TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW INSPIRATION”, 06/01/2024 Shinjuku FACE 374 Fans – Super No Vacancy
1. Miyu Yamashita & Yuki Aino defeated HIMAWARI & Toga when Yamashita pinned HIMAWARI with the Attitude Adjustment (11:36).
2. Pom Harajuku defeated Kuishinbo Kamen with a School Boy (6:22).
3. Special Single Match: Masha Slamovich Vs Max The Impaler ended in a No Contest (10:28).
4. Battle Royal To Win The Right To Challenge The Princess Of Princess Champion: Miu Watanabe defeated Mizuki, Rika Tatsumi, Shoko Nakajima and Yuki Kamifuku (24:00).
4a. Mizuki eliminated Shoko Nakajima by Over The Top Rope (14:02).
4b. Rika Tatsumi eliminated Mizuki by Over The Top Rope (14:26).
4c. Yuki Kamifuku eliminated Rika Tatsumi with a Kintaro Clutch (20:32).
4d. Miu Watanabe eliminated Yuki Kamifuku with the Tear Drop (24:00).
The challenger for “GRAND PRINCESS ’24” at Sumo Hall has been determined. Miu Watanabe won the Battle Royal to become the No. 1 Contender for the Princess Of Princess Title! The match went on with the champion Miyu Yamashita watching on nearby. Mizuki eliminated Shoko Nakajima by using the Cutie Special on the apron to bounce her out of the ring. Mizuki then didn’t last much longer because when she climbed the turnbuckles, Rika Tatsumi knocked her to the floor with a Hip Attack. Tatsumi and Watanabe then fought each other in a Daydream battle until Yuki Kamifuku slipped in and pinned Tatsumi with a Kintaro Clutch out of nowhere. Kamifuku then tried to give Watanabe the Famouser but she was caught on her opponent’s shoulders. A Victory Roll attempt was then blocked and Watanabe spun Kamifuku around with a Giant Swing. The finish came after that when Watanabe pinned her with the Tear Drop.
So now the stage is set for 31st March. Watanabe will face Yamashita for the Princess Title at Ryogoku! Watanabe said she loves Tokyo Joshi Pro so she will do whatever it takes to win the title and make the show a success. She feels the weight of the challenge because it is happening on the 10th year of TJPW. Yamashita said backstage she is not planning to travel for the next three months so she intends to wrestle all of her matches in Japan during this period. She will never lose so she asks Watanabe to come and beat her at Sumo Hall with all of her might.
There was no longer any death matches scheduled for the show after Hikari Noa was pulled but Masha Slamovich Vs Max The Impaler ended up going out of control anyway. They fought out of the ring and threw each other into rows of chairs. Max brought a chair into the ring and the referee stopped them from using it. When Max shoved the ref away, Slamovich then grabbed a chair and hit Max with it. The ref then shouted warnings at her and got shoved aside. The match had to be called off while Max and Slamovich were still fighting out of the ring towards the lobby. Later backstage when things calmed down Slamovich was able to comment on the match. She said a No Contest means there is still work to be done between her and Max. They can do it at Sumo Hall, in Philadelphia or anywhere else! Wherever a rematch takes place, Slamovich promises to have a surprise in store for Max.
Pom Harajuku is so much like Kuishinbo Kamen. Perhaps a little too much even. She entered the ring wearing her own Kamen mask as well as a lei made out of packs of candy. The two wrestled a comedy match that dragged the referee into it. The ref ended up kicking Kamen and Harajuku rolled him up with a School Boy to win. Harajuku said Kamen is awesome and they are so similar even she couldn’t tell who was who. Kamen said at the time Harajuku debut he thought her gimmick overlapped with his. He was glad to have a match with her and doesn’t want today to be the only time it happens. The two agreed to team up next time and decided to dance their way home together.
The show opened up with Yamashita teaming up with Yuki Aino so the two champions could take on HIMAWARI & Toga. The match was put together to celebrate the first anniversary of HIMAWARI’s TJPW debut. Aino dropped Toga with the Venus DDT and Yamashita pinned HIMAWARI with the Attitude Adjustment.
Haru Kazashiro joined Sayuri Namba for the show opening announcements. Namba asked Kazashiro to predict the main event. Kazashiro couldn’t pick a winner because she originally thought it was going to be Maki Itoh, who was pulled from the show on short notice due to injury.
There is going to be another TJPW show in Philadelphia during Wrestlemania Week. The second show will also include the women from GCW working with them. “GCW Vs TJPW” will be held in Penns Landing Caterers Auditorium on 6th April.
NOTE: The Maki Itoh injury news came out while I was writing this post and has since been edited in.
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW INSPIRATION”, 06/01/2024 Shinjuku FACE
1. Pom Harajuku Vs Kuishinbo Kamen
2. Miyu Yamashita & Yuki Aino Vs HIMAWARI & Toga
3. Battle Royal To Win The Right To Challenge The Princess Of Princess Champion: Mizuki Vs Rika Tatsumi Vs Shoko Nakajima Vs Yuki Kamifuku Vs Miu Watanabe
4. Special Single Match: Masha Slamovich Vs Max The Impaler
Both Masha Slamovich and Max The Impaler are looking for a rebound win after losing their big title matches yesterday.
Maki Itoh is out of action indefinitely after injuring her arm during yesterday’s match against Rina Yamashita. Her arm felt numb afterwards and she went for an MRI scan earlier today. The diagnosis was for her to rest and get medical treatment. That means she has to pull out of her upcoming matches both in Japan and abroad. The timetable for her return will depend on her doctor’s decision during her recovery. The Battle Royal tomorrow will now be between the five remaining participants.
1. Keisuke Ishii & Shota Vs Yuni & Ilusion
2. Legendary Hostess Vs The Toughest Girl In Osaka: Riara Vs Momoka Hanazono
3. Banny Oikawa & YuuRI Vs HARUKAZE & Yoshiko Hasegawa
4. Special Single Match: Shinichiro Tominaga Vs Tsuyoshi Okada
5. Yumehito Imanari & Tyson Maeguchi Vs Soma Takao & Mizuki Watase
6. Spirit Of Ganbare World Tag Team Titles: Shuichiro Katsumura & Takuya Wada (c) Vs HARASHIMA & Ken Ohka
Munetatsu Nakamura is showing symptoms of a fever so will not be at the show tomorrow. Yuni takes his place in the opener.
DDT “SWEET DREAMS! 2024 TOUR IN OSAKA DAY 1”, 06/01/2024 Osaka 176BOX
1. Sanshiro Takagi & Kazuki Hirata Vs Toru Owashi & Ilusion
2. Daisuke Sasaki & KANON Vs Yuki Iino & Yuni
3. Special Tag Match: Yoshitatsu & Yusuke Okada Vs HARASHIMA & Kazuma Sumi
4. Kazusada Higuchi Vs Rukiya
5. KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles – DEAD OR ALIVE Contra DEAD OR ALIVE: Jun Akiyama, Danshoku Dieno & Makoto Oishi (c) Vs Bodyguard, Naruki Doi & Tsutenkakka
6. Special Single Match: Tetsuya Endo Vs Takeshi Masada
7. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Yuki Ueno, Shunma Katsumata & Toy Kojima Vs Yukio Naya, Yukio Sakaguchi & Hideki Okatani
The card for tomorrow’s DDT show has been changed around because of MAO’s illness as well as plans to build up Yuki Ueno Vs Yukio Naya for the end of the month.
DDT “SWEET DREAMS! 2024 TOUR IN OSAKA DAY 2”, 07/01/2024 Osaka 176BOX
1. Makoto Oishi Vs Yuni
2. Special Single Match: Kazuki Hirata Vs Danshoku Dieno
3. Special Single Match: Yoshitatsu Vs Takeshi Masada
4. Jun Akiyama, Toru Owashi & Yukio Sakaguchi Vs Akito, Yusuke Okada & Ilusion
5. Special Single Match: Hideki Okatani Vs Toy Kojima
6. Special Tag Match: Sanshiro Takagi & Rukiya Vs HARASHIMA & Kazuma Sumi
7. BURNING Vs DAMNATION T.A!: Tetsuya Endo & Yuki Iino Vs Daisuke Sasaki & KANON
8. Special Tag Match: Yuki Ueno, & Shunma Katsumata Vs Yukio Naya & Kazusada Higuchi
Not as many changes here but still a few. The big change here is Yuki Iino teaming with Tetsuya Endo as the newest member of BURNING. They are against DAMNATION T.A too and Daisuke Sasaki is not happy his plan to get Endo on his side again ended in failure.
BASARA “BASARA 239 ~UTAGE~”, 07/01/2024 Shin-Kiba 1st RING
1. KUBITO & Yasu Urano Vs Takato Nakano & Masato Kamino
2. Ryuichi Sekine & Ryota Nakatsu Vs Tsutomu Oosugi & Banana Senga
3. Isami Kodaka Vs Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi
4. Takumi Tsukamoto, SAGAT & Lil’ Kraken Vs Daichi Kazato, Fuminori Abe & Takuya Nomura
5. Union MAX Title: FUMA (c) Vs Minoru Fujita
The first BASARA show of 2024 has FUMA defending the Union MAX Title against Minoru Fujita as the main event.
DDT “NEW YEAR’S CURRENT BLAST! 2024”, 14/01/2024 Kanagawa Tsurumi Fruit & Vegetable Market
1. Kazuki Hirata, Kazusada Higuchi & Danshoku Dieno Vs HARASHIMA, Akito & Kazuma Sumi
2. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Tetsuya Endo, Yuki Iino & Yusuke Okada Vs Yoshitatsu, Masahiro Takanashi & Takeshi Masada
3. Special Single Match: Shota Vs Daisuke Sasaki
4. Special Single Match: Soma Takao Vs KANON
5. Special Tag Match: Yuki Ueno & Shunma Katsumata Vs Yukio Naya & Rukiya
6. Special 4 Way Match: MAO Vs Mecha Mummy Vs Mecha Pandita Vs Demonio Uno
7. All Asia Tag Team Titles – Current Blast Death Match: Yukio Sakaguchi & Hideki Okatani (c) Vs Atsushi Onita & Toy Kojima
Two singles matches between ROMANCE DAWN and DAMNATION T.A to get them ready for the KO-D Tag Team Titles match later in the month.
GANBARE☆JOSHI “GANJO WINNING SHOT ’24”, 16/01/2024 Shin-Kiba 1st RING
1. Ice Ribbon Offer Match: Ibuki Hoshi & Kaho Matsushita Vs Arisa Shinose & Tsukina Umino
2. Alex Lee & Riara Vs Kaho Kobayashi & Itsuki Aoki
3. SAKI Vs Banny Oikawa
4. Sumire Natsu & YuuRI Vs Yuu & Yoshiko Hasegawa
Riara gets to team up with Alex Lee for the first time. They have previously been opponents.
