DDT In BOSJ Update

June 2, 2011

NJPW, 28/05/11
Tokyo Differ Ariake
900 Fans

2. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Ryusuke Taguchi [4] defeated Daisuke Sasaki [0] with the Milano-Style Dodon Throne (7:18).
6. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: Kenny Omega [4] defeated Koji Kanemoto [0] (11:43).
8. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: KUSHIDA [4] defeated Kota Ibushi [0] with the Midnight Express (12:46).

NJPW, 29/05/11
Tokyo Korakuen Hall
1,950 Fans

Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Daisuke Sasaki [2] defeated Gedo [0] with the NOW OR NEVER (11:10).

NJPW, 02/06/11
Toyohashi City Gymnasium #2
1,200 Fans

1. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Jushin Thunder Liger [4] defeated Daisuke Sasaki [2] with an Air Scissors Drop (8:06).
3. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: Kenny Omega [6] defeated Fujita “Jr.” Hayato [4] with the Croyt’s Wrath (10:43)
5. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Kota Ibushi [2] defeated Mascara Dorada [2] with a Firebird Splash (7:28).

Kenny Omega is carving through the competition, winning all three of his matches so far. He has now defeated Koji Kanemoto twice in BOSJ match and can now add Fujita “Jr.” Hayato to the list of wins over big names in the Jr. Heavyweight scene. Omega is currently tied in first place along with Prince Devitt and Tiger Mask. Omega’s next opponent is American wrestler TJP.

Kota Ibushi on the other hand is hoping he has gotten over his poor start to the tournament. He lost to KUSHIDA in a big upset on the 28/5 event but finally grabbed his first points by beating Mascara Dorada on today’s show. Ibushi’s next opponent is TAKA Michinoku. Both Ibushi and Omega had their day off on 29th May and will have matches for the rest of the tour.

Daisuke Sasaki is having a similar run to Ibushi. Only one win in four matches. His sole victory came over the veteran Gedo, so at least he’s gotten something out of the tour. Sasaki’s next opponent is The Great Sasuke.


BOSJ Update, New Beijing Tag Title Match

May 27, 2011

NJPW, 5/26/11
Tokyo Korakuen Hall
1,750 Fans

1. Best Of The Super Jr. – Block B: KUSHIDA [2] defeated Daisuke Sasaki [0] with the Midnight Express (6:53).
2. Best Of The Super Jr. – Block A: Kenny Omega [2] defeated Taichi [0] with the Croyt’s Wrath (8:59).
8. Best Of The Super Jr. – Block B: Ryusuke Taguchi [2] defeated Kota Ibushi [0] with the Milano-Style Dodon Throne (13:21).

A mixed start for the Golden Lovers on the first night of the Best Of The Super Jr. tournament. Kenny Omega scored some points by beating Taichi but Kota Ibushi lost to Ryusuke Taguchi. Meanwhile Daisuke Sasaki was defeated by KUSHIDA in the opening match of the tournament. Their next matches will be on 28/5 where Omega faces Koji Kanemoto, Ibushi takes on KUSHIDA and Sasaki is against Taguchi.

DDT “NON-FIX DX 4.6”, 04/06/2011
Shin-Kiba 1st RING

1. Triple Threat: DJ Nira Vs HERO! Vs Makoto Oishi
2. KO-D Tag Team Titles: GENTARO & Yasu Urano (c) Vs X & X
3. Dick Togo & X Vs Danshoku Dino & X

No mention yet of how the KO-D Tag Team Title challengers will be determined.

DDT “WRESTLING TONKOTSU 2011”, 12/06/2011
Hakata Star Lane

1. Danshoku Dino, KUDO & Shiori Asahi Vs HARASHIMA, Kota Ibushi & Hikaru Sato
2. Sanshiro Takagi & Shigehiro Irie Vs Dick Togo & Yasu Urano

Shiori Asahi is from K-DOJO. This is his first appearance in DDT since November 2009, not counting any of the New Year’s Eve indy get together shows.

