DDT “NEVER MIND 2022” Results

December 29, 2022

DDT “NEVER MIND 2022”, 29/12/2022
Tokyo Dome City Hall
1,207 Fans – Super No Vacancy

0. Dark Match: Hideki Okatani & Toi Kojima defeated Yuya Koroku & Kazuma Sumi when Okatani pinned Sumi with the Diving Knee Drop (9:32).
0. Dark Match: Minoru Fujita, MJ Paul & KANON defeated Masahiro Takanashi, Soma Takao & Antonio Honda when KANON submitted Honda with the Cobra Twist (9:31).
1. Sanshiro Takagi defeated Takeshi Masada with a Texas Cloverleaf (4:42).
2. HARASHIMA & Yukio Sakaguchi defeated Yuji Hino & Yuki Ishida when HARASHIMA pinned Ishida with the Somato (10:08).
3. Pheromones Vs “Miyako & Ward” Pheromones Subjugation Allied Forces ~ Dissolution & Pet Dogs Contra One Day Experience: Yuki “Sexy” Iino, Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno, Yumehito “Fantastic” Imanari & Koju “Shining Ball” Takeda defeated Akito, Osamu Nishimura, Shinichiro Kawamatsu & Shunma Katsumata when Iino pinned Katsumata with the Badonkadonk (16:20).
*Shunma Katsumata must join Pheromones for one day.
4. Special Single Match: Chihiro Hashimoto defeated Shinya Aoki with the Albright (8:21).
5. Special Tag Match: Saki Akai & Yuki Arai defeated Saori Anou & Riko Kawahata when Akai pinned Kawahata with the Quetzalcoatl (12:40).
6. KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles: Tetsuya Endo, Kotaro Suzuki & Yusuke Okada defeated Naruki Doi, Toru Owashi & Kazuki Hirata (c) when Endo pinned Hirata with the Burning Star Press (12:25).
*Doi-gumi fails in V1. BURNING becomes the 49th KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Champions!
7. DDT Extreme Title – If 45-Year-Old Sasadango Machine’s Weight Loss Fails We Will Have A Normal Rules Match! Special: Jun Akiyama (c) defeated Super Sasadango Machine with the Wrist-Clutch Exploder (2:30).
*V1 for Jun Akiyama.
8. Special Tag Match: Konosuke Takeshita & Yukio Naya defeated Daisuke Sekimoto & RSP when Naya pinned RSP with the Back Drop (17:43).
9. International 4 Way Match: MAO defeated Daisuke Sasaki, Chris Brookes and Cara Noir when MAO pinned Brookes with a Modified Backslide Pin (13:22).
10. KO-D Openweight Title: Kazusada Higuchi (c) defeated Yuki Ueno with the Brain Claw Slam (27:57).
*V5 for Kazusada Higuchi.

The finale of DDT’s 25th year in business took place in Tokyo Dome City Hall. The year also closes out with the KO-D Openweight Title remaining firmly around Kazusada Higuchi’s waist. He successfully defended the belt against Yuki Ueno, the current DDT Universal Champion in a match between arguably the two top wrestlers in the company right now. Ueno’s gameplan was to overwhelm Higuchi with his high flying. Higuchi’s toughness won out with the highlight being him taking a Dropkick to the face and shrugging it off. Ueno kept up the pressure but both the BME missed its target and Higuchi kicked out of the Rolling Guillotine Ace Crusher. The challenger’s last move in his pocket was the WR but Higuchi had ways to block it. His first counter was to grab Ueno in the Brain Claw, then his second counter was using Naomi Yoshimura’s Harai Goshi throw! A Headbutt thrown afterwards left Ueno stunned long enough for Higuchi to hit him with the Brain Claw Slam and win.

Higuchi thanked Ueno after the match and said as champions and tournament winners this year they supported DDT together alongside each other. The two embraced each other and Ueno left the ring. Hisaya Imabayashi told Higuchi it was a fitting match to end DDT in 2022. The GM then asked Higuchi who he wants to defend the KO-D Title against on 29th January? Before Higuchi could answer, Yuji Hino interrupted him! He congratulated Higuchi and said he deserved to win tonight. Hino also thinks Higuchi is the only person who can go head-to-head with him, referring to the 30 minute draw they had in November where they chopped each other non-stop until the time limit expired. Hino normally wouldn’t be interested in becoming the KO-D Champion for a second time but since it is Higuchi’s belt he now wants it! Higuchi accepted the challenge because he too wants to settle who is stronger once and for all.

When Hino left, Higuchi gave a speech to the fans thanking them for their support. He does not know what to expect in 2023 because this year he surpassed everyone in DDT. However he promised DDT will continue to push forward with their hearts. The show ended with Higuchi meeting up with everybody backstage, Yoshimura included and they all got together for a group farewell to the audience.

The International 4 Way Match turned TDC Hall into a glorious venue for the return of Cara Noir. Not all of the welcomes was warm for him though. Daisuke Sasaki Headbutted him during the start of match handshake. MAO also took his entrance cloak and then impersonated him. Noir Headbutted MAO in response. The match continued to be chaotic as all four wrestlers fought each other, made alliances, switched those alliances and did whatever they could to win. It ended up with Chris Brookes dropping Sasaki with a Tombstone Piledriver. After Sasaki kicked out, MAO suddenly caught Brookes in a Backslide Pin on top of Sasaki for leverage to get the win out of nowhere. The result represents MAO’s 2022. He said 2020 was a bad year, 2021 he stayed patient and this year he blossomed. Sasaki was pissed at the result and complained about not trusting anybody whethere they are British or Japanese. CDK were suprised by how MAO won the match. That was a CDK-like move and Masahiro Takanashi admits he never thought MAO could pull off something like that. Today’s result is a lesson they learned before the KO-D Tag Team Titles match on 3rd January. Noir did not leave any comment.

