shigehiro Irie defeated 1 Called Manders with a Roaring Elbow (8:57).

This was already announced earlier in the summer and I completely missed it. Irie & Watase reunited as RENEGADES to enter the annual World Tag Team Festival in Germany! But first the wrestlers took part in separate warmup matches the night before the tournament began. Watase’s first match ever in Germany was a win against Danny Fray. Irie also won his match by beating 1 Called Manders in a hoss fight.


WXW “WORLD TAG TEAM FESTIVAL 2023 – NIGHT 1”, 22/09/2023
Turbinenhalle 2, Oberhausen, Germany

1. World Tag Team Festival 2023 – Round 1: Shigehiro Irie & Mizuki Watase defeated Aigle Blanc & Senza Volto when Irie pinned Blanc with the Beast Bomber (16:41).

Irie won wXw’s other premium tournament the 16 Carat Gold back in March so he had his heart set on winning WTTF with Watase. They eliminated The Frenchadors in the opening round. Aigle Blanc & Senza Volto are former wXw World Tag Team Champions so RENEGADES could not have gotten off to a better start.


GCW “LONG. LIVE. GCW”, 22/09/2023
Turbinenhalle 2, Oberhausen, Germany

1. Shigehiro Irie defeated Arez with the Beast Bomber (9:20).

The WTTF weekend also featured shows promoted by GCW as part of their September European tour. Only Irie was on the first of two GCW shows that weekend where he beat the luchador Arez. Normally I wouldn’t include entries for Irie by himself but since he was RENEGADES affiliated for the weekend, I’m adding it here.


FREELANCE “ONCE UPON A TIME IN FREELANCE”, 22/09/2023
Avondale Music Hall, Chicago, Illinois, USA

1. Shoko Nakajima defeated Shazza McKenzie with the Diving Senton (12:19).

Nakajima did a quick trip to the United States near the end of the month. Her first stop was at Freelance where she got over big with the crowd during her win against Shazza McKenzie. Nakajima’s quickness and ability to hit the 619 from any height near the ropes were the key to victory here.


WXW “WORLD TAG TEAM FESTIVAL 2023 – NIGHT 2”, 23/09/2023
Turbinenhalle 2, Oberhausen, Germany

1. World Tag Team Festival 2023 – Round 2: Shigehiro Irie & Mizuki Watase defeated Takuya Nomura & Fuminori Abe when Irie pinned Abe with a Roaring Elbow (16:14).

RENEGADES weren’t the only Japanese team taking part in WTTF weekend. Takuya Nomura & Fuminori Abe from Astronauts were there too! The two team crossed paths in Night 2 where the winners would advance to Sunday’s final.


GCW “GCW VS THE WORLD”, 23/09/2023
Turbinenhalle 2, Oberhausen, Germany

1. Scramble Match: Gringo Loco defeated Mizuki Watase, The Rotation, Arez, Jimmy Lloyd and Aigle Blanc when Loco pinned Blanc with the Base Bomb (11:46).
2. Joey Janela defeated Shigehiro Irie with the Diving Foot Stomp (17:19).

Irie was in GCW again for their other show in Germany, losing to Joey Janela in the main event. Watase also showed up by taking part in one of GCW’s staples, the Scramble Match. Watase hit a big dive and also the Coast To Coast Dropkick but otherwise got lost in the action and did not factor into the finish.


WXW “WORLD TAG TEAM FESTIVAL 2023 – NIGHT 3”, 24/09/2023
Turbinenhalle 2, Oberhausen, Germany

1. wXw World Tag Team Titles – World Tag Team Festival 2023 Final 3 Way Match: Hektor Invictus & Dennis Dullnig defeated Robert Dreissker & Laurance Roman (c) and Shigehiro Irie & Mizuki Watase (23:13).
*Amboss fails in V1. Hektor Invictus & Dennis Dullnig become the 64th wXw World Tag Team Champions!

RENEGADES made it all the way to the final. Had Irie & Watase won the match and the tournament they would have become the new wXw Tag Champions. Sadly for them they couldn’t pull it off. Instead Hektor Invictus & Dennis Dullnig were the winners, taking the titles away from the defending champions Amboss.


PRESTIGE “THE RESPECT ISSUE”, 24/09/2023
Globe Theatre, Los Angeles, California, USA

1. Trish Adora defeated Shoko Nakajima with the Lariat Tubman (9:51).

Nakajima’s other US booking this month was with Prestige at the Globe Theatre, the same location TJPW will return to this December. Trish Adora was a tougher opponent for her and kicked out of the Northern Lights Suplex. Just when Nakajima thought he had another shot, she was caught off guard and pinned with the Lariat Tubman.


JFC “JINGWU TAN JFC EXOTIC FIGHTING EXHIBITION 2”, 30/09/2023
Rucker Park, Chaoyang, Shanghai, China

1. Tokyo Joshi Pro Offer Match: Maki Itoh defeated Yuki Aino with the Itoh Deluxe (?:??).
2. Tokyo Joshi Pro Offer Match: Mizuki defeated Nao Kakuta with the Cutie Special (?:??).

TJPW sent four of their wrestlers over to China for a martial arts expo taking place in Shanghai. They would be presenting two women’s pro wrestling matches to go along with a bunch of other martial art bouts provided by other groups. It is not the first time joshi wrestling has been part of the event. The same organizers had Sareee and Nanae Takahashi wrestle for them during the first expo in the summer. After a lot of searching through Chinese social media I was able to find a clip of Mizuki beating Nao Kakuta and Itoh locking in the Itoh Deluxe on Yuki Aino.

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Upcoming Appearances


AEW “WRESTLEDREAM”, 01/10/2023
Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle, Washington, USA

1. Chris Jericho, Kenny Omega & Kota Ibushi Vs Sammy Guevara, Will Ospreay & Konosuke Takeshita (w/ Don Callis)

Takeshita has spent the rest of the month either standing to the side Don Callis or wrestling back in Japan for DDT. Oh and he also invaded Kota Ibushi’s gym, attacking him with a kettlebell (and also getting Yumehito Imanari caught in the crossfire) because Callis understands how much Ibushi means to Omega. The big payoff it is leading to will happen later today when The Golden Lovers & Chris Jericho join forces to get revenge on The Don Callis Family. Takeshita is part of that family teaming with Sammy Guevara (newest member) and Will Ospreay (not a member). It is annoying to see what looked like a big push for Takeshita turn into him getting pushed aside so Jericho, Guevara and Ospreay can all squeeze into the spotlight instead.


WARRIOR “WARRIOR WRESTLING 31”, 06/10/2023
Bendix Arena, South Bend, Indiana, USA

1. Konosuke Takeshita Vs Storm Grayson (w/ Frank The Clown)

One of the few American indies Takeshita wrestles for when he’s not busy with AEW is Warrior Wrestling. The next time he shows up there he takes on one of Frank The Clown’s clients, Storm Grayson.


SPARK “RISING HEAT WEST”, 11/10/2023
LA Dojo, Carson, California, USA

1. Spark Joshi World Title: Miyu Yamashita (c) Vs Billie Starkz

A familiar opponent challenges Yamashita for the Spark Joshi Title. She has a 1-1 singles record against Billi Starkz so this championship bout can also end up becoming a rubber match between the two.


SPARK “RISING HEAT EAST”, 14/10/2023
Engelwood Neighborhood Center, Orlando, Florida, USA

1. Miu Watanabe Vs KiLynn King
2. Miyu Yamashita Vs Jessie

A few days later Yamashita takes on Jessie, the former Jessi Kamea from NXT. That’s an interesting matchup because since leaving WWE, Jessie wound up doing a tour in Stardom. So we have a TJPW Vs Stardom match on a Spark show.

But Yamashita won’t be the only Tokyo Joshi there. Miu Watanabe is along for the ride too! She is getting to fight KiLynn King from Impact in what is sure to be a hoss fight. Or a hossette fight? Whatever, two strong women are going to fight each other. What more do you want?


LLL “THE HANDS OF FATE”, 20/10/2023
The Oriental Theater, Denver, Colorado, USA

1. Lilith Grimm Vs Miyu Yamashita

Are there Lucha Libra & Laughs to be found when Yamashita pays another visit to Denver? Her opponent Lilith Grimm is nicknamed “The War Hammer” and does an entrance where she sets off sparks with a grinder.


SETUP “SETUP EP.16”, 28/10/2023
The Circus Studio, G Village, Bangkok, Thailand

1. Gatoh Move One And Only Title & SETUP Thailand Openweight Title: Paksa (G/c) Vs Masahiro Takanashi (S/c)
2. Dramatic Dream Match: Chris Brookes Vs Monomoth

Whenever CDK goes over to Thailand and shows up in SETUP they tend to take over the place. One of the local faces Monomoth tries his best to defend his home but Chris Brookes & Masahiro Takanashi find ways to get the better of him. Monomoth now gets to fight Brookes in a big singles match the next time Brookes heads over.

Meanwhile Takanashi has been ruling the roost in SETUP as the SETUP Openweight Champion. He can increase his domination when he has a double title match against Paksa. Takanashi puts his SETUP Title on the line while Paksa is defending a Gatoh Move branded championship called the One And Only Title.


REPUBLIC OF LUCHA “ROL VI VI VI: LA NOCHE DE WALPURGIS”, 30/10/2023
Republic Of Lucha, South Pasadena, California, USA

1. Konosuke Takeshita, Penta el Zero Miedo & Rey Fenix Vs Shun Skywalker, Bestia 666 & Mecha Wolf

I’m keeping my fingers crossed that nobody in The Lucha Brothers gets injured, company politics do not keep Takeshita and Shun Skywalker away from each other and Vampiro does not show up with La Rebelion.


