Kira Summer, Sumi’s Injury, Hirata Anniversary Matches, No Gamble Rumble Returns

February 29, 2024

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW LIVE TOUR 2024 SPRING”, 03/03/2024
Shinjuku FACE

1. 3 Way Match: Suzume Vs Mahiro Kiryu Vs Kaya Toribami
2. Uta Debut Match: Miu Watanabe & Uta Vs Raku & Shino Suzuki
3. Kira Summer Debut Match: Nao Kakuta & Kira Summer Vs Arisu Endo & Chika Nanase
4. Rika Tatsumi Vs Haru Kazashiro
5. Shoko Nakajima & Hyper Misao Vs Yuki Kamifuku & Pom Harajuku
6. Miyu Yamashita & Moka Miyamoto Vs Wakana Uehara & Toga
7. Ryo Mizunami & Yuki Aino Vs Mizuki & HIMAWARI

The Australian trainee Kirra is now known as Kira Summer for her debut match. She is 163cm tall and was born on 18th December, 1996.

DDT “NARAHA TOWN RESIDENT WRESTLER TOY KOJIMA THANKSGIVING DAY – NARAHA TOWN COME ON!”, 03/03/2024
Fukushima Naraha Sky Arena

1. Tetsuya Endo & Yuki Iino Vs Kazuki Hirata & Hideki Okatani
2. Daisuke Sasaki & KANON Vs Akito & Ilusion
3. Chris Brookes & Takeshi Masada Vs Sanshiro Takagi & Danshoku Dieno
4. Special Tag Match: Yuki Ueno & Rukiya Vs HARASHIMA & Jun Akiyama
5. Special 6-Man Tag Match: MAO, Shunma Katsumata & Toy Kojima Vs Kazusada Higuchi, Yukio Naya & Makoto Oishi

To-y has been doing local marketing for the show. He is keeping the name Toy Kojima whenever he wrestles in Naraha until the end of March because that is the end of the fiscal year.

After getting a diagnosis, Kazuma Sumi’s left knee injury turned out to be a torn MCL. He will be taking time off to recover until 17th March. Ilusion takes his place on Sunday’s show.

DDT “JUDGEMENT 2024 TOUR IN SHINJUKU”, 06/03/2024
Shinjuku FACE

1. Chris Brookes & Ilusion Vs Soma Takao & To-y
2. Jun Akiyama, Kazusada Higuchi & Yukio Naya Vs Daisuke Sasaki, KANON & MJ Paul
3. Special Tag Match: Makoto Oishi & Shishamo Power Vs Yoshitatsu & Antonio Honda
4. Special 6-Man Tag Match ~ DDT Vs AJPW: Tetsuya Endo, Yuki Iino & Rukiya Vs Ryuki Honda, Yuma Anzai & Ryo Inoue
5. Kazuki Hirata Debut 14th Anniversary Vol. 1 ~ Special Single Match: Danshoku Dieno Vs Kazuki Hirata
6. Road To Judgement 2024! Special 6-Man Tag Match: Yuki Ueno, MAO & Shunma Katsumata Vs HARASHIMA, Takeshi Masada & Hideki Okatani

Champions Vs Challengers makes up a few of the upcoming main events as a preview for “JUDGEMENT 2024”. It is expected that HARASHIMA will be cleared of covid in time to wrestle on the show.

So Kazuki Hirata’s 14th Anniversary celebration is going to be more than just one match? Who else is going to get in the ring with him to mark the milestone?

DDT “JUDGEMENT 2024 TOUR IN OSAKA”, 10/03/2024
Osaka Azalea Taisho Hall

1. Toru Owashi & Akito Vs Yukio Naya & Yuni
2. Kazusada Higuchi & Makoto Oishi Vs Daisuke Sasaki & KANON
3. BURNING Vs The 37KAMIINA!: Tetsuya Endo & Yuki Iino Vs MAO & To-y
4. Special Single Match: Danshoku Dieno Vs Tsutenkakka
5. Osaka Specialty Special 6-Man Tag Match: Sanshiro Takagi, Naoki Tanizaki & Rukiya Vs Yoshitatsu, Chris Brookes & Takeshi Masada
6. Kazuki Hirata Debut 14th Anniversary Vol. 1 ~ Special Single Match: Jun Akiyama Vs Kazuki Hirata
7. Special Tag Match: Yuki Ueno & Shunma Katsumata Vs HARASHIMA & Hideki Okatani

Oh crap Hirata’s getting Jun Akiyama! Well his new unit is going to challenge Akiyama’s unit for the KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles soon. Fighting Danshoku Dieno on one show and then Akiyama the next makes sense.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “GRAND PRINCESS ’24”, 31/03/2024
Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan

1. Nao Kakuta & Ami Yumoto Vs X & X
2. Special Single Match: Minoru Suzuki Vs Maki Itoh
3. Aja Kong & Max The Impaler Vs Shoko Nakajima & Hyper Misao
4. International Princess Title: Yuki Arai (c) Vs Yuki Kamifuku
5. Princess Tag Team Titles: Ryo Mizunami & Yuki Aino (c) Vs Suzume & Arisu Endo
6. Princess Of Princess Title: Miyu Yamashita (c) Vs Miu Watanabe

Not only will Yuki Arai defend the International Princess Title at Sumo Hall but she will join other members of SKE48 for a mini concert during the show.

DDT “DDT GOES PHILADELPHIA!”, 04/04/2024
Penns Landing Caterers Auditorium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

1. Special Single Match: Kazuki Hirata Vs Yoshihiko

Here’s your first match for DDT in America. Hirata takes on Yoshihiko!

DDT “APRIL FOOL 2024”, 07/04/2024
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

0. No Gamble FINAL!: Sanshiro Takagi, Akito & Toru Owashi Vs X
1. D GENERATIONS CUP 2024 – Final: X Vs X
2. Special Single Match: Shinya Aoki Vs Chihiro Hashimoto
3. Dramatic Dream Tag Match: Yuki Ueno & MAO Vs Zack Sabre Jr. & Chris Brookes

Last January DDT created the No Gamble Rumble, an open audition for wrestlers of all shape and sizes to compete in a Battle Royal. The only condition was the entrants had to volunteer without getting paid. Those who passed would get future bookings with DDT. Tsutenkakka and Tsubasa Suzuki were the two names plucked from last year’s match who passed the audition. It doesn’t matter if the wrestlers are independent, amateur, from the college club scene or even just an ordinary person with no prior experience. All can apply to take part. This year Sanshiro Takagi, Akito & Toru Owashi will be the selection committee as well as part of the match itself to put the participants through their paces.


Niigata Weekend, Aoki Joins Hirata’s New Unit, Ueno Challenged By HARASHIMA

February 16, 2024

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “PRO WRESTLING WINTER FESTIVAL 2024 IN JOETSU DAY 1 – SHOKO NAKAJIMA IS BACK ~ NIIGATA HOMECOMING PERFORMANCE”, 17/02/2024
Niigata Dúo CEREZO

1. 3 Way Match: Mizuki Vs Raku Vs Shino Suzuki
2. Kaya Toribami Vs Haru Kazashiro
3. Rika Tatsumi Vs Zara Zakher
4. Yuki Aino & Pom Harajuku Vs Mahiro Kiryu & HIMAWARI
5. Suzume & Arisu Endo Vs Yuki Kamifuku & Toga
6. Miyu Yamashita Vs Wakana Uehara
7. Shoko Nakajima & Hyper Misao Vs Miu Watanabe & Moka Miyamoto

Both DDT and Tokyo Joshi Pro are doing a doubleshot in Niigata this weekend. TJPW goes first with Shoko Nakajima’s homecoming show. Fans are permitted to throw streamers into the ring for the entrances in the main event.

There is a small but notable update put out today about Hikari Noa. She is still taking time away from pro wrestling as well as her idol career with The Up Up Girls but now it is because of personal reasons rather than health reasons. The only clue towards how long this will last comes from The Up Up Girls’ talent agency. They announced Noa will not be at their next big concert being held on 20th March. It’s been obvious her absence is not because of injury or other physical health reasons. There are rumours online about a personal situation with a female fan has allegedly gotten Noa into trouble. But we don’t know for sure if what’s happening here is a secret suspension or something else entirely. We just have to wait a while to see what will happen next.

DDT “PRO WRESTLING WINTER FESTIVAL 2024 IN JOETSU DAY 2 – INTO THE FIGHT 2024 TOUR IN NIIGATA”, 18/02/2024
Niigata Dúo CEREZO

1. Toru Owashi Vs Kazuma Sumi
2. Kazuki Hirata Vs To-y
3. Daisuke Sasaki & KANON Vs Yuki Iino & Rukiya
4. Special Tag Match: Jun Akiyama & Yoshitatsu Vs Tetsuya Endo & Makoto Oishi
5. Special Single Match: Danshoku Dieno Vs Super Sasadango Machine
6. Chris Brookes & Takeshi Masada Vs HARASHIMA & Akito
7. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Yuki Ueno, MAO & Shunma Katsumata Vs Kazusada Higuchi, Yukio Naya & Hideki Okatani

DDT’s show in Niigata the next day is Super Sasadango Machine’s homecoming but he’s not as important so just drop his match there in the mid-card.