Yukio Naya is another wrestler who gets to end his year on a good note. He was the one standing tall in an all heavyweight tag team match. The focus for a lot of the match though was on Konosuke Takeshita clashing with Daisuke Sekimoto. Not even Naya & RSP trying to pull them away for German Suplexes could stop them. Takeshita and Sekimoto ended up German Suplexing both of them for getting in their way! They then traded German Suplexes to each other, leaving each other too beaten to continue fighting. So the match came down to Naya and RSP against each other. Naya pulled off a big move by hitting an Avalanche Choke Slam before pinning him for the three count. Takeshita admitted that the match was the first time in a long time he had an out of body experience. He’s been fighting strong wrestlers in America but nothing compares to the strength of Sekimoto! He also wondered if everyone in DDT has become harder hitters since he was gone. Naya confirmed so and Takeshita said that’s a good thing. He also said he wants a singles match against Sekimoto and he does not care if it is in DDT or Big Japan. He warns that if neither of them do it then it might end up happening in America. Naya then told Takeshita he wants a singles match against him some day and to keep an eye on him throughout 2023.

The match stipulation for the DDT Extreme Title bout hung on the weight of Super Sasadango Machine. He’s been losing weight and was given a target by Jun Akiyama to drop down below 110kg. If Sasadango met the goal he would choose the match stipulation. Unfortunately he could only get down to 119.6kg (116.9kg without the costume) so it was going to be a traditional PWF rules wrestling bout instead. However Sasadango had a trick up his sleeve. When he signed the contract for the match his signature was written as “1/12 Super Sasadango Machine” referring to a 1/12 scale plastic toy model of himself that he possesses. That means only his plastic figure had to be under 110kg, not him! The model passed the weighing test (it’s only 59g) and Sasadango decided the Extreme Title will be contested in a “TonTon Pro Wrestling” match between Sasadango’s model and an acrylic stand of Jun Akiyama!

Before the match began, Sasadango held his latest PowerPoint Presentation. He has spent years developing his plastic model and is proud of the result. While he is happy to have dropped loads of weight for this match, his current physique now renders his model obsolete when it’s supposed to be the strongest plastic model on the market! He also claimed Akiyama’s demands for Sasadango to update his progress regularly on social media was against CyberAgent employee policy. When he was done it was time for the title match. TonTon wrestling games involve each player placing their model on the game board and tapping the board with their fingers to make them move. Whoever falls over first loses. Here one model needs to fall on top of the other and pin it for three seconds for the player to be declared the winner. The game began and not much happened. Sasadango complained about Akiyama’s acrylic stand had an unfair advantage because it has a flat base preventing it from tipping over. Akiyama agreed to find a replacement and took out his NOAH action figure customized by a fan to look up to date (i.e. bald). The game continued and both models fell over. Yukinori Matsui asked the audience who they thought won and when they sounded more in favour of Akiyama, he grabbed Sasadango’s model and snapped it in half! Sasadango quickly agreed to do a normal wrestling match instead.

The match re-started and Sasadango saw his only chance. He countered the Exploder Suplex into the Vertical Drop Lehmann Shock but only got a nearfall. Akiyama hit him in the face with Knee Strikes, including one with his kneepad pulled down. He threw an Exploder Suplex and then just for good measure used the Wrist-Clutch Exploder as the finish. After the match Imabayashi informed Akiyama the next Extreme Title defence will be in Yokohama on 21st January. Akiyama called for someone to come down and challenge him. Antonio Honda was already in the ring trying to get Sasadango out. He suddenly stumbled in front of Akiyama, making the champion think he is the next challenger! Imabayashi confirmed Honda will get the title shot on 21st January whether he wants to do it or not.

This past week Naruki Doi & Toru Owashi had the chance to hold trios championships in both Dragongate and DDT at the same time. It did not turn out that way and instead they don’t have any championships at all! Today they along with Kazuki Hirata lost the KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles to BURNING. Hirata’s insistance to get tagged in may be what cost them the belts because it was Hirata who dropped the fall to Tetsuya Endo. After the match Pheromones entered the ring demanding a title shot against BURNING. Danshoku Dieno said there is no more threat of them splitting up so 2023 will be spent taking championships starting with the 6-Man Tag Titles. Endo accepted and told Kotaro Suzuki that when you come here to DDT this path is unavoidable. He promised that he, Suzuki & Yusuke Okada will show Pheromones what sexy really looks like! The title match will happen on 29th January.

Reiwa AA Cannon were victorious against the visiting team of Saori Anou & Riko Kawahata in a close match. Saki Akai was in trouble when she took Double Jumping High Kicks from her opponents. Anou threw her over with a German Suplex and Kawahawa went for the Moonsault. Akai moved out of the way and Yuki Arai came in reverse the momentum. She took out Anou with the Full Nelson Buster followed by the Finally. Then Akai & Arai hit Kawahata with the Double Rookie Award. With no one there to save her, Kawahata was pinned by Akai with the Quetzalcoatl. Backstage Anou admitted she underestimated Arai. She thought she was just a cute face and found out the weight of her attacks were way more heavier than she expected. As for her opinion of Akai, Anou likes wrestling her and would come back to DDT to do more matches like this. Anou also wants Arai to know that her name also starts with A so if she ever gets tired of teaming with Akai, give her a call.

There was a message sent loud and clear by Chihiro Hashimoto today. She is physically and mentally as good as anyone in the world. Shinya Aoki however is not good enough. Those were the comments she made after beating Aoki clean, countering his Cross Armbreaker into a Doctor Bomb and then pinning him with the Albright. Even though she won she is still feeling frustration in a way she hasn’t felt since fighting Meiko Satomura. Aoki can’t figure out why he lost, particularly how Hashimoto was able to use a Power Bomb to counter his submission hold.

As mentioned earlier, Pheromones did not disband today. They won their high stakes match against Akito’s subjugation squad. It was the one time the politicians Osamu Nishimura & Shinichiro Kawamatsu did not want their constituents to watch them wrestle because they were left embarrassed by their opponents. Kawamatsu tried to shout down Yuki Iino by telling him he isn’t sexy at all. It didn’t work and Pheromones got to do their thing, knocking out members of Akito’s team one by one with their perverted moveset while Yumehito Imanari filmed the whole thing. The match ended with Iino pinning Shunma Katsumata meaning Katsumata has to spend 24 hours with Pheromones. “Chunma” is now going to be their pet dog! He reluctantly played along by barking into the microphone while on his hands and knees. Dieno then revealed that “Chunma” isn’t going to be with Pheromones for 24 hours. He’s going to be with them for a whole month! Akito tried to cheer up the others by saying every fight has sacrifices and Katsumata’s sacrifice will not be in vain. Today is just a bad dream that everyone can pretend never happened.