DAIKAIJU PRO “VOL. 1 – THE KAPPAS WALK AMONG US”, 04/11/2023
White Eagle, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA

1. Shoko Nakajima Vs X

Something new and monstrous is coming out of Massachusetts. Daikaiju Pro is holding their debut show and seems to have deep ties with SETUP and also the UMA Corps. The new promotion is promising a mixture of talent coming in to mix around with monsters and other strange creatures. A show like these requires a Big Kaiju so Nakajima will be there.


TOKYO JOSHI PRO/PRESTIGE “COMBAT PRINCESS USA”, 14/12/2023
Globe Theatre, Los Angeles, California, USA

Miu Watanabe has been added to the lineup.


PANDEMONIUM PRO “HOLIDAY IN LA”, 17/12/2023
Don Quixote, Los Angeles, California, USA

1. Mike Bailey Vs Miyu Yamashita

Yeah this do quite nicely. Pandemonium Pro is doing Yamashita against Mike Bailey in a first time ever matchup.

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Other Appearances


GCW “SAY YOU WILL”, 01/09/2023
Grand Sports Arena, Hoffman Estates, Illinois, USA

Itoh did not wrestle on the first GCW show of the month. Instead she showed up to attack Frank The Clown with a pizza cutter much to everyone’s delight.


TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW CITY CIRCUIT ’23 ~YOKOHAMA PERFORMANCE~” Results

September 23, 2023

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW CITY CIRCUIT ’23 ~YOKOHAMA PERFORMANCE~”, 23/09/2023
Yokohama Radiant Hall
270 Fans – Super No Vacancy Full House

1. Kaya Toribami defeated Haru Kazashiro with the Bird Cage (8:10).
2. Yuki Aino defeated Runa Okubo with the Full Nelson Of Love And Fire (5:04).
3. 3 Way Match: Hyper Misao defeated Pom Harajuku and HIMAWARI when Misao pinned HIMAWARI with a Gedo Clutch (5:38).
4. Raku, Suzume & Arisu Endo defeated Moka Miyamoto, Wakana Uehara & Toga when Suzume pinned Toga with the Ring A Bell (10:33).
5. Sakisama & Mei Saint-Michel defeated Miu Watanabe & Shino Suzuki when Sakisama pinned Suzuki with the Academy Award (12:34).
6. Mizuki, Rika Tatsumi, Hikari Noa & Nao Kakuta defeated Miyu Yamashita, Maki Itoh, Yuki Kamifuku & Mahiro Kiryu when Noa pinned Kiryu with the Blizzard Suplex (19:41).

“WRESTLE PRINCESS IV” is on the minds of everybody in Tokyo Joshi Pro as the big show is approaching closer. A mixture of wrestlers preparing for the event faced off in today’s main event, combining a few of the championship matchups. Free WiFi was the reason for their team winning against the Toyo Mates. They gave Mahiro Kiryu the 5G and would have won then if it wasn’t for Maki Itoh breaking the pin. Hikari Noa kept her nerve and pinned Kiryu with the Blizzard Suplex for the finish.

Mizuki told the audience afterwards nobody here wants to lose. Rika Tatsumi agreed and hoped Max The Impaler was watching on Wrestle Universe. Mizuki later admitted she was disappointed with her performance in the match because she cannot relax when she’s against Miyu Yamashita and her kick heavy offence. Nao Kakuta shared her frustration backstage, she believes she was the most useless person on her team today even though the team won. Noa assured her that their “curse” will end at Tama Mirai Messe. When Kakuta heard that she said she is ready to throw away her nickname of “Uncrowned Queen”. Over in the Toyo Mates camp Yuki Kamifuku said just trying hard is not enough these days. It reminds her of an audition she once took for a fashion show. The fashion designer rejected her because she lacked an overwhelming aura. She figured out she was missing something like a championship belt to display her power. She now wants to win the Princess Tag Team Titles with Kiryu to make that designer regret ever turning her down! Kiryu gained motivation when she heard that story.

Sakisama told the audience the next time they will see her and Mei Saint-Michel in the ring will be along with Yukio Saint Laurent & Martha at “WRESTLE PRINCESS IV”. She didn’t have any much of an opinion on Shino Suzuki. She did notice a fiery look in her eyes but she’ll probably forget it by tomorrow. Saint-Michel thinks “the pink muscular one” Miu Watanabe is so cool. Sakisama told her NEO Biishiki-gun doesn’t need a person like Watanabe in the group nowadays.


TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW CITY CIRCUIT ’23 ~NAGOYA PERFORMANCE~” Results

September 18, 2023

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW CITY CIRCUIT ’23 ~NAGOYA PERFORMANCE~”, 18/09/2023
Nagoya International Conference Center Event Hall
681 Fans – No Vacancy

1. Suzume defeated Shino Suzuki with the Ring A Bell (6:56).
2. Arisu Endo & Haru Kazashiro defeated Kaya Toribami & Runa Okubo when Endo submitted Okubo with the Camel Clutch (8:50).
3. Rika Tatsumi, Miu Watanabe & HIMAWARI defeated Hyper Misao, Raku & Pom Harajuku when Tatsumi submitted Harajuku with the Dragon Sleeper (11:08). (Special Referee: Shiori Aoki)
4. Yuki Kamifuku, Mahiro Kiryu & Toga defeated Hikari Noa, Nao Kakuta & Wakana Uehara when Kamifuku pinned Uehara with the Famouser (12:25).
5. Mizuki & Shoko Nakajima defeated Miyu Yamashita & Maki Itoh when Mizuki pinned Yamashita with the Aquamarine (17:35).
6. Saki Akai & Yuki Arai defeated Yuki Aino & Moka Miyamoto when Akai pinned Miyamoto after the Double Rookie Award (16:10).

For the final time Reiwa AA Cannon teamed up together but today will not be the last time Saki Akai & Yuki Arai will be in the same ring together. After they won their last match as a tag team in the main event, Akai said she looked after Arai as if she was her little sister but now is the time for Arai to step forward on her own and lead Tokyo Joshi Pro into the future. Arai said she loved the time spent with Akai and it went by in a daze. She now has one last selfish request, she wants a singles match with Akai before her retirement! It will be the first, last and only time Akai and Arai will face each other one on one. Akai approved of Arai’s fearlessness in asking her and promised it will happen the next time she shows up in TJPW. It was later confirmed the match will take place at Korakuen Hall on 27th October.

In a preview of the “WRESTLE PRINCESS IV” main event, Mizuki scored a direct pinfall over Miyu Yamashita by avoiding the Skull Kick and using the Aquamarine to roll her into a three count. She isn’t looking forward to wrestling her in further skirmishes until the big show but is confident she can beat her every step of the way.

Another “WRESTLE PRINCESS IV” preview was a 6-Woman Tag match featuring Toyo Mates and Free WiFi against each other. Yuki Kamifuku won the match for her team but got into a small fight with Nao Kakuta afterwards. It led to Kamifuku making a weird promise to not use WiFi until she beats Kakuta. If that means she has to pay for giga internet in the meantime then so be it. Mahiro Kiryu used that point to remind fans to be careful of suspicious WiFi otherwise your personal information could be at risk.

As part of today’s SKE48 performance, Shiori Aoki was invited back to officiate a match again. It was her second time as a wrestling referee and she successfully detected Hyper Misao hiding several foreign objects hidden in her outfit. Misao got her revenge when she redirected Rika Tatsumi into choking Aoki unconscious in the corner. Tatsumi revived her and went to pin Pom Harajuku with a Hip Attack. Aoki showed she was still in good condition by doing a cartwheel before counting the pin. The delay meant she couldn’t count to three in time so Tatsumi switched Harajuku over into the Dragon Sleeper so she could win by submission. Aoki said she would like to be the referee again and was given advice from Daisuke Kiso before today’s match. She enjoyed the challenge of having more wrestlers to keep an eye on this time.

Miu Watanabe was spotted cheering along to the SKE48 mini concert like she always does whenever TJPW brings in idols for a musical performance.


Loading Up Korakuen, DDT Vs AJPW, Monomoth’s Japanese Debut

September 11, 2023

DDT “TETSUYA ENDO LOCAL TRIUMPH! WHO’S GONNA TOP? 2023 TOUR IN SHIROISHI”, 16/09/2023
Miyagi Shiroishi White Cube

1. Pheromones Final Countdown In Shiroishi: Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno Vs Akito & Makoto Oishi
2. Daisuke Sasaki, MJ Paul & KANON Vs Kazusada Higuchi, Yukio Naya & Kazuma Sumi
3. Kazuki Hirata & Antonio Honda Vs MAO & Yoshihiko
4. Chris Brookes & Takeshi Masada Vs Yuki Ueno & Toy Kojima
5. Special Tag Match: Yuji Hino & Jun Akiyama Vs HARASHIMA & Rukiya
6. Shiroishi Specialty Special 6-Man Tag Match ~ BURNING Vs Eruption!: Tetsuya Endo, Yusuke Okada & Yuya Koroku Vs Yukio Sakaguchi, Saki Akai & Hideki Okatani

This may be the last month Pheromones will exist so they have already begun their farewell tour. How they behave in these matches will help Akito decide if the unit should be broken up or not. So far based on the first match that happened yesterday, Pheromones are not going to change their behavior.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW CITY CIRCUIT ’23 ~RIKA TATSUMI LOCAL TRIUMPH~”, 16/09/2023
Nagano Kissei Bunka Hall Middle Hall

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

Nagano’s local mascot Arukuma will be at the show to celebrate Rika Tatsumi’s return to her home area. It is a bear obsessed with apples who likes to walk around the area spreading charm to people who aren’t bears. Tatsumi is the kind of person who will strangle that thing to death… with love of course… Oh my God, she’s Elmyra from Tiny Toons!