DDT “INTO THE FIGHT 2024”, 25/02/2024
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Chris Brookes, Masahiro Takanashi & Antonio Honda Vs Yuki Iino, Yuni & Kazuma Sumi
2. Daisuke Sasaki & KANON (w/ MJ Paul) Vs Akito & Soma Takao
3. Kazusada Higuchi & Yoshitatsu Vs Yukio Naya & Rukiya
4. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Danshoku Dieno, Makoto Oishi & Toru Owashi Vs Kazuki Hirata, Naruki Doi & Shinya Aoki
5. Special Single Match: HARASHIMA Vs To-y
6. DDT Universal Title: MAO (c) Vs Hikaru Machida
7. Kaisei Takechi Debut Match ~ Special 6-Man Tag Match: Yuki Ueno, Shunma Katsumata & Kaisei Takechi Vs Tetsuya Endo, Hideki Okatani & Takeshi Masada

Kazuki Hirata has found the third man of his new unit. It is somebody he developed a bond with when they fought each other in an “All Men Are Equal” death match in 2021. It is Shinya Aoki! The choice makes sense because Hirata connected with Naruki Doi under similar circumstances. Does that mean Doi and Aoki will both show up to the match dressed like and acting like Hirata?

DDT “NARAHA TOWN RESIDENT WRESTLER TOY KOJIMA THANKSGIVING DAY – NARAHA TOWN COME ON!”, 03/03/2024
Fukushima Naraha Sky Arena

1. Tetsuya Endo & Yuki Iino Vs Kazuki Hirata & Hideki Okatani
2. Daisuke Sasaki & KANON Vs Akito & Kazuma Sumi
3. Chris Brookes & Takeshi Masada Vs Sanshiro Takagi & Danshoku Dieno
4. Special Tag Match: Yuki Ueno & Rukiya Vs HARASHIMA & Jun Akiyama
5. Special 6-Man Tag Match: MAO, Shunma Katsumata & Toy Kojima Vs Kazusada Higuchi, Yukio Naya & Makoto Oishi

During the week Toy Kojima renamed himself To-y. That is supposed to be a permanent change but one condition has since been revealed. From now until the end of the current fiscal year (i.e. the end of March) To-y will still be called Toy Kojima whenever he is in his hometown of Naraha. Once that is done he will get to be called To-y wherever he goes.

DDT “JUDGEMENT 2024 TOUR IN OSAKA”, 10/03/2024
Osaka Azalea Taisho Hall

1. Special Single Match: Danshoku Dieno Vs Tsutenkakka
2. Osaka Specialty Special 6-Man Tag Match: Sanshiro Takagi, Naoki Tanizaki & Rukiya Vs Yoshitatsu, Chris Brookes & Takeshi Masada
3. Special Tag Match: Yuki Ueno & Shunma Katsumata Vs HARASHIMA & Hideki Okatani

The Toyonaka Team of Sanshiro Takagi & Rukiya adds a new member. Naoki Tanizaki is from the same part of Osaka as they are so he gets to join the team.

DDT “JUDGEMENT 2024 ~27TH ANNIVERSARY 5 HOUR SPECIAL~”, 17/03/2024
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Tsubasa Suzuki Debut Match: Tsubasa Suzuki Vs X
2. Special Single Match: Sanshiro Takagi Vs Ken Ohka
3. Special Single Match: KONOSUKE TAKESHITA Vs Yuma Aoyagi
4. KO-D Tag Team Titles: Tetsuya Endo & Yuki Iino (c) Vs Ryuki Honda & Yuma Anzai
5. DDT Extreme Title: Shunma Katsumata (c) Vs Hideki Okatani
6. KO-D Openweight Title: Yuki Ueno (c) Vs HARASHIMA

Yuki Ueno has just defeated DDT’s icon Danshoku Dieno and now HARASHIMA is stepping up to challenge him. When HARASHIMA fought Yukio Sakaguchi in Sakaguchi’s final match, it sparked a fire inside him and reminded him that he is the undisputed ace of DDT. So if he is the ace then that means he should be good enough to win the KO-D Openweight Title again. While Ueno respects and admires HARASHIMA, he isn’t going to treat this match like a wide-eyed boy getting to be in the ring with his hero. He wants to become DDT’s ace himself!

The show will also have the return of Yuya Koroku. He’s been out of action with a torn triceps since November.

NOAH “THE LEAVE PRESENTS LIMIT BREAK EX.”, 20/03/2024
Yokohama Radiant Hall

A few days after this show a bunch of DDT wrestlers will be crossing over to NOAH. The other CyberFight men’s promotion debuted a new event series this week called “LIMIT BREAK”. During the show Tetsuya Endo, Kazusada Higuchi, Yuki Iino and Rukiya showed up and announced they will be taking part on the second “LIMIT BREAK” show on 20th March. Higuchi mentioned Kazuyuki Fujita by name as a NOAH wrestler he would like to face.


DDT “INTO THE FIGHT 2024 TOUR IN OSAKA” Results

February 11, 2024

DDT “INTO THE FIGHT 2024 TOUR IN OSAKA”, 11/02/2024
Osaka Azalea Taisho Hall
180 Fans

1. MJ Paul defeated Kazuma Sumi with the Running Body Press (4:23).
2. Osaka Specialty Special Tag Match: Chris Brookes & Hideki Okatani defeated Kazuki Hirata & Tsutenkakka when Okatani pinned Hirata with the Quetzalcoatl (10:32).
3. Special Single Match: Yoshitatsu defeated Makoto Oishi with the This Is My WWE (8:42).
4. Sanshiro Takagi, Jun Akiyama & Toru Owashi defeated Kazusada Higuchu, Yukio Naya & Rukiya when Akiyama pinned Rukiya with the Running Knee Butt (10:04).
5. Special Single Match: MAO defeated Akito with a Wedding Clutch (11:45).
6. Tetsuya Endo & Yuki Iino defeated HARASHIMA & Takeshi Masada when Endo pinned Masada with the Swivel Torture Rack Bomb (14:55).
7. The 37KAMIINA Vs DAMNATION T.A!: Yuki Ueno & Shunma Katsumata defeated Daisuke Sasaki & KANON when Katsumata pinned KANON with a Jackknife Pin (18:56).

The three champion members of The 37KAMIINA were all winners on today’s show. The main event had the KO-D Openweight Champion and DDT Extreme Champion defeat DAMNATION T.A together. Earlier on the show MAO defeated Akito in a match where the DDT Universal Champion could put on a strong display.

After the main event Daisuke Sasaki admits his group has fallen to the bottom and it may take a while for them to climb back up from there. But just because they lost today’s tag match does not mean they will lose any singles bouts from now on. Yuki Ueno noticed KANON is looking bigger and stronger than the last time he saw him but he looks a little more depressed too. He wonders if it’s because Sasaki & KANON lost the KO-D Tag Team Titles recently? Even if they aren’t they still wouldn’t have beaten Ueno & Shunma Katsumata today based on their team strength. That’s according to Ueno of course.

The Tag Titles now belong to BURNING but there is still a lot that Tetsuya Endo & Yuki Iino need to work on. Iino accidentally hit his partner with a Lariat during the match and was then scouted for the Spear when HARASHIMA countered the move with a mid-air Double Knee Drop landing on top of him. Endo was able to recover and pin Takeshi Masada, resulting in a close call for the champions. Endo told Iino that not everything will fall into place whenever the Spear hits its target. But he is confident they can iron out all of the misfires and perfect their teamwork in time for their title defence against New Period on 17th March.

Chris Brookes came up with a new way to fight against Kazuki Hirata’s dance moves. Just go over to the soundbooth and shut off the music! It is only a matter of time until that plan stops working though and Tsutenkakka held Brookes back outside the ring so Hirata could power up and dance again. That didn’t matter though because Hideki Okatani pinned him with the Quetzalcoatl anyway.