There’s something to this tag team pairing of HARASHIMA & Yukio Sakaguchi. They won against Hino & Yuki Ishida to show that it’s not just the young wrestlers who are doing their best. Sakaguchi said he was happy to team with HARASHIMA and win on his last show of 2022. HARASHIMA thinks 2023 is going to be tough but his generation are going to make things exciting too.

Sanshiro Takagi dashed Takeshi Masada’s dreams of going to Hollywood next year but there may still be hope yet for the youngster. Takagi’s dodgy shoulder had healed and he was able to show it by doing an Avalanche Double Arm Suplex. When he applied a Crab Hold, Masada reached the ropes so Takagi kicked at his legs before putting on a Texas Cloverleaf to win. After the match Takagi called in all of the young DDT wrestlers to enter the ring. He thinks it is unfair that Masada was the only rookie given the chance to win a spot for DDT’s shows in America next year. So Takagi has created the D GENERATIONS CUP! It will be a league for DDT’s rookies to compete in and the winner goes to the Hollywood show in March!

There were two matches on the pre-show. DAMNATION T.A defeated Takanashi, Soma Takao & Honda in one of them. KANON got the win by making Honda submit to the Cobra Twist.

The other pre-show match featured the younger wrestlers. Toi Kojima wiped out Yuya Koroku with a Diving Body Attack out of the ring. Hideki Okatani then pinned Kazuma Sumi with the Diving Knee Drop.

The long awaited Anal Explosion opening ceremony hosted by LiLiCo was almost ruined by the appearance of Danshoku Dieno. He was chosen to detonate the explosive placed inside LiLiCo and she refused to let that responsibility be given to one of her enemies. The problem was solved when her husband Ryohei Odai unexpectedly showed up. He was supposed to be at rehearsals for the NHK New Year’s Eve show but found out at the last minute it was pushed back to tomorrow. He made it to TDC Hall as fast as he could so he would be the one to set off the love of his life’s Anal Explosion. He also suggested that next year when he has more free time he could perform one himself because that’s how important the bond between a husband and wife is to him. Dieno was moved to tears and allowed Odai to ignite the bomb. It went off without a hitch. LiLiCo was still alive afterwards and said her love for Odai has deepened. She also wants to make a pro wrestling comeback next year if her anus has healed. Unfortunately the doctor on site informed her that her anus is currently in serious condition (Odai said that part of LiLiCo’s body now “looks like a black hole”). Will LiLiCo ever return to wrestling in one piece?

Keigo Nakamura announced he has fully recovered from his knee injury and will return to the ring on 13th January. His last match was in November 2021.


The 3rd “Futari wa Princess” Max Heart Tournament

December 22, 2022

The “Futari wa Princess” Max Heart Tournament is back for a third year in a row, landing once again in the late winter/early spring part of the calendar. The goal of the tournament as always is to determine the strongest tag team in Tokyo Joshi Pro. That might be contested no matter who wins it this time around because there is a major absence from one duo. The Magical Sugar Rabbits are not entering the 2023 tournament! Yuka Sakazaki will be spending part of January wrestling in America and is not be available to compete on some of the shows. In response to this Mizuki is refusing to enter the tournament because she does not want to enter it with anyone else but Sakazaki. Pom Harajuku also decided to skip it because she wants to put all of her energy into fully supporting Yuki Aino & Raku as a team. It leaves 121000000, Kyoraku Kyomei and last year’s winners Daydream as the only teams to have entered all three tournaments.

– Reiwa AA Cannon (Saki Akai & Yuki Arai)
– Daydream (Rika Tatsumi & Miu Watanabe)
– 121000000 (Miyu Yamashita & Maki Itoh)
– Kyoraku Kyomei (Shoko Nakajima & Hyper Misao)
– Free WiFi (Hikari Noa & Nao Kakuta)
– Toyo Mates (Yuki Kamifuku & Mahiro Kiryu)
– Yuki Aino & Raku
– Daisy Monkey (Suzume & Arisu Endo)
– Karate Tag (Moka Miyamoto & Juria Nagano)
– Haruna Neko & Kaya Toribami

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TOKYO JOSHI PRO “THE 3RD “FUTARI WA PRINCESS” MAX HEART TOURNAMENT”, 15/01/2023
Tokyo Otemachi Mitsui Hall

1. “Futari wa Princess” Max Heart Tournament – Round 1A: Tag Team 1 Vs Tag Team 2
2. “Futari wa Princess” Max Heart Tournament – Round 1B: Tag Team 4 Vs Tag Team 5
3. “Futari wa Princess” Max Heart Tournament – Round 2B: Tag Team 6 Vs Tag Team 7

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TOKYO JOSHI PRO “THE 3RD “FUTARI WA PRINCESS” MAX HEART TOURNAMENT”, 19/01/2023
Shinjuku FACE

1. “Futari wa Princess” Max Heart Tournament – Round 2A: Winners Of Match 1A Vs Tag Team 3
2. “Futari wa Princess” Max Heart Tournament – Round 2C: Winners Of Match 1C Vs Tag Team 8
3. “Futari wa Princess” Max Heart Tournament – Round 2D: Tag Team 9 Vs Tag Team 10

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TOKYO JOSHI PRO “THE 3RD “FUTARI WA PRINCESS” MAX HEART TOURNAMENT”, 29/01/2023
Saitama Kasukabe Fureai Cube

1. “Futari wa Princess” Max Heart Tournament – Semi-Final: Winners Of Match 2A Vs Winners Of Match 2B
2. “Futari wa Princess” Max Heart Tournament – Semi-Final: Winners Of Match 2C Vs Winners Of Match 2D

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TOKYO JOSHI PRO “THE 3RD “FUTARI WA PRINCESS” MAX HEART TOURNAMENT”, 11/02/2023
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. “Futari wa Princess” Max Heart Tournament – Final: X & X Vs X & X


Mizuki’s 10th Anniversary Match, Masada Wants To Go To Hollywood, Ittenyon Title Matches

November 28, 2022

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “ANGEL AND RABBIT”, 15/12/2022
Shinjuku FACE

1. Mizuki Debut 10th Anniversary Match: Mizuki & Rika Tatsumi Vs Yuka Sakazaki & Nao Kakuta

Oh so that’s why the show is named what it is. Mizuki is celebrating 10 years in wrestling next month and got to put together her own match to celebrate. She decided to team with Rika Tatsumi in a regular tag match for the first time because Tatsumi is the one person in Tokyo Joshi Pro who best represent’s Mizuki’s fanbase. Their opponents are going to be Yuka Sakazaki & Nao Kakuta. Sakazaki is Mizuki’s long time tag partner who regularly dominate the tag division as The Magical Sugar Rabbits. Kakuta is similar to Mizuki because the two started their wrestling careers outside of TJPW and eventually made the place their home.