DDT “NEW YEAR FAN APPRECIATION DAY!”, 20/01/2024 Tokyo Shinagawa Prince Hotel Club eX
1. 4 Way Tag Match: Yuki Ueno & Yoshitatsu Vs Kazuki Hirata & Makoto Oishi Vs HARASHIMA & Kazusada Higuchi Vs Yuki Iino & Yusuke Okada
2. New Year’s Six Major Single Match: KANON Vs Yuni
3. New Year’s Six Major Single Match: Daisuke Sasaki Vs Ilusion
4. New Year’s Six Major Single Match: Danshoku Dieno Vs Kazuma Sumi
5. New Year’s Six Major Single Match: Yukio Naya Vs Takeshi Masada
6. New Year’s Six Major Single Match: Jun Akiyama Vs Rukiya
7. New Year’s Six Major Single Match: Tetsuya Endo Vs Hideki Okatani
8. Special 6-Man Tag Match: MAO, Shunma Katsumata & Toi Kojima Vs Bryan Keith, Soma Takao & Shota
Because their is not enough matches going on in this show DDT have added a 4 Way Tag to it.
DDT “SWEET DREAMS! 2024 TOUR IN SHINAGAWA”, 21/01/2024 Tokyo Shinagawa Prince Hotel Club eX
1. Jun Akiyama, Danshoku Dieno & Makoto Oishi Vs HARASHIMA, Hideki Okatani & Kazuma Sumi
2. Tetsuya Endo & Yuki Iino Vs Takeshi Masada & Rukiya
3. Kazuki Hirata & Akito Vs Shunma Katsumata & Yusuke Okada
4. Special Single Match: Kazusada Higuchi Vs MJ Paul
5. Special Tag Match: Yuki Ueno & Toy Kojima 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
The last preview match between Ueno and Naya before their KO-D Openweight Title bout takes place here.
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TOKYO JOSHI PRO ’24”, 04/01/2024 Tokyo Korakuen Hall 1,235 Fans – Super No Vacancy
1. Yuki Kamifuku, Mahiro Kiryu & Toga defeated Moka Miyamoto, Juria Nagano & Kaya Toribami when Kamifuku pinned Toribami with the Famouser (9:34).
2. Raku, Ram Kaichow & Pom Harajuku defeated HIMAWARI, Haru Kazashiro & Runa Okubo when Raku pinned Kazashiro with the Doctor Yellow (6:43).
3. Mizuki defeated Nao Kakuta with the Cutie Special (8:48).
4. New Year! Make Your Dreams Come True! Daruma Match: Shoko Nakajima defeated Hyper Misao when Nakajima painted the eye on the Daruma Doll (14:07).
5. Riho defeated Shino Suzuki with the Sakura Hold (5:33).
6. Aja Kong defeated Wakana Uehara with the Back Drop (6:57).
7. Special Single Match: Rina Yamashita defeated Maki Itoh with the Splash Mountain (16:43).
8. International Princess Title: Yuki Arai defeated Max The Impaler (c) with the Finally (10:19). *Max The Impaler fails in V4. Yuki Arai becomes the 12th International Princess Champion!
9. Princess Tag Team Titles – 3 Way Match: Ryo Mizunami & Yuki Aino defeated Rika Tatsumi & Miu Watanabe and Suzume & Arisu Endo when Aino pinned Endo with the UBV (13:19). *Ryo Mizunami & Yuki Aino become the 15th Princess Tag Team Champions!
10. Princess Of Princess Title: Miyu Yamashita (c) defeated Masha Slamovich with the Crash Rabbit Heat (17:20). *V3 for Miyu Yamashita.
The Miyu Yamashita Vs Masha Slamovich rivalry from America made its way over to Japan for this year’s Tokyo Joshi Pro Ittenyon show. It is both a matchup Yamashita wanted to show her home fans and also a risky challenger to defend the Princess Of Princess Title against. That risk was on full show when Slamovich gave her a Doctor Bomb on the ring apron, hit a dive out of the ring and also Double Stomped Yamashita in the corner. Slamovich even gave the champion a taste of her own medicine by hitting her own Skull Kick! But Yamashita avoided taking the White Knight Driver whenever her opponent tried to set it up. The Avalanche Attitude Adjustment gave Yamashita some breathing room and soon she wore down Slamovich with strikes until she finished her off with the Crash Rabbit Heat.
The two shook hands after the match and Slamovich indicated she still wants to fight Yamashita again another time. Yamashita told the fans about the previous times she won and lost against her, then said those matches are always a lot of fun. Yamashita said TJPW will continue to do their best at any time under any circumstances and they look forward to everyone’s support in 2024. She did not nominate her next challenger for the Princess Title. Instead she wants to wait for somebody to challenge her. There will a Battle Royal in two days time to determine the No. 1 Contender “GRAND PRINCESS ’24” in March. It is possible she may defend the title overseas before then but she expects the Sumo Hall challenger will be a difficult opponent no matter who it is.
The vacant Princess Tag Team Titles were up for grabs in a 3 Way Tag Match. Original challengers Daisy Monkey now had to face both Daydream as well as Ryo Mizunami & Yuki Aino. Mizunami has played a clutch substitute role for TJPW over the last year and today good karma came her way. She saved Aino from the double team moves from both sets of opponents and Aino paid her back by pinning Arisu Endo to win the Tag Titles! Mizunami admits they are not as good a team as Daydream or Daisy Monkey but now that they are champions they can build a lot of things together from here. Aino is so happy to win the titles again it made her cry. They now need a team name. Mizunami suggested they be called Yukiniki. Meanwhile Suzume & Endo find themselves starting from zero yet again. They won’t give up on their dream to become TJPW’s strongest tag team. As for Daydream, Rika Tatsumi told Miu Watanabe to treat today’s match as a trial for the upcoming Max Heart Tournament. They intend to win it for a second time.
On this day one year ago Max The Impaler pinned Yuki Arai in the middle of the ring to take the Princess Tag Titles away from her. They also stole Arai’s hair clip. Today Arai got her revenge by beating Max to become the new International Princess Champion! Oh, and she got her hairclip back too. It took a lot of effort to get there though. Max threw Arai around Korakuen Hall, sending her into the front row and also Body Slamming her on the floor in front of another member of SKE48. Arai reached her limit trying to fight back but when Max caught the Flying Cross Body, Arai flipped her over with an Inside Cradle, got back up and suddenly knocked Max out with the Finally! Arai then pinned Max to win the title. When Max recovered their senses, they returned to the ring and handed Arai’s hairclip back to her. Arai admitted she wanted to run away from Max so many times and she’s glad she didn’t. She thinks 2024 is going to be her best year yet and she wants to become strong enough that fans will think of her as TJPW’s top champion.
Another match from America was put on display in Japan for the first time. Over the last two years both Maki Itoh and Rina Yamashita have become integral parts of GCW. They even wrestled each other there and the rematch was taking place here. The match was supposed to be held under normal rules and Yukinori Matsui refused to let Itoh use her pizza cutter. An inadvertent low blow to the ref gave Itoh the chance to slice open Yamashita’s head with the cutter. That only fired up Yamashita though and she brought in chairs to turn the match hardcore. While Itoh’s iron head resisted the chair attacks, Yamashita was able to beat her by using a Diving Body Press, Thrust Kick and then the Splash Mountain. The two flashed MDK gang signs to each other after the match. Backstage Yamashita joked that she didn’t expect to be covered in her own blood inside a TJPW ring. She wants to continue fighting Itoh until Itoh is covered in her own blood! Itoh responded that she is always ready to get covered in blood. She didn’t make it clear if she meant her own though. She also said she wants to do her best to balance her time between America and Japan this year because she didn’t get to do much in TJPW during 2023.
An eager Wakana Uehara used a Space Rolling Elbow to surprise Aja Kong before the bell rang. Kong let Uehara continue the attack until she tried to give her a Brainbuster. Not a smart move. However she got Kong onto the canvas by using a Sunset Flip to lure Kong into doing a Hip Drop and avoided that by rolling out of the way. Uehara then kept trying to use the Sleeper Hold but Kong kept getting out of it. A Sunset Flip into a Bridging pin gave Uehara a nearfall and then she went back to the Sleeper Hold. This time Kong squashed Uehara to break the hold and then hit a Lariat. Uehara kicked out to get the fans cheering for her but Kong then pinned her with the Back Drop. She lifted her finger up to Uehara’s face telling her she wants one more match and she then shoved her to the mat. Backstage Kong said Uehara’s use of the Sleeper Hold shows she is starting to be confident in herself. Today Kong has gained one more rival. Uehara said Kong is a wall too high for her to climb right now but she will definitely beat her someday.
Fresh off of an AEW PPV appearance, Riho showed up in TJPW for a match against Shino Suzuki. After using a Sleeper Hold, Suzuki ran into a Jumping Knee Strike. Riho then gave her the 619 followed by the Sakura Hold to make Suzuki give up. She noted that Suzuki does not have a lot of skill but made up for it with a lot of passion and that made her a fun opponent to fight against. Riho will now be going back to America to grow up even more before returning to Japan again. Suzuki said she is grateful to get the match and she now realizes who she is at this point of time. Riho has a similar physique as her but was overwhelmingly stronger. So now Suzuki will stop convincing herself she is weak just because of her size.
This year’s Shoko Nakajima Vs Hyper Misao match had a winner and a loser this time. A Daruma Doll was left hanging above the ring and the first person to climb the ladder and paint an eye on the doll would become the winner and get to make a wish for 2024. Misao arrived riding on her new and improved Hypami Dramatic Dream bike but she crashed it into Mahiro Kiryu. Nakajima and Misao then fought in the Korakuen lobby where Misao crashed the bike again, this time into a castle made of chairs and kaiju toys. She then crashed the bike a third time when she cycled down the aisle of chairs into both Nakajima and Kiryu. Nakajima fought back using a box of kaiju toys before wiping out Misao with a Topé Suicida. She then climbed the ladder and painted an eye on the Daruma to win. Nakajima is going to be greedy this year because she both wishes to win the Princess Tag Titles with Misao and also win the Battle Royal on 6th January to get the Princess Title shot in Sumo Hall!
Having to vacate the Princess Tag Titles on New Year’s Eve left Nao Kakuta needing to take her frustrations out on somebody so good thing Mizuki was there to meet those needs and return in kind! Mizuki ended up winning a tough fight with some Diving Foot Stomps followed by the Cutie Special. Kakuta is taking the loss in her stride because she had a lot of fun out there and felt the warmth of the fans’ support. Her goal in 2024 is to enjoy pro wrestling. She also wants to surpass Mizuki but that might take a bit longer than a year to accomplish. Mizuki described their relationship as rivals but still friends. She also thinks they might share a bond because they both had to give up the Princess Tag Titles because their partners were unable to wrestle for one reason or another.