UNION “NIMOMAKEZU RAIN”, 02/06/2011
Shinjuku FACE

1. Hiroya Fukuda Vs Shigehiro Irie
2. Ken Ohka & Cherry Vs Mio Shirai & Io Shirai
3. Shuji Ishikawa & Shinichiro Tominaga Vs El Generico & Yano K Data
4. Tsuyoshi Kikuchi Vs Genichiro Tenryu
5. Dick Togo & Yasu Urano Vs Big Morohashi & Hiro Tsumaki
6. Greater China Unified Nakahara Tag Team Title: Chou-un Shiryu & Cao Zhang (w/ Princess Makoto) Vs Sanshiro Takagi & Munenori Sawa
7. DDT Extreme Title – 2 Out Of 3 Falls: Isami Kodaka (c) Vs MIKAMI

The DDT Extreme Title match between Isami Kodaka and MIKAMI will be Best 2 Out Of 3 Falls with a 60 minute time limit in total.

The New Beijing duo of Chou-un Shiryu & Cao Zhang will have their first defence of the Greater China Unified Nakahara Tag Team Titles in Shinjuku FACE for Union. Thay have a very tough challenge ahead as their opponents on 2nd June are Sanshiro Takagi & Munenori Sawa. The former KO-D Tag Team Champions will love to win a championship for the TKG48 no matter what country the belts come from.

Yoshiaki Yago sent Naomi Susan a short poem explaining that he and the rest of the SS Susan will not be at the show.


Kenny Beats The Thunder

May 16, 2011

NJPW “NJPW INVASION TOUR ~ATTACK ON EAST COAST~”, 13/5/11
New Jersey Rahway Recreation Center, USA
1,800 Fans

Satoshi Kojima defeated Kenny Omega with the Lariat (9:29).

NJPW “NJPW INVASION TOUR ~ATTACK ON EAST COAST~”, 14/5/11
New York Basketball City, USA
2,500 Fans

Kenny Omega defeated Josh Daniels with the Croyt’s Wrath (10:22).

NJPW “NJPW INVASION TOUR ~ATTACK ON EAST COAST~”, 15/5/11
Philadelphia Asylum Arena, USA
1,500 Fans

JAPW Light Heavyweight Title: Kenny Omega defeated Jushin Thunder Liger (c) with the Croyt’s Wrath (10:42).
*Jushin Liger fails in V2. Kenny Omega becomes the 26th Champion!

Kenny Omega had an eventful weekend by taking part in New Japan’s tour of the United States of America. It began with a loss to Satoshi Kojima in New Jersey but Omega regained some momentum by defeating Josh Daniels the next night in New York. The big result for Kenny took place on Night 3 at the Asylum Arena in Philadelphia. There he defeated Jushin Liger to win the JAPW Light Heavyweight Title in what is a major boost heading into the Best Of The Super Jrs.

NJPW “LIFE GOES ON!”, 13/5/11
Shinjuku FACE
400 Fans

3. NEVER.SPECIAL III: Tomoaki Honma & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi defeated Shigehiro Irie & Keisuke Ishii when Honma pinned Ishii with the Kokeshi (12:05).
5. Kota Ibushi & KUSHIDA defeated TAKA Michinoku & Taichi when Ibushi pinned Taichi with the Firebird Splash (15:38).

Meanwhile back in Japan, some DDT talent got involved at another New Japan show. In a BOSJ preview, Kota Ibushi teamed with KUSHIDA to defeat TAKA Michinoku & Taichi. Ibushi picked up the pinfall when he hit the Firebird Splash on Taichi, the same move he used to win most of his matches during last year’s tournament. Shigehiro Irie & Keisuke Ishii were also on the show but they lost to Tomoaki Honma & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi.


Best Of The Golden Loving Super Jrs, DDT In K-DOJO

April 23, 2011

Kota Ibushi & Kenny Omega have been chosen to compete in this year’s Best Of The Super Jr tournament over in New Japan. Ibushi reached the final of last year’s tournament. He lost to Prince Devitt in a dramatic finale that saw Ibushi suffer a dislocated shoulder, an injury that has constantly plagued him ever since. Kenny finished fourth in his group but left a strong impression in his field, holding wins over Koji Kanemoto and Ryusuke Taguchi. Both of the Golden Lovers will be in seperate groups again when the tour begin on 26th May with the final happening on 10th June. Ibushi will be joined in his group by Daisuke Sasaki, who went through the NEVER Road to the Super Jr. 2 Day Tournament to earn his spot here.

