Universe Cup

February 10, 2026

Looks like I now have to start talking about MONDAY MAGIC a bit more often. This thing started off in 2023 as an idea by NOSAWA Rongai to host live weekly NOAH shows on ABEMA built around mystery lineups and surprise matches. After the debut season, the series was then added to Wrestle Universe and last year it was quietly spun off into becoming its own brand, although it is still NOAH adjacent. I personally like the idea of treating Monday Magic as its own thing but you’d still be right to label it a NOAH show.

During the most recent season titled “RISING SUN”, it was announced that two upcoming spin-off episodes called “UNIVERSE MAGIC” will host the first ever Universe Cup tournament. It will be an eight man tournament featuring a representative from many different wrestling promotions that can be seen on Wrestle Universe. The wrestlers taking part are:

Naomichi Marufuji (Pro Wrestling NOAH)
Sanshiro Takagi (DDT Pro Wrestling)
The Great Sasuke (Michinoku Pro Wrestling)
Hayabusa (ZERO1 Pro Wrestling)
Isami Kodaka (Pro Wrestling BASARA)
Yumehito Imanari (Ganbare☆Pro Wrestling)
Kuroshio TOKYO Japan (Pro Wrestling Uptown)
Great Mummy (MONDAY MAGIC)

MONDAY MAGIC “UNIVERSE MAGIC 2026”, 09/03/2026
Shinjuku FACE

1. UNIVERSE CUP – Round 1: Sanshiro Takagi Vs Great Mummy
2. UNIVERSE CUP – Round 1: Naomichi Marufuji Vs Kuroshio TOKYO Japan
3. UNIVERSE CUP – Round 1: Isami Kodaka Vs The Great Sasuke
4. UNIVERSE CUP – Round 1: Hayabusa Vs Yumehito Imanari

Alright I get to talk about the new Hayabusa! Actually Bahu did a great job explaining the whole situation with him and ZERO1 recently so I recommend you give his video a watch. The inclusion of ZERO1 to this tournament comes from their repaired relationship with NOAH after the Go Shiozaki fiasco (I knew something was up with him a while back) and that led to Hayabusa recently appearing on Monday Magic so his addition has not come out of nowhere.

One of NOSAWA’s running jokes in Monday Magic is to often book one of the wrestlers to disguise themselves as Great Mummy, a throwback to the mummy gimmicks that were a regular presence around Japan’s sleazier indies decades ago. It’s only fitting that Sanshiro Takagi was chosen to be Great Mummy’s opponent in the first round.

MONDAY MAGIC “UNIVERSE MAGIC 2026”, 06/04/2026
Shinjuku FACE

1. UNIVERSE CUP – Semi Final: X Vs X
2. UNIVERSE CUP – Semi Final: X Vs X
3. UNIVERSE CUP – Final: X Vs X

The match announcement video included an image of a playoff bracket that makes it look like the winners of Matches #1 and #3 will meet in one semi final and the winners of Matches #2 and #4 will face off in the other. However I’m feeling suspicious about something. To put it kindly, NOSAWA is a trickster at heart. Don’t be surprised if he suddenly throws in a swerve or two that could completely change the face of the Universe Cup going into the final rounds.


DGC Final Up For Grabs, Sasadango’s Sumo Hall Check Up, Pokotan Gets Some Sauna Friends

February 6, 2026

DDT “IMAIKE SAMBA 2026”, 07/02/2026
Aichi Imaike Gas Hall

1. Takeshi Masada & Hinata Kasai Vs Yuya Koroku & Yuni
2. Special Single Match: KANON (w/ KIMIHIRO) Vs Antonio Honda
3. Daisuke Sasaki, Hideki Okatani & MJ Paul Vs Jun Akiyama, Akito & Junta Miyawaki
4. Imaike Rumble 2026: Yuki Ueno Vs MAO Vs HARASHIMA Vs Danshoku Dieno Vs Chris Brookes Vs Kazuki Hirata Vs Naomi Yoshimura Vs Yukio Naya Vs Ilusion Vs Pokotan
5. D GENERATIONS CUP 2026 – A Block: To-y (3) Vs Daichi Sato (4)
6. D GENERATIONS CUP 2026 – A Block: Yuki Ishida (3) Vs Kazuma Sumi (4)

The last matchdays for the D GENERATIONS CUP have several wrestlers still in the running to reach the final. In the A Block Kazuma Sumi just needs to win his match to win the group. Daichi Sato can get there if he wins and Sumi doesn’t. To-y and Yuki Ishida both need to win and even then that will result in a sudden death playoff between the two because they tied against each other earlier in the tournament.

DDT “IMAIKE FIGHT FEVER 2026”, 08/02/2026
Aichi Imaike Gas Hall

1. D GENERATIONS CUP 2026 – B Block: Rukiya (4) Vs Hinata Kasai (0)
2. HARASHIMA & Yuni Vs Hideki Okatani & Ilusion
3. Danshoku Dieno & Kazuma Sumi Vs Akito & Kazuki Hirata
4. Jun Akiyama, Naomi Yoshimura & Yuki Ishida Vs Yukio Naya, Junta Miyawaki & Daichi Sato
5. Special 4-Way Tag Match: Yuki Ueno & To-y Vs MAO & KANON (w/ KIMIHIRO) Vs Daisuke Sasaki & MJ Paul Vs Chris Brookes & Antonio Honda
6. D GENERATIONS CUP 2026 – B Block: Takeshi Masada (4) Vs Yuya Koroku (6)