DDT “NEVER MIND 2022”, 29/12/2022
Tokyo Dome City Hall

1. Sanshiro Takagi Vs Takeshi Masada
2. Pheromones Vs “Miyako & Ward” Pheromones Subjugation Allied Forces: Yuki “Sexy” Iino, Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno, Yumehito “Fantastic” Imanari & Koju “Shining Ball” Takeda Vs Akito, Osamu Nishimura, Shinichiro Kawamatsu & Shunma Katsumata
3. Special Tag Match: Saki Akai & Yuki Arai Vs Saori Anou & Riko Kawahata
4. Special Single Match: Shinya Aoki Vs Chihiro Hashimoto
5. KO-D Openweight Title: Kazusada Higuchi (c) Vs X

From out of left field we are getting Shinya Aoki versus Chihiro Hashimoto at the end of the year. In other words this is Shinya/Hashimoto. This is a match Aoki has been wanting to do after seeing Hashimoto wrestle in GLEAT earlier this year.

Takeshi Masada is hoping to be part of DDT’s trip to Los Angeles next year so he can get to wrestle in Hollywood. Sanshiro Takagi is fired up over the show too but isn’t convinced Masada is ready to be part of the big shows. If Masada can beat Takagi in a singles match, he can then be allowed to convince Takagi he deserves to go.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TOKYO JOSHI PRO ’23”, 04/01/2023
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. International Princess Title: Miu Watanabe (c) Vs Trish Adora
2. Princess Tag Team Titles: Saki Akai & Yuki Arai (c) Vs Max The Impaler & Heidi Howitzer
3. Princess Of Princess Title: Yuka Sakazaki (c) Vs Miyu Yamashita

At the end of yesterday’s show Miyu Yamashita approached Sakazaki and asked her to put the Princess Of Princess Title on the line against her at the annual 4th January show in Korakuen Hall. Sakazaki didn’t want to but would change her mind if Yamashita promised to buy her some high quality cream puffs. Well Yamashita spent today asking for recommendations, went to buy the treats and has since gifted them to Sakazaki. That means the title match is going ahead!

Reiwa AA Cannon has done a good job defending the Princess Tag Team Titles so far. Now comes their biggest and toughest challenge yet. Max The Impaler is coming back to TJPW and is bringing The Wasteland War Party with them! Max is teaming with Heidi Howitzer to challenge the champions. They both think the pink title belts will look good on them.

Miu Watanabe defeated a foreign wrestler to win the International Princess Title and is now going to defend against a foreign wrestler for the first time. Trish Adora has been one of the standouts of the American indy scene over the last few years. She recently had a hard fought match with Yamashita, which leads to her coming to TJPW at the start of 2023.


TOKYO JOSHI PRO “ALL RISE ’22” Results

November 27, 2022

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “ALL RISE ’22”, 27/11/2022
Tokyo Korakuen Hall
657 Fans – Super No Vacancy

1. Suzume defeated Yoshiko Hasegawa with the Ring A Bell (8:13).
2. 2 Vs 3 Handicap Match: Shoko Nakajima & Hyper Misao defeated Mahiro Kiryu, Haruna Neko & Kaya Toribami when Nakajima pinned Neko with the Northern Lights Suplex (9:17).
3. Rika Tatsumi & Miu Watanabe defeated Moka Miyamoto & Juria Nagano when Tatsumi submitted Nagano with the Dragon Sleeper (13:01).
4. Mizuki defeated Arisu Endo with the Cutie Special (9:55).
5. Yuki Kamifuku & Nao Kakuta defeated Maki Itoh & Hikari Noa when Kakuta pinned Noa with the Shiden Kai (13:22).
6. EVE Title: Miyu Yamashita (c) defeated Millie McKenzie with the Crash Rabbit Heat (13:52).
*V1 for Miyu Yamashita.
7. Princess Tag Team Titles: Saki Akai & Yuki Arai (c) defeated Yuki Aino & Pom Harajuku when Arai pinned Harajuku with the Finally (14:45).
*V3 for Reiwa AA Cannon.
8. Princess Of Princess Title: Yuka Sakazaki (c) defeated Billie Starkz with the Magical Merry-Go-Round (14:50).
*V1 for Yuka Sakazaki.

Tokyo Joshi Pro’s final visit to Korakuen Hall for this year was headlined with Yuka Sakazaki’s successful first defence of the Princess Of Princess Title. Her opponent was Billie Starkz, a high school pro wrestler from America on her first tour of Japan. Starkz left a big impression with her high impact moveset, particularly the Sugoi Driver and Swanton Bomb that were both landed onto Sakazaki on the ring apron. Sakazaki had her own rough streak by doing a Brainbuster on the floor and adding a more vertical drop to the Tea Time. She later blocked another Swanton Bomb with her knees and pinned Starkz with the Magical Merry-Go-Round to win.

Sakazaki praised her challenger after the match and called her the best future star in the American scene because she gets to wrestle both men and women over in there. Her mood changed when Miyu Yamashita walked out and entered the ring. She tried ignoring Yamashita until she was challenged to a Princess Title match on the 4th January Korakuen show. Sakazaki immediately refused. Fans in the audience started calling for Yamashita to promise a treat for Sakazaki in order to get the title match because that is what she did for their previous Ittenyon match in 2020. Yamashita listed off all the different sweet food she could buy and Sakazaki turned each one down until she was offered cream puffs. That led to a little more deliberation and Sakazaki finally agreed to do the match as long as Yamashita gifts her double custard cream puffs tomorrow. Yamashita forcibly shook her hand and made her take a commemorative photo of the challenge to seal the deal.