There will be some DDT talent involved in K-DOJO’s “Golden Week Special” series at the end of April. Yasu Urano is a regular for the promotion as he trained at K-DOJO. He is currently the UWA Middleweight Champion and has just defended the belt against Venom Ant (The Colony’s non-union, Japanese equivalent?) on today’s show. He will now defend the belt against a mystery opponent on 1st May. DDT presents their version of the Mega Powers as Kota Ibushi & YOSHIHIKO team together to go after the WEW Hardcore Tag Team Title currently held by Kengo Mashimo & Ryuichi Sekine. Hikaru Sato will also appear on the tour with his SEX-MEN teammate Munenori Sawa as they take on HIROKI & Kengo Mashimo for the STRONGEST-K Tag Team Titles. Last but not least, Dick Togo will be in involved in two matches, the most important of them being the final match Kaientai*DX will have together before Togo’s retirement.

K-DOJO “GWSP6”, 29/04/2011
Chiba Blue Field

WEW Hardcore Tag Team Title: Kengo Mashimo & Ryuichi Sekine (c) Vs Kota Ibushi & YOSHIHIKO

K-DOJO “GWSP6”, 01/05/2011
Chiba Blue Field

UWA Middleweight Title: Yasu Urano (c) Vs X

K-DOJO “GWSP6”, 03/05/2011
Chiba Blue Field

STRONGEST-K Tag Team Title: HIROKI & Kengo Mashimo (c) Vs Munenori Sawa & Hikaru Sato

K-DOJO “GWSP6 FINAL CLUB-K SUPER necessary…”, 05/05/2011
Chiba Blue Field

Kaientai*DX Final Countdown 4: TAKA Michinoku & HIROKI Vs Dick Togo & Yasu Urano

K-DOJO “CLUB-K SUPER take”, 18/06/2011
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

Kaientai*DX Final Countdown FINAL: Kaz Hayashi, Dick Togo, TAKA Michinoku, MEN’s Teioh & FUNAKI Vs X, X, X & X

Finally, is love in the air for Kota Ibushi? It is according to a young and brash joshi hopeful named Yoshiko (No, not YOSHIHIKO). The 17 year old STARDOM wrestler apparently let slip that she wants to tie the knot with the shy Independent Genius. Not only that but she already has the date picked out: 24th July. That’s the same date as the DDT Sumo Hall show aswell as STARDOM’s first Korakuen Hall event. Is this just the hyper imagination of a lovesick teenager or will Kota take up the role of Prince Charming and sweep Yoshiko off her feet? I don’t know what Kenny will think of this. Kota & Yoshiko sitting in a tree…


Daisuke BOSJ Bound, Union Gets More Tenryu

April 9, 2011

NEVER.6 “ROAD TO THE SUPER JR. 2DAYS TOURNAMENT”
Shin-Kiba 1st RING
300 Fans

1. Road to the Super Jr. 2 Day Tournament – Block A – Semi Final: Daisuke Sasaki defeated Ryuichi Sekine with the NOW or NEVER (5:52).
3. Road to the Super Jr. 2 Day Tournament – Block B – Semi Final: Taichi defeated Keisuke Ishii with a High-Angle Crab Hold (4:15).
5. Kyosuke Mikami & Hiromu Takahashi defeated Kazuki Hirata & Shinichiro Tominaga when Takahashi pinned Hirata with the Fisherman Suplex (10:11).
6. Yujiro Takahashi, Tetsuya Naito, Jado & Gedo defeated Ken Ohka, Osamu Namiguchi, Marines Mask II & Kaji Tomato when Takahashi pinned Ohka after the Tokyo Pimps (15:50).
7. Road to the Super Jr. 2 Day Tournament – Block A – Final: Daisuke Sasaki defeated Tsuyoshi Kikuchi with the NOW or NEVER (14:26).