DDT “DRAMATIC EXPLOSION 2023”, 18/09/2023
Nagoya International Conference Center Event Hall

1. Pheromones Final Countdown In Nagoya ~ 3 Way Tag Match: Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno Vs Kazuki Hirata & Akito Vs Sanshiro Takagi & Takeshi Masada
2. Kazuma Sumi Vs Rukiya
3. Daisuke Sasaki, MJ Paul & KANON Vs Hideki Okatani, Yusuke Okada & Yuya Koroku
4. HARASHIMA & Yukio Naya Vs Yuki Ueno & Toy Kojima
5. Nagoya Specialty Special 6-Man Tag Match: Yuji Hino, Makoto Oishi & Tetsuya Endo Vs Shigehiro Irie, Kazusada Higuchi & Shinya Ishida
6. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Chris Brookes, MAO & Antonio Honda Vs Minoru Suzuki, Yukio Sakaguchi & Saki Akai
7. All Asia Tag Team Titles – Current Blast Tag Death Match: Atsushi Onita & Yoshitatsu (c) Vs Jun Akiyama & Kotaro Suzuki

Even though Atsushi Onita’s team beat Jun Akiyama’s team in an exploding death match over the weekend, he still accepted the challenge to make the next one an All Asia Tag Team Titles match. It will be the first time since 2014 when the titles will be defended on a DDT show. Onita felt he and Yoshitatsu needed to accept the challenge of Akiyama & Kotaro Suzuki in order to increase the championship’s value. Given how much this match relates to All Japan, Onita will have the late Terry Funk on his mind going into it.

“MASAHIRO TAKANASHI 20TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW”, 19/09/2023
Shinjuku FACE

0. Dark Match: Monomoth & Kappa Kozo (w/ Miyako Haru) Vs Dr. Gore & Yasu Urano
1. Gauntlet Tag Match: Shogo “Jet” Takagi & Antonio Honda (w/ Toru Owashi) Vs Takashi Sasaki & Baliyan Akki, Choun-Shiryu & Shin Suzuki Vs Chie Koishikawa & Hagane Shinno
2. Yukio Sakaguchi, Isami Kodaka & Ken Ohka Vs MAO, Daiki Shimomura & Munetatsu Nakamura
3. Special Exhibition: Masahiro Takanashi Vs KUDO
4. Special Single Match: Mei Suruga Vs Minoru Suzuki
5. Chris Brookes Vs Masahiro Takanashi

The “Thai Smiling Prince” Monomoth makes his Japanese pro wrestling debut on Masahiro Takanashi’s show. He is a regular with the SETUP promotion in Thailand. The dark match Monomoth is in features another SETUP wrestler named Dr. Gore teaming with Yasu Urano. Monomoth’s tag partner is Kappa Kozo from the UMA Corps which of course means Miyako Haru will be there to keep an eye on things.

Saki Akai is on the show but there is still no announcement yet as to what she will be doing there.

DDT “WHO’S GONNA TOP? 2023”, 24/09/2023
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

0. Dark Match: Yusuke Okada & Yuya Koroku Vs Kazuma Sumi & Rukiya
1. Daisuke Sasaki, MJ Paul & KANON Vs Hideki Okatani, Yuni & Takeshi Masada
2. Pheromones Final Countdown In Korakuen ~ 3 Way Tag Match: Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno Vs Kazuki Hirata & Naruki Doi Vs Akito & Antonio Honda
3. Tetsuya Endo, Jun Akiyama, Kazusada Higuchi & Yukio Naya Vs Yuji Hino, Makoto Oishi, HARASHIMA & Yukio Sakaguchi
4. Special Tag Match ~ DDT Vs AJPW: Yuki Ueno & Toy Kojima Vs Atsuki Aoyagi & Dan Tamura
5. Special Single Match: KONOSUKE TAKESHITA Vs MAO
6. DDT Universal Title: Matt Cardona (c) (w/ Steph De Lander) Vs Maki Itoh
7. KO-D Openweight Title: Chris Brookes (c) Vs Saki Akai

There was only one person Chris Brookes had in mind for his next challenger. He wants to defend the KO-D Openweight Title against Akai before her retirement in November. The two of them had a double title singles match involving the DDT Extreme Title and Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title inside an empty Korakuen Hall back in May 2021 because of the covid pandemic. Akai gets to challenge for the KO-D Title for the first time ever but warns she is not doing this for sentimental reasons. She wants to win and become champion so Brookes better take her seriously!

The aftermath of Yuki Ueno choosing The 37KAMIINA over Konosuke Takeshita has calmed things down a little bit. Takeshita has said at the end of the day he is still friends with everyone in the unit even if they aren’t seeing eye to eye right now. That claim will be taken to the test after MAO challenged him to a singles match. Is this MAO testing himself against Takeshita when they are at their strongest or will there be some frustations being taken out on each other?

DDT’s inter-promotional rivalry with All Japan continues with Atsuki Aoyagi & Dan Tamura coming on over to fight The 37KAMIINA. Aoyagi is excited to fight Ueno for the first time and sees MAO as a future opponent too. However when Toy Kojima heard that he got worked up at being overlooked as always. He is just as much an important member of The 37KAMIINA as the others but nobody ever names him as an opponent they want to fight. In Aoyagi’s defence, he admits he doesn’t know who Kojima is. But then he repeated he only wants to fight Ueno and MAO so whatever Kojima does to him in response is kind of deserved.

DDT “SAKI AKAI 10TH ANNIVERSARY & FINAL COUNT DOWN IN KYOTO!!”, 30/09/2023
Kyoto KBS Hall

1. KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles: Yukio Sakaguchi, Saki Akai & Hideki Okatani (c) Vs Chris Brookes, Masahiro Takanashi & Mei Suruga

Brookes offering Akai a KO-D Title match wasn’t something he did for the sake of being charitable. The day after he gave out the challenge he told Eruption he would like a shot at the KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles in return. He already has a team put together with Takanashi & Mei Suruga, mixing CDK and ChocoPro together. Eruption want to defend their championships as much as they can before Akai’s retirement and do not mind who their opponents are. The announcement of this match on DDT’s website only mentions the KO-D 6-Man Tag Titles so it looks like the AJPW TV 6-Man Tag Team Titles will not be on the line.

DDT “GOD BLESS DDT 2023 TOUR IN SHINJUKU”, 04/10/2023
Shinjuku FACE

1. Pheromones Final Match: X Vs X
2. KO-D Tag Team Titles: Minoru Fujita & KANON (c) Vs Soma Takao & Shota

ROMANCE DAWN quickly made themselves the first challengers for the new KO-D Tag Team Champions. They approached Minoru Fujita & KANON shortly after the title change to set up the time and the place for their shot.

On this date Akito will decide the fate of Pheromones. Will he go with his head and finally split up the group or will he go with his heart and keep them together for their fanbase? He could probably go with another part of his body to come up with a third option but let’s not go into detail with that sort of fantasy booking.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “WRESTLE PRINCESS IV”, 09/10/2023
Tokyo Tama Mirai Messe

1. Sakisama, Mei Saint-Michel, Martha & Yukio Saint Laurent Vs X, X, X & X
2. Special Single Match: Nyla Rose Vs Maki Itoh
3. Princess Tag Team Titles: Yuki Kamifuku & Mahiro Kiryu Vs Hikari Noa & Nao Kakuta
4. Princess Of Princess Title: Mizuki (c) Vs Miyu Yamashita

The next Princess Tag Team Champions are either going to be Toyo Mates or Free WiFi. Either result will give us a first time champion. I don’t just mean first time tag title reigns for either team but also a first championship for Mahiro Kiryu or Nao Kakuta too. Both Yuki Kamifuku and Hikari Noa have previously held the International Princess Title.

DDT “ULTIMATE PARTY 2023”, 12/11/2023
Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan

1. Saki Akai Retirement Match: Saki Akai Vs X
2. Special Single Match: Hiromu Takahashi Vs Kazuki Hirata

It was already announced that Hiromu Takahashi will be at Sumo Hall but the choice of opponent was going to be all up to him. Kazuki Hirata read out a heartfelt letter written for Takahashi asking him to be his opponent at the show. Hirata didn’t expect Takahashi was actually in the room at the time and certainly didn’t expect to roll him up and try to win the Iron Man Title either. Takahashi decided to make Hirata’s dream come true and they will face each other. So far no championship is on the line. Not the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title held by Takahashi nor the DDT Extreme and Iron Man Titles held by Hirata. Things may change as we get closer to the show but who knows what championships either will be hold by the time we get there.


TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW CITY CIRCUIT ’23 ~FIRST ATTACK ON HIROSHIMA~” Results

September 9, 2023

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW CITY CIRCUIT ’23 ~FIRST ATTACK ON HIROSHIMA~”, 09/09/2023
Hiroshima Industrial Hall West Exhibition Hall 2nd Exhibition Hall
223 Fans

1. Yuki Aino defeated HIMAWARI with the Venus DDT (8:14).
2. Mahiro Kiryu defeated Kaya Toribami with the Spinebuster (7:09).
3. Yuki Kamifuku defeated Toga with the Famouser (7:24).
4. Yuki Arai, Suzume & Arisu Endo defeated Mizuki, Wakana Uehara & Shino Suzuki when Arai submitted Suzuki with the Scorpion Deathlock (10:57).
5. Rika Tatsumi & Miu Watanabe defeated Miyu Yamashita & Moka Miyamoto when Watanabe pinned Miyamoto after the Daydream Eternity (13:34).
6. Princess Tag Team Titles 1st Qualifier ~ 3 Way Tag Match: Hikari Noa & Nao Kakuta defeated Shoko Nakajima & Hyper Misao and Raku & Pom Harajuku when Kakuta pinned Nakajima with the Shiden Kai (12:28).

One team has booked their place on the “WRESTLE PRINCESS IV” card by qualifying for the vacant Princess Tag Team Titles match. Free WiFi defeated two other teams in a 3 Way match where it was first fall to a finish. No tags were needed in the match so it became a free for all of double team moves and mixed combinations. RakuPom used their new move La La La Pop~♪ ♪ on Nao Kakuta but they were taken out by Kyoraku Kyomei. Things were looking good for Shoko Nakajima & Hyper Misao until Kakuta caught Nakajima’s 619 and carried her into the Shiden Kai while Hikari Noa blocked Misao from breaking it up. The win for Free WiFi means they are now one step away from winning the vacant titles.

Kakuta admitted she pushed herself hard because if her team lost today who knows when they would get another chance? Noa pointed out that because the roster size in Tokyo Joshi Pro is increasing rapidly there are actually fewer opportunities to fight for championships. She knows she can rely on Kakuta to take advantage of the opportunities when they do come by. Nakajima echoed those opinions, saying this could have been her last chance to become tag champions with Misao which is something she wanted to achieve for a long time. Misao told her it wasn’t their last chance and they’ll continue to move forward together their own way. Raku said when she was travelling to Hiroshima for the show she had a dream where she won this match. When she woke up she felt satisfied and already thought it was time to go home. Meanwhile Pom Harajuku was just being loud because she was upset she didn’t win.


DDT Around The World – August 2023

September 1, 2023

As always with this article I start off thinking it is going to be a lighter month than the last until it grows and grows. There are always extra bookings on the horizons whenever the boys and girls from DDT and Tokyo Joshi Pro go abroad. August was dominated by two stories in my mind. Konosuke Takeshita wrestling The Golden Lovers in Wembley and Maki Itoh being all over GCW even more so than usual. Other things of note include TJPW announcing its return to America while dipping its toe into China, MAO becoming fast friends with El Desperado and Miyu Yamashita finding herself in ChocoPro territory by virtue of being EVE’s champion. Maybe next month’s article will be the one that finally slows down a little bit.

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Videos

Konosuke Takeshita In AEW Playlist


AEW “DYNAMITE 200”, 02/08/2023
Yuengling Center, Tampa, Florida, USA

1. Chris Jericho & Konosuke Takeshita Vs Sammy Guevara & Daniel Garcia


WRESTLING REVOLVER “HEAT EM UP”, 03/08/2023
Calumet Center, Dayton, Ohio, USA

1. Lucha Street Fight: Gringo Loco Vs Konosuke Takeshita

Video starts at 39:54.
MDRN NMD/GATOH MOVE “CHOCO NIGHT GRAPS!”, 29/08/2023
The Bread Shed, Grosvenor St., Manchester, England

1. Masahiro Takanashi Vs Kid Lykos

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Results


AEW “DYNAMITE 200”, 02/08/2023
Yuengling Center, Tampa, Florida, USA

1. Chris Jericho & Konosuke Takeshita defeated Sammy Guevara & Daniel Garcia when Jericho pinned Garcia after a Bat Attack from Don Callis (12:21).

As I feared, Takeshita’s storyline with Don Callis was pretty much hijacked by Chris Jericho to set up his own angle with Takeshita’s manager. Takeshita & Jericho teamed up under Callis’s recommendation against two people close to Jericho, Sammy Guevara & Daniel Garcia. Callis knocked out Garcia with a baseball bat behind the ref’s back and Jericho made the choice to pin him for the victory.


WRESTLING REVOLVER “HEAT EM UP”, 03/08/2023
Calumet Center, Dayton, Ohio, USA

1. Lucha Street Fight: Konosuke Takeshita defeated Gringo Loco with the Diving Senton (14:39).

Takeshita showed up in Wrestling REVOLVER as a short notice replacement for Jon Moxley. His appearance made up for Takeshita’s own cancelled booking with the promotion back in June. Here Takeshita faced Gringo Loco in a Lucha Street Fight. By coincidence one of Loco’s big moves is the Himawari Bomb that Sanshiro Takagi also uses. Takeshita kicked out of the move and then countered a top rope version into a Poison Rana. Loco kicked out of the Powerdrive Knee so Takeshita then took a page out of Moxley’s book by giving Loco the Paradigm Shift. From there Takeshita won with the Diving Senton.


DREAMWAVE “SUMMER SPECTACULAR 2023”, 04/08/2023
Knights of Columbus, LaSalle, Illinois, USA

1. Dreamwave Women’s Title Qualifying Scramble: Zayda Steele defeated Brittnie Brooks, Maki Itoh, B3CCA, Kaia McKenna and Shazza McKenzie when Steele pinned McKenzie after the It’s Brittnie Bitch from Brooks (8:08).

Itoh entered Dreamwave’s 6-Woman Scramble in the hopes of qualifying for their new Women’s Championship. It was first fall to a finish but the ring soon emptied when some of the women, Itoh included got thrown out. She didn’t factor into the finish but would soon find out she had another chance.


DREAMWAVE “THOSE SUMMER NIGHTS”, 05/08/2023
Knights of Columbus, LaSalle, Illinois, USA

1. Dreamwave Women’s Title Qualifying Scramble: Brittnie Brooks defeated Maki Itoh, B3CCA, Kaia McKenna, Maggie Lee and Shelly Benson when Brookes pinned Lee with the It’s Brittnie Bitch (8:08).

The second chance didn’t work out any better for her. Another 6-Woman Scramble was held the next night with some of the same women involved. Itoh tried to submit two opponents at once by giving them a Double Half Crab but it left her vulnerable to a Super Kick. She went to recover outside the ring and couldn’t climb back in time to break the pin.


GCW “NO SIGNAL IN THE HILLS”, 11/08/2023
Ukrainian Cultural Center, Los Angeles, California, USA

1. 4 Way Match: Steph De Lander defeated Allie Katch, Maki Itoh and Masha Slamovich when De Lander pinned Itoh with the Fireman’s Carry Facebuster (11:53).

Okay maybe multi-person free for alls are not Itoh’s forte. This one was a bit crazy though. Masha Slamovich had Allie Katch beaten when all of a sudden Blake Christian jumped into the ring and attacked her. Itoh took exception and threw punches at Christian, opening herself up to Steph De Lander giving her an F5-like move to win.


PWG “MYSTERY VORTEX”, 13/08/2023
Globe Theatre, Los Angeles, California, USA

1. Konosuke Takeshita defeated Rey Horus (?:??).
2. Evil Uno, Maki Itoh & Aramis defeated Masha Slamovich, Peter Avalon & Látigo (?:??).

Here’s something I never thought I’d write. Maki Itoh did a balcony dive at a PWG show! It’s been rare to see PWG holding shows nowadays but last month they held one of their signature events “MYSTERY VORTEX” where nothing is advertised before hand and fans only know what the matches are when they happen. Itoh was involved in a bizarre mixture of wrestlers in a 6-Person Tag Match. She teamed with Evil Uno & Aramis to beat Masha Slamovich, Peter Avalon & Látigo in a match mixing together AEW, lucha libre and women’s wrestling talent.

Takeshita was also on the show too, beating Rey Horus. I’d call him a PWG regular at this point if they ran shows more often.


KOPW “THE NEW ERA OF CHINESE PRO WRESTLING III”, 19/08/2023
Tianyue Sports City, Nanhai Foshan, Guangdong, China

1. Mizuki defeated Nao Kakuta with the Cutie Special (?:??).

TJPW made their first steps into China when Mizuki and Nao Kakuta were invited to take part in King Of Pro Wrestling. They faced each other in a non-title match and won over the crowd with their back and forth action.


NJPW “LEC PRESENTS ALL STAR JR FESTIVAL USA 2023”, 19/08/2023
2300 Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

1. El Desperado & MAO defeated Nick Wayne & Jordan Oliver when Desperado pinned Oliver with the Pinche Loco (19:14).

The All Star Jr. Festival proved to be such a good idea in Japan that they brought the show over to America. MAO was invited along and got to team with El Desperado. The two of them bonded by playing Dragon Quest V on the flight to America so their team name was DQV. They fought a tag team MAO lost to earlier this year, The East West Express. Both Nick Wayne & Jordan Oliver performed Stereo Springboard Cutters to their opponents but both only got a two count. MAO got rid of Wayne by spiking him onto the canvas with a Spinning Headscissors and Desperado pinned Oliver with the Pinche Loco.


GCW “HOMECOMING – PART 1”, 19/08/2023
The Showboat, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA

1. Nick Gage & Maki Itoh defeated Matt Cardona & Steph De Lander when Gage & Itoh pinned Cardona & De Lander each with the Kokeshi (11:57).