In the B Block we may see Yuya Koroku finish his run with a perfect record of four wins. But if Takeshi Masada can beat him then he will squeak by last year’s champion. However Rukiya can match the total score in that scenario if he beats Hinata Kasai which will then result in a three way tie where Koroku beat Rukiya, Rukiya beat Masada and Masada beat Koroku.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “SHOKO NAKAJIMA NIIGATA HOMECOMING – SHOKO QUEST IV: THOSE GUIDED BY THE SNOW COUNTRY”, 11/02/2026
Niigata Dúo CEREZO

1. 3 Way Match: Miyu Yamashita Vs Raku Vs Mahiro Kiryu
2. Arisu Endo Vs Shion Kanzaki
3. Suzume Vs Mifu Ashida
4. Max The Pompaler & Pom Harajuku Vs Hyper Misao & Chika Nanase
5. Miu Watanabe & Rika Tatsumi Vs Sara Phoenix & Kira Summer
6. Yuki Kamifuku, Wakana Uehara & Ren Konatsu V Mizuki, Shino Suzuki & Uta Takami
7. Shoko Nakajima, Yuki Aino & Haru Kazashiro Vs Yuki Arai, HIMAWARI & Toga

The “GRAND PRINCESS ’26” PR Ambassador Super Sasadango Machine will be visiting the show, presumably to get updates on all of the ideas he gave others to promote the Sumo Hall show. There are currently four requests he has given people. Shino Suzuki is tasked with challenging influencers with over 100,000 followers to games of rock paper scissors until she beats three of them. The GM Tetsuya Koda was told to go find a big guest famous enough to sell out Sumo Hall and get them to make their pro wrestling debut. The mascot Minimo-chan was told to master its special moves through intensive training. Finally Sanshiro Takagi was instructed to scout a new idol to turn into a pro wrestler.

DDT “NEPPA OVER FLOWERS 5 ~THE ONLY SAUNA IN THE WORLD~”, 14/02/2026
Shinjuku FACE

1. Young Boy Akito Nishigaki Shinjuku FACE Debut Match: Young Boy Akito Nishigaki Vs Rukiya
2. Shinya Aoki Vs Hinata Kasai
3. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Brahman Shu, Brahman Kei & Brahman Sasaki Vs Daichi Sato, Yuni & Kazuma Sumi
4. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Shin KONOSUKE TAKESHITA, MAO & Takeshi Masada Vs Danshoku Dieno, Kazuki Hirata & Koju Takeda
5. Ueno Nordic Presents Special Single Match: Yuki Ueno Vs Pokotan (w/ Chris Bathooks, Naya Tonttu & Sauna Stones・Den)
6. Special Single Match: Minoru Suzuki Vs To-y

Pokotan will not be alone when it fights Yuki Ueno. It will be accompanied by three sauna themed versions of DDT wrestlers. Naya Tonttu has appeared on these sauna wrestling shows before. Chris Bathooks and Sauna Stones・Den both have pun names that apply to saunas somehow but I don’t have the knowledge with that hobby to figure out what they are.

GANBARE☆PRO “A SCANNER DARKLY 2026”, 22/02/2026
Tokyo Takashimadaira Kumin Center

1. Sentaro Motoshima Vs Reiya Igarashi
2. 3 Way Match: Moeka Haruhi Vs Papillon Akemi Vs Hora-chan
3. Takuya Wada & PSYCHO Vs Ken Ohka & Shota Kawakami
4. Yumehito Imanari & Shinichiro Tominaga Vs Keisuke Ishii & Choun Shiryu
5. Shuichiro Katsumura, Yuya Susumu & YuuRI Vs Yuna Manase, Akira Shoji & Tyson Maeguchi
6. Spirit Of Ganbare World Openweight Title: Masaaki Mochizuki (c) Vs Mizuki Watase

How is it that Moeka Haruhi keeps getting put with oddball opponents? She now has to face Papillon Akemi and a Colega Pro/Land’s End gimmick called Hora-chan in a 3 Way Match.

“GAISEN SAKURA PRO WRESTLING”, 11/04/2026
Okayama Shinjo Village

The Tokyo Joshi Pro lineup has already been announced for the show. Now BASARA has followed up with their cast of wrestlers who will show up alongside Ryuichi Sekine. Joining him will be Takumi Tsukamoto, FUMA, Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi, Ryota Nakatsu, Takato Nakano, Takeru Inoue and Yasu Urano. Three of the matches will be from TJPW and three will be from BASARA.


Shuji In BASARA, Max Heart Final, “Newcomer” Akito, GanPro Title Matches

February 2, 2026

BASARA “BASARA 299 ~TAKAGARI 32~”, 11/02/2026
Tokyo Takashimadaira Kumin Center

1. Takeru Inoue Vs Yuki Ishida
2. SAGAT Vs Lil’ Kraken
3. Isami Kodaka & Ryuma Sekimo Vs Daiki Shimomura & Takato Nakano
4. Takumi Tsukamoto & Masato Kamino Vs FUMA & Seiya Morohashi
5. Shuji Ishikawa, Ryota Nakatsu & Daichi Kazato Vs Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi, Tsutomu Oosugi & Banana Senga

As long as Shuji Ishikawa hold the Union MAX Title, he is going to treat BASARA like a second home. He is currently scheduled to be on all of their shows for February and March.

The Super Family are hitting some sort of rough patch after failing to win the Iron Fist Tag Team Titles on the last show. Lil’ Kraken wonders if they should split up but SAGAT still wants to team with him. After taking a day to think about it, the decision was made to have the two face each other in a singles bout. Is this just something to get their frustrations out or will it be a (super) family rift that cannot be healed?