Sadly Raku was at home sick with covid but she was still at Korakuen in spirit to support Yuki Aino & Pom Harajuku challenging for the Princess Tag Team Titles. Aino & Harajuku did the Goodnight Express together on Saki Akai for the early advantage. Harajuku in particular had the spotlight shining over her for the dramatic moments of the match. She fought with Yuki Arai and hit the Pom de Justice but Akai broke the count. Arai fought back with a Big Boot, leading the Reiwa AA Cannon to join up and hit the Double Rookie Award. Arai then finished Harajuku off with the Finally to score the team’s third successful title defence. Backstage Arai & Harajuku agreed that they want to challenge for the belts again and this time do it with Raku on their team.

Reiwa AA Cannon’s victory speech was interrupted when the room went dark and a video began playing on the screen behind them. The video showed Max The Impaler along with their tag team partner on the indies Heidi Howitzer. Together they are The Wasteland War Party and they are coming to TJPW on 4th January to fight the Princess Tag Team Champions! The message was in English but Akai & Arai were able to figure out the challenge was aimed at them. Akai said a champion has to overcome many difficulties such as this to make the title belts shine brighter. Arai understood and is ready to end her year on a happy note by getting ready for her first match of 2023.

Yamashita’s main focus of the show was to defend the EVE Championship against Millie McKenzie. The two have developed a rivalry recently in Europe splitting singles matches against each other in Spain and English. Today Japan was hosting the rubber match. Yamashita was in danger early on taking a German Suplex on the floor as well as a Topé Suicida, the Spear and a Sleeper Hold. She regained her ground using High Kicks and a close range Crash Rabbit Heat. McKenzie kicked out but was bombarded with the Skull Kick, Buzzsaw Kick and a full range Crash Rabbit Heat to take the fall. Today is meant to be the final match of their rivalry but Yamashita wants to continue fighting her in more countries around the world. McKenzie said she was disappointed over the loss because she let EVE down. However if she had to lose to anybody, she believe’s there is no better opponent than Yamashita.

Previously when Yuki Kamifuku & Nao Kakuta teamed together they were called Uma x3 as a reference to horse racing. Kamifuku showed some horseplay by getting Maki Itoh to drop her guard for a selfie and then poking her in the eyes. Later, Itoh & Hikari Noa were gathered together for Kamifuku to both give them the Famouser together. Nao Kakuta finished the sweep by pinning Noa with the Shiden Kai.

Arisu Endo was given brand new entrance music starting today called “My Way Is The Rainbow”. What hasn’t changed is she still can’t win a singles match. Mizuki left her beaten after an exchange that went from her Crossface Lock to Endo’s Camel Clutch. Mizuki fought out of the Waterwheel Drop and stunned Endo with a Spinning Back Elbow. That gave her the opening to hit the Cutie Special and win the match.

Daydream were put against a tag team of Karate wrestlers. Moka Miyamoto & Juria Nagano did their best to put their skills together to good use but the experience gap was too large to overcome. Rika Tatsumi had Nagano trapped into the Dragon Sleeper to make her give up.

Match #2 was officially a 2 Vs 3 Handicap Match. Kyoraku Kyomei weren’t going to stand for that so they dragged the TJPW GM Tetsuya Koda into the ring and encouraged him to take part in the match! Koda was convinced after the crowd chanted his name and then he got beaten up by the other team. If that wasn’t bad enough, Shoko Nakajima & Hyper Misao decided to join in and all five women stomped him before throwing him out. They went on with the match as normal without him. Misao took out Mahiro Kiryu & Kaya Toribami with the I Am A Hero, leaving the ring clear for Nakajima to pin Haruna Neko with the Northern Lights Suplex.

Today is Suzume’s birthday and she got to celebrate by beating the guest Yoshiko Hasegawa in the opener. The Ganbare☆Pro wrestler did a Flying Cross Body of her own to match Suzume’s. She went into a flurry of Elbow Strikes until Suzume cut her off with a Facebuster and won with the Ring A Bell.

There were a few announcements to kick off the show. Miu Watanabe learned she will be defending the International Princess Title on 4th January against Trish Adora from America. Watanabe said she is nervous to defend the title against foreign wrestlers but wants to kick off her 2023 by successfully defending the belt.

Mizuki is celebrating her 10th Anniversary in wrestling next month and got to book her own commemorative match on 15th December. She is teaming with her longtime admirer Rika Tatsumi to take on Yuka Sakazaki & Nao Kakuta. Sakazaki is there because it is the rare time when The Magical Sugar Rabbits are pitted against each other. Kakuta is involved because she began her wrestling career outside of TJPW like Mizuki did. Tatsumi was chosen to be Mizuki’s tag patner because Tatsumi represents Mizuki’s fans.

When the Yume Pro Wrestling -dream on the ring- series ended it was left up to the three contestants to decide if they wanted to continue on the path to pro wrestling. One of them is doing just that. Wakana Uehara announced her plans to stay in the business and wrestle for TJPW when she is ready. She did not know a thing about pro wrestling when she agreed to take part in the series and over time grew to love it along with developing an admiration for TJPW. She will train to wrestle while continuing her career as an actress and TV personality. Her first goal is to develop her skills high enough that she gets to wrestle against Shoko Nakajima.

Since Raku was absent, Shino was again in her place performing with the rest of The Up Up Girls (Pro Wrestling) as the show opening act.