Months of fights between Maki Death Kill and Deathmatch Royalty led to a climactic battle between them finally happening. Itoh & Nick Gage were finally going to get their hands on Matt Cardona & De Lander with nothing in their way to stop them. Cardona & De Lander made a big entrance out of it, arriving at the venue in the Ecto-1 and wearing Ghostbusters outfits. For you see tonight they were the Deathmatch Busters! The joke blew up in their faces because Maki Death Kill sliced the two of them apart with pizza cutters! Cardona & De Lander tried to Pedigree Gage & Itoh onto thumbtacks but they were both Back Body Dropped onto the pile instead. Gage & Itoh then delivered stereo Kokeshi Headbutts to win the match and possibly put an end to the feud.


IMPACT/NJPW “MULTIVERSE UNITED”, 20/08/2023
2300 Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

1. Scramble Match: Chris Sabin defeated Kevin Knight, Frankie Kazarian, BUSHI, YOH, Rich Swann, MAO and El Desperado when Sabin pinned YOH with the Cradle Shock (8:06).

MAO was involved even further with the international Jr. Heavyweight Division action the next night. Impact and New Japan held a co-promoted event and MAO was thrown into an 8-Man Scramble match to open the show. He tried joining forces with Desperado again but the numbers game still proved to be too much for the two of them. Instead Chris Sabin ended up being the last man standing. Well, at least until BUSHI blinded him with Poison Mist after the match.


GCW “HOMECOMING – PART 2”, 20/08/2023
The Showboat, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA

1. Maki Itoh defeated B3CCA with the Itoh Deluxe (9:21).

In the first of two singles matches they have coming up together, Itoh beat B3CCA in GCW. Will the result be the same when they have a rematch at MLW next month?


ROW/GCW “GCW VS RENEGADES OF WRESTLING”, 25/08/2023
Roundhouse, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

1. Maki Itoh defeated Charli Evans with the Itoh Deluxe (18:03).

Itoh’s next focus in GCW was their tour of Australia with the Renegades Of Wrestling promotion. On Night 1 Itoh defeated Charli Evans and revealed a new word she learned that Aussies like to call other people. I’m not going to type it out here. It’s difficult enough trying to keep this blog from getting caught in web filters.


ROW/GCW “GCW VS RENEGADES OF WRESTLING”, 26/08/2023
Melbourne Pavilion, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

1. ROW Women’s Title: Aysha (c) defeated Maki Itoh with a Double Arm DDT (12:58).
*V3 for Aysha.

The second night featured Itoh challenged Aysha for the ROW Women’s Title. Itoh had the champion beat when she made her tap out to the Itoh Deluxe but Aysha’s cronies at ringside kept distracting the referee so it wouldn’t be seen. Itoh let go of the hold to chase them off but turned around into a Double Arm DDT, stealing the win for Aysha.


GATOH MOVE “CHOCOPRO”, 26/08/2023
The Yard Theatre, London, England

1. Emi Sakura & Masahiro Takanashi defeated Emersyn Jayne & Debbie Keitel (12:53).

Just including this result because Masahiro Takanashi is a DDT guy as well as a ChocoPro regular. I have more to talk about the second show of the double header.


EVE/GATOH MOVE “CHOCOPRO X EVE SUPER SHOW”, 26/08/2023
The Dome, Tufnell Park, London, England

1. EVE Title: Miyu Yamashita (c) defeated Emersyn Jayne with the Crash Rabbit Heat (19:39).
*V8 for Miyu Yamashita.
2. Mei Suruga & Masahiro Takanashi defeated Kanji & Kid Lykos when Suruga pinned Kanji with the Maple Model (11:25).

Being the EVE Champion got Miyu Yamashita to appear on a ChocoPro branded show for the first time. She opened up the show with a title defence against Emersyn Jayne. That match was supposed to happen in July but travel problems for the challenger prevented that from happening. It finally went ahead here and the match turned out to be a violent one. Yamashita was slammed onto the front row of chairs outside the ring and Jayne ended up getting busted open. Jayne did kick out of the Skull Kick, being one of the few people to do so. But Yamashita followed it up with the Crash Rabbit Heat to remain the champion.

One of ChocoPro’s victories on the show against EVE happened when Masahiro Takanashi & Mei Suruga defeated Kid Lykos & Kanji. It was one of the rare times men got to wrestle on an EVE show too.

The show also left with a question of what could have been because Marika Kobashi was planned to compete as an EVE representative. She is currently staying in Scotland but her flight to London was cancelled and she was unable to make it to the show. Part of her apology included regret over not being able to see Yamashita again so I wonder if she was meant to wrestle her instead of Jayne?

I was at this show by the way. Although I admit leaving during the main event in order to catch my train back to the hotel so I missed Emi Sakura’s surprise induction into EVE’s Hall Of Fame at the end.


ROW/GCW “GCW VS RENEGADES OF WRESTLING”, 27/08/2023
Eatons Hill Hotel, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

1. Maki Itoh defeated Allie Katch with the I.S.D. (11:03).

Itoh bounced back from her failure to win a title by taking on GCW’s own Allie Katch on the final night of the Australian tour. It was another clean victory for Itoh. She seems to have Katch’s number every time they face each other.


AEW “ALL IN LONDON”, 27/08/2023
Wembley Stadium, London, England

1. Jay White, Juice Robinson & Konosuke Takeshita (w/ Austin Gunn & Colten Gunn) defeated The Golden Elite Kenny Omega, Kota Ibushi & Adam Page when Takeshita pinned Omega with a School Boy (20:28).

I was at this show too! Getting to see Takeshita live in front of 80,000+ people in Wembley was great especially since my first time seeing him was in front of 330 people somewhere in Saitama back in 2016. That I got to see him mix it up with The Golden Lovers was a bonus. Even the result went Takeshita’s way. He countered Kota Ibushi’s Kamigoye with a sick looking Jumping Knee Strike of his own. Then when Kenny Omega was dealing with Bullet Club Gold, Takeshita rolled him up with a School Boy to steal the win.


MDRN NMD/GATOH MOVE “CHOCO NIGHT GRAPS!”, 29/08/2023
The Bread Shed, Grosvenor St., Manchester, England

1. Masahiro Takanashi defeated Kid Lykos with the Takatonic (?:??).

ChocoPro’s trip to England ended with a collaboration show alongside Modern Nomad Pro Wrestling. Takanashi took on Lykos again, this time in a singles match and at a venue where there was no wrestling ring. It was a mat wrestling show similar to ChocoPro’s own events in Ichigaya.

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Upcoming Appearances


GCW “SAY YOU WILL”, 01/09/2023
Grand Sports Arena, Hoffman Estates, Illinois, USA

1. Maki Itoh Vs X

GCW advertised Maki Death Kill as showing up in the show but they won’t be wrestling together. Gage is facing El Hijo del Vikingo while Itoh’s match on the show has not been announced yet.


OTT “WRESTLERAMA”, 02/09/2023
The Warehouse Red Cow, Dublin, Ireland

1. Session Moth Martina & Miyu Yamashita Vs Debbie Keitel & Anita Vaughan

Yamashita is heading over to my neck of the woods in Ireland for OTT. She’s looking forward to it and I bet Itoh told her stories about what Session Moth Martina is like. Debbie Keitel & Anita Vaughan will be there to stop the party though.


MLW “FURY ROAD”, 03/09/2023
2300 Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

1. B3CCA Vs Maki Itoh

Funny stuff that MLW announced this match first then GCW went and did it anyway.


AEW “ALL OUT”, 03/09/2023
United Center, Chicago, Illinois, USA

1. Kenny Omega Vs Konosuke Takeshita (w/ Don Callis)

It was announced during the “ALL IN” post-show scrum that Omega and Takeshita will face each other this weekend in Chicago at “ALL OUT”.


GCW “CRUSHED UP”, 10/09/2023
Roulette Intermedium, New York City, New York, USA

1. Maki Itoh Vs Killer Kelly

Itoh’s last match of her current tour is a one on one meeting against Killer Kelly.


PRESTIGE “THE RESPECT ISSUE”, 24/09/2023
Globe Theatre, Los Angeles, California, USA

1. Trish Adora Vs Shoko Nakajima

When Itoh is back in Japan, Shoko Nakajima tags out to be the next one going over to America. It’s all to build up TJPW’s big plan with Prestige as you will see at the bottom of this post.


REPUBLIC OF LUCHA “ROL VI VI VI: LA NOCHE DE WALPURGIS”, 30/10/2023
Republic Of Lucha, South Pasadena, California, USA

1. Konosuke Takeshita, Penta el Zero Miedo & Rey Fenix Vs Shun Skywalker, Bestia 666 & Mecha Wolf

Now isn’t this quite interesting? Takeshita from DDT and Shun Skywalker from Dragongate being pitted against each other. We also have the Lucha Brothers and La Rebelion involved in the match too.


TOKYO JOSHI PRO/PRESTIGE “COMBAT PRINCESS USA”, 14/12/2023
Globe Theatre, Los Angeles, California, USA

TJPW with the help of Prestige is coming back to Los Angeles this December! Announced for the show so far are Itoh, Yamashita, Rika Tatsumi, Mizuki, Taya Valkyrie, Masha Slamovich, Killer Kelly and Sandra Moone.


Before I Go To All In This Weekend

August 23, 2023

I’ll be travelling to England this weekend to see AEW in Wembley. I will also be at the EVE/ChocoPro show on Saturday night to see what Miyu Yamashita will get up to. I’ll be around to post the results for tomorrow’s Baka Gaijin show but after that my next post here won’t be until Monday night at the very earliest. If the build up of news and reports after I come back is too much I may delay this month’s DDT Around The World article by a few days. But I’m not going to get worried over that right now. Should be a fun weekend.