TJPW fans got to see Raku & Ram Kaichow being a happy couple again. They joined hands together and gave a Double Diving Chop to Haru Kazashiro. The other rookie Runa Okubo got a new year’s gift from Pom Harajuku but it turned out to be getting kicked in the feet. Kaichow took out HIMAWARI with a Diving Cross Body and Raku pinned Kazashiro with the Doctor Yellow. Kaichow gave her a kiss on the cheek afterward to celebrate.
Toyo Mates & Toga were victorious in the opening bout against Shinken Kusho & Kaya Toribami. Kiryu used Moka Miyamoto as her human mat for the Apology Knee Drop. Miyamoto got her own back when she & Juria Nagano kicked Kiryu away. Toga then got rid of Nagano with the Elbow Strike. The match came down to Yuki Kamifuku against Toribami and Kamifuku pinned her with the Famouser.
At the start of the show The Up Up Girls (Pro Wrestling) debuted a new song called “Barobaro ~It’s A Battle!~”. Uta took Hikari Noa’s place in the performance.
This week already feels like the craziest January schedule of wrestling shows in years.
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TOKYO JOSHI PRO ’24”, 04/01/2024 Tokyo Korakuen Hall
1. Yuki Kamifuku, Mahiro Kiryu & Toga Vs Moka Miyamoto, Juria Nagano & Kaya Toribami
2. Raku, Ram Kaichow & Pom Harajuku Vs HIMAWARI, Haru Kazashiro & Runa Okubo
3. Mizuki Vs Nao Kakuta
4. Shoko Nakajima Vs Hyper Misao
5. Riho Vs Shino Suzuki
6. Aja Kong Vs Wakana Uehara
7. Special Single Match: Rina Yamashita Vs Maki Itoh
8. International Princess Title: Max The Impaler (c) Vs Yuki Arai
9. Princess Tag Team Titles – 3 Way Match: Rika Tatsumi & Miu Watanabe Vs Suzume & Arisu Endo Vs Ryo Mizunami & Yuki Aino
10. Princess Of Princess Title: Miyu Yamashita (c) Vs Masha Slamovich
The participants of tomorrow’s three title matches all gathered together for contract signings and a press conference earlier today. Masha Slamovich bragged about her success in 2023 that included pinning Miyu Yamashita at “COMBAT PRINCESS USA”. She thinks it is time for a new Princess Of Princess Champion to be crowned in 2024. If she becomes champion she intends to defend it around the world and have the longest reign in the title’s history. Yamashita said she visited many states in America last year and wherever she went, Slamovich was always there. After wrestling each other so much in USA, Yamashita wanted to wrestle her in Japan and asked Tetsuya Koda to bring her over to have this title match. She feels the pressure but enjoys it because she wants to take bigger risks so her fourth title reign can stand out.
Three teams are now ready to fight each other for the vacant Princess Tag Team Titles. As far as Daisy Monkey are concerned the situation has not changed for them. Suzume & Arisu Endo want to win the belts that were held by Tokyo Joshi Pro’s strongest tag teams. Daydream last held the titles in 2020 so Miu Watanabe would like to make her daydreams with Rika Tatsumi come true again. Tatsumi always thought it was strange that Daydream were not the next challengers in the first place. Yuki Aino is happy to get a chance to win the tag titles with Ryo Mizunami. Her tag partner is often called “Everyone’s Aniki” but when they win Aino wants it to change to “My Aniki”! Mizunami said 2024 is the Year Of The Dragon and she was also born in the Year Of The Dragon. So it is fate that she and Aino can leave a mark in TJPW by becoming the new tag champions!
Yuki Arai signed the International Princess Title match contract while waiting for Max The Impaler to show up. She talked about this being her second shot at the title and how she lost the Princess Tag Titles at last year’s Ittenyon show. She wants to start off her year shining and become champion for Saki Akai. Max then finally arrived at the building and marked the contract with their thumb which counts as their signature. Max then pulled out a hair band that Arai recognised. It is the hairband that Max took from her when The Wasteland War Party beat Reiwa AA Cannon for the Princess Tag Titles last year! Arai promised to win the belt and also get her hairband back!
GANBARE☆PRO “2024 GANBARE☆THE FIGHT BEGINS”, 04/01/2024 Tokyo Itabashi Green Hall
1. YuuRI & Riara Vs Yoshiko Hasegawa & Kaho Matsushita
2. Hartley Jackson & HARUKAZE Vs Shigehiro Irie & Banny Oikawa
3. New Year Special 3 Way Match: Munetatsu Nakamura Vs Yuni Vs Ilusion
4. GanPro New Year Special 6-Man Tag Match: Keisuke Ishii, Yumehito Imanari & Mizuki Watase Vs Shota, Soma Takao & Shinichiro Tominaga
5. Spirit Of Ganbare World Openweight Title: Shuichiro Katsumura (c) Vs Ken Ohka
Munetatsu Nakamura must be feeling like a million bucks after winning the Best Newcomer category at the Japan Indie Grand Prix Awards on New Year’s Eve.
DDT “SWEET DREAMS! 2024 TOUR IN SHINJUKU”, 05/01/2024 Shinjuku FACE
1. Soma Takao & Kazuma Sumi Vs Kazusada Higuchi & Ilusion
2. Eruption Vs D.O.A!: Yukio Sakaguchi & Hideki Okatani Vs Danshoku Dieno & Makoto Oishi
4. BURNING Vs DAMNATION T.A!: Tetsuya Endo & Yusuke Okada Vs Daisuke Sasaki & KANON
5. DISASTER BOX Final Match: HARASHIMA Vs Toru Owashi Vs Kazuki Hirata
5. Jun Akiyama, Yoshitatsu & Yukio Naya Vs Akito, Yuki Iino & Rukiya
6. KO-D 10-Man Tag Team Titles: Yuki Ueno, MAO, Shunma Katsumata, Toy Kojima & Yoshihiko (c) Vs Masahiro Takanashi, Antonio Honda, Takayuki Ueki, Takeshi Masada & Mecha Mummy
The first new addition to DDT this year is Yoshitatsu. He left All Japan a few days ago and chose DDT as his landing spot because the place reminds him of how fun pro wrestling can be. Jun Akiyama is someone in particular he wants to be in the ring with again so they get to team up in Yoshitatsu’s first match under this new arrangement.
Daisuke Sasaki approached Tetsuya Endo after today’s show and suggested they should join forces again. His argument is Endo no longer has any ties to BURNING without Akiyama involved and with that he shouldn’t have anything holding him back either. He left before Endo could respond so what will happen next?
DDT “SWEET DREAMS! 2024 TOUR IN OSAKA DAY 1”, 06/01/2024 Osaka 176BOX
1. Kazusada Higuchi Vs Rukiya
2. Special Single Match: Yoshitatsu Vs Kazuma Sumi
3. Daisuke Sasaki & KANON Vs HARASHIMA & Yuni
4. Yukio Sakaguchi & Hideki Okatani Vs Yuki Iino & Toy Kojima
5. Special Tag Match: Sanshiro Takagi & Kazuki Hirata Vs Toru Owashi & Shunma Katsumata
6. Special Single Match: Yukio Naya Vs Takeshi Masada
7. The 37KAMIINA Vs BURNING!: Yuki Ueno & MAO Vs Tetsuya Endo & Yusuke Okada
8. KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles – DEAD OR ALIVE Contra DEAD OR ALIVE: Jun Akiyama, Danshoku Dieno & Makoto Oishi (c) Vs Bodyguard, Naruki Doi & Tsutenkakka
The next day Yoshitatsu faces Kazuma Sumi.
DDT “SWEET DREAMS! 2024 TOUR IN OSAKA DAY 2”, 07/01/2024 Osaka 176BOX
1. Makoto Oishi Vs Yuni
2. Special Single Match: Yoshitatsu Vs Takeshi Masada
3. Jun Akiyama & Toru Owashi Vs Akito & Yuki Iino
4. BURNING Vs DAMNATION T.A!: Tetsuya Endo & Yusuke Okada Vs Daisuke Sasaki & KANON
5. Special Tag Match: Sanshiro Takagi & Rukiya Vs HARASHIMA & Kazuma Sumi
6. Special Single Match: Hideki Okatani Vs Toy Kojima
7. Special Single Match: Kazuki Hirata Vs Danshoku Dieno
8. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Yuki Ueno, MAO & Shunma Katsumata Vs Yukio Naya, Kazusada Higuchi & Yukio Sakaguchi
Then the day after that he takes on Takeshi Masada. The previously announce 3 Way Match Masada was in is now just Makoto Oishi against Yuni.
DDT “SWEET DREAMS! 2024 TOUR IN SHINAGAWA”, 21/01/2024 Tokyo Shinagawa Prince Hotel Club eX
1. KO-D Tag Team Titles: Soma Takao & Shota (c) Vs Daisuke Sasaki & KANON
2. DDT Universal Title: MAO (c) Vs Bryan Keith
Sasaki & KANON have become the next challengers for the KO-D Tag Team Titles. Sasaki is trying to rile up ROMANCE DAWN over their connection to the Young Communication generation. Shota is proud to be part of that circle of wrestlers but Sasaki thinks his connection to the group is insignificant. Soma Takao meanwhile wants revenge on DAMNATION T.A for the chairshot they gave him earlier today.
DDT “SWEET DREAMS! 2024”, 28/01/2024 Tokyo Korakuen Hall
1. MAO Birthday Commemorative Match: MAO Vs X
2. Special Single Match: KONOSUKE TAKESHITA Vs Naruki Doi
3. DDT Extreme Title: Kazuki Hirata (c) Vs Shunma Katsumata
4. KO-D Openweight Title: Yuki Ueno (c) Vs Yukio Naya
The winner of the D-Oh Grand Prix 2023 is Yukio Naya which means he is now lined up for a KO-D Openweight Title shot! Yuki Ueno admits Naya proved he is the strongest wrestler in DDT but the championship belongs to only the most interesting. The battles over different visions for what DDT should be will continue to flare throughout this year.
The previous DDT Extreme Champion is back from injury and wants to win the belt again. Shunma Katsumata has been a a big supporter of Kazuki Hirata’s current title reign and is eager to find out what rules Hirata will come up with.
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: KONOSUKE TAKESHITA Vs Yuma Aoyagi
The biggest match yet in the DDT Vs All Japan rivalry has been announced. Konosuke Takeshita will be representing DDT on its 27th Anniversary against Yuma Aoyagi! The former Triple Crown Champion wants to introduce his own “Dramatic Dream” to Takeshita and sees this match as a path that will lead him down to Yuki Ueno and the KO-D Title!
For the first time DDT has an intern pro wrestler. Tsubasa Suzuki is a student wrestler from Hitotsubashi University World Pro Wrestling Alliance (or HWWA for short). He was born in Shizuoka on 14th August 2002. He is 176cm tall, weighs 80kg and has a background in track and field as well as his student wrestling club. He will work several shows for DDT on an internship. After a certain amount of time DDT will decide if they want to officially hire him.