Yuki Ishida from DDT makes another appearance here. He’ll take on BASARA’s young prospect Takeru Inoue in the opener.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “THE 6TH “FUTARI WA PRINCESS” MAX HEART TOURNAMENT”, 14/02/2026
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Ren Konatsu Vs Shion Kanzaki
2. Miyu Yamashita, Kaya Toribami, HIMAWARI & Shino Suzuki Vs Hyper Misao, Kakeru Sekiguchi, Kira Summer & Chika Nanase
3. Shoko Nakajima & Sara Phoenix Vs Suzume & Arisu Endo
4. Max The Impaler, Raku & Pom Harajuku Vs Ryo Mizunami, Yuki Aino & Haru Kazashiro
5. Miu Watanabe & Rika Tatsumi Vs Yuki Arai & Mifu Ashida
6. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title: Mahiro Kiryu (c) Vs Aja Kong
7. International Princess Title: MIRAI (c) Vs Toga
8. “Futari wa Princess” Max Heart Tournament – Final: Mizuki & Uta Takami Vs Yuki Kamifuku & Wakana Uehara

It’s new territory for the Max Heart Tournament because the current Princess Tag Team Champions have reached the final for the first time. Ober Eats are now just one win away from winning the whole thing and living up to the votes they got for the Best Tag Team category in the recent Tokyo Sports Awards. Meanwhile Mizuki & Uta Takami are on something of a miracle run as a tag team, although they want to prove they deserve to be here through hard work and well earned success instead of luck and good fortune.

There’s an alternate timeline where Daydream and Kyoto Tag could have been a semi final match in the tournament. Instead they’re facing each other on the undercard to help build up March’s Princess Of Princess Title match between Miu Watanabe and Yuki Arai.

Opponents have now become tag partners. Shoko Nakajima liked wrestling Sara Phoenix so much she wants to team with her. They may end up being a bounce back team for Daisy Monkey though.

A first win awaits for either Ren Konatsu or Shion Kanzaki.

DDT “NEPPA OVER FLOWERS 5 ~THE ONLY SAUNA IN THE WORLD~”, 14/02/2026
Shinjuku FACE

1. Young Boy Akito Nishigaki Shinjuku FACE Debut Match: Young Boy Akito Nishigaki Vs Rukiya
2. Shinya Aoki Vs Hinata Kasai
3. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Brahman Shu, Brahman Kei & Brahman Sasaki Vs Daichi Sato, Yuni & Kazuma Sumi
4. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Shin KONOSUKE TAKESHITA, MAO & Takeshi Masada Vs Danshoku Dieno, Kazuki Hirata & Koju Takeda
5. Ueno Nordic Presents Special Single Match: Yuki Ueno Vs Pokotan
6. Special Single Match: Minoru Suzuki Vs To-y

This is the full card but the only confirmation of the match order is the opener and the main event. Yuki Ueno challenges Pokotan to a one on one battle while Akito returns to his rookie roots to wrestle as Akito Nishigaki once more. Also there is another Brahman Brother among us! Unless I’m reading the name wrong and it is Barman Sasaki instead of Brahman Sasaki.

GANBARE☆PRO “A SCANNER DARKLY 2026”, 22/02/2026
Tokyo Takashimadaira Kumin Center

1. Spirit Of Ganbare World Openweight Title: Masaaki Mochizuki (c) Vs Mizuki Watase

The time has come for Mizuki Watase to challenge for the Spirit Of Ganbare World Title again. He won the title before against seemingly impossible odds and can repeat the feat if he can dethrone Masaaki Mochizuki.

GANBARE☆PRO “KINKI CHIHO NO ARU BASHO NI TSUITE 2026”, 01/03/2026
Osaka Hirano Community Hall

1. Spirit Of Ganbare World Tag Team Titles: Yumehito Imanari & Shinichiro Tominaga (c) Vs Ken Ohka & Hiroaki Moriya

When a tag match pitting Touchable against Ken Ohka & Hiroaki Moriya was put together for Ganbare☆Pro’s return to Osaka, Ohka asked for the Spirit Of Ganbare Tag Team Titles to be put on the line.

“GAISEN SAKURA PRO WRESTLING”, 11/04/2026
Okayama Shinjo Village

The show Ryuichi Sekine and Nodoka Tenma are putting together will consist of six matches, three from Tokyo Joshi Pro and three from BASARA. The TJPW roster taking part will be Mizuki, Shoko Nakajima, Rika Tatsumi, Hyper Misao, Yuki Aino, Mahiro Kiryu, Arisu Endo, Haru Kazashiro, Mifu Ashida, Kira Summer and Chika Nanase. Also Aja Kong will be part of the show as a special guest.


BASARA “BASARA 298 ~10TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW~” Results

January 31, 2026

BASARA “BASARA 298 ~10TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW~”, 31/01/2026
Shinjuku FACE
??? Fans – Unannounced

1. Minoru Fujita & Yasu Urano defeated Isami Kodaka & Takeru Inoue when Fujita pinned Kodaka with the Modified Samson Clutch (12:19).
2. Ayato Yoshida defeated Daichi Kazato with a Pinfall after Kazato missed the Firebird Splash (11:36).
3. GRACE PROJECT Offer Match: Tomoya Hirata, Captain Grace & Violento Jack defeated Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi, Tsutomu Oosugi & Banana Senga when Jack pinned Hiroshi with the San Buena Ventura (11:03).
4. Ryota Nakatsu, Naomi Yoshimura & Yuki Ishida defeated Ryuichi Sekine, Takato Nakano & Masato Kamino when Nakatsu pinned Nakano with the V Slider (11:52).
5. Iron Fist Tag Team Titles: Takumi Tsukamoto & Daiki Shimomura (c) defeated SAGAT & Lil’ Kraken when Shimomura pinned Kraken with the Swanton Bomb (13:10).
*V1 for Takumi Tsukamoto & Daiki Shimomura.
6. Union MAX Title: Shuji Ishikawa (c) defeated FUMA with the Giant Slam (19:53).
*V1 for Shuji Ishikawa.