Pom’s Tears For Her Tag Title Match, Spirit Of EVE Ruleset, Katsumura Returning Home Empty Handed

November 26, 2022

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “ALL RISE ’22”, 27/11/2022
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Suzume Vs Yoshiko Hasegawa
2. 2 Vs 3 Handicap Match: Shoko Nakajima & Hyper Misao Vs Haruna Neko, Mahiro Kiryu & Kaya Toribami
3. Rika Tatsumi & Miu Watanabe Vs Moka Miyamoto & Juria Nagano
4. Mizuki Vs Arisu Endo
5. Maki Itoh & Hikari Noa Vs Yuki Kamifuku & Nao Kakuta
6. EVE Title: Miyu Yamashita (c) Vs Millie McKenzie
7. Princess Tag Team Titles: Saki Akai & Yuki Arai (c) Vs Yuki Aino & Pom Harajuku
8. Princess Of Princess Title: Yuka Sakazaki (c) Vs Billie Starkz

The match contract for the Princess Tag Team Titles match was signed earlier this week. Everyone involved gave comments on the match too. Saki Akai has been watching Yuki Aino’s matches ever since she debuted but she doesn’t sense any of the burning passion that Aino always talks about. She does not feel threatened by the challenging team for that reason. Yuki Arai does not feel used to defending her championship and is still nervous over these matches. Aino was meant to go into this match with Raku and will still be motivated to fight for her while she is absent with covid. Pom Harajuku broke down into tears because she wanted to see her friends challenge for the championship and now Raku cannot do it. Aino encouraged her to fight together and suggested they can divide the Tag Titles into thirds if they win. This match is happening around the same time as Harajuku’s 4th anniversary so she thinks it might be God/Raku telling her it’s time to show everyone she is an adult pro wrestler. Oddly enough, Akai thought the sight of Harajuku crying was kind of scary…

The EVE Title match will be held under the “Spirit Of EVE” ruleset used by the British promotion. The match has a 30 minute time limit, no countouts and the referee can end the match if one of wrestlers no longer shows the spirit to continue fighting. Really, it’s the no countout rule that is the only real difference here. Tokyo Joshi Pro’s title matches also have 30 minute time limits and there’s been referee stoppages over here in the past for knockouts and submissions.

There will be three people greeting the audiences during Sayuri Namba’s opening announcements before the show begins. It could be anything from some of the trainees learning about their pro debuts, outsiders visiting to promote an upcoming match with the company, members of the roster having news to tell everyone and so on.

DDT “UTAN FESTA 2022”, 27/11/2022
Tokyo JR Omori Station East Exit Square

1. Sanshiro Takagi, Yusuke Okada & Shinichiro Kawamatsu Vs Toru Owashi, Toi Kojima & Takeshi Masada
2. Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno Vs Akito & Kazuma Sumi
3. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Joey Janela, Yuji Hino & Makoto Oishi Vs Tetsuya Endo, Jun Akiyama & Yuya Koroku
4. World Omori Title: Chikara (c) Vs Soma Takao
5. Daisuke Sasaki, MJ Paul & KANON Vs HARASHIMA, Yukio Naya & Hideki Okatani
6. Omori Specialty Special 6-Man Tag Match: Kazusada Higuchi, Yuki Ishida & RSP Vs Yuki Ueno, MAO & Shunma Katsumata

Here is the match order for tomorrow’s outdoor show.

GANBARE☆PRO “TOKIMEKI NISHISU 2022”, 03/12/2022
Yokohama Radiant Hall

1. GanJo Special Single Match: Moeka Haruhi Vs YuuRI
2. GanPro Specialty Mixed Tag Match: Shinichiro Tominaga & HARUKAZE Vs Yuki Kanzaki & Yoshiko Hasegawa
3. GanPro Special 6-Man Tag Match In YOKOHAMA: Ken Ohka, Shuichiro Katsumura & Tsuyoshi Okada Vs Keisuke Ishii, Soma Takao & Tyson Maeguchi
4. GanPro Vs P.P.P: Yumehito Imanari & Yuna Manase Vs Kentaro Hachisu & Echika Miyabi
5. Tokimeki Nishisu 2022 Special Tag Match: Hartley Jackson & Seiya Morohashi Vs Shigehiro Irie & Mizuki Watase

Shuichiro Katsumura returns to his hometown of Yokohama for the first time in Ganbare☆Pro since his failed attempt to win the Spirit Of Ganbare Title in the venue.

Fresh off of her first ever win, YuuRI dials up the difficulty level and takes on Moeka Haruhi.

DDT “NEXTBODY PRESENTS STERNNESS 30TH ANNIVERSARY VOL. 2 IN OSAKA ~JUN AKIYAMA DEBUT 30TH ANNIVERSARY ROUND 2~”, 10/12/2022
Osaka Izumi City Plaza Yayoi no Kaze Hall

1. Hideki Okatani & Yuya Koroku Vs Takeshi Masada & Kazuma Sumi
2. Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno Vs Akito & Kazuki Hirata
3. Yuji Hino, Makoto Oishi & Soma Takao Vs Toru Owashi, Chris Brookes & Toi Kojima
4. Kazusada Higuchi & Yuki Ishida Vs HARASHIMA & Yukio Naya
5. The 37KAMIINA Vs DAMNATION T.A!: Yuki Ueno, MAO & Shunma Katsumata Vs Daisuke Sasaki, MJ Paul & KANON
6. Special Single Match: Tigers Mask Vs Yusuke Okada
7. NEXTBODY presents Jun Akiyama Debut 30th Anniversary Match In Osaka ~ Special 6-Man Tag Match: Jun Akiyama, Tetsuya Endo & Sanshiro Takagi Vs Zeus, Bodyguard & Ryouji Sai

The injured Naomi Yoshimura is being replaced by Sanshiro Takagi on this show.


Yamashita Wins EVE Title!

November 14, 2022

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “ALL RISE ’22”, 27/11/2022
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. EVE Title: Miyu Yamashita (c) Vs Millie McKenzie
2. Princess Tag Team Titles: Saki Akai & Yuki Arai (c) Vs Yuki Aino & Raku
3. Princess Of Princess Title: Yuka Sakazaki (c) Vs Billie Starkz

Yesterday in England, EVE held two shows called “WRESTLE QUEENDOM V” with Miyu Yamashita and Hyper Misao among the talent involved*. Yamashita came out of the shows as one of the big winners of the weekend. She beat Millie McKenzie in a No. 1 Contender match on the first show, then on the second show beat Alex Windsor to become the new EVE Champion! McKenzie challenged Yamashita for the title afterwards, reminding everyone she beat her in Spain last month and they now have a 1-1 record against each other. Yamashita agreed and since McKenzie is already going to wrestle in Japan next week, it will be the perfect time to do the rubber match over there!