BAKA GAIJIN + FRIENDS “VOL. SEVEN: CHRISSY B’S BIRTHDAY BASH”, 24/08/2023
Tokyo ARENA Shimokitazawa

1. Special Single Match: Mecha Mummy (w/ Mad Dr. Ueki) Vs Takeshi Masada
2. Special Single Match: Antonio Honda Vs Ram Kaichow
3. Special Single Match: Hagane Shinno Vs Maya Yukihi
4. Special Single Match: Chris Brookes Vs Yoshihiko

The show will include a performance by Bed In idol Kaori Masukodera.

DDT “FIGHTING BEER GARDEN – DAY 2”, 29/08/2023
Tokyo Ueno Park Outdoor Stage

1. 3 Way Tag Match: Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno Vs Yusuke Okada & Yuya Koroku Vs Toy Kojima & Kazuma Sumi
2. Yuji Hino, Makoto Oishi & Ilusion Vs Daisuke Sasaki, KANON & MJ Paul
3. Rock ‘n’ Roll 4 Way Death Match: Kazuki Hirata Vs MAO Vs Antonio Honda Vs Yuni
4. Drunk Tag Match: Yukio Sakaguchi & Saki Akai Vs HARASHIMA & Akito
5. Different Mixed Martial Arts Special Tag Match: Shinya Aoki & Yuki Ishida Vs Thanomsak Toba & Rukiya
6. Special Single Match: Yuko Miyamoto Vs Hideki Okatani
7. Beer Garden Specialty Customer Lottery 6-Man Tag Match: Chris Brookes, Jun Akiyama, Kazusada Higuchi, Yuki Ueno, Yukio Naya and Takeshi Masada

Furitsuke Kamen (the masked alter ego of Lucky Ikeda) will be at the show to perform a “Pro Wrestling Gymnastics” routine.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW CITY CIRCUIT ’23 ~AUTUMN TOUR OPENING ROUND~”, 03/09/2023
Tokyo Otemachi Mitsui Hall

1. Toga Vs Shino Suzuki
2. Yuki Aino Vs Haru Kazashiro
3. Moka Miyamoto, HIMAWARI & Wakana Uehara Vs Haruna Neko, Kaya Toribami & Runa Okubo
4. Hikari Noa Vs Suzume
5. Mizuki Vs Juria Nagano
6. 8-Woman Tag Match: Rika Tatsumi & Miu Watanabe, Shoko Nakajima & Hyper Misao, Yuki Kamifuku & Mahiro Kiryu, Raku & Pom Harajuku

In a preview of the upcoming Princess Tag Team Titles tournament, four of the teams involved will be put into an 8-Woman Tag Match. A lottery will determine which teams will be teaming up with each other. The four taking part are Daydream, Kyoraku Kyomei, Toyo Mates and Raku & Pom Harajuku.

A first time ever singles match between Mizuki and Juria Nagano takes place on the show.

Miyu Yamashita, Nao Kakuta and Arisu Endo will still be absent for the same reasons they are missing this weekend’s Osaka show. Yamashita is in England, Kakuta is in a stage play and Endo is injured.

DDT “DRAMATIC EXPLOSION 2023”, 18/09/2023
Nagoya International Conference Center Event Hall

1. Current Blast Death Match: Atsushi Onita & Yoshitatsu Vs Jun Akiyama & Kotaro Suzuki

It used to be that Jun Akiyama never wanted to do Explosion Death Matches and now he’s going to do two in the same month! Akiyama already has one coming up on 9th September and now Atsushi Onita convinced him to take part in another one nine days later. However if Akiyama’s team beats Onita’s team on the 9th then Akiyama & Kotaro Suzuki’s match here against Onita & Yoshitatsu will have the All Asia Tag Team Titles on the line. If not then this will be a non-title match. Either way, Onita has dragged Akiyama into doing his specialty death match twice!

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “WRESTLE PRINCESS IV”, 09/10/2023
Tokyo Tama Mirai Messe

1. Sakisama, Mei Saint-Michel, Martha & Yukio Saint Laurent Vs X, X, X & X
2. Special Single Match: Nyla Rose Vs Maki Itoh
3. Princess Tag Team Titles: Winners Of 09/09 Match Vs Winners Of 09/10 Match
4. Princess Of Princess Title: Mizuki (c) Vs Miyu Yamashita

Aja Kong and Ryo Mizunami have both been added to the show.


Beer Garden Tomorrow, All Asia Tag Titles, Doi Is Immersed In DDT, Yamashita Challenges Mizuki

August 15, 2023

DDT “FIGHTING BEER GARDEN – DAY 1”, 16/08/2023
Tokyo Ueno Park Outdoor Stage

1. Yusuke Okada Vs Rukiya
2. Daisuke Sasaki, MJ Paul & KANON Vs Toy Kojima, Yuya Koroku & Takeshi Masada
3. Blindfold Hidden Breast 4 Way Death Match: HARASHIMA Vs Kazuki Hirata Vs Antonio Honda Vs Yuki “Sexy” Iino
4. Special Tag Match: Manpuku Hirutaro & Yuki Ueno Vs MAO & Pokotan
5. The Scariest Event In History! Ghost Story New Numabukuro Death Match: Saki Akai Vs Yuni Vs Hideki Okatani Vs Kazuma Sumi (Ghost Story Reading Artist: Hisaya Imabayashi)
6. YOROKOBI BREWERY Infomercial Match: Yuji Hino, Yukio Sakaguchi & Soma Takao Vs Kazusada Higuchi, Yukio naya & Yuki Ishida
7. Special Tag Match: Chris Brookes & Masahiro Takanashi Vs Shigehiro Irie & Jun Akiyama

The official mascot of the Fuji TV show “Poka Poka” is Yuki Ueno’s mystery tag team partner. Manpuku Hirutaro got a lot of attention after its first appearance on the show for having an “ugly cute” look and lazy behaviour. Chris Brookes tweeted “this thing is ugly as hell and I hate it” in response to the reveal but he may have also been talking about Pokotan.

Danshoku Dieno is taking the next couple of shows off to get surgery for a nasal bone fracture he suffered at the Yamagata show two weeks ago. So he will have to miss the Ghost Story Death Match.

DDT “SOMA TAKAO LOCAL TRIUPMH! MEMORIES OF SUMMER VACATION 2023 TOUR IN OTA-KU”, 19/08/2023
Tokyo Ota Ward Industrial Plaza PiO Small Exhibition Hall

1. 1 Vs 3 Handicap Match: Yuki “Sexy” Iino Vs Akito, Yusuke Okada & Yuya Koroku
2. Jun Akiyama, Saki Akai & Antonio Honda Vs Kazusada Higuchi, Yuki Ishida & Rukiya
3. DAMNATION T.A Vs The 37KAMIINA!: Daisuke Sasaki & MJ Paul Vs Yuki Ueno & Toy Kojima
4. Special Tag Match: Masamune & Yukio Naya Vs Hideki Okatani & Kazuma Sumi
5. Special Tag Match: Chris Brookes & Yuji Hino Vs HARASHIMA & Takeshi Masada
6. Special Single Match: Makoto Oishi Vs KANON
7. Special Tag Match: Soma Takao & Shota Vs Yukio Sakaguchi & Kazuki Hirata

Recent opponents are now teaming up together. Brookes & Yuji Hino are pairing off for a match against HARASHIMA & Takeshi Masada while Yukio Sakaguchi & Kazuki Hirata join forces against ROMANCE DAWN.

With Dieno out of action and Yumehito Imanari being too busy at the moment to be “Fantastic”, Yuki Iino is all on his own for the time being. Akito sees this as the perfect time to strike Pheromones when the unit is at its weakest.

The next KO-D Tag Team Titles program begins its buildup with Makoto Oishi taking on KANON.

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

1. Makoto Oishi, Yuni & Rukiya Vs Yusuke Okada, Yuya Koroku & Ilusion
2. 3 Way Match: Kazuki Hirata Vs Yuki “Sexy” Iino Vs Saki Akai
3. Yuji Hino & Yukio Naya Vs KANON & MJ Paul
4. Osaka Specialty Special Tag Match: Sanshiro Takagi & Tsutenkakka Vs Akito & Kazuma Sumi
5. BURNING Vs Harimao!: Jun Akiyama & Kotaro Suzuki Vs Kazusada Higuchi & Yuki Ishida
6. Special Tag Match: Chris Brookes & Takeshi Masada Vs Shigehiro Irie & HARASHIMA
7. Special Single Match: Daisuke Sasaki Vs Yuki Ueno
8. Current Blast Bat & Board 6-Man Tag Death Match: Atsushi Onita, Yoshitatsu & Toy Kojima Vs Yukio Sakaguchi, Hideki Okatani & Soma Takao

The latest turn of events over the upcoming Explosion Death Matches in DDT now involves the All Asia Tag Team Titles. The two male members of Eruption are demanding if they beat Atsushi Onita’s team in Osaka then he has to give them a title shot next month in Nagoya.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “HAPPY SUMMER VACATION! ~TJPW SUMMER VACATION 2023~”, 26/08/2023
Osaka Hanamizuki Hall

1. Kaya Toribami Vs Runa Okubo
2. 3 Way Match: Mahiro Kiryu Vs Haruna Neko Vs Shino Suzuki
3. Hyper Misao & Haru Kazashiro Vs Hikari Noa & Toga
4. Miu Watanabe, Suzume & Wakana Uehara Vs Yuki Aino, Raku & Moka Miyamoto
5. Rika Tatsumi Vs Demonio Dos
6. Chu! Summer Party ~ Tides Match 2023: Mizuki & HIMAWARI Vs Shoko Nakajima & Pom Harajuku

There’s been several times over the years when the old indies gimmick Demonio Uno showed up on DDT and Tokyo Joshi Pro shows held in Tsurumi. Rika Tatsumi defeated him one of those times. Well there is also a Demonio Dos and he’s coming to get revenge on Tatsumi for his tag team partner!