The last time Shuji Ishikawa and FUMA fought each other for the Union MAX Title was way back in April 2015. Over ten years later they went through with the rematch. This time it was Ishikawa who won and he even kicked out of the Jawbreaker kick. FUMA kicked out of the Kamigoye and the Splash Mountain so Ishikawa needed to use the Giant Slam to finally put him away. Ishikawa thanked FUMA after the match because it made him push himself further to become even stronger. He then invited all of the BASARA wrestlers out to talk about the company’s 10th Anniversary. Union Pro closed down on its 10th Anniversary but Ishikawa is confident BASARA will continue on to reach its 15th and even 20th anniversaries. As long as he holds a championship with Union’s name on it he will consider BASARA like it is home but he will still be a stubborn champion for everyone here to try and beat. He exited the ring and left the rest of the locker room to end the show by celebrating BASARA’s happy occasion.

Takumi Tsukamoto & Daiki Shimomura overcame the Super Family to remain the Iron Fist Tag Team Champions. They praised the challengers for having better teamwork than their own and are now waiting to see who they will defend the titles against next. Shimomura will be celebrating his own 10th Anniversary in March but he wants to have a title defence before then. SAGAT asked Lil’ Kraken backstage if they are going to split up because that was the plan if they lost without showing any growth. He would like them to continue teaming together and Kraken told him he will spend the night thinking about it.

After a three month hiatus to deal with a neck injury, Isami Kodaka returned to action today. Despite losing the match he is happy his comeback happened safely and he is excited to see what BASARA will be like after reaching the ten year milestone.

At the start of the show Ryuichi Sekine promoted the next Gaisen Sakura Pro Wrestling show taking place in Okayama on 11th April.


Busy Saturday, Shin Konosuke Returns, Sasaki Heading Overseas In April

January 30, 2026

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “THE 6TH “FUTARI WA PRINCESS” MAX HEART TOURNAMENT”, 31/01/2026
Shinjuku FACE

1. Hyper Misao Vs Shino Suzuki
2. HIMAWARI Vs Shion Kanzaki
3. Shoko Nakajima, Yuki Aino & Haru Kazashiro Vs Yuki Arai, Mifu Ashida & Kira Summer
4. Miu Watanabe, Rika Tatsumi & Mahiro Kiryu Vs Miyu Yamashita, Raku & Ren Konatsu
5. MIRAI & Sara Phoenix Vs Toga & Chika Nanase
6. “Futari wa Princess” Max Heart Tournament – Semi-Final: Max The Impaler & Pom Harajuku Vs Yuki Kamifuku & Wakana Uehara
7. “Futari wa Princess” Max Heart Tournament – Semi-Final: Suzume & Arisu Endo Vs Mizuki & Uta Takami

Before any of the matches begin there will be a contract signing between MIRAI and Toga for their International Princess Title match happening next month.

A foot injury for Kaya Toribami has taken her out of action for the next two weeks. She is expected to return in time for the 14th February show. Raku has been moved up to Match #4 and the teams have been rejigged a little to make the change fit.

GANBARE☆PRO “NEW YEAR’S BLUES 2026”, 31/01/2026
Shin-Kiba 1st RING

1. Sentaro Motoshima Vs Akira Shoji
2. Moeka Haruhi Vs Choun Shiryu
3. Yuna Manase & YuuRI Vs Chanyota & Non Toraga
4. Ken Ohka & Mizuki Watase Vs Fuminori Abe & Shota Kawakami
5. Yumehito Imanari & Keisuke Ishii Vs Shuichiro Katsumura & Yuya Susumu
6. Spirit Of Ganbare World Openweight Title: Masaaki Mochizuki (c) Vs Shinichiro Tominaga

At the start of the show Munetatsu Nakamura will be there to give everyone an update on his injury absence.

BASARA “BASARA 298 ~10TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW~”, 31/01/2026
Shinjuku FACE

1. Isami Kodaka & Takeru Inoue Vs Minoru Fujita & Yasu Urano
2. Daichi Kazato Vs Ayato Yoshida
3. GRACE PROJECT Offer Match: Tomoya Hirata, Captain Grace & Violento Jack Vs Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi, Tsutomu Oosugi & Banana Senga
4. Ryuichi Sekine, Takato Nakano & Masato Kamino Vs Ryota Nakatsu, Naomi Yoshimura & Yuki Ishida
5. Iron Fist Tag Team Titles: Takumi Tsukamoto & Daiki Shimomura (c) Vs SAGAT & Lil’ Kraken
6. Union MAX Title: Shuji Ishikawa (c) Vs FUMA

And BASARA caps off a busy Saturday for me.