The team of Yuki Aino & Raku are the newest challengers for Reiwa AA Cannon. The two of them being paired together recently has raised Raku’s confidence and she would like nothing more but to win the Princess Tag Team Titles and give her belt the perfect window seat on her train journeys.

*I’ll write a more detailed report in my Around The World post at the start of next month.


TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW CITY CIRCUIT AUTUMN ~YUKI ARAI TRIUMPHANT PERFORMANCE~” Results

November 13, 2022

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW CITY CIRCUIT AUTUMN ~YUKI ARAI TRIUMPHANT PERFORMANCE~”, 13/11/2022
Kyoto KBS Hall
308 Fans – Super No Vacancy Full House

1. Moka Miyamoto defeated Kaya Toribami with the Korokan (6:21).
2. 3 Way Match: Shoko Nakajima defeated Suzume and Haruna Neko when Nakajima pinned Neko with an Inverted Hurricanrana (8:16).
3. Yuki Aino & Raku defeated Yuki Kamifuku & Mahiro Kiryu when Raku pinned Kiryu with the Doctor Yellow (11:31).
4. Rika Tatsumi defeated Arisu Endo with the Figure 4 Leg Lock (9:23).
5. Yuka Sakazaki & Mizuki defeated Maki Itoh & Hikari Noa when Sakazaki pinned Noa with the Magical Merry-Go-Round (15:07).
6. Saki Akai & Yuki Arai defeated Miu Watanabe & Pom Harajuku when Arai pinned Harajuku with the Finally (18:34).

After the main event Yuki Aino & Raku challenged Reiwa AA Cannon for the Princess Tag Team Titles. Raku said she has tried many times to win that championship and failed. She’s been teaming with Aino a lot recently and thinks she is now ready to finally win it. Aino backed up Raku’s words and believes together they can beat the strongest and most gorgeous team of Saki Akai & Yuki Arai. Reiwa AA Cannon accepted the challenge and the match will happen at Korkauen Hall on 27th November.


Osaka, Kyoto, Kyoto Again, Osaka Again, Then Tokyo

November 11, 2022

DDT “D-OU GRAND PRIX 2022 IN OSAKA”, 12/11/2022
Osaka Edion Arena #2

0. Dark Match: Shunma Katsumata & Kazuma Sumi Vs Yusuke Okada & Yuya Koroku
1. MJ Paul & KANON Vs Hideki Okatani & Takeshi Masada
2. Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno Produce Match: Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno Vs Aja Kong & HARASHIMA
3. D-Ou Grand Prix 2022 – B Block: Chris Brookes (2) Vs Yukio Naya (2)
4. D-Ou Grand Prix 2022 – A Block: Daisuke Sasaki (1) Vs Joey Janela (4)
5. D-Ou Grand Prix 2022 – A Block: Tetsuya Endo (3) Vs RSP (4)
6. KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles: Yuji Hino, Makoto Oishi & Shiori Asahi (c) Vs Naruki Doi, Toru Owashi & Kazuki Hirata
7. D-Ou Grand Prix 2022 – B Block: Kazusada Higuchi (3) Vs MAO (2)
8. D-Ou Grand Prix 2022 – A Block: Yuki Ueno (4) Vs Naomi Yoshimura (0)

The audience is allowed to cheer for this weekend’s DDT shows in Osaka and Kyoto.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW CITY CIRCUIT AUTUMN ~YUKI ARAI TRIUMPHANT PERFORMANCE~”, 13/11/2022
Kyoto KBS Hall

1. 3 Way Match: Shoko Nakajima Vs Suzume Vs Haruna Neko
2. Moka Miyamoto Vs Kaya Toribami
3. Yuki Aino & Raku Vs Yuki Kamifuku & Mahiro Kiryu
4. Rika Tatsumi Vs Arisu Endo
5. Yuka Sakazaki & Mizuki Vs Maki Itoh & Hikari Noa
6. Saki Akai & Yuki Arai Vs Miu Watanabe & Pom Harajuku

Reiwa AA Cannon takes centre stage while Miyu Yamashita, Hyper Misao and Nao Kakuta are all busy elsewhere this weekend. Yamashita & Misao are in England while Kakuta is performing on a stage show.

DDT “D-OU GRAND PRIX 2022 IN KYOTO”, 13/11/2022
Kyoto KBS Hall

1. Joey Janela, Makoto Oishi & Yuki Ishida Vs RSP, Yusuke Okada & Yuya Koroku
2. Pheromones Vs DISASTER BOX!: Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno Vs Toru Owashi & Kazuki Hirata
3. D-Ou Grand Prix 2022 – B Block: Yukio Naya (2) Vs KANON (2)
4. D-Ou Grand Prix 2022 – B Block: Yuji Hino (5) Vs MAO (2)
5. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Tetsuya Endo, Naruki Doi & Akito Vs Hideki Okatani, Toi Kojima & Takeshi Masada
6. D-Ou Grand Prix 2022 – A Block: Daisuke Sasaki (1) Vs Naomi Yoshimura (0)
7. D-Ou Grand Prix 2022 – B Block: Kazusada Higuchi (3) Vs Chris Brookes (2)
8. Saki Akai Produce Match: Saki Akai, Yukio Sakaguchi & HARASHIMA Vs Aja Kong, Yuki Ueno & Shunma Katsumata

The spotlight remains on Saki Akai later in the day when the hometown girl main events DDT too. The occasion calls for her to battle Aja Kong one more!