Fans of Tokyo Joshi Pro were invited to submit their votes for TJPW’s best matches of 2023. This year there were votes from over 380 fans worldwide and over 120 matches received votes.
TJPW Best Bouts 2023
1. 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 1st December @ Tokyo Korakuen Hall
228 pts
2. International Princess Title: Miu Watanabe (c) Vs Rika Tatsumi 18th March @ Ariake Coliseum
194 pts
3. Princess Of Princess Title: Mizuki (c) Vs Miyu Yamashita 9th October @ Tokyo Tama Mirai Messe
179 pts
4. Princess Of Princess Title: Mizuki (c) Vs Maki Itoh 8th July @ Tokyo Ota Ward Gymnasium
145 pts
5. Princess Of Princess Title: Yuka Sakazaki (c) Vs Mizuki 18th March @ Ariake Coliseum
121 pts
6. Miracle Heart Catch Shuffle Tag Tournament Final: Rika Tatsumi & Arisu Endo Vs Yuki Aino & Mahiro Kiryu 25th May @ Tokyo Kitazawa Town Hall
109 pts
7. Princess Tag Team Titles: Yuki Kamifuku & Mahiro Kiryu Vs Hikari Noa & Nao Kakuta 9th October @ Tokyo Tama Mirai Messe
91 pts
8. Tokyo Princess Cup – Final: Miyu Yamashita Vs Yuki Kamifuku 13th August @ Tokyo Korakuen Hall
86 pts
9. Tokyo Princess Cup – Semi Final: Miyu Yamashita Vs Yuki Arai 12th August @ Tokyo Korakuen Hall
64 pts
10. Saki Akai Vs Yuki Arai 27th October @ Tokyo Korakuen Hall
54 pts
11. “Futari wa Princess” Max Heart Tournament – Final: Miyu Yamashita & Maki Itoh Vs Shoko Nakajima & Hyper Misao 11th February @ Tokyo Korakuen Hall
53 pts
12. Tokyo Princess Cup – Semi Final: Rika Tatsumi Vs Yuki Kamifuku 12th August @ Tokyo Korakuen Hall
51 pts
13. Special Single Match: Aja Kong Vs Yuki Arai 18th March @ Ariake Coliseum
46 pts
14. Yuka Sakazaki Graduation Special 3 Way Match: Miyu Yamashita Vs Shoko Nakajima Vs Yuka Sakazaki 6th December @ Tokyo Kitazawa Town Hall
39 pts
14. Next Generation Tournament ’23 – Final: Wakana Uehara Vs HIMAWARI 1st December @ Tokyo Korakuen Hall
39 pts
16. Princess Of Princess Title: Mizuki (c) Vs Nao Kakuta 15th April @ Tokyo Korakuen Hall
32 pts
17. Moka Miyamoto Vs Arisu Endo 11th February @ Tokyo Korakuen Hall
29 pts
17. Debut 10th Anniversary Memorial Match: Miyu Yamashita Vs Shoko Nakajima 17th August @ Shin-Kiba 1st RING
29 pts
19. Fluorescent Lighttube Death Match: Hikari Noa Vs Sawyer Wreck 1st May @ Shin-Kiba 1st RING
26pts
20. Tokyo Princess Cup – Quarter Final: Shoko Nakajima Vs Rika Tatsumi 29th July @ Tokyo Korakuen Hall
25 pts
20. Princess Tag Team Titles: Hikari Noa & Nao Kakuta (c) Vs Max The Impaler & Pom Harajuku 1st December @ Tokyo Korakuen Hall
25 pts
Honorable Mentions
These five matches just missed out on making the Top 20.
22. Ryo Mizunami & Yuki Aino Vs Miu Watanabe & Yuki Arai 9th October @ Tokyo Tama Mirai Messe
23. Special Single Match: Shoko Nakajima Vs Yoshihiko 25th May @ Tokyo Kitazawa Town Hall
24. Princess Of Princess Title: Yuka Sakazaki (c) Vs Miyu Yamashita 4th January @ Tokyo Korakuen Hall
25. 1 Vs 2 Handicap Match: Mizuki Vs Rika Tatsumi & Miu Watanabe 11th June @ Tokyo Korakuen Hall
25. Tokyo Princess Cup – Quarter Final: Yuki Arai Vs Arisu Endo 29th July @ Tokyo Korakuen Hall
Happy new year! December featured plenty of CyberFight related appearances in North America. Tokyo Joshi Pro held its second show in USA. They also had two seperate championship matches happening within minutes from each other in two different countries. Konosuke Takeshita remains stuck in AEW limbo, Maki Itoh wrapped up the latest leg of her US bookings, Shota paid a visit to California and MAO partied hard as the end of 2023 counted down to midnight.
So what is there new to expect in 2024 when it comes to international stuff for DDT and its family? I think the focus will be what Yuka Sakazaki will get up to. I will continue following her career using these articles. If she sticks within AEW/ROH then it won’t be much work to see what she gets up to every month. But I want to see her spread out to some of the indies. At least go to Deadlock Pro every now and then. She owes them a match anyway.
Video starts at 11:02. MPW “THE LONG NIGHT”, 08/12/2023
MPW Academy, Chatsworth, California, USA
1. Miggy Rose & Michael Hopkins Vs Shota & J2 Mattioli
AEW “RAMPAGE”, 08/12/2023 Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
1. Christopher Daniels & Matt Sydal Vs Powerhouse Hobbs & Konosuke Takeshita
DREAMWAVE “GOOD AS GOLD”, 09/12/2023 Knights of Columbus, LaSalle, Illinois, USA
1. Miyu Yamashita & Emi Sakura Vs Zayda Steel & Maggie Lee
SKYFIRE PRO “NAVIDAD NIGHTMARE”, 10/12/2023 Bay City Brewing Co., San Diego, California, USA
1. Rebel Storm Vs Shota
TOKYO JOSHI PRO/PRESTIGE “COMBAT PRINCESS USA”, 14/12/2023 The Vermont Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA 400 Fans – Super No Vacancy
7. Special Tag Match: Miyu Yamashita & Maki Itoh Vs Masha Slamovich & Killer Kelly
Video starts at 16:20. MPW “NAUGHTY OR NICE 2023”, 15/12/2023 MPW Academy, Chatsworth, California, USA
1. Shota Vs Jr Mattioli
PANDEMONIUM PRO “HOLIDAY IN LA”, 17/12/2023 Don Quixote, Los Angeles, California, USA
1. Mike Bailey Vs Miyu Yamashita
CIRCLE 6 “BARROOM BLITZ”, 31/12/2023 Knucklehead Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
1. DDT Universal Title: MAO (c) Vs Nate Webb
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Results
BLACK LABEL PRO “SLAMILTON”, 02/12/2023 Berwyn Eagles Club, Berwyn, Illinois, USA
1. Maki Itoh defeated Rachel Armstrong with the Itoh Deluxe (11:22).
Let’s begin with a show that has become an annual event for Black Label Pro. Six months ago Rachel Armstrong had a match here against Miyu Yamashita so now it was Itoh’s turn to see what the fuss is all about. A naïve Armstrong fell for Itoh’s crocodile tears act but took control using her speed and agility. A Northern Lights Suplex in particular came very close to getting her the win. But Itoh had control for most of the match, trapping Armstrong in the Itoh Special and then building her way up to the Itoh Deluxe to make her tap out.
GCW “WHAT IS YOUR CHOICE?”, 03/12/2023 Roulette Intermedium, Brooklyn, New York, USA
1. Maki Itoh defeated Mike Bailey with a Cradle (16:14).
Is this the upset of the year? Mike Bailey learned the hard way not to kick Itoh in the head because it is as hard as iron! When the shock of that wore out, Bailey took her seriously, even pulling out the Flamingo Driver that Itoh kicked out of. His frustration led to his undoing because when he grabbed Itoh’s legs to do a Boston Crab, Itoh twisted over and cradled Bailey for the flash pin! Itoh had to console Bailey after the match because he burst into tears over the result.
AEW “RAMPAGE”, 06/12/2023 (Aired 08/12/2023) Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
1. Powerhouse Hobbs & Konosuke Takeshita defeated Christopher Daniels & Matt Sydal when Hobbs pinned Daniels with The World’s Most Dangerous Slam (8:38).
What was looking to be Takeshita’s only match of the month was teaming up with Powerhouse Hobbs to beat Christopher Daniels & Matt Sydal after the latter tried standing up to The Don Callis Family. During the month Don Callis announced that his unit will now be using “Family Rules” for their tag team matches against Chris Jericho & Kenny Omega going forward, which is just their name for Freebird Rules. The storyline they’re doing is falling apart though because Omega is now out of action indefinitely with diverticulitis.
MYSTERY WRESTLING “MYSTERY WRESTLING 5”, 07/12/2023 Centre Aydelu, Gatineau, Quebec, Canada
1. International Princess Title: Max The Impaler (c) defeated Jody Threat (?:??). *V3 for Max The Impaler.
There was a surprise International Princess Title match for the fans at this month’s Mystery Wrestling show. Evil Uno runs these events every couple of months, airs them live on his Twitch channel and keeps the VOD on his Patreon. Max The Impaler was brought in for a match against Jody Threat and agreed to put the championship on the line. TJPW gave their authorization and recognizes the result as an official title defence.
MLW “ONE-SHOT”, 07/12/2023 Melrose Ballroom, Queens, New York, USA
1. Princess Of Princess Title: Miyu Yamashita (c) defeated Delmi Exo with the Skull Kick (9:13). *V2 for Miyu Yamashita.
2. MLW World Featherweight Title: Janai Kai (c) (w/ Salina de la Renta & Jesus Rodriguez) defeated Maki Itoh with the Modified Dragon Sleeper (7:27). *V2 for Janai Kai.
Both Itoh and Yamashita were at MLW’s final show of the year, each in a championship match. Itoh was given a big title match against Janai Kai for the MLW World Featherweight Title. She had an unfair disadvantage though because Kai had both Salina de la Renta and Jesus Rodriguez (the former Ricardo Rodriguez from WWE) in her corner to interfere when needed. There was also an unexpected run-in from the masked wrestler Ichiban that distracted Itoh long enough for her to miss a Diving Headbutt. If that wasn’t bad enough, Matt Striker on commentary completely did not understand Itoh’s gimmick. Maybe he had good intentions by trying to put Itoh over as a fighter to be taken seriously but he’s been so bad as a colour commentator for so long he should not get the benefit of the doubt.
Yamashita was at the show to defend the Princess Of Princess Title against Delmi Exo. Her opponent is a former MLW Featherweight Champion and brought her best fight to the match. Yamashita kicked out of the Ocean Cyclone Suplex and got Exo up to the top rope for an Avalanche Attitude Adjustment. Yamashita kept the pressure up and Exo was helpless by the time she was beaten with the Skull Kick. The result helps establish Yamashita’s current title reign being about taking on opponents from around the world. Her next challenger will be back in TJPW on 4th January against Masha Slamovich.