More DDT Vs AJPW, Ohka Must Fight Takagi, GanPro’s Last Matches Under CyberFight

February 9, 2024

Heads up, my home internet hasn’t been working all week and I don’t know how long it will take for the problem to be fixed. I’ve been using my phone as a hotspot to write up reports in the meantime but it’s been a slow and unreliable experience. So there might be more delays posting results and other news over the next few days.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “THE 4TH “FUTARI WA PRINCESS” MAX HEART TOURNAMENT”, 10/02/2024
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Shino Suzuki Vs Haru Kazashiro
2. Yuki Kamifuku, Nao Kakuta & Mahiro Kiryu Vs Raku, Pom Harajuku & Ram Kaichow
3. Moka Miyamoto Vs Kaya Toribami
4. Shoko Nakajima & Hyper Misao Vs Wakana Uehara & HIMAWARI
5. Mizuki Vs Zara Zakher
6. Miyu Yamashita & Toga Vs Ryo Mizunami & Yuki Aino
7. International Princess Title: Yuki Arai (c) Vs Juria Nagano
8. “Futari wa Princess” Max Heart Tournament – Final: Rika Tatsumi & Miu Watanabe Vs Suzume & Arisu Endo

Should be an eventful show tomorrow. We have the Max Heart Tournament final and maybe a few announcements for what is in store for Tokyo Joshi Pro this Spring.

BASARA “BASARA 241 ~TAKAGARI 22~”, 10/02/2024
Tokyo Takashimadaira Kumin Center

1. Lil’ Kraken Vs Masahiro Takanashi
2. FUMA, Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi & Daichi Kazato Vs Masato Kamino, Tsutomu Oosugi & Banana Senga
3. Ryuichi Sekine Vs Takato Nakano
4. Isami Kodaka & Minoru Fujita Vs Takumi Tsukamoto & SAGAT
5. IRON FIST Tag Team Titles: Ryota Nakatsu & Kazusada Higuchi (c) Vs KUBITO & Yasu Urano

The IRON FIST Tag Team Titles are being defended tomorrow.

DDT “INTO THE FIGHT 2024 TOUR IN OSAKA”, 11/02/2024
Osaka Azalea Taisho Hall

1. MJ Paul Vs Kazuma Sumi
2. Osaka Specialty Special Tag Match: Chris Brookes & Hideki Okatani Vs Kazuki Hirata & Tsutenkakka
3. Special Single Match: Makoto Oishi Vs Yoshitatsu
4. Sanshiro Takagi, Jun Akiyama & Toru Owashi Vs Kazusada Higuchu, Yukio Naya & Rukiya
5. Special Single Match: MAO Vs Akito
6. Tetsuya Endo & Yuki Iino Vs HARASHIMA & Takeshi Masada
7. The 37KAMIINA Vs DAMNATION T.A!: Yuki Ueno & Shunma Katsumata Vs Daisuke Sasaki & KANON

This is the match order for Sunday’s DDT show.

DDT “INTO THE FIGHT 2024 TOUR IN NAGOYA”, 12/02/2024
Aichi Nagoya City Higashi Sports Center

1. 3 Way Match: Kazuki Hirata Vs Toru Owashi Vs Shunma Katsumata
2. KANON & MJ Paul Vs Yuki Iino & Hideki Okatani
3. Nagoya Specialty Special 6-Man Tag Match: Sanshiro Takagi, Yoshitatsu & Yukio Naya Vs Lowther, Jack Kennedy & Kazuma Sumi
4. Jun Akiyama & Rukiya Vs HARASHIMA & Kazusada Higuchi
5. Special Single Match: Daisuke Sasaki Vs Makoto Oishi
6. Special Single Match: Tetsuya Endo Vs Akito
7. The 37KAMIINA Vs SCHADENFREUDE International!: Yuki Ueno & MAO Vs Chris Brookes & Takeshi Masada

There is a DDT show on Monday too.

DDT “PRO WRESTLING WINTER FESTIVAL 2024 IN JOETSU DAY 2 – INTO THE FIGHT 2024 TOUR IN NIIGATA”, 18/02/2024
Niigata Dúo CEREZO

1. Toru Owashi Vs Kazuma Sumi
2. Daisuke Sasaki & KANON Vs Yuki Iino & Rukiya
3. Chris Brookes & Takeshi Masada Vs HARASHIMA & Akito
4. Kazuki Hirata Vs Toy Kojima
5. Special Tag Match: Jun Akiyama & Yoshitatsu Vs Tetsuya Endo & Makoto Oishi
6. Special Single Match: Danshoku Dieno Vs Super Sasadango Machine
7. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Yuki Ueno, MAO & Shunma Katsumata Vs Kazusada Higuchi, Yukio Naya & Hideki Okatani

The main event is a little preview of the upcoming DDT Extreme Title match in March.

DDT “INTO THE FIGHT 2024 TOUR IN YOKOHAMA”, 23/02/2024
Yokohama Radiant Hall

1. Tetsuya Endo & Yuki Iino Vs Kazusada Higuchu & Kazuma Sumi
2. Daisuke Sasaki & KANON Vs MAO & Kazuki Hirata
3. Danshoku Dieno Vs Rukiya
4. Special Single Match: Yoshitatsu Vs Soma Takao
5. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Yuki Ueno, Shunma Katsumata & Toy Kojima Vs HARASHIMA, Yukio Naya & Hideki Okatani
6. KO-D 10-Man Tag Team Titles: Chris Brookes, Masahiro Takanashi, Antonio Honda, Takeshi Masada & Mecha Mummy (c) Vs Maya Yukihi, Ram Kaichow, Rina Yamashita, Sanshiro Takagi & Akito

DDT decided to put Rukiya up to the ultimate test. Put him in the ring on his own against Danshoku Dieno!

DDT “JUDGEMENT 2024 TOUR IN SHINJUKU”, 06/03/2024
Shinjuku FACE

1. Special 6-Man Tag Match ~ DDT Vs AJPW: Tetsuya Endo, Yuki Iino & Rukiya Vs Ryuki Honda, Yuma Anzai & Ryo Inoue

The DDT Vs AJPW rivalry continues with some upcoming matches being built around DDT’s BURNING against All Japan’s New Period. Rukiya and Ryo Inoue are showing up too.

GANBARE☆JOSHI “GANJO SUPER DARIUS ’24”, 09/03/2024
Tokyo Takashimadaira Kumin Center

1. Mixed Tag Match: Riara & Shota Vs Alex Lee & Tyson Maeguchi

For now this is the last regular Ganbare☆Joshi show on the schedule. Both Riara & Shota will be leaving Ganbare☆Pro soon so this may be the only time they will team together. During the week Riara made her debut for WAVE so there is one possible landing spot for her when she moves on from GanPro.

Banny Oikawa will be on the show.

DDT “JUDGEMENT 2024 ~27TH ANNIVERSARY 5 HOUR SPECIAL~”, 17/03/2024
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Tsubasa Suzuki Debut Match: Tsubasa Suzuki Vs X
2. Special Single Match: Sanshiro Takagi Vs Ken Ohka
3. Special Single Match: KONOSUKE TAKESHITA Vs Yuma Aoyagi
4. KO-D Tag Team Titles: Tetsuya Endo & Yuki Iino (c) Vs Ryuki Honda & Yuma Anzai
5. DDT Extreme Title: Shunma Katsumata (c) Vs Hideki Okatani
6. KO-D Openweight Title: Yuki Ueno (c) Vs X

The last time Shunma Katsumata and Hideki Okatani fought for the Extreme Title, Katsumata won the match but also fractured a bone in his foot. That forced him to vacate the title. Ever since then both he and Okatani dreamed of having a rematch with the same championship on the line. That has now become a reality after Okatani became the No. 1 Contender this week. Katsumata said he will come up with a match stipulation that both of them will approve of.

Tetsuya Endo & Yuki Iino are the new KO-D Tag Team Champions and want to defend the belts against anyone no matter where they come from. Well here comes Ryuki Honda & Yuma Anzai from AJPW! They had fun wrestling in DDT earlier this week that they want to fight in DDT even more and against stronger opponents. Endo & Iino promised to show them just how much depth DDT has.

Before GanPro goes independent, Ken Ohka must fight his soon to be ex-boss Sanshiro Takagi! Ohka feels the need to face Takagi and defeat him in the first step towards making GanPro grow bigger than DDT. For Takagi this is the biggest test he can give Ohka to see if he will handle his upcoming responsibilities with all of his effort. If Ohka does this half-heartedly then Takagi will destroy him and that could mean DDT will destroy GanPro too!

GANBARE☆PRO “TONIGHT ON THE HILL WHERE YOU CAN SEE THE MOON 2024”, 28/03/2024
Tokyo Ueno Park Outdoor Stage

1. Ueno Special 6-Man Tag Festival: Yuko Miyamoto, Isami Kodaka & Munetatsu Nakamura Vs Shota, Soma Takao & Shinichiro Tominaga

The final GanPro show under CyberFight’s management is inviting Yuko Miyamoto and Isami Kodaka over for fun. It’s been established that Munetatsu Nakamura adores both Miyamoto & Kodaka so getting a chance to team with Yankee Two Kenju must be a dream come true for him.