DDT “NEPPA OVER FLOWERS 5 ~THE ONLY SAUNA IN THE WORLD~”, 14/02/2026
Shinjuku FACE

1. Shinya Aoki Vs Hinata Kasai
2. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Shin KONOSUKE TAKESHITA, MAO & Takeshi Masada Vs Danshoku Dieno, Kazuki Hirata & Koju Takeda
3. Special Single Match: Minoru Suzuki Vs To-y

The 37KAMIINA are sparing no expense for their Valentine’s Day produce show. Shin Konosuke Takeshita returns for a special trios match that will also include Koju Takeda from Triple Six. Takeda will be retiring from pro wrestling soon so this seems to be the only way he can reunite with Danshoku Dieno inside a DDT ring. Also does the existence of Shin Konosuke Takeshita mean there now also exists a Shin Kyle Fletcher?

One month into FANTÔMES DRAMATIC and Hinata Kasai is disappointed he hasn’t been able to team with the other members so far since joining. He might have to wait even longer because one of his upcoming matches is a singles bout with Shinya Aoki.

BAKA GAIJIN + FRIENDS “VOL. 28: BIG BEAT FROM BADSVILLE”, 24/02/2026
Tokyo ARENA Shimokitazawa

1. Special Single Match: Kota Sekifuda Vs HARASHIMA
2. Special Single Match: Antonio Honda Vs Miyu Yamashita
3. Special Single Match: Chris Brookes Vs Yuta Oya

Looks like Kota Sekifuda is fully accepted into the Baka Gaijin & Friends space. He and HARASHIMA had some interactions during the Baka Battle Royal in December, the memorable one being HARASHIMA using Sekifuda’s snake to put him in a literal Cobra Twist.

DDT “JUDGEMENT 2026 ~29TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION 5 HOUR SPECIAL~”, 22/03/2026
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Dramatic Dream Match: KONOSUKE TAKESHITA Vs Kazuki Hirata
2. KO-D Openweight Title: Yuki Ueno (c) Vs KANON

After having a not so glamorous debut last September, Evil Uno returns to DDT for the 29th Anniversary show hoping to get better circumstances for his match this time.

Daisuke Sasaki will be wrestling overseas during the month of April. At the moment this show is the latest DDT even happening in March so his last match in Japan for the period might be here.


K!SS// (Kick Slash), Mune’s Neck Injury Changes GanPro’s Plans, Kazato Vs Yoshida Could Be Ruined By Politics

January 16, 2026

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “THE 6TH “FUTARI WA PRINCESS” MAX HEART TOURNAMENT”, 17/01/2026
Yokohama Radiant Hall

1. Miu Watanabe, Rika Tatsumi & Sara Phoenix Vs Yuki Kamifuku, Wakana Uehara & Toga
2. Yuki Aino, Haru Kazashiro & Mahiro Kiryu Vs Suzume, Arisu Endo & Shion Kanzaki
3. “Futari wa Princess” Max Heart Tournament – Round 1D: HIMAWARI & Shino Suzuki Vs Yuki Arai & Mifu Ashida
4. “Futari wa Princess” Max Heart Tournament – Round 1C: Raku & Ren Konatsu Vs Max The Impaler & Pom Harajuku
5. “Futari wa Princess” Max Heart Tournament – Round 1B: Kira Summer & Chika Nanase Vs Mizuki & Uta Takami
6. “Futari wa Princess” Max Heart Tournament – Round 1A: Shoko Nakajima & Hyper Misao Vs Miyu Yamashita & Kaya Toribami

Heading into the opening rounds tomorrow, Miyu Yamashita & Kaya Toribami have revealed the name of their tag team. Despite having different fighting styles they are both passionate about kicking opponents so they have decided to call themselves K!SS// (Kick Slash)!

DDT “SATURDAY CHINATOWN”, 17/01/2026
Yokohama Radiant Hall

1. Danshoku Dieno, Antonio Honda & Akito Vs Kazuki Hirata, Takeshi Masada & Rukiya
2. Special 8-Man Tag Match: Sanshiro Takagi, Jun Akiyama, Shinya Aoki & Tomomitsu Matsunaga Vs Naomi Yoshimura, Ryoma Tsukamoto, Kazuma Sumi & Hinata Kasai
3. D GENERATIONS CUP 2026 – A Block: Daichi Sato (2) Vs Ilusion (0)
4. D GENERATIONS CUP 2026 – A Block: To-y (2) Vs Yuki Ishida (2)
5. Special 6-Man Tag Match: MAO, KANON (w/ KIMIHIRO) & Junta Miyawaki Vs Yuki Iino, Yukio Naya & Yuya Koroku
6. DAMNATION T.A Vs FANTÔMES DRAMATIC!: Daisuke Sasaki & Hideki Okatani Vs Chris Brookes & HARASHIMA

While Yuki Ueno is out injured, the build up for his double title defence now rests on the shoulders of Chris Brookes and Daisuke Sasaki. There will be a contract signing ceremony for the title match taking place before the show starts so Ueno will be at the venue.

GANBARE☆PRO “NEW YEAR’S BLUES 2026”, 31/01/2026
Tokyo Takashimadaira Kumin Center

1. Yumehito Imanari & Keisuke Ishii Vs Shuichiro Katsumura & Yuya Susumu
2. Spirit Of Ganbare World Openweight Title: Masaaki Mochizuki (c) Vs Shinichiro Tominaga

Some real bad luck has come Munetatsu Nakamura’s way. He suffered a neck injury this week and was told by his doctor not to wrestle for the rest of the month. He won’t know if he can return to action in February until he gets a clearer diagnosis. Nakamura was meant to be the next challenger for the Spirit Of Ganbare World Title at the end of January but that now cannot go ahead. Shinichiro Tominaga stepped forward to face Masaaki Mochizuki for the title instead.