DREAMWAVE “UPRISING”, 08/12/2023 Knights of Columbus, LaSalle, Illinois, USA
1. Miyu Yamashita defeated Shazza McKenzie with the Skull Kick (10:59).
Over to DREAMWAVE where Yamashita appeared on a weekend of shows for them. The first one was an all women’s event where Yamashita beat Shazza McKenzie in a rematch from their ROH bout from earlier this year. DREAMWAVE later announced they will be spinning off a new all women’s wrestling promotion called Uprising: Women’s Athletes so don’t be surprised to see Yamashita show up there in 2024.
MPW “THE LONG NIGHT”, 08/12/2023 MPW Academy, Chatsworth, California, USA
1. Miggy Rose & Michael Hopkins defeated Shota & J2 Mattioli when Rose & Hopkins pinned Mattioli with a Sunset Flip & Body Press (?:??).
Shota spent the month of December travelling over to America again for a short tour. Just like last year, Shota found went to the obscure end of the US indies including Millennium Pro Wrestling who welcomed him back with open arms. Shota teamed with one of his opponents from the last excursion, J2 Mattioli to take on a team called 24K. Sadly the team lost when Miggy Rose & Michael Hopkins used a double team Sunset Flip to pin Mattioli. Afterwards Mattioli apologised to Shota for losing and then challenged him to a singles match for the following week. Shota accepted and shook his hand.
DREAMWAVE “GOOD AS GOLD”, 09/12/2023 Knights of Columbus, LaSalle, Illinois, USA
1. Miyu Yamashita & Emi Sakura defeated Zayda Steel & Maggie Lee when Sakura pinned Steel with the Double Arm Backbreaker (8:02).
There was a small change to the match when one of the original opponents Zamaya was bumped up to the semi-main event for the DREAMWAVE Women’s Title. So Yamashita & Emi Sakura instead found themselves teaming up against Zayda Steel and Zamaya’s replacement Maggie Lee. A lot of the match was Steel & Lee working on Yamashita so Sakura can get the hot tag. Still it’s not everyday you get to see Sakura & Yamashita teaming together. They won when Sakura gave Steel the Double Arm Backbreaker and Yamashita gave Lee the Attitude Adjustment, leading to a double pin.
EWF “PRO WRESTLING LUCHA LIBRE”, 09/12/2023 VFW Post 8737, San Bernardino, California, USA
1. EWF Vs The World: Kid Noah defeated Shota (?:??).
An outdoor show held in December doesn’t sound that pleasant even if it’s in California. Shota wrestled twice outdoors during the tour. The first one was at Empire Wrestling Federation where he lost to Kid Noah.
GCW “HIGHEST IN THE ROOM 2”, 09/12/2023 Ukrainian Cultural Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
1. Johnny Game Changer & Taya Valkyrie defeated Nick Gage & Maki Itoh (17:42).
Itoh’s last GCW appearance of the year had Maki Death Kill back together to take on the husband and wife team of Johnny Game Changer & Taya Valkyrie. The match went from a normal two vs two tag into a brawl with chairs and doors being used as weapons. Valkyrie put Nick Gage through one of the doors and then tried giving Itoh the Road To Valhalla. Itoh countered it into a Roll Up but Valkyrie then blocked the counter and grabbed onto Itoh’s tights to pin her for the three count. Itoh demanded a singles match against Valkyrie afterwards.
SKYFIRE PRO “NAVIDAD NIGHTMARE”, 10/12/2023 Bay City Brewing Co., San Diego, California, USA
1. Rebel Storm defeated Shota with the Thunderstruck (?:??).
Shota’s second outdoor match of the month was for Skyfire Pro Lucha Libre. He tried his best to outwrestle his opponent but Rebel Storm stopped him in his tracks with a Headbutt followed by the Twist Of Fate that he calls Thunderstruck.
TOKYO JOSHI PRO/PRESTIGE “COMBAT PRINCESS USA”, 14/12/2023 The Vermont Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA 400 Fans – Super No Vacancy
1. Max The Impaler & Pom Harajuku defeated Rika Tatsumi & Amira when Harajuku pinned Amira after the Wasteland War Justice with Max (10:20).
2. Trish Adora defeated Moka Miyamoto with the Lariat (8:42).
3. Mizuki defeated Sandra Moone with the Cutie Special (10:21).
4. Miu Watanabe defeated Hyan with the Tear Drop (8:33).
5. Princess Tag Team Titles: Hikari Noa & Nao Kakuta (c) defeated Janai Kai & Shazza McKenzie when Noa pinned McKenzie with the Blizzard Suplex (9:42). *V3 for Free WiFi.
6. Taya Valkyrie defeated Shoko Nakajima with the Road To Valhalla (10:47).
7. Special Tag Match: Masha Slamovich & Killer Kelly defeated Miyu Yamashita & Maki Itoh when Slamovich pinned Yamashita with the White Knight Driver (18:00).
MPW “NAUGHTY OR NICE 2023”, 15/12/2023 MPW Academy, Chatsworth, California, USA
1. J2 Mattioli defeated Shota with the Playmaker Lariat (?:??).
The match between Shota and Mattioli was a mostly friendly back and forth match between the two. Mattioli ended up using his Playmaker Lariat to win, capping off a year he was really happy with.
PANDEMONIUM PRO “HOLIDAY IN LA”, 17/12/2023 Don Quixote, Los Angeles, California, USA
1. Keita defeated Shota (?:??).
2. Miyu Yamashita defeated Mike Bailey with the Skull Kick (?:??).
Okay so this month we found out that Bailey’s weakness is Tokyo Joshi Pro wrestlers. He lost to Itoh in GCW and here in Pandemonium Pro he lost clean to Yamashita! There were no tears in this one, instead these two tried to kick the tar out of each other!
Shota completed his USA tour by making Pandemonium Pro his final stop. Originally he was going to face Vinnie Massaro but that guy is busy living it up on a NOAH tour right now. So Shota was given the newcomer Keita as a replacement opponent. Keita made the most of this opportunity and beat the more experienced Shota.
AEW “WORLDS END”, 30/12/2023 Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, New York, USA
1. Chris Jericho, Sammy Guevara, Sting & Darby Allin defeated Ricky Starks, Big Bill, Powerhouse Hobbs & Konosuke Takeshita when Guevara pinned Starks with a Shooting Star Press (15:42).
What a mess this storyline has turned out to be. Omega falling ill meant that he and Jericho couldn’t go ahead with challenging Ricky Starks & Big Bill for the AEW World Tag Team Titles so they had to throw in The Don Callis Family, Sting, Darby Allin and the return of Sammy Guevara to make it an 8-Man Tag Match. Takeshita was not part of the lineup when the match was made but then a day later AEW swapped him into the match and took Kyle Fletcher out. Then on the day of the show allegations of Jericho’s past behavior resurfaced online from Nick Hausman as part of Jericho’s online spat with a lawyer with a that could not have been handled any more uglier than it did. Almost everybody except the alleged victim is coming out of it as a bunch of massive scumbags. So come to the part of the show when the match happened and there was an uncomfortable atmosphere that could be felt through the screen as the match went on. I wish I could instead focus on Takeshita getting to wrestle Sting and throw Allin around like he’s Yoshihiko but everyone watching was in a bad mood over what emerged throughout the day.
CIRCLE 6 “KING OF THE DEATHMATCHES”, 30/12/2023 Don Quixote, Los Angeles, California, USA
1. King Of The Deathmatches – Round 1 – Ultraviolent Baptism: Bobby Beverly defeated MAO with the Fisherman DDT (?:??).
How about taking part in a deathmatch tournament to bring out the end of the year? MAO entered the King Of The Deathmatches that was being held by Circle 6 and faced Bobby Beverly in the 1st Round. MAO brought along chairs and plastic boxes but soon smashed lighttubes over his opponent. He also put Beverly through a bunch of chairs with a Double Arm Piledriver and used high flying moves but couldn’t get the win. A triple Low Blow spot that also included the referee brought the match back to an even fight. Wooden skewers were stabbed into each other’s heads and Beverly smashed MAO with lighttubes before pinning him with the Fisherman DDT.
CIRCLE 6 “BARROOM BLITZ”, 31/12/2023 Knucklehead Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
1. DDT Universal Title: MAO (c) defeated Nate Webb with the Diving Radio Silence from the Bar Counter (?:??). *V3 for MAO.
MAO stuck around in Circle 6 on New Year’s Eve so he could defend the DDT Universal Title against Spyder Nate Webb. The match went outside to Santa Monica Blvd so they could fight on the street as traffic drove by.
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Upcoming Appearances
MLW “KINGS OF COLOSSEUM”, 06/01/2024 2300 Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
1. Moka Miyamoto Vs Nao Kakuta
2. MLW World Featherweight Title: Janai Kai (c) Vs Hyper Misao
TJPW’s working relationship with MLW continues into the new year. Hyper Misao has been selected to be Kai’s next challenger for the MLW Featherweight Title.
Also happening on the show is a TJPW offer match between Moka Miyamoto and Nao Kakuta. Miyamoto is only just now starting to wrestle abroad while Kakuta has already done it a few times in 2023. The two matches here are a little glimpse of what TJPW in Philadelphia will look like next April.
GCW “NO COMPADRE”, 12/01/2024 Thalia Hall, Chicago, Illinois, USA
1. Maki Itoh, Effy & Allie Katch Vs Matt Cardona, Steph de Lander & Broski Jimmy
Itoh and Bussy all share grudges with Matt Cardona & Steph de Lander so it was inevitable that Maki Death Bussy would join forces to take on Deathmatch Royalty. The latest development in the story is Cardona forced Jimmy Lloyd to become his new disciple in GCW, turning Lloyd into Broski Jimmy.
GCW “56 BIRDZ”, 13/01/2024 Valley Dale Ballroom, Columbus, Ohio, USA
1. Maki Itoh Vs Tony Deppen
The day after that Itoh will take on Tony Deppen in a first time match. GCW at times have promoted Deppen as their gatekeeper. A win for Itoh here could be a sign of things to come for her in GCW.
F1RST “WRESTLEPALOOZA – NIGHT 2”, 14/01/2024 First Avenue, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
1. Maki Itoh Vs X
No match announced yet for Itoh’s appearance at F1RST.