Runa Okubo gets to wrestle in Osaka for the first time because she is on summer vacation from school.

Several regulars will be missing this show. Miyu Yamashita will be wrestling in England that weekend, Yuki Kamifuku is attending an event in Taiwan, Nao Kakuta is performing in a stage play and Arisu Endo is out of action with a back injury.

DDT “MEMORIES OF SUMMER VACATION 2023”, 27/08/2023
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

0. Dark Match: Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Akito Vs Yuni & Kazuma Sumi
1. Yuji Hino, Makoto Oishi & Rukiya Vs Minoru Fujita, KANON & MJ Paul
2. Kazusada Higuchi, Toy Kojima, Yuki Ishida & Takeshi Masada Vs Yukio Naya, Yusuke Okada, Hideki Okatani & Yuya Koroku
3. Saki Akai Photobook “GRACIA” Infomercial Match: Kazuki Hirata Vs Antonio Honda Vs Saki Akai Photobook “GRACIA”
4. Special Single Match: Daisuke Sasaki Vs MAO
5. HARASHIMA Debut 22nd Anniversary Match: HARASHIMA, Yasu Urano & Ken Ohka Vs Daisuke Sekimoto, Sanshiro Takagi & Yukio Sakaguchi
6. Saki Akai Debut 10th Anniversary Match Vol. 3 ~ Special Single Match: Danshoku Dieno Vs Saki Akai
7. Special Tag Match: Chris Brookes & Yuki Ueno Vs Shigehiro Irie & Jun Akiyama

Dieno should be cleared in time to have his match with Saki Akai.

Akito came up with another idea to try and destroy Pheromones. He is going to team with Iino for one match in order to infiltrate Pheromones and investigate how they are preparing for the final battle between the two sides on 9th September.

GANBARE☆PRO “THE TRIPLE CROSS 2023”, 02/09/2023
Tokyo Oji BASEMENT MON☆STAR

1. HARUKAZE & YuuRI Vs Sumire Natsu & Riara
2. GanPro 2 Big Singles Match: Shota Vs Kuma Arashi
3. GanPro 2 Big Singles Match: Keisuke Ishii Vs Tyson Maeguchi
4. Ken Ohka, Soma Takao & Shinichiro Tominaga Vs Yumehito Imanari, Mizuki Watase & Munetatsu Nakamura

Kuma Arashi is back in Ganbare☆Pro after missing the previous event. Shota experienced his power first hand in his last appearance but now he wants to fight him one on one.

GANBARE☆PRO “KAMIKAZE TAXI 2023”, 02/09/2023
Tokyo Oji BASEMENT MON☆STAR

1. HARUKAZE & YuuRI Vs Tae Honma & Yoshiko Hasegawa
2. Shuichiro Katsumura & Munetatsu Nakamura Vs Shota & Soma Takao
3. Secret Captain’s Fall Elimination 6-Man Tag Match: Ken Ohka, Mizuki Watase & Shingo Vs Keisuke Ishii, Yumehito Imanari & Takuya Wada
4. Spirit Of Ganbare World Openweight Title: Isami Kodaka (c) Vs Shinichiro Tominaga

Shingo returns for his second GanPro appearance. The DEEP fighter finds himself facing Pancrase fighter Takuya Wada in a Secret Captian’s Fall Tag Match.

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

1. Pheromones Vs Subjugation Final Match! Special Single Match ~ Dissolution Contra Vice President: Yuki “Sexy” Iino (w/ Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno) Vs Akito
2. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Yukio Sakaguchi, Saki Akai & Hideki Okatani Vs Yuko Miyamoto, Isami Kodaka & Ram Kaichow
3. Current Blast Death Match: Atsushi Onita, Yoshitatsu & Toy Kojima Vs Sanshiro Takagi, Jun Akiyama & Yusuke Okada
4. Special Tag Match: KONOSUKE TAKESHITA & Daisuke Sasaki Vs Yuki Ueno & MAO
5. KO-D Tag Team Titles: Yuji Hino & Makoto Oishi Vs Minoru Fujita & KANON
6. DDT Extreme Title & Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title: Kazuki Hirata (E/c) Vs Naruki Doi (I/c)
7. KO-D Openweight Title: Chris Brookes (c) Vs Shigehiro Irie

This past weekend Naruki Doi won his third DDT championship, becoming the new Iron Man Heavymwetalweight Champion. He feels like he has immersed himself into DDT and wants to ingrain himself even more by adding the DDT Extreme Title to his collection. Kazuki Hirata’s current title reign best represents DDT in Doi’s eyes so a big stakes double title match is now on the cards. However Doi is at risk of losing the Iron Man Title anywhere, even outside of DDT because he has a bunch of bookings in other companies coming up. He is getting his Extreme Title match with Hirata no matter what but if he was to lose the Iron Man Title before that it would sour their match a little bit.

The new KO-D Tag Champions Hino & Oishi aren’t done with DAMNATION T.A just yet. KANON is calling on Minoru Fujita to help mentor him towards winning the belts off of them.

DDT “DRAMATIC EXPLOSION 2023”, 18/09/2023
Nagoya International Conference Center Event Hall

1. Current Blast Death Match: Atsushi Onita & Yoshitatsu Vs X & X

If Eruption win the 6-Man Tag Explosion Death Match this weekend then Yukio Sakaguchi & Hideki Okatani will be the team facing Onita & Yoshitatsu in Nagoya with the All Asia Tag Titles on the line.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW CITY CIRCUIT ’23 ~YOKOHAMA PERFORMANCE~”, 23/09/2023
Yokohama Radiant Hall

1. Sakisama & Mei Saint-Michel Vs X & X

The next time we see NEO Biishiki-gun will be in Yokohama at the end of September. Sakisama & Mei Saint-Michel are having a tag match there.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “WRESTLE PRINCESS IV”, 09/10/2023
Tokyo Tama Mirai Messe

1. Sakisama, Mei Saint-Michel, Martha & Yukio Saint Laurent Vs X, X, X & X
2. Special Single Match: Nyla Rose Vs Maki Itoh
3. Princess Tag Team Titles: X & X Vs X & X
4. Princess Of Princess Title: Mizuki (c) Vs Miyu Yamashita

Yamashita defeated Mizuki in the 1st Round of this year’s Tokyo Princess Cup. She decided she would not challenge her for the Princess Of Princess Title unless she went on to win the tournament. Yamashita did so, finally ending the one accomplishment in TJPW that’s been her Achilles Heel for her entire career.

The next Princess Tag Team Champions will be crowned on this show. They have been vacant since June because of Yuka Sakazaki’s injury. That it’s taken them this long to decide new champions makes me think the plan all along was for The Magical Sugar Rabbits to keep the belts all the way through to Sakazaki’s graduation.

Nyla Rose returns for a first time singles match against Maki Itoh. They’ve had a few AEW tag matches both against and teaming with each other.

The main foursome of NEO Biishiki-gun will appear for an 8-Person Tag Match.


TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TOKYO PRINCESS CUP” Results

August 13, 2023

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

1. Hikari Noa defeated Runa Okubo with the Blue Racer (5:13).
2. 3 Way Match: Nao Kakuta defeated Haruna Neko and HIMAWARI when Kakuta pinned HIMAWARI with the Shiden Kai (8:04).
3. Raku & Pom Harajuku defeated Shino Suzuki & Haru Kazashiro when Raku pinned Kazashiro with the Doctor Yellow (7:40).
4. Moka Miyamoto & Juria Nagano defeated Hyper Misao & Kaya Toribami when Nagano pinned Toribami with the Whirlwind Kick (8:58).
5. Yuki Arai & Mahiro Kiryu defeated Wakana Uehara & Toga when Arai submitted Uehara with the Sasori-Katame (10:18).
6. Mizuki, Shoko Nakajima & Suzume defeated Rika Tatsumi, Miu Watanabe & Yuki Aino when Mizuki pinned Watanabe with the Cutie Special (15:31).
7. Tokyo Princess Cup – Final: Miyu Yamashita defeated Yuki Kamifuku with the Skull Kick (15:57).

The tenth edition of the Tokyo Princess Cup has brought closure to one of the longest running curses in Tokyo Joshi Pro. That’s right, Miyu Yamashita has finally won the tournament! Her victory in the final ended Yuki Kamifuku’s strong run but it wasn’t without a fight. Kamifuku used the Reverse Famouser she debuted yesterday, a Superplex, the Manjigatame and also some good old Eye Pokes to her advantage. But Yamashita fought back with German Suplexes, the Return Crash and the Skull Kick. That last move would have won the match if it wasn’t for Kamifuku’s long leg reaching over to cause a rope break. Kamifuku had one last gasp that led to her missing the Famouser. Yamashita quickly capitalised with the Crash Rabbit Heat to the back followed by another from the front to win the final.

Yamashita told the fans it’s taken 10 years but she finally won the Princess Cup. However she still has big ambitions for the future and is moving straight on to the next one. She called down Mizuki to the ring and told her she wanted to win this tournament so she could challenge her for the Princess Of Princess Title with pride. Mizuki admitted she is frustrated she lost to Yamashita in the 1st Round. Her pro wrestling life is the exact opposite of Yamashita but she respects her a lot. Mizuki accepted the challenge and the title match will take place at “WRESTLE PRINCESS IV” on 9th October. Yamashita requested a handshake afterward but Mizuki declined with a shake of her head.