Daisuke Sasaki has earned a spot in this year’s Best Of The Super Junior tournament by winning his block in the Road to the Super Jr. tournament hosted by New Japan Pro Wrestling’s NEVER brand. Yesterday he defeated Kazuki Hirata and today he went past Ryuichi Sekine from K-DOJO in the second round of Block A. In the block’s final he met Tsuyoshi Kikuchi, the longtime veteran who has spent all year campaigning for a spot in the BOSJ. Sasaki shattered his dreams with his NOW or NEVER finisher and will now take his place among the elite Jr. Heavyweights in the world today…and Taichi.

Other DDT and Union wrestlers did not have a good day at the tournament, all losing their matches. Ken Ohka continued his chance meetings with high level wrestlers, losing to Yujiro Takahashi, Tetsuya Naito, Jado & Gedo in an 8-Man Tag. Kazuki Hirata & Shinichiro Tominaga teamed together in a losing effort to Kyosuke Mikami & Hiromu Takahashi.

UNION “GOLDEN UNION 2011”, 04/05/2011
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Cherry Vs Bambi
2. Isami Kodaka & Yano K Data Vs MIKAMI & Jun Kasai
3. Ken Ohka Vs Koji Kanemoto
4. Seiya Morohashi & Kazunari Murakami Vs Yoshiaki Yago & Kengo Ohka
5. Tsuyoshi Kikuchi, Hiro Tsumaki & Shinichiro Tominaga Vs Genichiro Tenryu, Munenori Sawa & Shigehiro Irie
6. Shuji Ishikawa Vs Sanshiro Takagi

Looks like Genichiro Tenryu showing up for Union wasn’t just a one time thing. Mr. Puroresu will join fellow TKG48 members Munenori Sawa & Shigehiro Irie for a Six-Man Tag at “GOLDEN UNION 2011” in Korakuen Hall.


NEVER Saw That Coming, Kenny Faces The Thunder, Kiku-Sato

April 7, 2011

NEVER.6 “ROAD TO THE SUPER JR. 2DAYS TOURNAMENT”, 07/04/2011
Shin-Kiba 1st RING
250 Fans

1. Road to the Super Jr. 2 Day Tournament – Block B – Round 1: Keisuke Ishii defeated Hiromu Takahashi with a Double Arm DDT (8:18).
4. Road to the Super Jr. 2 Day Tournament – Block B – Round 1: Madoka defeated Kazuki Hirata with the Ranhei (8:53)
6. Road to the Super Jr. 2 Day Tournament – Block A – Round 1: Daisuke Sasaki defeated Shinichiro Tominaga with the NOW or NEVER (10:08).
7. Road to the Super Jr. 2 Day Tournament – Block A – Round 1: Tsuyoshi Kikuchi defeated Ken Ohka with the Fireball Bomb (8:18).

Union’s hopes of getting involved in the Best Of The Super Juniors tour is not looking good. Both of their homegrown talent crashed out in the first round, Ken Ohka losing to TKG48 member Tsuyoshi Kikuchi and Shinichiro Tominaga losing to Daisuke Sasaki. DDT faired a little better with Sasaki and Keisuke Ishii both going through to the next round. Kazuki Hirata was the only DDT rep who failed to get through, losing to Madoka. The tournament will finish on NEVER.7, taking place tomorrow.

NJPW, 15/05/11
Philadelphia Asylum Arena, USA

JAPW Light Heavyweight Title: Jushin Thunder Liger (c) Vs Kenny Omega

Kenny Omega has a big role to play when New Japan tours the United States. Back in America, Kenny spent a good part of his career in Jersey All Pro Wrestling. One of his most recent matches in the promotion was a 6-way Elimination match for the JAPW Light Heavyweight Title. He was knocked out of the match by the eventual winner, one Jushin Lyger. Now that Lyger is back in America for New Japan’s series of shows in the country, Kenny will challenge Lyger for the title one-on-one.