SPW “CHAMPIONS NEVER YIELD 2”, 19/01/2024 Foo Chow Building, Singapore
1. Mizuki Vs Alexis Lee
2. SPW Southeast Asia Tag Team Titles: Chris Brookes & Masahiro Takanashi (c) Vs Da Butcherman & Dr. Gore
In November 2022 CDK defeated The Horrors to win the SPW Southeast Asia Tag Team Titles. Now after more than a year later comes the rematch. Dr. Gore got to wrestle in Japan for a little while and gain some experience while Da Butcherman kept himself busy in Singapore. There is a chance the match might not go ahead because Chris Brookes had surgery this month to remove a tumor from his abdomen. At the time of writing there is no decision made yet on when he can start wrestling again. But even if he can’t make the trip, Masahiro Takanashi still will.
SPW’s own Alexis Lee continues to be the opponent of choice for joshi coming into Singapore. She lost the Queen Of Asia Title to Yuki Kamifuku last month but is looking to bounce right back with a win against Mizuki.
SETUP “BANGKOK SHOWDOWN”, 20/01/2024 The Circus Studio, G Village, Bangkok, Thailand
1. IWA Japan SETUP World Tag Team Titles: Chris Brookes & Masahiro Takanashi (c) Vs Kevin Weng & Pondhub Vs Anont Alonzo & Mister Suchart
If CDK can go ahead with travelling together in January then they have a tough challenge waiting for them in Thailand. SETUP is making them defend the IWA Japan SETUP World Tag Team Titles in a 3 Way Match against St. John Innocent College and THE GOOD DEAL. CDK won the titles from THE GOOD DEAL in an impromptu match bck in October. But even though the former champions are getting a rematch, they have to share it with St. John Innocent College. That kind of multi-man chaos is an environment that CDK benefits from.
GCW “LOOK AT ME”, 26/01/2024 Egypt Shrine Center, Tampa, Florida, USA
1. Maki Itoh Vs X
What will await Itoh in Florida next month?
BZW “X”, 03/02/2024 Salle Jacques Brel, Faches-Thumesnil, France
1. Yoshihiko Vs X
2. MAO Vs X
MAO is coming to France and he’s brining Yoshihiko with him! Also Minoru Suzuki and KUSHIDA are booked for the show too. Banger Zone Wrestling won’t know what hit them.
TNT EXTREME “MERSEYSIDE MASSACRE”, 04/02/2024 Hanger34, Liverpool, England
1. Yoshihiko Vs X
Yoshihiko heads over to Liverpool the next day for TNT Extreme. Surely not by itself though.
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.
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.
Okay so where did things stand during November? Konosuke Takeshita’s work in America was still as a background player in the Don Callis storyline. The rivalry between him and Chris Jericho was mostly focused in Japan for DDT. But with that said there was still the rest of the month for AEW to give him stuff to do and there was nothing to show for it. Shoko Nakajima got to stomp her way to America briefly but just like every American monster movie it was only for a little while. Maki Itoh seems to be booked stronger and stronger in GCW as the months go by. She won all of her matches in America this month! I think there’s going to be some gold on her way in the future. Speaking of gold there is plenty of championship news to talk about for this month.
Sadly for Miyu Yamashita she lost some of her gold after her latest appearance in England. The global triple crown she held a few months back is now long gone and she’s back to just being a champion in Japan. The International Princess Title got to be defended overseas and even made a cameo on NWA programming. The belt was also handled by James Mitchell a lot which makes me hope it got a deep clean before it was transported back to Japan. Yuki Kamifuku has always behaved like a queen and now she gets to be called one thanks to the title she won in Singapore.
So with all of this now out of the way let’s hope December ends the year with a few high notes. Tokyo Joshi Pro has their show with Prestige coming up, Shota is doing a winter excursion and MAO is spending New Year’s with the dodgy bunch of friends you’d wish your kid wouldn’t hang out with.
DAIKAIJU PRO “VOL. 1 – THE KAPPAS WALK AMONG US”, 04/11/2023 White Eagle, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
1. Shoko Nakajima Vs VENY
AEW “DYNAMITE”, 15/11/2023 Toyota Arena, Ontario, California, USA
1. Like A Dragon Street Fight: Chris Jericho, Kenny Omega, Kota Ibushi & Paul Wight Vs Konosuke Takeshita, Kyle Fletcher, Powerhouse Hobbs & Brian Cage
EVE “WRESTLE QUEENDOM – SHOW 2”, 19/11/2023 The Dome, Tufnell Park, London, England
1. EVE Title: Miyu Yamashita (c) Vs Safire Reed
SPW “VIVA LA LUCHA!”, 24/11/2023 Foo Chow Building, Singapore
1. Queen Of Asia Title: Alexis Lee (c) Vs Yuki Kamifuku
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Results
GCW “PLEASE, BUDDY”, 03/11/2023 Pop’s Nightclub, Sauget, Illinois, USA
1. Maki Itoh defeated Shazza McKenzie with the Itoh Deluxe (8:37).
Itoh can sing, she can dance, she can even carve open human skulls with a pizza cutter. But she cannot do the splits like Shazza McKenzie. The Australian used the splits as a defensive maneuver and then challenged Itoh to match it. Itoh struggled but it didn’t matter because McKenzie then kicked her aside and took control of the match. Itoh recovered and locked in the Itoh Deluxe to make her opponent tap out.
DAIKAIJU PRO “VOL. 1 – THE KAPPAS WALK AMONG US”, 04/11/2023 White Eagle, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
1. VENY defeated Shoko Nakajima with the Moonsault Press onto the pile of Kaiju Toys (12:04).
When you have a promotion called Daikaiju Pro who else is more fitting to headline their first show than the girl nicknamed Big Kaiju? Nakajima brought out a bag filled with kaiju toys that she wanted to use in her match against VENY but the referee wouldn’t allow her to use them. At least he was polite enough to stand up one of the toys on the apron. VENY wasn’t there to play games either. She spat water in Nakajima’s face while beating her down and later hit a big Moonsault onto her outside the ring. A second Moonsault missed its target allowing Nakajima to get her second wind. Things went haywire after VENY accidentally knocked out the ref with a slap. Nakajima had her beaten with the Northern Lights Suplex but no ref was there to count it. Nakajima took advantage by bringing in the bag of kaiju toys and throwing VENY onto them with a Top Rope Hurricanrana. The ref recovered but VENY kicked out of the pin. Nakajima then got a taste of her own medicine by being slammed onto the pile of toys with a Hurricane Driver. She kicked out of a Michinoku Driver but VENY finished her off with the Moonsault Press on top of the toys.
GCW “¿SI OR NO?”, 04/11/2023 Center Stage, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
1. Maki Itoh, Effy & Allie Katch defeated Jordan Oliver, Davey Bang & August Matthews when Itoh, Effy & Katch all pinned Matthews with a Triple Kokeshi Headbutt (11:29).
The trio known as Maki Death Bussy won again in their second outing as a team. Their opponents Young, Dumb & Bros tried to used fast paced team moves to their advantage until Allie Katch cleared house with her power. Effy then tagged in Itoh so the three of them could hit a Kokeshi Headbutt all at the same time for the win.
EVE “FRIDAY NIGHT’S ALRIGHT FOR FIGHTING”, 10/11/2023 Big Penny Social, Walthamstow, London, England
1. International Princess Title: Max The Impaler (c) defeated Kasey (10:36). *V1 for Max The Impaler.
The International Princess Title was defended in England for the first time in over a year when Max The Impaler stepped foot into EVE once more. EVE got permission from TJPW to have Max put the title on the line against the “Monster Of Chaos” Kasey. It was a risk to do this title defence when there was already one scheduled for Max when they returned to Japan. But it turned out not to be a problem for the champion and they left EVE with the title still over their shoulder.
AEW “DYNAMITE”, 15/11/2023 Toyota Arena, Ontario, California, USA
1. Like A Dragon Street Fight: Chris Jericho, Kenny Omega, Kota Ibushi & Paul Wight defeated Konosuke Takeshita, Kyle Fletcher, Powerhouse Hobbs & Brian Cage when Omega pinned Cage with the One-Winged Angel (21:01).
Takeshita went full Goro Majima for AEW’s sponsorship with Sega and the new Lika A Dragon game. All that was missing was him calling Kenny Omega “Kenny-chan” while stalking him from every nook and cranny inside the building. The Street Fight was a full tribute to the street fights you get in the game including attacks involving bicycles, people getting slammed onto cars and shop signs getting smashed to bits. This was the kind of natural environments The Golden Lovers developed in and is a recommended throwback to the crazy Falls Count Anywhere Matches they used to get up to in DDT. Kota Ibushi cycling around ringside hitting people with a pipe until Brian Cage decapitated him with a Lariat is something wrestling will always need. Also Powerhouse Hobbs seemed to have killed Paul Wight in the parking lot and it didn’t matter towards the result. AEW really needs to fix that kind of story telling. Anyway, Omega dropped Kyle Fletcher with the One-Winged Angel to deliver a happy ending for this substory.
GCW “GOING AND GOING”, 17/11/2023 Washington Hall, Seattle, Washington, USA
1. Maki Itoh defeated Nicole Matthews with the I.S.D. (9:19).
A first time meeting between Itoh and Nicole Matthews meant it was time for Matthews to discover first hand just how hard Itoh’s head is. She based her attacks around Cravates and Knee Strikes to the head. When that didn’t work she pushed the referee into the ropes to knock Itoh off balance from the top turnbuckle. However Itoh kicked out of a Northern Lights Suplex and lured Matthews back over to the corner. She gave her a Draping DDT onto the ring apron, a Tornado DDT on the floor outside the ring and then the I.S.D back in the ring for the victory.
HOODSLAM “RED”, 18/11/2023 Continental Club, Oakland, California, USA
1. Sawyer Wreck & Maki Itoh defeated Dark Sheik & Vipress when Itoh pinned Sheik with the I.S.D. (17:02).
When Itoh was last in Hoodslam she lost a match to Vipress thanks to interference from Dark Sheik. Itoh got her revenge this month by bringing along Sawyer Wreck so they could beat the two of them together. The match transformed into a chicken fight with Itoh sitting on Wreck’s shoulders and Vipress sitting on Sheik’s. Itoh toppled down the opposing tower with her Headbutts. Communication between Sheik & Vipress broke down and the two turned on each other. From that point they were easily picked off with Itoh hitting Sheik with the I.S.D. and Wreck Choke Slamming Vipress for the double pin.
EVE “WRESTLE QUEENDOM – SHOW 1”, 19/11/2023 The Dome, Tufnell Park, London, England
1. Miyu Yamashita defeated Chantal Jordan with the Skull Kick (12:27).
Two matches in one day awaited Yamashita for EVE’s last major event of the year. The afternoon match was pretty rudimentary. She beat Chantal Jordan with the Skull Kick, no questions asked.
EVE “WRESTLE QUEENDOM – SHOW 2”, 19/11/2023 The Dome, Tufnell Park, London, England
1. EVE Title: Safire Reed defeated Miyu Yamashita (c) with a Rolling Cradle (15:35). *Miyu Yamashita fails in V9. Safire Reed becomes the 21st EVE Champion!