Backstage Yamashita repeated her points. She has thought about winning the Princess Cup for the last ten years but the championship Mizuki has is more important to her. She also praised Kamifuku and is really glad to have fought her in the final. When a reporter pointed out that Yamashita has won both of TJPW’s annual tournaments this year, she said she can now add “Tournament Wins” to her special skills column. Kamifuku revealed that right after the match she received a LINE message from Aja Kong that said “You did your best.” Kamifuku still does not like competing in tournaments but understands she has to enter them and do her best.

Mizuki kept her skills sharp in the semi-main event by scoring the pinfall on Miu Watanabe in a 6-Woman Tag Match. Suzume took out Yuki Aino with the top rope Facebuster, Rika Tatsumi got rid of her with the Twist Of Fate and Shoko Nakajima bowled out who was left with a Topé Con Hilo. Back in the ring Mizuki unleashed the Whirling Candy on Watanabe and pinned her with the Cutie Special.

Yesterday’s fortunes were switched around for a few people in Match #5. Toga was coming in fresh off of winning a match by herself for the first time and Wakana Uehara was on the winning team with her. Yuki Arai on the other hand had to bounce back from her semi-final loss while Mahiro Kiryu is dealing with the hand she’s dealt with like always. Toga used her new Rock Bottom finisher again on Kiryu but the match came down to Uehara against Arai. A Big Boot from Arai led to her submitting Uehara with the Scorpion Deathlock.

The first time meeting between Hyper Misao and Juria Nagano saw the two facing off for a Karate duel. Misao then immediately threw away that idea and strangled Nagano with her cloak instead. Nagano had her Karate Tag partner Moka Miyamoto to count on though and together they kicked away Misao. Kaya Toribami stepped in and got a nearfall on Nagano with the 2nd Rope Twisting Senton. But Nagano hit her with a flurry of strikes, finishing her off with the Whirlwind Kick for the three count.

There was some confusion during the morning over Pom Harajuku. A couple of hours before the show began, TJPW announced she would be absent for various reasons and the card would be changed in response to that. The new card had Aino replacing Harajuku so Aino would have ended up wrestling twice. However Sayuri Namba then announced during the show opening introductions that Harajuku was here and will be wrestling her match after all, just a little later than scheduled. In the match itself Harajuku had a handle on Shino Suzuki while Raku beat Haru Kazashiro with the Doctor Yellow.

The last of the summer vibes were cherished in the 3 Way Match. Nao Kakuta stood on HIMAWARI like a surfboard, tied Haruna Neko’s tail to the rope to immobilise her and then pinned HIMAWARI with the Shiden Kai.

Hikari Noa won her match by using the Blue Racer submission hold for the first time in a while. She locked the move in on Runa Okubo and pulled her away from the ropes. Stuck in the center of the ring with nowhere to go, Okubo gave up.

TJPW is heading back to America this December for a co-promoted show with Presitge Wrestling! The two promotions are putting together “COMBAT PRINCESS USA” at the Globe Theater in Los Angeles on 14th December. The names announced so far are Mizuki, Rika Tatsumi, Miyu Yamashita, Maki Itoh, Taya Valkyrie, Masha Slamovich, Killer Kelly and Sandra Moone.

Maki Itoh Vs Nyla Rose was announced for “WRESTLE PRINCESS IV” on 9th October.

The vacant Princess Tag Team Titles will crown new champions at “WRESTLE PRINCESS IV”. Details will be announced at a later date.


TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TOKYO PRINCESS CUP” Results

August 12, 2023

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

1. Wakana Uehara, Toga & Runa Okubo defeated HIMAWARI, Shino Suzuki & Haru Kazashiro when Toga pinned Suzuki with the Rock Bottom (9:25).
2. Suzume defeated Juria Nagano with the Ring A Bell (6:05).
3. It’s Summer Vacation! Eat Shaved Ice And Enter 8-Woman Tag Match: Yuki Aino, Raku, Pom Harajuku & Haruna Neko defeated Hyper Misao, Hikari Noa, Nao Kakuta & Kaya Toribami when Harajuku pinned Toribami with the Pom de Justice (9:58).
4. Sakisama & Mei Saint-Michel defeated Mizuki & Mahiro Kiryu when Sakisama pinned Kiryu with the Academy Award (13:53).
5. Shoko Nakajima & Miu Watanabe defeated Moka Miyamoto & Arisu Endo when Nakajima pinned Miyamoto with the Northern Lights Suplex (13:21).
6. Tokyo Princess Cup – Semi Final: Miyu Yamashita defeated Yuki Arai with the Skull Kick (13:18).
7. Tokyo Princess Cup – Semi Final: Yuki Kamifuku defeated Rika Tatsumi with the Diving Famouser (12:39).

See what you can do when you put your mind to it? Yuki Kamifuku has spent this year’s Tokyo Princess Cup proving her doubters wrong and it’s taken her all the way to winning a Korakuen Hall main event for the first time! And she did it by beating Rika Tatsumi too, being the first person to pin her since January. Tatsumi tried to use submission holds but Kamifuku’s tall body allowed her to break out of the White Dragon Sleeper. Kamifuku then ran in to hit a Guillotine Drop and then climbed the second rope for a Diving Famouser to score the three count. Although Tatsumi lost, she still felt like she made a lot of progress in the tournament this year. She said she will use that experience for her future International Princess Title defences.

Joining Kamifuku in the final is Miyu Yamashita. Ten years into the tournament’s existence Yamashita has entered every single one and this is the first time she has reached the final. Yuki Arai gave her a tough challenge to make it here. It was one of the few times Yamashita took just as many kicks to the face than her opponent. Big Boots were a key part of Arai’s battle plan until Yamashita blocked the Finally, threw up a feint and hit her target with the Skull Kick to win. Still, Arai is proud over how far she made it this year. She noticed she has gone one round further than the year before in every Princess Cup she has entered so next year she is aiming to go even higher.

So tomorrow’s final has come down to Yamashita Vs Kamifuku. Yamashita admitted she didn’t expect Kamifuku would make it this far but she is looking forward to fighting her with everything on the line tomorrow. Kamifuku said she will prepare for the final the same way she does for any other match. She is going to paint her nails, get her hair treated and use her beauty to win! Backstage Kamifuku said she loves her fans and is grateful for their support. She wants everyone to follow her whether they like or hate her. Yamashita said she is well aware of her bad fortunes in this tournament over the years. But then she thinks about everybody she has fought and beaten as well as remembering Yuka Sakazaki finally winning the Princess Cup for the first time last year. Those thoughts are what pushed her not to fall apart here like she would have in years past.

The four wrestlers who were eliminated in the Quarter Finals were paired off for a tag team match. The result was Shoko Nakajima & Miu Watanabe taking on Moka Miyamoto & Arisu Endo. Watanabe ended up throwing Endo into Miyamoto and then Body Slammed the both of them at the same time. Nakajima then pinned Miyamoto with the Northern Lights Suplex. She was happy to win today because she is feeling all of the younger wrestlers starting to catch up on her. As Summer comes to an end, Watanabe said she will do her best in the Autumn.

The latest appearance of NEO Biishiki-gun featured Sakisama acting less disgusted towards her opponents than usual. That shouldn’t be surprising when you think about it because she always held a slightly higher opinion of Mizuki than she did for others. Her somewhat friendlier treatment towards her this time left Mei Saint-Michel feeling jealous. She got one over on Mizuki by dropping the metal serving tray over her head before Sakisama pinned Mahiro Kiryu. Then after the match Sakisama handed Mizuki her rose. Once everyone left ringside it was announced that NEO Biishiki-gun (including Martha & Yukio Saint Laurent) will return at “WRESTLE PRINCESS IV” on 9th October.

Both teams in the 8-Woman Tag match agreed to a special rule where everyone first had to eat a serving of shaved ice before they could enter the bout. There were different glasses of shaved ice placed on tables outside the ring so everybody drew chopsticks and had to eat the glass matching the colour they picked. Yuki Aino got to eat the smallest glass and entered the match almost immediately. She had to wait for Hyper Misao to finish her glass before the actual wrestling could begin. Nao Kakuta, Hikari Noa and Haruna Neko all followed to fill both teams up. Pom Harajuku had to eat the largest glass and that kept her out longer than everyone else. When she finally finished, she jumped in with the hot tag only to stop herself because she was suffering from brain freeze. But thanks to some teamwork with Raku, she was able to recover and pin Kaya Toribami for the win.

In a singles match Suzume got to take on Juria Nagano. Suzume dodged the Brazilian Kick, dropped Nagano with a Facebuster and pinned her with the Ring A Bell.

The 2023 class of rookies were all together in the opening 6-Woman Tag Match. The match gave the two teenagers Haru Kazashiro and Runa Okubo more time to develop their classmate rivalry. Wakana Uehara found herself fighting with HIMAWARI in the match a lot. But it was Toga who got all of the attention at the end by getting her first direct win in her young career! She broke out of Shino Suzuki’s Sleeper Hold and pinned her with a Rock Bottom. Both of them debuted on the same day so that particular result means a lot for them.

There will be two shows taking place in Shinagawa Prince Hotel Club eX on 15th October. The afternoon show will be “GO GIRL 4” and is for a women only audience. The evening event will be a regular show.