Hikaru Sato is getting ready to enter another tournament. This time he is going back to All Japan as a last minute entry for the AJPW Jr. Tag League. His partner? Kikutaro! Is this pairing strong enough to defeat the likes of Kaz Hayashi & KAI, Shuji Kondo & Hiroshi Yamato or Koji Kanemoto & Minoru? Did this year’s Wrestlemania have an exciting main event?


Golden Lovers Defeated, Next Up For Union

April 3, 2011

It was not a successful appearance for the Golden Lovers in New Japan today. They teamed up with Manabu Nakanishi but were defeated by Shinsuke Nakamura, Jado & Gedo.

NJPW “NEW DIMENSION ~PRAY, HOPE, POWER~”, 4/3/11
Tokyo Korakuen Hall
2,025 Fans

4. CMLL World Welterweight Title: Ryusuke Taguchi (c) defeated Madoka with the Dodon (12:17).
*V1 for Taguchi.
5. Shinsuke Nakamura, Jado & Gedo defeated Manabu Nakanishi, Kota Ibushi & Kenny Omega when Nakamura pinned Nakanishi with the Boma Ye (16:31).

Some new matches have been revealed for Union’s second show in Korakuen Hall this year. The main event of “GOLDEN UNION 2011” will be the clash between the face of Union and the former face of DDT. Shuji Ishikawa battles Sanshiro Takagi with plenty of pride on the line. Takagi’s TKG48 has been getting the better of Union during their feud, with Takagi pinning Shuji in a 6-Man Tag at today’s Union show. Now they finally face each other one-on-one.

Meanwhile, Seiya Morohashi has been tasked with dealing with the Susan Guard. After losing to Yoshiaki Yago today, he called in the big guns to help him fight Yago & Kengo Ohka at Korakuen Hall. Seiya will team with “Big” Kazunari Murakami, a man who permanently looks at you as if you just stepped on his dog and for that he will kill you.

Ken Ohka will face New Japan Jr. Heavyweight star Koji Kanemoto in what looks to be a regular series of Best Of The Super Junior themed challenges for Ohka.

Isami Kodaka and Yano K Data are being sent to Monkey School. Their opponents are MIKAMI and the “Crazy Monkey” Jun Kasai. Either one of these wrestlers could be Kodaka’s next challenger for the DDT Extreme Championship.

UNION “GOLDEN UNION 2011”, 04/05/2011
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Cherry Vs Bambi
2. Isami Kodaka & Yano K Data Vs MIKAMI & Jun Kasai
3. Ken Ohka Vs Koji Kanemoto
4. Seiya Morohashi & Kazunari Murakami Vs Yoshiaki Yago & Kengo Ohka
5. Shuji Ishikawa Vs Sanshiro Takagi


More DDT & Union Goodness in NJPW

March 23, 2011

The Golden Lovers have been added to the 3rd April New Japan show at Korakuen Hall. Kota Ibushi & Kenny Omega will be part of a tantalising Six Man Tag Team bout that could steal the show. Their exciting speed and teamwork is complimented by the Muscle Orchestra strength of Manabu Nakanashi. Will this combination be enough to defeat the Subconscious Strong Style of Shinsuke Nakamura and his CHAOS teammates Jado & Gedo?

NJPW “NEW DIMENSION ~PRAY, HOPE, POWER~”, 03/04/2011
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

Special 6 Man Tag Match: Manabu Nakanishi, Kota Ibushi & Kenny Omega Vs Shinsuke Nakamura, Jado & Gedo

Meanwhile lesser established DDT and Union talent are getting ready to take part in NJPW’s NEVER tournament in April. The first round matches have been announced and the DDT/Union related matches are as follows:

NJPW “NEVER.6 ~ROAD TO THE SUPER JR. 2DAYS TOURNAMENT~”, 07/04/2011
Shin-Kiba 1st RING

1. ROAD TO THE SUPER JR. 2DAYS TOURNAMENT – Round 1: Hiromu Takahashi Vs Keisuke Ishii
5. ROAD TO THE SUPER JR. 2DAYS TOURNAMENT – Round 1: Madoka Vs Kazuki Hirata
6. ROAD TO THE SUPER JR. 2DAYS TOURNAMENT – Round 1: Daisuke Sasaki Vs Shinichiro Tominaga
7. ROAD TO THE SUPER JR. 2DAYS TOURNAMENT – Round 1: Tsuyoshi Kikuchi Vs Ken Ohka