The second show at night however brought an end to Yamashita’s year long reign as EVE Champion. The up and comer Safire Reed beat her in a big upset to win the title! Yamashita’s title run ends as the fifth longest in EVE’s history and also has the most successful title defences on record in a single reign. I can’t imagine this will be the last time we’ll see her in EVE too so what she and maybe more from TJPW will do with them in the future is something to watch out for.
LLL “DEEP HURTING”, 22/11/2023 The Oriental Theater, Denver, Colorado, USA
1. 3 Way Match: Maki Itoh defeated Lilith Grimm and Stormi Renee (?:??).
Itoh was back in Lucha Libre & Laughs, beating Lilith Grimm and Stormi Renee in a 3 Way Match.
SPW “VIVA LA LUCHA!”, 24/11/2023 Foo Chow Building, Singapore
1. Queen Of Asia Title: Yuki Kamifuku defeated Alexis Lee (c) with the Diving Famouser (?:??). *Alexis Lee fails in V5. Yuki Kamifuku becomes the 5th Queen Of Asia Champion!
In a rematch from January of this year, Kamifuku had a second chance of taking the Queen Of Asia Title from Alexis Lee. This time she succeeded and has brought the title championship back to Japan! The belt is managed by Singapore Pro Wrestling so they will need to sign off on any title defences Kamifuku will want to do in TJPW.
GCW “WRESTLECADE WEEKEND”, 24/11/2023 Benton Convention Center, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
1. Maki Itoh defeated Kylie Alexa with the I.S.D. (5:08).
There was no Kenzie Paige on the show. Instead Itoh had to take on Paige’s sister Kylie Alexa. No matter. Itoh beat her anyway.
AEW “RAMPAGE”, 29/11/2023 (Aired 01/12/2023) Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
Takeshita ended his month winning a squash match with the rest of The Don Callis Family.
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Upcoming Appearances
BLACK LABEL PRO “SLAMILTON”, 02/12/2023 Berwyn Eagles Club, Berwyn, Illinois, USA
1. Rachel Armstrong Vs Maki Itoh
Itoh will still be in America while TJPW celebrates their 10th anniversary. December for her begins with Itoh taking on Rachel Armstrong in Black Label Pro.
GCW “WHAT IS YOUR CHOICE?”, 03/12/2023 Roulette Intermedium, Brooklyn, New York, USA
1. Maki Itoh Vs Mike Bailey
Here’s a matchup so nutty it has to be done a week sooner! GCW originally booked a match between Itoh and Mike Bailey for their show in LA on 9th December. It had to be cancelled because Bailey had a scheduling conflict. So rather than wait until next year to do the match it’s been pushed forward to the Brooklyn show on the 3rd instead.
MLW “ONE-SHOT”, 07/12/2023 Melrose Ballroom, Queens, New York, USA
1. Princess Of Princess Title: Miyu Yamashita (c) Vs Delmi Exo
2. MLW World Featherweight Title: Janai Kai (c) Vs Maki Itoh
When Yamashita was announced for MLW a war of words broke out online between her and Delmi Exo. This year Exo held the women’s titles from both MLW and wXw at the same time. She no longer has either so she now has her sights set on the Princess Of Princess Title. Yamashita appreciated the challenge but turned it down because she already has her next defence scheduled for 4th January. Exo wasn’t happy with the response and sent insulting messages to Yamashita until the champion decided to accept the challenge and put Exo in her place. It all sounds well and good for a storyline but I’m a little worried MLW will pull off some bullshit when nobody is looking. They’ve done a phantom title change before with one of the AAA championships during the pandemic and tried to play it off as a misunderstanding over wires getting crossed. Call me skeptical but you should only ever trust Court Bauer as far as you can throw him.
In September Itoh lost a No. 1 Contender match to B3CCA so you may be wondering why she is still getting an MLW World Featherweight Title shot against Janai Kai? It’s because B3CCA has since gotten a knee injury and will be on the shelf for a few months. Can Itoh make the most of this unexpected opportunity?
DREAMWAVE “UPRISING”, 08/12/2023 Knights of Columbus, LaSalle, Illinois, USA
1. Shazza McKenzie Vs Miyu Yamashita
Please don’t let Sean Ross Sapp interfere in this match.
MPW “THE LONG NIGHT”, 08/12/2023 Knights of Columbus, LaSalle, Illinois, USA
1. Miggy Rose & Michael Hopkins Vs Shota & J2
Shota is adding dates for his winter tour of America. The earliest match scheduled for him now is at Millenium Pro Wrestling. He will team with a former opponent from last year’s excursion, J2 Mattioli. Their opponents are a team called 24K.
DREAMWAVE “GOOD AS GOLD”, 09/12/2023 Knights of Columbus, LaSalle, Illinois, USA
Well, well, well, what do we have here? Yamashita and Emi Sakura in the same ring on the same team at the same time? They were on opposite sides once before and that was on a DPW show during the summer. Now we get to see how they will fare when they on the same page. Zayda Steel & Zamaya could be in for a rough night if their opponents gel together really well.
EWF “PRO WRESTLING LUCHA LIBRE”, 09/12/2023 VFW Post 8737, San Bernardino, California, USA
1. EWF Vs The World: Shota Vs Noah
Just like last year Shota’s trip to America has him showing up in some real obscure places on the independents. Empire Wrestling Federation is one of them and they have a wrestler called Noah ready to fight him.
GCW “HIGHEST IN THE ROOM 2”, 09/12/2023 Ukrainian Cultural Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
1. Nick Gage & Maki Itoh Vs Johnny Game Changer & Taya Valkyrie
GCW has gone full blown wacky over what they’re replacing Itoh Vs Bailey in LA with. That show is now getting Maki Death Kill against Johnny Game Changer & Taya Valkyrie!
SKYFIRE PRO “NAVIDAD NIGHTMARE”, 10/12/2023 Bay City Brewing Co., San Diego, California, USA
1. Rebel Storm Vs Shota
Shota’s opponent when he comes over to Skyfire Pro is Rebel Storm.
TOKYO JOSHI PRO/PRESTIGE “COMBAT PRINCESS USA”, 14/12/2023 Globe Theatre, Los Angeles, California, USA
1. Rika Tatsumi & Amira Vs Max The Impaler & Pom Harajuku
2. Hikari Noa & Nao Kakuta Vs Janai Kai & Shazza McKenzie
3. Moka Miyamoto Vs Trish Adora
4. Mizuki Vs Sandra Moone
5. Shoko Nakajima Vs Taya Valkyrie
6. Miu Watanabe Vs Hyan
7. Special Tag Match: Miyu Yamashita & Maki Itoh Vs Masha Slamovich & Killer Kelly
The full card for “COMBAT PRINCESS USA” is here. Prestige have gathered together Masha Slamovich, Killer Kelly, Hyan, Taya Valkyrie, Sandra Moone, Trish Adora, Janai Kai, Shazza McKenzie (replacing an injured Johnnie Robbie) and Amira to represent their side in a bunch of inter-promotional matches against TJPW.
PANDEMONIUM PRO “HOLIDAY IN LA”, 17/12/2023 Don Quixote, Los Angeles, California, USA
1. Vinnie Massaro Vs Shota
2. Mike Bailey Vs Miyu Yamashita
It’s neat to see Vinnine Massaro get to wrestle in NOAH earlier this week. I bet that was a big thrill for him.
CIRCLE 6 “KING OF THE DEATHMATCHES”, 30/12/2023 Don Quixote, Los Angeles, California, USA
1. MAO Vs X
I’m not sure if MAO is entering the actual King Of The Deathmatch tournament or if he’s there in a separate attraction match.
GCW “NO COMPADRE”, 12/01/2024 Thalia Hall, Chicago, Illinois, USA
1. Maki Itoh Vs X
Itoh has her first 2024 dates with GCW ready to go.
GCW “56 BIRDZ”, 13/01/2024 Valley Dale Ballroom, Columbus, Ohio, USA
1. Maki Itoh Vs X
So far Itoh has Maki Death Kill and Maki Death Bussy under her list of alliances in GCW. Where does she go next?
DDT returns to America next year as part of The Collective in Philadelphia during Wrestlemania week. Sanshiro Takagi said on Twitter he would also like to do a Falls Count Anywhere match at the Philadelphia Museum Of Arts stairway from the Rocky movie if he is part of the crew travelling over.
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “ALL RISE ’23”, 27/10/2023 Tokyo Korakuen Hall 686 Fans
1. Wakana Uehara, HIMAWARI & Runa Okubo defeated Toga, Shino Suzuki & Haru Kazashiro when HIMAWARI submitted Kazashiro with a Half Crab Hold (10:06).
2. Ryo Mizunami & Yuki Aino defeated Maki Itoh & Kaya Toribami when Aino pinned Toribami with the Venus DDT (12:54).
3. International Princess Title Next Challenger 8-Woman Battle Royal: Shoko Nakajima defeated Raku with the Locomotion Northern Lights Suplex (17:53) Order Of Elimination: Mahiro Kiryu, Suzume, Rika Tatsumi & Miu Watanabe, Arisu Endo, Yuki Kamifuku and Raku.
4. Yuka Sakazaki & Mizuki defeated Hyper Misao & Pom Harajuku when Sakazaki pinned Harajuku with the Magical Merry-Go-Round (10:15)
5. Saki Akai defeated Yuki Arai with the Quetzalcoatl (13:30).
6. Princess Tag Team Titles: Hikari Noa & Nao Kakuta (c) defeated Moka Miyamoto & Juria Nagano when Noa pinned Nagano with the Blizzard Suplex (14:36). *V1 for Free Wi-Fi.
7. Princess Of Princess Title: Miyu Yamashita (c) defeated Regina with the Crash Rabbit Heat (12:40). *V1 for Miyu Yamashita.
A new championship reign for Miyu Yamashita begun with a brand new opponent for her. Regina has spent the last couple of weeks touring with Tokyo Joshi Pro but did not have a chance to wrestle Yamashita until today’s main event. The wrestler from Finland attacked Yamashita from the start and yet her aggressive battle plan didn’t throw Yamashita off her game. That was even when Regina threw Yamashita into the front row of chairs at ringside and injured her knee. Yamashita found a chance to hit it big when she was able to carry Regina in the Attitude Adjustment position but that failed and Regina hit the Finnish. However Yamashita kicked out, gave Regina a German Suplex, knocked her down with the Skull Kick and won with the Crash Rabbit Heat. She offered a handshake after the match but Regina spat at her hand and walked off.
Backstage after the show Yamashita said Regina was a good opponent to put the Princess Of Princess Title on the line against because she is big, strong and a champion in her own country. However she didn’t like how Regina rejected her handshake. It makes Yamashita want to go visit Finland so she can kick Regina’s ass again, then visit a sauna and go meet Moomin. Regina explained her actions, saying she thought she was going to win. She admits Yamashita is good for a Japanese wrestler but not enough to deserve a handshake from her.