That led to another change on the show, one that needed to be made anyway because of someone else. Tominaga was meant to be in a 6-Man Tag but he is now moved up to the main event. Another person who was meant to be part of the 6-Man Tag is Takuya Wada but he had to cancel his current bookings with Ganbare☆Pro because of family reasons. The 6-Man Tag has now been changed into a regular tag match with the remaining wrestlers involved.

BASARA “BASARA 298 ~10TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW~”, 31/01/2026
Shinjuku FACE

1. Daichi Kazato Vs Ayato Yoshida
2. GRACE PROJECT Offer Match: Tomoya Hirata, Captain Grace & Violento Jack Vs Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi, Tsutomu Oosugi & Banana Senga
3. Ryuichi Sekine, Takato Nakano & Masato Kamino Vs Ryota Nakatsu, Naomi Yoshimura & Yuki Ishida
4. Isami Kodaka & Takeru Inoue Vs Minoru Fujita & Yasu Urano
5. Iron Fist Tag Team Titles: Takumi Tsukamoto & Daiki Shimomura (c) Vs SAGAT & Lil’ Kraken
6. Union MAX Title: Shuji Ishikawa (c) Vs FUMA

The mystery opponent for Daichi Kazato is going to be Ayato Yoshida. The two have often been linked up for Yoshida’s appearances in BASARA lately. If the match somehow gets cancelled before then, Kazato fears they won’t get another chance to reorganise it because of the snap elections in Japan’s House Of Representatives that are suddenly due to take place soon. He might be a little crazy but he thinks things are going to get even crazier over there.


BASARA “BASARA 297 ~UTAGE~” Results

January 16, 2026

BASARA “BASARA 297 ~UTAGE~”, 16/01/2026
Shin-Kiba 1st RING
??? Fans – Unannounced

1. Takeru Inoue defeated Ryuma Sekimo with the Tiger Driver (9:09).
2. Ayumu Honda defeated Daichi Kazato with the Cross Armbreaker (8:50).
3. 3 Way Match: Tsutomu Oosugi (w/ Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi) defeated Ryota Nakatsu and Takato Nakano when Oosugi pinned Nakano with the Tsuki no Ishi (6:27).
4. SAGAT, Lil’ Kraken & Minoru Fujita defeated Takumi Tsukamoto, Daiki Shimomura & Banana Senga when Kraken pinned Shimomura with the period. (11:58).
5. Shuji Ishikawa & Yasu Urano defeated FUMA & Masato Kamino when Ishikawa pinned Kamino with the Running Knee Lift (15:49).

In the build up to Shuji Ishikawa defending the Union MAX Title against FUMA at the end of the month, Ishikawa won today’s tag match and warned he can get even better for the title match because he was fighting a fever this week going into today’s show. He promised to play “Union Rocker” again when he defends the title but FUMA said he will play the song instead when he wins the belt from Ishikawa!

Lil’ Kraken claims that the Dropkick he took from Daiki Shimomura at the start of the match was so strong it made him lose sight in one eye but he was able to get revenge in the end by beating him. He said the Super Family will win the Iron Fist Tag Team Titles on 31st January and will send the current champions to the depths of despair. SAGAT said they will win by any means necessary but they won’t cheat. Takumi Tsukamoto admitted neither he or Shimomura are rich people but their spirits are still high. They think of themselves as a high-end supermarket like Seijo Ishii (even though Tsukamoto admittedly shops at My Basket). So instead of falling down the depths of despair, the champions will instead ascend to BASARA heaven!

Match #3 was changed from a tag match into a 3 Way because Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi suffered from a case of gout in his leg and was unable to wrestle. He originally told the others to do a 2 Vs 1 Match instead but Tsutomu Oosugi got mad at having to fight the other team by himself. Ryota Nakatsu and Takato Nakano kept targeting him anyway but Hiroshi interfered to help Oosugi win the match.

Daichi Kazato wanted to announce who his mystery opponent would be on 31st January. Ayato Yoshida’s music played on the speakers as the reveal but Kazato didn’t recognise it. He needed Ayumu Honda to tell him who it was based on the song. When Honda said it belongs to Yoshida, Kazato told him he doesn’t know who that is and left the ring while the song played again. Kazato took the announcement a bit more seriously backstage, saying this may be the only opportunity to do this match before the snap election in the House Of Representatives takes place and Japanese society gets even crazier.

At the start of the show Isami Kodaka confirmed he is returning from his absence on 31st January for BASARA’s 10th Anniversary show.


What’s Going On Everywhere Else?

January 14, 2026

One good thing about Maki Itoh joining Stardom is I no longer have to write about GCW so much at the start of every month.

BASARA “BASARA 297 ~UTAGE~”, 16/01/2026
Shin-Kiba 1st RING

1. Takeru Inoue Vs Ryuma Sekimo
2. Daichi Kazato Vs Ayumu Honda
3. Ryota Nakatsu & Takato Nakano Vs Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi & Tsutomu Oosugi
4. FUMA & Masato Kamino Vs Shuji Ishikawa & Yasu Urano
5. Takumi Tsukamoto, Daiki Shimomura & Banana Senga Vs SAGAT, Lil’ Kraken & Minoru Fujita

The first BASARA show of the year has a few preview matches for their upcoming title bouts. Also Ryuma Sekimo from Big Japan will be taking part in the opener against BASARA’s rookie Takeru Inoue.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “THE 6TH “FUTARI WA PRINCESS” MAX HEART TOURNAMENT”, 17/01/2026
Yokohama Radiant Hall