DDT “DDT GOES PHILADELPHIA!”, 04/04/2024
Penns Landing Caterers Auditorium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

The next set of wrestlers announced for the show are all familiar faces from the AEW circuit. Nick Wayne, Bryan Keith and Billie Starkz will all be there.


What Are You Doing TAKA? Manase Picks Imanari, Unagi Chooses Fujita

January 26, 2024

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “THE 4TH “THE FUTARI WA PRINCESS” MAX HEART TOURNAMENT”, 27/01/2024
Tokyo Ryogoku KFC Hall

1. Hyper Misao Vs Pom Harajuku
2. Mahiro Kiryu Vs Haru Kazashiro
3. Shoko Nakajima & Kaya Toribami Vs Yuki Aino & Toga
4. Miyu Yamashita, Yuki Kamifuku & HIMAWARI Vs Mizuki, Raku & Shino Suzuki
5. “Futari wa Princess” Max Heart Tournament – Semi-Final: Suzume & Arisu Endo Vs Moka Miyamoto & Juria Nagano
6. “Futari wa Princess” Max Heart Tournament – Semi-Final: Yuki Arai & Wakana Uehara Vs Rika Tatsumi & Miu Watanabe

Nao Kakuta has not recovered from her recent poor condition yet and will not be able to wrestle this weekend. Yuki Kamifuku takes her place in the trios match.

DDT “SWEET DREAMS! 2024”, 28/01/2024
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Special 10-Man Tag Match: Sanshiro Takagi, Toru Owashi, Akito, Shinichiro Kawamatsu & Yuni Vs HARASHIMA, Tomoya, Antonio Honda, Takeshi Masada & Kazuma Sumi
2. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Tetsuya Endo, Yuki Iino & Rukiya Vs Daisuke Sasaki, KANON & Bryan Keith (w/ MJ Paul)
3. Yukio Sakaguchi Korakuen Final Match ~ Special Single Match: Yukio Sakaguchi Vs Hideki Okatani
4. MAO Birthday Commemorative Match: MAO & TAKA Michinoku Vs Chris Brookes & Masahiro Takanashi
5. DDT Extreme Title – Who Is The Fated One!? Toy Kojima Challenge Death Match: Kazuki Hirata (c) Vs Shunma Katsumata
6. KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles – DEAD OR ALIVE Contra DEAD OR ALIVE: Jun Akiyama, Danshoku Dieno & Makoto Oishi (c) Vs Hikaru Sato, Kazusada Higuchi & Ryo Kawamura
7. Special Single Match: KONOSUKE TAKESHITA Vs Naruki Doi
8. KO-D Openweight Title: Yuki Ueno (c) Vs Yukio Naya

The novelty of TAKA Michinoku being on the show has now gotten awkward. A few days ago he announced a K-DOJO tribute show scheduled for April after seemingly being inspired by the Arsion reunion that took place earlier this month. That by itself is a crazy idea due to TAKA’s role in why K-DOJO went away in the first place. He had a scandal in 2018 when it was discovered he was cheating on his wife along with allegations of other kinds of bad behavior. TAKA then left the company early in 2019, taking his students with him and establishing JTO a few months later. With him gone, K-DOJO rebranded/rebuilt itself into 2AW and the split was complete. The response to TAKA’s plans for the reunion got mixed reactions online. There was enough of a negative response to make him reconsider and put the concept on ice for the time being. If that wasn’t enough, retired wrestler Tank Nagai then started tweeting about his memories of working under TAKA’s management in K-DOJO. A lot of it was bad. So now we have to see if the bad vibes from this story follows over to TAKA’s appearance in DDT this Sunday.

The debut match for Kaisei Takechi on 25th February will be announced during this show.

DDT “INTO THE FIGHT 2024 TOUR IN OSAKA”, 11/02/2024
Osaka Azalea Taisho Hall

1. MJ Paul Vs Kazuma Sumi
2. Tetsuya Endo & Yuki Iino Vs HARASHIMA & Takeshi Masada
3. Sanshiro Takagi, Jun Akiyama & Toru Owashi Vs Kazusada Higuchu, Yukio Naya & Rukiya
4. Osaka Specialty Special Tag Match: Chris Brookes & Hideki Okatani Vs Kazuki Hirata & Tsutenkakka
5. Special Single Match: Makoto Oishi Vs Yoshitatsu
6. Special Single Match: MAO Vs Akito
7. The 37KAMIINA Vs DAMNATION T.A!: Yuki Ueno & Shunma Katsumata Vs Daisuke Sasaki & KANON

There’s a weekend in February when Akito is getting two singles matches against big opponents. First one is against MAO.

DDT “INTO THE FIGHT 2024 TOUR IN NAGOYA”, 12/02/2024
Aichi Nagoya City Higashi Sports Center

1. 3 Way Match: Kazuki Hirata Vs Toru Owashi Vs Shunma Katsumata
2. KANON & MJ Paul Vs Yuki Iino & Hideki Okatani
3. Jun Akiyama & Rukiya Vs HARASHIMA & Kazusada Higuchi
4. The 37KAMIINA Vs SCHADENFREUDE International!: Yuki Ueno & MAO Vs Chris Brookes & Takeshi Masada
5. Special Single Match: Daisuke Sasaki Vs Makoto Oishi
6. Special Single Match: Tetsuya Endo Vs Akito
7. Nagoya Specialty Special 6-Man Tag Match: Sanshiro Takagi, Yoshitatsu & Yukio Naya Vs Lowther, Jack Kennedy & Kazuma Sumi

And then Akito takes on Tetsuya Endo the next day. I wonder if that’s leading to anything?

GANBARE☆PRO “GANPRO 2024 DESIRE”, 23/02/2024
Yokohama Radiant Hall

1. EVE International Title: Yuu (c) Vs Yoshiko Hasegawa
2. Yuna Manase Return Match: Yuna Manase & Yumehito Imanari Vs Sayaka Unagi & Minoru Fujita
3. Spirit Of Ganbare World Openweight Title: Shuichiro Katsumura (c) Vs Takuya Wada

Yuna Manase and Sayaka Unagi have found their tag partners. Manase will team with Yumehito Imanari which should be of no surprise. Unagi decided to get Minoru Fujita to tag with her out of the many bad guys she knows who was available to her.


Yusuke Okada Needs Surgery, Bryan Keith Arrives In Japan, DDT Brings In Yanagase Pro

January 19, 2024

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “THE 4TH “FUTARI WA PRINCESS” MAX HEART TOURNAMENT”, 20/01/2024
Tokyo Shinagawa Prince Hotel Club eX

1. Yuki Aino, Rika Tatsumi & Miu Watanabe Vs Suzume, Arisu Endo & Shino Suzuki
2. “Futari wa Princess” Max Heart Tournament – Round 1A: Kaya Toribami & Haru Kazashiro Vs Yuki Arai & Wakana Uehara
3. “Futari wa Princess” Max Heart Tournament – Round 1B: Shoko Nakajima & Hyper Misao Vs Yuki Kamifuku & Mahiro Kiryu
4. “Futari wa Princess” Max Heart Tournament – Round 1C: Nao Kakuta & HIMAWARI Vs Raku & Pom Harajuku
5. “Futari wa Princess” Max Heart Tournament – Round 1D: Miyu Yamashita & Toga Vs Moka Miyamoto & Juria Nagano

This year’s Max Heart Tournament is about to begin. Tomorrow is all of the Round 1 matches.

DDT “NEW YEAR FAN APPRECIATION DAY!”, 20/01/2024
Tokyo Shinagawa Prince Hotel Club eX

1. New Year’s Six Major Single Match: KANON Vs Yuni
2. New Year’s Six Major Single Match: Daisuke Sasaki Vs Ilusion
3. New Year’s Six Major Single Match: Danshoku Dieno Vs Kazuma Sumi
4. 4 Way Tag Match: Yuki Ueno & Kazuki Hirata Vs HARASHIMA & Kazusada Higuchi Vs Yoshitatsu & Akito Vs Toru Owashi & Yuki Iino
5. New Year’s Six Major Single Match: Jun Akiyama Vs Rukiya
6. New Year’s Six Major Single Match: Yukio Naya Vs Takeshi Masada
7. New Year’s Six Major Single Match: Tetsuya Endo Vs Hideki Okatani
8. Special 6-Man Tag Match: MAO, Shunma Katsumata & Makoto Oishi Vs Bryan Keith, Soma Takao & Shota

The latest medical woes in the DDT locker room comes from Yusuke Okada. Just like what happened to Chris Brookes last month, Okada discovered he has a tumour in his lower abdomen and will need surgery to remove it. He will be out of action for a while. Toru Owashi is replacing him on tomorrow’s show.