Remember, a New Japan staff member half-heartedly-sort-of-kind-of-but-not-really-although-you-never-know promised Ken Ohka that Union talent will be allowed to take part in the undercards of this year’s Best Of The Super Jr Tour. A string of wins and great performances from the wrestlers during this tournament could mean New Japan will hold their end of the bargain. If they do then I expect Ken Ohka’s part of the deal will be to never talk to the New Japan staff ever again.


“MONTHLY YOUNG COMMUNICATIONS” Card, HARASHIMA Vs Honda

March 18, 2011

DDT “MONTHLY YOUNG COMMUNICATIONS MARCH EDITION”, 18/03/2011
Shin-Kiba 1st RING

1. Rion Mizuki Vs Ryuichi Sekine
2. Shota Vs Satoshi Hiroshi Kazato
3. Shigehiro Irie Vs Jun Nishikawa
4. Kazuki Hirata Vs Hiromu Takahashi
5. Keisuke Ishii & Hiro Tsumaki Vs Hiro Tonai & Akito

Kazuki Hirata Vs Hiromu Takahashi is a rematch from the 24/02 NEVER.5 show. Takahashi won that match with a Fisherman Suplex. This time Hirata has the home promotion advantage in DDT.

DDT “JUDGEMENT 2011 ~DDT 14TH ANNIVERSARY~”, 27/03/2011
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Danshoku Dino Vs Bob Sapp’s Assassin
2. HARASHIMA Vs Antonio Honda
3. KO-D Openweight Title Challenge Right Fight +α Anytime and Anywhere Battle Royal: KUDO, Makoto Oishi Vs Daisuke Sasaki Vs Keisuke Ishii Vs Shigehiro Irie Vs Takao Soma Vs Super Shit Machine Vs Tomimitsu Matsunaga Vs Kenny Omega Vs Michael Nakazawa Vs GENTARO Vs Yasu Urano Vs Shuji Ishikawa Vs Seiya Morohashi Vs Ken Ohka
4. KO-D Openweight Title: Dick Togo (c) Vs Kota Ibushi

HARASHIMA Vs Antonio Honda has been added to the 14th Anniversary show. A year ago, the result would be obvious but now I am not so sure. Honda has recently held both the Interim KO-D Championship and the KO-D Tag Team Championship with Daisuke Sasaki. He has shown that he is capable of putting up a fight against anyone from Dick Togo to Hiroyoshi Tenzan. The match may prove to be more challenging for HARASHIMA than I would think. This is a chance for Honda to prove that he is at HARASHIMA’s level and start the road to becoming a fully fledged KO-D Openweight Champion.

The event will also feature the return of at least two names from DDT’s past, Rojo Del Sol and Tsunehito Naito. Rojo Del Sol showed up in DDT during the year 2000 and is a two time Ironman Heavymetalweight Champion. Former UWF fighter Tsunehito Naito wrestled for DDT in 1999 and went through the Malenko Dojo over in Florida.


DDT And Union In NEVER Tournament

March 5, 2011

Looks like Ken Ohka’s begging paid off. The NEVER brand from New Japan Pro Wrestling will be hosting a 16-Man Tournament on the 7th & 8th of April. Both DDT and Union will be represented in the tournament. DDT will enter Keisuke Ishii & Kazuki Hirata, both of whom have already wrestled in NEVER. Union will have Ken Ohka & Shinichiro Tominaga representing them. Other wrestlers involved here who also regularly appear in DDT and Union include Daisuke Sasaki, Tsuyoshi Kikuchi and Madoka. We are not far away from the annual Best Of The Super Juniors tournament and a great, breakout performance by any of these wrestlers could potentially pave the way for an invitation to take part in the competition.