The other title defence on the show was also a successful V1 result for the champions. Free WiFi put the belts on the line against Shinken Kusho, the newly named team of Karate fighters. The 5G was used to take Moka Miyamoto out of the equation and Hikari Noa took on the responsibility of finishing off Juria Nagano. The Thrust Kick found its mark and Noa pinned Nagano with the Blizzard Suplex. She said there was no way they would lose today because she could feel how strong their WiFi signal was. But she and Nao Kakuta admitted they could see strong radio waves coming from Shinken Kusho. Miyamoto said she doesn’t want to end her team with Nagano here so they will get stronger to earn another title shot. Nagano said she was nervous because it was her first title match. She has regrets over the mistakes she made but understands it was good experience too.
For the first and last time ever Reiwa AA Cannon fought each other in a singles match. Yuki Arai got to put out everything she learned from teaming with Saki Akai against her in her only chance to surpass her partner. She came close to winning by hitting her own version of the Rookie Award followed by the Finally for a nearfall. Akai fought back with the authentic Rookie Award and got to win with the Qetzalcoatl. Akai thanked Arai afterwards for being her final singles opponent in Korakuen Hall. The next time she will step foot inside the building will be as a fan in the audience. She’s experienced a lot and encouraged Arai by telling her there will be many new experiences for her in the future including from people she has never met before. There will be setbacks and even times that will break Arai’s heart but Arai reminded her she has many friends who support her including herself.
After being on the shelf since the summer began Yuka Sakazaki made it back to action today, kicking off her graduation tour with Mizuki by her side. The Magical Sugar Rabbits were met with Hyper Misao and Pom Harajuku who were both dressed for a welcome back party. They gave Sakazaki a cake as a gift but it was just so they could shove it in Sakazaki’s face! The Magical Sugar Rabbits fought back by spraying silly string at their opponents. Sakazaki showed she was back in physical form by using the Magical Merry-Go-Round to pin Harajuku. She was happy with how her return went and wants to enjoy every moment of her final matches in TJPW.
A small-scale Rumble match was used to determine the No. 1 Contender for the International Princess Title. The champion Max The Impaler is currently away from Japan and has a scheduled title defence for EVE in England next month. This match here was to decide the next challenger after that. Mahiro Kiryu was the first elimination when she was the main victim of a Camel Clutch chain that involved all of the wrestlers in the match. Miu Watanabe then eliminated Suzume with the Tear Drop. Daydream fell apart when Rika Tatsumi decided to choke Watanabe. Their infighting cause them to fall over the top rope onto the apron and then both get knocked to the floor for a double elimination. Yuki Kamifuku pinned Arisu Endo with the Famouser and then everybody thought the match ended when Shoko Nakajima pinned Kamifuku with a Hurricanrana. That was until Raku got into the ring after briefly disappearing from view. She tried to pin Nakajima with a surprise attack but Nakajima fought back and pinned her with the Locomotion Northern Lights Suplex. Nakajima admitted she had enough luck to win and wants to make the most of her opportunity when she gets her title shot on 19th November.
Ryo Mizunami & Yuki Aino were feeling the Halloween spirit when Mizunami walked out wearing pumpkin headwear. She then made Yukinori Matsui wear it briefly. The team seems to be catching on because this time Aino scored the win by pinning Kaya Toribami with the Venus DDT. It is something Mizunami said she wants to build even further. Maki Itoh said it’s been two years since she last fought Mizunami. That happened in America when they were both in AEW. She respects Mizunami because of that history and wished she could have expressed her feelings even more to her in the ring.
A preview of the Next Generation Tournament was the first match on the show. In the end it was HIMAWARI who submitted Haru Kazashiro to win for her team. She hopes the result will move her up to the next gear just in time for the tournament to begin. Wakana Uehara pointed out she may have to fight HIMAWARI in the bracket but if they do she knows she will beat her. Runa Okubo is concerned to fight Toga because her Elbow Strikes looked stronger than everyone else’s. Shino Suzuki thinks she is feeling left behind and decided that she won’t be anymore starting right now!
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “GO GIRL 4 ~1ST TIME IN A YEAR, LIMITED TO FEMALE FANS~”, 15/10/2023 Tokyo Shinagawa Prince Hotel Club eX
1. Suzume Vs Haru Kazashiro
2. Mahiro Kiryu Vs Wakana Uehara
3. Hyper Misao & Kaya Toribami Vs Yuki Aino & Runa Okubo
4. Hikari Noa Vs Toga
5. Max The Impaler, Raku & Pom Harajuku Vs Nao Kakuta, HIMAWARI & Shino Suzuki
6. Mizuki & Yuki Arai Vs Moka Miyamoto & Arisu Endo
7. Nivea Angel Skin Body Wash Presents Go Girl 4 Special Tag Match: Shoko Nakajima & Rika Tatsumi Vs Maki Itoh & Yuki Kamifuku
“GO GIRL 4” is being sponsored by Nivea and everyone in the audience will receive a free sample of their products. The winning team in the main event will be given a year’s worth of Angel Skin Body Wash as their prize.
Both Miyu Yamashita and Miu Watanabe are missing the doubleshot because they will be in America wrestling for SPARK that week.
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW CITY CIRCUIT ’23 ~SHINAGAWA PERFORMANCE~”, 15/10/2023 Tokyo Shinagawa Prince Hotel Club eX
1. Yuki Arai Vs Shino Suzuki
2. Maki Itoh Vs HIMAWARI
3. Rika Tatsumi Vs Wakana Uehara
4. Hyper Misao & Raku Vs Mahiro Kiryu & Toga
5. Hikari Noa & Nao Kakuta Vs Moka Miyamoto & Haru Kazashiro
6. Suzume & Arisu Endo Vs Yuki Kamifuku & Runa Okubo
7. Max The Impaler, Yuki Aino & Pom Harajuku Vs Shoko Nakajima, Mizuki & Kaya Toribami
The evening show of Tokyo Joshi Pro’s doubleshot features a few matches that were meant to happen earlier this year but got cancelled for one reason or another.
BASARA “BASARA 234 ~UTAGE~”, 24/10/2023 Shin-Kiba 1st RING
1. IRON FIST TAG TOURNAMENT – Round 2A: Ryota Nakatsu & Kazusada Higuchi Vs Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi & Daichi Kazato
2. IRON FIST TAG TOURNAMENT – Round 2B: Takumi Tsukamoto & SAGAT Vs Lil’ Kraken & Leo Isaka
3. Union MAX Title: FUMA (c) Vs Daiki Shimomura
The challenge by Daiki Shimomura towards FUMA for the Union MAX Title has been accepted.
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “ALL RISE ’23”, 27/10/2023 Tokyo Korakuen Hall
1. Saki Akai Vs Yuki Arai
2. Princess Tag Team Titles: Hikari Noa & Nao Kakuta (c) Vs Moka Miyamoto & Juria Nagano
3. Princess Of Princess Title: Miyu Yamashita (c) Vs Regina
Before Yamashita travelled to America she learned who her first challenger for the Princess Of Princess Title will be at the end of this month. Regina is an 8 year veteran from Tuusula, Finland who wrestles for FCF over there. She is 166cm tall and weighs 105kg. Yamashita said she wants to be careful fighting her, especially when she found out Regina is the FCF Finnish Heavyweight Champion and has defeated larger male wrestlers in her reign. This will be their only match together on Regina’s tour of TJPW because Yamashita is in America during her other appearances. All Yamashita can do to prepare is to find videos of Regina’s matches to watch while she is away.
Free WiFi have only just won the Princess Tag Team Titles so they intend not to lose them easily. Their first challengers are Moka Miyamoto & Juria Nagano. The two of them now have a new team name: Shinken Kusho! In order to prepare for this match Nao Kakuta has done two things. She is starting to make meals in a rice cooker like Miyamoto often does. She also bought the latest FRIDAY magazine because Nagano is in the issue as the centerfold. Hikari Noa asked Nagano to write her new team name on her page in the magazine. Kakuta thinks Free WiFi is the cooler name.
DDT “UTAN FESTA 2023”, 29/10/2023 Tokyo JR Omori Station East Exit Plaza
1. World Omori Title: Soma Takao (c) Vs X
Last year saw the return of DDT’s annual outdoor show at the JR Omori Station. Not only did that show return but so too did the yearly Omori World Title match. Soma Takao defeated Chikara to become the new champion last time but he currently does not have any challenger lined up for this year’s defence. Normally DDT does a Battle Royal on the same show to determine the No. 1 Contender a year in advance but that did not happen last time.
DDT “ULTIMATE PARTY 2023”, 12/11/2023 Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan
1. 5 Way Tag Match: KANON & MJ Paul Vs Naruki Doi & Kazuma Sumi Vs Yusuke Okada & Yuya Koroku Vs Toy Kojima & Yuki Ishida Vs Takeshi Masada & Rukiya
2. Tokyo Joshi Pro Offer 6-Woman Tag Match: Yuki Arai, Moka Miyamoto & Shino Suzuki Vs Suzume, Arisu Endo & Wakana Uehara
3. Special 8-Man Tag Match: Sanshiro Takagi, Akito, Makoto Oishi & Shinichiro Kawamatsu Vs Yoshitatsu, Yoshihiko, Danshoku Dieno & Super Sasadango Machine
4. Special 6-Man Tag Match ~ DDT Vs VOODOO-MURDERS: Jun Akiyama, HARASHIMA & Yukio Naya Vs Jun Saito, Rei Saito & Toshizo
5. Special Single Match: Daisuke Sasaki Vs Tetsuya Endo
6. Special Single Match: Hiromu Takahashi Vs Kazuki Hirata
7. KO-D Tag Team Titles: Soma Takao & Shota (c) Vs Masahiro Takanashi & Antonio Honda
8. DDT Universal Title: Matt Cardona (c) (w/ Steph De Lander) Vs MAO
9. Saki Akai Retirement Match ~Strong, Noble, Beautiful~: Saki Akai, Yukio Sakaguchi & Hideki Okatani Vs Naomichi Marufuji, Kazusada Higuchi & Miyu Yamashita
10. Dramatic Dream Match: Chris Jericho Vs KONOSUKE TAKESHITA
11. KO-D Openweight Title: Chris Brookes (c) Vs Yuki Ueno
The TJPW Offer Match for this show was revealed over the weekend. Yuki Arai, Moka Miyamoto, Shino Suzuki, Suzume, Arisu Endo and Wakana Uehara were all chosen to take part.
1. Special Hardcore 6-Man Tag Match: Atsushi Onita, HARASHIMA & Toy Kojima Vs Jun Akiyama, Bodyguard & Makoto Oishi
We’re not done with the Atsushi Onita Vs Jun Akiyama feud just yet. They clash again in a Hardcore 6-Man Tag Match in November with Bodyguard joining in as a special guest.
Posted by JamieOD 