Contract signings for some of the upcoming title matches will be held in the ring before the show begins. Signings will take place for the the DDT Universal Title match happening on Sunday and the KO-D Openweight Title match and DDT Extreme Title match both happening on 28th January.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “THE 4TH “FUTARI WA PRINCESS” MAX HEART TOURNAMENT”, 21/01/2024
Tokyo Shinagawa Prince Hotel Club eX

1. “Futari wa Princess” Max Heart Tournament – Round 2A: Winners Of Match 1A Vs Mizuki & Shino Suzuki
2. “Futari wa Princess” Max Heart Tournament – Round 2B: Winners Of Match 1B Vs Rika Tatsumi & Miu Watanabe
3. “Futari wa Princess” Max Heart Tournament – Round 2C: Winners Of Match 1C Vs Suzume & Arisu Endo

Round 2 of the Max Heart Tournament takes place on Sunday.

DDT “SWEET DREAMS! 2024 TOUR IN SHINAGAWA”, 21/01/2024
Tokyo Shinagawa Prince Hotel Club eX

1. Kazuki Hirata & Yuni Vs Akito & Ilusion
2. Special Single Match: Kazusada Higuchi Vs MJ Paul
3. Tetsuya Endo & Yuki Iino Vs Takeshi Masada & Rukiya
4. Jun Akiyama, Danshoku Dieno & Makoto Oishi Vs HARASHIMA, Hideki Okatani & Kazuma Sumi
5. Special Tag Match: Yuki Ueno & Shunma Katsumata Vs Yukio Naya & Yoshitatsu
6. KO-D Tag Team Titles: Soma Takao & Shota (c) Vs Daisuke Sasaki & KANON
7. DDT Universal Title: MAO (c) Vs Bryan Keith

Bryan Keith has arrived in Japan and ready to get his bounty on MAO!

Okada will be replaced with Ilusion on Sunday’s show.

DDT “INTO THE FIGHT 2024 TOUR IN OSAKA”, 11/02/2024
Osaka Azalea Taisho Hall

1. Tetsuya Endo & Yuki Iino Vs HARASHIMA & Takeshi Masada
2. Special Single Match: Makoto Oishi Vs Yoshitatsu
3. The 37KAMIINA Vs DAMNATION T.A!: Yuki Ueno & Shunma Katsumata Vs Daisuke Sasaki & KANON

A first time singles match between Makoto Oishi and Yoshitatsu is happening.

Tsutenkakka will be on the show.

GANBARE☆JOSHI “GANJO EMERALD DRAGON ’24”, 12/02/2024
Tokyo Takashimadaira Kumin Center

1. Special Single Match: Riara Vs Kizuna Tanaka

Here comes Riara’s best chance so far at getting her first win. Kizuna Tanaka is a young wrestler from WAVE whose parents are Minoru Tanaka and Yumi Fukawa. She debuted around the same time Riara did last year so they should be seen on a similar level reputation wise. However in the time going from debut up to now Tanaka has wrestled in at least double the amount of matches that Riara has so she still has an experience advantage over her. Tanaka herself has yet to win a singles match too from what I could find about her.

DDT “INTO THE FIGHT 2024 TOUR IN NAGOYA”, 12/02/2024
Aichi Nagoya City Higashi Sports Center

1. The 37KAMIINA Vs SCHADENFREUDE International!: Yuki Ueno & MAO Vs Chris Brookes & Takeshi Masada
2. Special Single Match: Tetsuya Endo Vs Akito
3. Nagoya Specialty Special 6-Man Tag Match: Sanshiro Takagi, Yoshitatsu & Yukio Naya Vs Lowther, Jack Kennedy & Kazuma Sumi

Time to look into the local wrestling scene in Nagoya and see what they have to offer DDT. One name familiar to DDT is Lowther. He has made sporadic appearances around DDT a bunch of times through the years. Jack Kennedy is an American who has been with Yanagase Pro Wrestling since 2020. He’s been getting attention in the news this week for his debut acting role as an American soldier in the NHK historical drama “Boogie Woogie”.

DDT “PRO WRESTLING WINTER FESTIVAL 2024 IN JOETSU DAY 2 – INTO THE FIGHT 2024 TOUR IN NIIGATA”, 18/02/2024
Niigata Dúo CEREZO

1. Special Single Match: Danshoku Dieno Vs Super Sasadango Machine

DDT needed to find an important match to put on their next Niigata show. Danshoku Dieno against the hometown hero Super Sasadango Machine fits the bill I guess.


DDT “D-OH GRAND PRIX 2023 IN OSAKA” Results

December 9, 2023

DDT “D-OH GRAND PRIX 2023 IN OSAKA”, 09/12/2023
Osaka Azalea Taisho Hall
245 Fans – No Vacancy

1. Danshoku Dieno & Makoto Oishi defeated Akito & Kazuma Sumi when Oishi pinned Sumi with the Death Penalty (9:35).
2. Daisuke Sasaki & MJ Paul defeated Yuki Iino & Tsutenkakka by Disqualification when Iino attacked the referee (9:38).
3. Chris Brookes, Antonio Honda & Takeshi Masada defeated MAO, Toy Kojima & Ilusion when Masada pinned Ilusion with the Masada Power KOBU Mukimuki (13:00).
4. D-Oh Grand Prix 2023 – B Block: Rei Saito (4) defeated Kazuki Hirata (0) with the Diving Body Press (12:49).
5. D-Oh Grand Prix 2023 – B Block: KANON (4) defeated Yukio Naya (6) by Referee Stoppage with the Modified Cobra Twist (13:47).
6. All Asia Tag Team Titles: Yukio Sakaguchi & Hideki Okatani (c) defeated Jun Akiyama & Yusuke Okada when Okatani pinned Okada with the Quetzalcoatl (16:57).
*V1 for Eruption.
7. D-Oh Grand Prix 2023 – A Block: Kazusada Higuchi (4) defeated HARASHIMA (2) with the Brain Claw Slam (13:14).
8. D-Oh Grand Prix 2023 – A Block: Tetsuya Endo (4) defeated Yuki Ueno (3) with the Forest Bridge (21:18).

A Block

1. Tetsuya Endo (4)
-. Kazusada Higuchi (4)
3. Yuki Ueno (3)
4. Yuki Iino (2)
-. HARASHIMA (2)
6. Daisuke Sasaki (1)

B Block

1. Yukio Naya (6)
2. Rei Saito (4)
-. MAO (4)
-. KANON (4)
5. Chris Brookes (2)
6. Kazuki Hirata (0)

The KO-D Openweight Champion has hit a rocky patch in his D-Oh Grand Prix block. Yuki Ueno’s next match after his time limit draw did not go the way he wanted it to. Tetsuya Endo beat him after a back and forth battle, catching Ueno with a roll up. There was an exchange of signature moves from the two and when Ueno got the upper hand and ran the ropes, Endo caught him in a Headlock Takeover and hooked the leg to pin him for the victory. Endo is keeping the move in his arsenal, naming it the Forest Bridge. He said there is not much time left in 2023 but when he comes back to Osaka in January he will do so as the D-Oh winner! Ueno knows a title match against Endo might be on the cards in the future because of this result. But if Endo does challenge him in the future, he’s never going to give the KO-D Title over to him.

Joining Endo in first place is Kazusada Higuchi after the big man defeated HARASHIMA. He caught the Somato and turned it into a Power Bomb. However HARASHIMA was able to hit the move after another try to cause a double down situation. Higuchi got the advantage from that point and pinned HARASHIMA with the Brain Claw Slam. Higuchi said he can’t take a second to relax in his matches but he still persevered. HARASHIMA praised Higuchi for always being a great opponent to fight.

B Block is still alive with a big upset. KANON not only beat Yukio Naya but sapped the life out of him to win by TKO! The way KANON fought was enough to take Naya down to an even level where they were both close to getting counted out via Double Knockout. But at the 8 count they got back up and kept fighting. When KANON got to put Naya in the Cobra Twist he squeezed as hard as he could. Naya ended up losing conciousness and the match had to be stopped. Backstage Naya admitted he underestimated KANON but there is now a debt between them that will be repayed some day. This result might end up blowing B Block wide open right when it looked like Naya had it all locked up.

Well, the only one who doesn’t have a chance in B Block now is Kazuki Hirata. He continues to be at zero points with another loss. Today’s result was already over before the match even begun because Rei Saito carried a beaten up Hirata down to the ring during the entrances. When asked what happened, Saito said Hirata attacked him backstage so he just returned the favour. Hirata was checked on and he was still breathing so the match went ahead. Saito thought he would get an easy win but Hirata refused to lose. He then distracted Saito by giving him fried rice to eat and then tried attacking him from behind. That only made Saito mad because he hates it when people get in the way of his meal. He got the last laugh by putting on the Hirata GO! glasses and then crushing Hirata with the Diving Body Press, all while music was playing. He wonders if what happened was really pro wrestling but a win is a win.