1. Miu Watanabe, Rika Tatsumi & Sara Phoenix Vs Yuki Kamifuku, Wakana Uehara & Toga
2. Yuki Aino, Haru Kazashiro & Mahiro Kiryu Vs Suzume, Arisu Endo & Shion Kanzaki
3. “Futari wa Princess” Max Heart Tournament – Round 1D: HIMAWARI & Shino Suzuki Vs Yuki Arai & Mifu Ashida
4. “Futari wa Princess” Max Heart Tournament – Round 1C: Raku & Ren Konatsu Vs Max The Impaler & Pom Harajuku
5. “Futari wa Princess” Max Heart Tournament – Round 1B: Kira Summer & Chika Nanase Vs Mizuki & Uta Takami
6. “Futari wa Princess” Max Heart Tournament – Round 1A: Shoko Nakajima & Hyper Misao Vs Miyu Yamashita & Kaya Toribami

The Max Heart Tournament kicks off later this week. Also during this period, Sara Phoenix from Chile will be touring with Tokyo Joshi Pro up until the end of February.

BASARA “BASARA 298 ~10TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW~”, 31/01/2026
Shinjuku FACE

1. Daichi Kazato Vs X
2. GRACE PROJECT Offer Match: Tomoya Hirata, Captain Grace & Violento Jack Vs Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi, Tsutomu Oosugi & Banana Senga
3. Ryuichi Sekine, Takato Nakano & Masato Kamino Vs Ryota Nakatsu, Naomi Yoshimura & Yuki Ishida
4. Isami Kodaka & Takeru Inoue Vs Minoru Fujita & Yasu Urano
5. Iron Fist Tag Team Titles: Takumi Tsukamoto & Daiki Shimomura (c) Vs SAGAT & Lil’ Kraken
6. Union MAX Title: Shuji Ishikawa (c) Vs FUMA

The Union MAX Title is throwing itself back to its origins now that Shuji Ishikawa is the new champion. His first challenger is FUMA who has held the title both in Union Pro and in BASARA. Ishikawa joked they should bring back an old Union gimmick and have this be a 1,000 Roses Death Match for old time’s sake. He’s taking things a bit more seriously after FUMA said he hunts down boars that are heavier than Ishikawa.

When it comes to dominant factions in BASARA, the Super Family has not been one of them. But they’ve become tenacious enough to earn SAGAT & Lil’ Kraken a shot at the Iron Fist Tag Team Titles. The new champs Takumi Tsukamoto & Daiki Shimomura don’t want to lose the belts to anybody and they especially don’t want to lose to the Super Family!

As he promised a while back, Isami Kodaka returns from his absence in time for BASARA’s anniversary.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “THE 6TH “FUTARI WA PRINCESS” MAX HEART TOURNAMENT”, 14/02/2026
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title: Mahiro Kiryu (c) Vs Aja Kong
2. International Princess Title: MIRAI (c) Vs Toga
3. “Futari wa Princess” Max Heart Tournament – Final: X & X Vs X & X

The prodigal daughter of TJPW MIRAI has come back to win the International Princess Title that was beyond her grasp in the past. Now she’s looking to the future where she sees an opponent with a similar smash heavy style as hers waiting to challenge her. Toga wants to show everyone she can get the job done without needing help from Yuna Manase or anyone else so she was the first one to ask MIRAI for a title shot.

The Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title just can’t get away from Mahiro Kiryu. Every time she loses the belt, fate makes sure she finds a way to win it back. She now has a pinfall over Aja Kong because of this but that means Kong now wants to fight Kiryu one on one! She knows she can easily take the belt from her whenever she wants but she has enough pride to do it in the ring with a proper wrestling match. The bout will still go ahead if Kiryu loses the title to someone else beforehand.

The two title matches booked for this show are why Toga and Kiryu are not competing in this year’s Max Heart Tournament.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “GRAND PRINCESS ’26”, 29/03/2026
Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan

1. Special Tag Match: Yuka Sakazaki & KONOSUKE TAKESHITA Vs X & X
2. Princess Of Princess Title: Miu Watanabe (c) Vs Yuki Arai

Second time’s the charm for Yuki Arai. She avenged her squash to Miyu Yamashita in the recent 6-Woman Elimination match and will now get to face Miu Watanabe for the Princess Of Princess Title. She couldn’t win the belt at Ota Ward Gymnasium last year but can she do it in Sumo Hall this year?

There are so many ways the Special Tag Match can go. It will be Konosuke Takeshita’s first time wrestling in TJPW (he was meant to be part of their US debut in 2020 but that show was cancelled due to covid) and he will be teaming up with his wife Yuka Sakazaki to make it a bigger deal. Their opponents have not been announced yet. The recent news of Shingo Takagi & Natsupoi led to some jokes about them being the other team in a battle of the happy couples. I think enough time has passed that the issue Sakazaki had with Natsupoi leaving TJPW years ago is now water under the bridge. The opponents are likely another mixed pair tag team though, one that doesn’t have to be romantically attached to each other.

The current list of guests who will wrestle on the show are Sareee, Lei Ying Lee, Aja Kong, Andreza Giant Panda and Minimo-chan with Mari Yaguchi accompanying it. Also Max The Impaler will be at the show.