The big match outside of the Grand Prix bouts was Eruption against BURNING with the All Asia Tag Team Titles at stake. What was planned to be Yusuke Okada teaming with Yuya Koroku was changed to a team with Jun Akiyama instead due to Koroku being injured. Eruption had just come back from wrestling in All Japan for a month as part of the Real World Tag League. A big development in that tournament for Hideki Okatani in particular was him adopting Saki Akai’s finisher the Quetzalcoatl as his own match winning move. He used it here to pin Okada and defend the titles.

After the match Toy Kojima entered the ring. He congratulated Eruption for winning and then announced today is his 24th birthday! To celebrate it he challenged Eruption to a title match and his tag partner is going to be Atsushi Onita! His challenge was turned down by Yukio Sakaguchi who said while Kojima has spent the last three weeks in the sauna, Eruption were busy fighting heavyweight tag teams in AJPW. Kojima wouldn’t give up and figured he just needed to promise something passionate for Eruption to convince them. Okatani was interested and told Kojima to come up with whatever match he wants because Eruption will beat them no matter what. Kojima decided the match can also be a Current Blast Death Match! The idea has been sent to the PWF committee and DDT will have to hear back from them for the date and location of the match if it gets approved.

Rukiya was absent from the show over being in poor health so he was replaced with Tsutenkakka as Yuki Iino’s tag partner. During the match itself Daisuke Sasaki attacked Iino with a chair. He then grabbed Iino’s tights and tried to pull them down! Iino lost his temper and attacked Sasaki. When the referee stepped in to stop him, Iino then attacked the ref causing himself to get disqualified.

Before the opening match took place Kazuma Sumi told Akito he is scared of the Wasabi Lip Lock that Danshoku Dieno now uses. Akito explained that Dieno hates the move too but promised to stop Makoto Oishi from feeding Dieno with the wasabi. The plan did not work and the Lip Lock happened when Oishi squeezed the wasabi into Dieno’s mouth. He then gave Dieno a Stunner that bounced him lips first into Sumi. After that Oishi used the Death Penalty Inverted DDT on Sumi for the win.


TJPW Title Defences In North America, Something By DISASTER BOX, An Unpaid Debt Between MAO & Keith

December 8, 2023

DDT “D-OH GRAND PRIX 2023 IN OSAKA”, 09/12/2023
Osaka Azalea Taisho Hall

1. Daisuke Sasaki & MJ Paul Vs Yuki Iino & Rukiya
2. Danshoku Dieno & Makoto Oishi Vs Akito & Kazuma Sumi
3. Chris Brookes, Antonio Honda & Takeshi Masada Vs MAO, Toy Kojima & Ilusion
4. D-Oh Grand Prix 2023 – B Block: Kazuki Hirata (0) Vs Rei Saito (2)
5. D-Oh Grand Prix 2023 – B Block: Yukio Naya (6) Vs KANON (2)
6. All Asia Tag Team Titles: Yukio Sakaguchi & Hideki Okatani (c) Vs Jun Akiyama & Yusuke Okada
7. D-Oh Grand Prix 2023 – A Block: Kazusada Higuchi (2) Vs HARASHIMA (2)
8. D-Oh Grand Prix 2023 – A Block: Yuki Ueno (3) Vs Tetsuya Endo (2)

The D-Oh Grand Prix continues tomorrow. A Block still has everyone in the race so it’s only fair to have Yuki Ueno Vs Tetsuya Endo and Kazusada Higuchi Vs HARASHIMA be the top two matches of the show. But over in B Block Yukio Naya is one more step towards cleaning up the entire group if he beats KANON. The Kazuki Hirata Vs Rei Saito match is pretty much just for pride at this point. Not that Hirata has that much pride to begin with but you know what I mean.

Eruption are also back from the Real World Tag League looking to shake off their middle of the table finish. They might have a long line of challengers forming up in front of them so they need to retain the All Asia Tag Team Titles against BURNING if they have any intention of dealing with that.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TOKYO JOSHI PRO ’24”, 04/01/2024
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Aja Kong Vs Wakana Uehara
2. Rina Yamashita Vs Maki Itoh
3. International Princess Title: Max The Impaler (c) Vs Yuki Arai
4. Princess Of Princess Title: Miyu Yamashita (c) Vs Masha Slamovich

Last night in the space of about half an hour there were two Tokyo Joshi Pro title matches taking place in North America. Over in Quebec, Canada Max The Impaler had a surprise International Princess Title defence at the Mystery Wrestling show put together by Evil Uno. Max defeated Jody Threat in the semi-main event. Word of the match reached back to TJPW and they officially recognize it as Max’s third successful title defence. That now means if Max beats Yuki Arai on 4th January they will tie the current record for most IP Title defences in a single reign at four wins.

Then as soon as that match had finished Miyu Yamashita was entering the ring in New York, USA to defend the Princess Of Princess Title against Delmi Exo at an MLW show. She won that match to earn her second defence in this latest title run. Maki Itoh was also on the show but she lost to Janai Kai in a match for the MLW World Featherweight Title. I’ll write more about the matches on the next DDT Around The World article at the start of next month.

DDT “SWEET DREAMS! 2024 TOUR IN SHINJUKU”, 05/01/2024
Shinjuku FACE

1. Something by HARASHIMA, Toru Owashi, Kazuki Hirata, etc.: X Vs X
2. KO-D 10-Man Tag Team Titles: Yuki Ueno, MAO, Shunma Katsumata, Toy Kojima & Yoshihiko (c) Vs Chris Brookes, Masahiro Takanashi, Antonio Honda, Takeshi Masada & Mecha Mummy

The three main members of DISASTER BOX are all putting their heads together to book something for DDT’s first visit to Shinjuku FACE in 2024. Whatever it is the three of them will be involved along with others.

GANBARE☆PRO “GANPRO 2024 ROSIER”, 06/01/2024
Osaka 176BOX

1. Legendary Hostess Vs The Toughest Girl In Osaka: Riara Vs Momoka Hanazono

When Ganbare☆Pro heads to Osaka in the new year Riara takes on Momoka Hanazono. This joshi wrestler’s nickname may not match with all of the flowers and bubbles she surrounds herself with but it is still accurate. Hanazono has a background in rugby before becoming a pro wrestler.

HARASHIMA, Soma Takao, Ilusion, Tyson Maeguchi and Banny Oikawa will all be on the show.

DDT “NEW YEAR FAN APPRECIATION DAY!”, 20/01/2024
Tokyo Shinagawa Prince Hotel Club eX

1. Special 6-Man Tag Match: MAO, Shunma Katsumata & Toi Kojima Vs Bryan Keith, Soma Takao & Shota

Three days of DDT appearances await for Bryan Keith in the new year. He makes his Japanese wrestling debut here by teaming with ROMANCE DAWN against The 37KAMIINA. Keith was an opponent for Shota during Shota’s US excursion last year.

DDT “SWEET DREAMS! 2024 TOUR IN SHINAGAWA”, 21/01/2024
Tokyo Shinagawa Prince Hotel Club eX

1. DDT Universal Title: MAO (c) Vs Bryan Keith

The next day Keith gets the match MAO has been demanding. The DDT Universal Title is on the line for this rematch from West Coast Pro during the summer. Keith won the first battle and MAO wants revenge! What happens to a bounty hunter when it’s time for them to repay a debt?

DDT “SWEET DREAMS! 2024”, 28/01/2024
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Special Single Match: KONOSUKE TAKESHITA Vs Naruki Doi

Keith’s third and last appearance on this tour will be at Korakuen Hall near the end of the month.


D-Oh Halfway Point, Some Unique TJPW Shows, GanJo Vs Evo Joshi, 10-Man Titles Return

December 4, 2023

DDT “D-OH GRAND PRIX 2023 IN OSAKA”, 09/12/2023
Osaka Azalea Taisho Hall

1. Chris Brookes, Antonio Honda & Takeshi Masada Vs MAO, Toy Kojima & Ilusion
2. Daisuke Sasaki & MJ Paul Vs Yuki Iino & Rukiya
3. Danshoku Dieno & Makoto Oishi Vs Akito & Kazuma Sumi
4. D-Oh Grand Prix 2023 – A Block: Yuki Ueno (3) Vs Tetsuya Endo (2)
5. D-Oh Grand Prix 2023 – A Block: Kazusada Higuchi (2) Vs HARASHIMA (2)
6. D-Oh Grand Prix 2023 – B Block: Yukio Naya (6) Vs KANON (2)
7. D-Oh Grand Prix 2023 – B Block: Kazuki Hirata (0) Vs Rei Saito (2)
8. All Asia Tag Team Titles: Yukio Sakaguchi & Hideki Okatani (c) Vs Jun Akiyama & Yusuke Okada

We’re around the halfway point of the D-Oh Grand Prix. It’s too early to predict how the A Block is going to go. The B Block is a different manner. If Yukio Naya beats KANON then only MAO can potentially compete with him for the spot in the final. Rei Saito can also catch up on points but Naya already has the tiebreaker advantage over him. It’s a must win for KANON to remain in the race. Chris Brookes is teetering on the edge while Kazuki Hirata is the first wrestler who is already mathematically out of the tournament.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW AQUARIUM PRO WRESTLING IN YOKOHAMA HAKKEIJIMA SEA PARADISE”, 10/12/2023
Yokohama Hakkeijima Sea Paradise

1. X Vs X

Before the year ends Tokyo Joshi Pro has a surprise gift for everybody. They recently recorded a Street Wrestling match held inside the Hakkeijima Sea Paradise aquarium in Yokohama. Twelve TJPW wrestlers were split into two teams for the competition and the winners received “luxery prizes”. The participants were Yuka Sakazaki, Mizuki, Rika Tatsumi, Shoko Nakajima, Hyper Misao, Nao Kakuta, Miu Watanabe, Raku, Suzume, Arisu Endo, Yuki Arai and HIMAWARI. The video is being shown on Wrestle Universe as a PPV.

GANBARE☆JOSHI “GANJO BINARY LAND ’23”, 15/12/2023
Tokyo Narimasu Act Hall

1. Ram Kaichow & Alex Lee Vs Sumire Natsu & Marika Kobashi
2. Tae Honma & Yoshiko Hasegawa Vs Yuu & Banny Oikawa
3. GanJo Vs Evo Joshi: Riara Vs ZONES
4. GanJo Vs Evo Joshi: YuuRI Vs Chi Chi

A new challenge is coming to Ganbare☆Joshi. This year saw the launch of a new women’s wrestling group called Evolution. Three women debuted as pro wrestlers with Suwama from All Japan helping oversee the project. One of the three recently retired due to injury but the other two have kept at it and will soon visit GanJo. Chi Chi gets the bigger challenge by being put in the main event against YuuRI. The other match has the eye-catching ZONES taking on Riara.

Yuu returns to GanJo for the first time since 2020.

DDT “D-OH GRAND PRIX 2023 IN FUKUOKA”, 16/12/2023
Fukuoka Nishitetsu Hall

0. Dark Match – Kyushu Sangyo University Pro Wrestling Research Department Offer Match: Ionazun Shirai & Tiger Nishiya Mask Vs Great Tamu & Occult Daimao
1. Special 6-Man Tag Match: MAO, Toy Kojima & Van Vert Jack Vs Azul Dragon, Akito & Kazuma Sumi
2. Yukio Sakaguchi & Soma Takao Vs Yukio Naya & Yusuke Okada
3. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Jun Akiyama, Danshoku Dieno & Makoto Oishi Vs Hideki Okatani, Yuki Ishida & Takeshi Masada
4. D-Oh Grand Prix 2023 – A Block: Yuki Ueno Vs HARASHIMA
5. D-Oh Grand Prix 2023 – A Block: Tetsuya Endo Vs Daisuke Sasaki
6. D-Oh Grand Prix 2023 – A Block: Kazusada Higuchi Vs Yuki Iino
7. D-Oh Grand Prix 2023 – B Block: Chris Brookes Vs Kazuki Hirata
8. D-Oh Grand Prix 2023 – B Block: KANON Vs Rei Saito

A small change with Yuya Koroku being out injured. Since he can’t take part in a 6-Man Tag Match, Rukiya also gets removed to keep the teams even.

DDT “D-OH GRAND PRIX 2023 IN KUMAMOTO”, 17/12/2023
Kumamoto Sakurajuji Hall Yatsushiro Multipurpose Hall

1. Yukio Sakaguchi & Hideki Okatani Vs Soma Takao & Kazuma Sumi
2. Danshoku Dieno, Makoto Oishi & Kazuki Hirata Vs Chris Brookes, Akito & Takeshi Masada
3. Tetsuya Endo, Jun Akiyama & Yusuke Okada Vs HARASHIMA, Yukio Naya & Rukiya
4. The 37KAMIINA Vs Harimao!: Yuki Ueno & Toy Kojima Vs Kazusada Higuchi & Yuki Ishida
5. D-Oh Grand Prix 2023 – A Block: Daisuke Sasaki Vs Yuki Iino
6. D-Oh Grand Prix 2023 – B Block: MAO Vs KANON

The first three matches on this show have been changed around too because of Koroku’s injury.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW CITY CIRCUIT ’23 ~KASUKABE PERFORMANCE~”, 17/12/2023
Saitama Kasukabe Fureai Cube

1. X Vs X
2. X Vs X
3. X Vs X
4. X Vs X
5. X Vs X
6. X Vs X
7. X Vs X
8. X Vs X
9. X Vs X
10. X Vs X
11. X Vs X

A special format is being used for TJPW’s final visit to Saitama this year. A fan lottery on 6th December will choose the entire card for this event. Every match will be a singles match with just a seven minute time limit. The 22 participants are Hikari Noa, Nao Kakuta, Shoko Nakajima, Maki Itoh, Yuki Kamifuku, Hyper Misao, Yuki Aino, Miu Watanabe, Raku, Pom Harajuku, Mahiro Kiryu, Suzume, Moka Miyamoto, Arisu Endo, Kaya Toribami, Wakana Uehara, HIMAWARI, Shino Suzuki, Toga, Haru Kazashiro, Runa Okubo and Juria Nagano.

GANBARE☆PRO “BAD COMMUNICATION 2023”, 27/12/2023
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Sumire Natsu, YuuRI & Riara Vs HARUKAZE, Makoto & Banny Oikawa
2. Yuko Miyamoto Vs Munetatsu Nakamura
3. GanPro Vs GLEAT All Out Battle: Yumehito Imanari, Shinichiro Tominaga, X, X & X Vs Kaz Hayashi, X, X, X & X
4. Special Tag Match: Shota & Soma Takao Vs Keisuke Ishii & Shigehiro Irie
5. Special Single Match: Yoshiko Hasegawa Vs Arisu Endo
6. Special Single Match: Ken Ohka Vs Kuma Arashi
7. Spirit Of Ganbare World Openweight Title: Isami Kodaka (c) Vs Shuichiro Katsumura

Slowly but surely wrestlers are signing up for the Ganbare☆Pro Vs GLEAT match. Kaz Hayashi has answered Yumehito Imanari’s request for him to be involved in the match. Imanari has also added Shinichiro Tominaga to the GanPro team.

Munetatsu Nakamura is a fan of Yuko Miyamoto so GanPro is getting them together for a match.

Both YuuRI & Riara have been developing a sister-like relationship with Sumire Natsu in GanJo throughout this year. Let’s see how the three can work together as a “family” against HARUKAZE, Makoto & Banny Oikawa.

DDT “D-OH GRAND PRIX 2023 THE FINAL”, 03/01/2024
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Special Tag Match ~ Shunma Katsumata Return Match: Yukio Sakaguchi & Hideki Okatani Vs Shunma Katsumata & Toy Kojima
2. D-Oh Grand Prix 2023 – Final: Winner Of A Block Vs Winner Of B Block

Jun Saito has been added to the show. So if Rei Saito doesn’t make it to the final expect The Saito Brothers to team up for a match instead.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TOKYO JOSHI PRO ’24”, 04/01/2024
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Rina Yamashita Vs Maki Itoh
2. Princess Of Princess Title: Miyu Yamashita (c) Vs Masha Slamovich

A rematch from GCW is happening at the Ittenyon show. Rina Yamashita beat Maki Itoh in America back in June. Will Itoh’s pizza cutter make its first appearance in TJPW?

DDT “SWEET DREAMS! 2024 TOUR IN SHINJUKU”, 05/01/2024
Shinjuku FACE

1. KO-D 10-Man Tag Team Titles: Yuki Ueno, MAO, Shunma Katsumata, Toy Kojima & Yoshihiko (c) Vs Chris Brookes, Masahiro Takanashi, Antonio Honda, Takeshi Masada & Mecha Mummy

Over the weekend SCHADENFREUDE International made it known they want to fight for the dormant KO-D 10-Man Tag Team Titles. They even have Mecha Mummy with them to be the fifth member of their team. The titles still belong to The 37KAMIINA & Shinya Aoki despite not being defended since June 2022. The match is booked for 5th January but DDT found out Aoki is currently unavailable because he is busy training for an MMA fight against Sage Northcutt. Luckily the championship has a rule where the champion team can temporarily replace up to two members and still be eligible to defend the titles. For this match Aoki is being replaced by Yoshihiko! For statistical purposes, should the champions win it counts as a successful defence for Aoki not Yoshihiko.