BASARA “BASARA 296 ~UTAGE~” Results

December 31, 2025

BASARA “BASARA 296 ~UTAGE~”, 28/12/2025
Shin-Kiba 1st RING
??? Fans – Unannounced

1. Banana Senga defeated Takeru Inoue with a Crab Hold (6:28).
2. Takumi Tsukamoto, Daiki Shimomura & Tatsuya Hanami defeated Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi, Yasu Urano & Minoru Fujita when Shimomura pinned Hiroshi with the Shimomura Style Hurricanrana (10:34).
3. Gauntlet Tag Match: SAGAT & Lil’ Kraken defeated Ryuichi Sekine & FUMA, Daichi Kazato & Tsutomu Oosugi and Takato Nakano & Masato Kamino.
3a. Ryuichi Sekine & FUMA defeated Daichi Kazato & Tsutomu Oosugi when FUMA submitted Kazato with an Armbar (8:12).
3b. Takato Nakano & Masato Kamino defeated Ryuichi Sekine & FUMA when Nakano pinned Sekine with the Modified Kenkatabami (5:57).
3c. SAGAT & Lil’ Kraken defeated Takato Nakano & Masato Kamino when Kraken pinned Nakano with the period. (9:33).
4. Union MAX Title: Shuji Ishikawa defeated Ryota Nakatsu (c) with the Giant Slam (17:39).
*Ryota Nakatsu fails in V7. Shuji Ishikawa becomes the 23rd Union MAX Champion!

Back when the Union MAX Title was created in 2013, Shuji Ishikawa was one of the first wrestlers to fight for it. He lost the match to become the first champion in Union Pro and never got to hold the belt until 13 years later. Due to some mismanagement involving Ken Ohka, Ishikawa was promised a title match if he came to BASARA for their final show of the year. Ryota Nakatsu felt the need to deliver that promise for the sake of protecting BASARA’s reputation. On the night itself, Nakatsu was accompanied to the ring by all of Harimao along with Daichi Kazato while Ishikawa was just by himself. His strength was overwhelming for the champion but Nakatsu found ways to fight back including using the Super Figure 4 Leg Lock, Buzzsaw Kicks and also La Magistral Cradle. When none of them worked he took a big risk by doing a Sky Twister Press but Ishikawa rolled out of the way. Nakatsu kicked out of the Splash Mountain so Ishikawa hit him with several Knee Strikes until he used the Giant Slam to win the title that originally belonged to his old home promotion.

Ishikawa greeted the BASARA fans after the match and praised Nakatsu because he could feel the power behind all of his moves. He wondered who will come out and challenge him first, suggesting Gouma Ryu as an opponent if nobody else will answer him. FUMA entered the ring and welcomed Ishikawa to BASARA. He told him BASARA will be celebrating its 10th Anniversary in January and it’s also been 10 years since Union Pro closed down. Ishikawa wants to know whose last decade of wrestling is more intense, FUMA’s or his own? FUMA warned him that over the last 10 years he has hunted wild boars that weigh over 200kg so he can easily take on a human that weighs over 100kg. Ishikawa said he is so dedicated to being the Union MAX Champion that he has already cleared his schedule for next year so he can defend the belt in BASARA! He accepts FUMA’s challenge for 31st January and they can even make it a 1,000 Roses Death Match for old time’s sake. He then closed out the show to the old Union Pro theme song, “Union Rocker” by ARB.

The Tag Gauntlet match was won by the Super Family team of SAGAT & Lil’ Kraken. They were the final entrants in the match but after the year they had, Kraken is not taking the victory for granted. He called Takumi Tsukamoto & Daiki Shimomura down to the ring. He said Shimomura has no integrity because he lost an Iron Fist Tag Team Titles match in November only to switch tag team partners and get another title shot one month later. But if that’s the way things work then Kraken will take an even more shameless route and demand his own undeserved title shot with SAGAT as his partner. Shimomura told him he could have just made a straightforward challenge and Tsukamoto decided it can take place at the 10th Anniversary show on 31st January.


BASARA “BASARA 295 ~TAKAGARI 31~” Results

December 31, 2025

BASARA “BASARA 295 ~TAKAGARI 31~”, 27/12/2025
Tokyo Takashimadaira Kumin Center
??? Fans – Unannounced

1. ~Jun-chan’s Grilled Meat Voucher Contest~ East Vs West Knockout Match!: Ryuichi Sekine, Takato Nakano, Masato Kamino, Minoru Fujita & Banana Senga defeated FUMA, Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi, SAGAT, Lil’ Kraken & Takeru Inoue.
1a. Banana Senga defeated Takeru Inoue with a School Boy Counter (6:40).
1b. Lil’ Kraken Vs Banana Senga ended in a Double Ring Out (6:37).
1c. Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi Vs Minoru Fujita ended in a Time Limit Draw (10:00).
1d. FUMA defeated Takato Nakano with an Armbar (4:50).
1e. FUMA defeated Masato Kamino with an Armbar (6:24).
1f. Ryuichi Sekine defeated FUMA with the Let’s Combine (5:20).
1g. Ryuichi Sekine defeated SAGAT with the Ryusetsu (8:04).
2. 3 Way Match: Ryota Nakatsu defeated Daichi Kazato and Tsutomu Oosugi when Nakatsu pinned Kazato with the V Slider (9:20).
3. Iron Fist Tag Team Titles: Takumi Tsukamoto & Daiki Shimomura defeated Kengo Mashimo & Ayumu Honda (c) when Shimomura pinned Honda with the Shimomura-Style Hurricanrana (19:35).
*MJ2 fails in V3. Takumi Tsukamoto & Daiki Shimomura become the 15th Iron Fist Tag Team Champions!

The MJ2 outsider reign as Iron Fist Tag Team Champions has come to an end. Takumi Tsukamoto & Daiki Shimomura were able to bring the titles back home to BASARA and are now waiting for their first challengers to appear and make themselves known. The new champions made it their goal to raise the value of the championships while raising their own value along the way.