Koroku Injured, Queen Of Asia Title Match, Baka Gaijin 1st Anniversary, Owashi And Shunma Return Dates

November 29, 2023

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TOKYO JOSHI PRO WRESTLING 10TH ANNIVERSARY PERFORMANCE ~WE ARE TJPW~”, 01/12/2023
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Hyper Misao & Mahiro Kiryu Vs Yuki Aino & Raku
2. Juria Nagano, Shino Suzuki & Haru Kazashiro Vs Kaya Toribami, Toga & Runa Okubo
3. Queen Of Asia Title: Yuki Kamifuku (c) Vs Viva Van
4. Next Generation Tournament ’23 – Final: HIMAWARI Vs Wakana Uehara
5. Princess Tag Team Titles: Hikari Noa & Nao Kakuta (c) Vs Max The Impaler & Pom Harajuku
6. 10th Anniversary Special 10-Woman Tag Match: Miyu Yamashita, Shoko Nakajima, Yuka Sakazaki, Rika Tatsumi & Mizuki Vs Miu Watanabe, Yuki Arai, Suzume, Moka Miyamoto & Arisu Endo

Viva Van just got here and she already has a title match lined up. She challenged Yuki Kamifuku for her newly won Queen Of Asia Title after they teamed together for Van’s debut in Tokyo Joshi Pro. Kamifuku accepted the challenge but only because Van is good looking like she is. The championship belongs to Singapore Pro Wrestling and is supposedly meant to be defended between Asian wrestlers. SPW gave their approval for the title match when they found out Van is Vietnamese.

DDT “D-OH GRAND PRIX 2023 IN SHINJUKU DAY 1”, 02/12/2023
Shinjuku FACE

1. Special 8-Man Tag Match: Yuki Ueno, Toy Kojima, Takeshi Masada & Kazuma Sumi Vs Jun Akiyama, Yuki Iino, Yusuke Okada & Rukiya
2. D-Oh Grand Prix 2023 – A Block: Tetsuya Endo (0) Vs HARASHIMA (0)
3. D-Oh Grand Prix 2023 – A Block: Kazusada Higuchi (0) Vs Daisuke Sasaki (0)
4. D-Oh Grand Prix 2023 – B Block: Chris Brookes (0) Vs KANON (2)
5. D-Oh Grand Prix 2023 – B Block: MAO (2) Vs Kazuki Hirata (0)
6. D-Oh Grand Prix 2023 – B Block: Yukio Naya (2) Vs Rei Saito (2)
7. KO-D Tag Team Titles: Soma Takao & Shota (c) Vs Toru Sugiura & Akito

Yuya Koroku injured his left arm at Sunday’s show in Korakuen Hall. It has since come out that he has a torn triceps and an avulsion fracture in his elbow. That puts him out of action for a while and DDT has found replacements for him on their upcoming shows. Rukiya takes his place on the first day of the Shinjuku weekend doubleshot.

DDT “D-OH GRAND PRIX 2023 IN SHINJUKU DAY 2”, 03/12/2023
Shinjuku FACE

1. Jun Akiyama, Makoto Oishi, Yusuke Okada & Rukiya Vs HARASHIMA, Akito, Toy Kojima & Takeshi Masada
2. Special Tag Match: MIKAMI & Kazuma Sumi Vs Demus & KANON
3. D-Oh Grand Prix 2023 – A Block: Yuki Ueno Vs Daisuke Sasaki
4. D-Oh Grand Prix 2023 – A Block: Tetsuya Endo Vs Yuki Iino
5. D-Oh Grand Prix 2023 – B Block: Chris Brookes Vs MAO
6. D-Oh Grand Prix 2023 – B Block: Yukio Naya Vs Kazuki Hirata

Koroku is replaced by Makoto Oishi on the second day.

DDT “D-OH GRAND PRIX 2023 IN OSAKA”, 09/12/2023
Osaka Azalea Taisho Hall

1. Chris Brookes, Antonio Honda & Takeshi Masada Vs MAO, Toy Kojima & Ilusion
2. Daisuke Sasaki & MJ Paul Vs Yuki Iino & Rukiya
3. Danshoku Dieno & Makoto Oishi Vs Akito & Kazuma Sumi
4. D-Oh Grand Prix 2023 – A Block: Yuki Ueno Vs Tetsuya Endo
5. D-Oh Grand Prix 2023 – A Block: Kazusada Higuchi Vs HARASHIMA
6. D-Oh Grand Prix 2023 – B Block: Yukio Naya Vs KANON
7. D-Oh Grand Prix 2023 – B Block: Kazuki Hirata Vs Rei Saito
8. All Asia Tag Team Titles: Yukio Sakaguchi & Hideki Okatani (c) Vs Jun Akiyama & Yusuke Okada

DDT were looking into what to do with the All Asia Tag Team Titles match due to Koroku’s injury. Yusuke Okada did not want to give up the title shot and asked Jun Akiyama step in as Koroku’s substitute. One of Okada’s lifelong goals in wrestling is to win a tag team championship with Akiyama. He agreed to take part. Akiyama will be leaving BURNING at the end of the year but he admits if he wins the titles with Okada it could lead to something continuing next year. I bet he’s just looking for any excuse to leave D.O.A for something else.

Meanwhile Eruption are currently finding themselves in the middle of the pack over at the Real World Tag League. They have 3 wins and 3 losses for a total of 6 points so far. They have two matches remaining in taking place in December and the All Asia Tag Titles defence is taking place smack dab in between them. Hideki Okatani used Saki Akai’s finisher the Quetzalcoatl to win two of those matches, which is sweet of him. If I find the time I’ll do a write up about their tournament run when it is completed.

Some of the non-tournament matches have been mixed around due to Koroku’s injury.

BAKA GAIJIN + FRIENDS “VOL. TEN”, 12/12/2023
Tokyo ARENA Shimokitazawa

1. Special Single Match: MAO Vs Ram Kaichow
2. Special Single Match: Shigehiro Irie Vs Mad Dr. Ueki
3. Special Single Match: Yuki Ueno Vs Masahiro Takanashi
4. Special Single Match: Chris Brookes Vs Munetatsu Nakamura

The Baka Gaijin are bringing in friends old and new for their 1st Anniversary show. Chris Brookes and Masahiro Takanashi are both taking part in important singles matches. Yuki Ueno, Shigehiro Irie and Munetatsu Nakamura get to join the party. What is Mad Dr. Ueki cooking up for the show this time and is it still Mecha Mummy related? Also Ram Kaichow returns for a one on one fight with MAO.

DDT “D-OH GRAND PRIX 2023 IN KORAKUEN HALL”, 24/12/2023
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title – Battle Royal ~ Toru Owashi Return Match: The Great Koji (c) Vs Toru Owashi Vs Sanshiro Takagi Vs Kazuki Hirata Vs Akito Vs Yusuke Okada Vs Yuki Ishida Va Kazuma Sumi Vs Rukiya Vs Open Recruitment X
2. Yukio Sakaguchi & Hideki Okatani Vs KANON & MJ Paul
3. KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles: Jun Akiyama, Danshoku Dieno & Makoto Oishi (c) Vs Masahiro Takanashi, Antonio Honda & Takeshi Masada
4. D-Oh Grand Prix 2023 – A Block: Yuki Ueno Vs Yuki Iino
5. D-Oh Grand Prix 2023 – A Block: Tetsuya Endo Vs Kazusada Higuchi
6. D-Oh Grand Prix 2023 – A Block: Daisuke Sasaki Vs HARASHIMA
7. D-Oh Grand Prix 2023 – B Block: Chris Brookes Vs Rei Saito
8. D-Oh Grand Prix 2023 – B Block: MAO Vs Yukio Naya

Oishi making decisions by himself has put D.O.A in another KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles defence before their next scheduled one in January. SCHADENFREUDE International have skipped the line after Takeshi Masada pinned Oishi at Korakuen and threw down the challenge. Akiyama isn’t happy with Oishi for not consulting him before agreeing to it. Poor Danshoku Dieno just wants the team to get along and is getting stressed over the growing threats facing D.O.A in the next couple of months.

DDT is giving Toru Owashi nothing but the most important kind of match for his return to the ring… He’s getting put in a Battle Royal for the Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title like he always is. The Great Koji has appeared in public again for the first time since winning the title so DDT has made sure he will be at Korakuen on Christmas Eve to defend it. DDT are also looking for wrestlers from outside the company to send in applications for entry into the Battle Royal.

DDT “D-OH GRAND PRIX 2023 THE FINAL”, 03/01/2024
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Shunma Katsumata Return Match: Shunma Katsumata Vs X
2. D-Oh Grand Prix 2023 – Final: Winner Of A Block Vs Winner Of B Block

After being away with an ankle injury for eight months, Shunma Katsumata will return at the first DDT show of 2024.