DDT “NEXTBODY PRESENTS STERNNESS 30TH ANNIVERSARY VOL. 2 IN OSAKA ~JUN AKIYAMA DEBUT 30TH ANNIVERSARY ROUND 2~”, 10/12/2022
Osaka Izumi City Plaza Yayoi no Kaze Hall

1. Hideki Okatani & Yuya Koroku Vs Takeshi Masada & Kazuma Sumi
2. Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno Vs Akito & Kazuki Hirata
3. Kazusada Higuchi & Yuki Ishida Vs HARASHIMA & Yukio Naya
4. The 37KAMIINA Vs DAMNATION T.A!: Yuki Ueno, MAO & Shunma Katsumata Vs Daisuke Sasaki, MJ Paul & KANON
5. Special Single Match: Tigers Mask Vs Yusuke Okada
6. NEXTBODY presents Jun Akiyama Debut 30th Anniversary Match In Osaka ~ Special 6-Man Tag Match: Jun Akiyama, Tetsuya Endo & Naomi Yoshimura Vs Zeus, Bodyguard & Ryouji Sai

We’re going full force Osaka in the main event of Jun Akiyama’s next anniversary show. Akiyama is teaming with Tetsuya Endo & Naomi Yoshimura to take on a super alliance between Big Guns and Ryouji Sai!

Osaka’s own Tigers Mask has asked to be on the show so Akiyama is putting him against Yusuke Okada.

BASARA “BASARA 206 ~RYU TOKOTO~”, 11/12/2022
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Ryuichi Sekine Vs X
2. Union MAX Title: Isami Kodaka (c) Vs Fuminori Abe

Over two years ago Fuminori Abe won the Union MAX Title under unfortunate circumstances when the champion Masahiro Takanashi suffered a bad injury during their match. Abe became the new champion as a result but he never really accepted the reign as being fully legitimate. After winning the Chouten ~Itadaki~ tournament this week he thinks now is the time for him to challenge for the belt again and prove to himself he deserves to be the champion. Doing that against Isami Kodaka, the man who has held the MAX Title the most would definitely prove it.

Ryuichi Sekine returns to the ring after spending almost two years away from pro wrestling to take care of his mental health. While he was away, Abe won the rights to become Ryuichi Sekine II but he purposely never used the gimmick knowing the original would one day return.


Nightingale In Japan, Pheromones Subjugation Squad, Matsuno Returns

October 25, 2022

DDT “DDT FREE -OCTOBER-”, 26/10/2022
Shinjuku FACE

1. Soma Takao, Yukio Naya & Hideki Okatani Vs Yusuke Okada, Takeshi Masada & Kazuma Sumi
2. Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno Vs HARASHIMA & Akito
3. Ω Vs DISASTER BOX!: Yuji Hino & Makoto Oishi Vs Toru Owashi & Kazuki Hirata
4. CDK Vs The 37KAMIINA!: Chris Brookes & Masahiro Takanashi Vs MAO & Shunma Katsumata
5. Harimao Vs DAMNATION T.A!: Kazusada Higuchi, Naomi Yoshimura & Yuki Ishida Vs Daisuke Sasaki, MJ Paul & KANON
6. The 37KAMIINA Vs BURNING!: Yuki Ueno & Toi Kojima Vs Tetsuya Endo & Yuya Koroku

Tomorrow’s show gives some of the D-Ou Grand Prix field more chances to prepare for the tournament. There are a few previews of upcoming group stage matches to look forward to here.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “THE MOUNTAIN TOP 2022”, 29/10/2022
Osaka Edion Arena #2

1. Yuki Aino & Raku Vs Nao Kakuta & Yoshiko Hasegawa
2. Miyu Yamashita & Juria Nagano Vs Mahiro Kiryu & Kaya Toribami
3. Shoko Nakajima, Hyper Misao & Pom Harajuku Vs Mizuki, Suzume & Haruna Neko
4. Rika Tatsumi & Yuki Arai Vs Hikari Noa & Arisu Endo
5. Yuka Sakazaki & Willow Nightingale Vs Maki Itoh & Yuki Kamifuku
6. International Princess Title: Miu Watanabe (c) Vs Moka Miyamoto

Willow Nightingale touches down in Japan where Yuka Sakazaki is there waiting for her. Together the two of them will take on MakiYuki Happy in Osaka. Also coming along for some fun is Yoshiko Hasegawa from Ganbare☆Pro.

DDT “D-OU GRAND PRIX 2022 OPENING ROUND”, 01/11/2022
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

0. Dark Match: Yuki “Sexy” Iino, Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno & Koju “Shining Ball” Takeda (w/ Yumehito “Fantastic” Imanari) Vs Toru Owashi, Makoto Oishi & Kazuki Hirata (w/ Akito)
1. Shunma Katsumata, Toi Kojima & Kazuma Sumi Vs Yusuke Okada, Hideki Okatani & Yuki Ishida
2. Joey Janela & Yukio Sakaguchi Vs Daisuke Sasaki & MJ Paul
3. Jun Akiyama Produce Match: Jun Akiyama & HARASHIMA Vs Yuya Koroku & Takeshi Masada
4. D-Ou Grand Prix 2022 – A Block: Tetsuya Endo Vs Yuki Ueno
5. D-Ou Grand Prix 2022 – A Block: Naomi Yoshimura Vs RSP
6. D-Ou Grand Prix 2022 – B Block: Kazusada Higuchi Vs KANON
7. D-Ou Grand Prix 2022 – B Block: Yuji Hino Vs Yukio Naya
8. D-Ou Grand Prix 2022 – B Block: Chris Brookes Vs MAO

Now that Pheromones have won the war against Sanshiro Takagi, it is up to Akito to protect DDT from their scandalous ways. Takagi has “graduated” from the feud and selected Akito to take his place as Captain of the Pheromones Subjugation Squad. Akito feels like he’s been in that position for a while anyway but agreed to the idea. He’s not wrestling on this show but will be accompanying the opposing team to make sure Pheromones don’t fall out of line.

GANBARE☆PRO “DIRTY HERO 2022”, 03/11/2022
Yokohama Radiant Hall

1. Tsuyoshi Okada Vs Yuki Kanzaki
2. Mixed Tag Match: Ken Ohka & YuuRI Vs Yumehito Imanari & HARUKAZE
3. GanJo Special Tag Match: Yuna Manase & Yoshiko Hasegawa Vs Willow Nightingale & Moeka Haruhi
4. Kouki Iwasaki Send-Off Special Singles Match: Kouki Iwasaki Vs Shinichiro Tominaga
5. Dirty Hero 2022 Special Tag Match: Keisuke Ishii & Soma Takao Vs Mizuki Watase & Toi Kojima
6. Spirit Of Ganbare World Openweight Title: Hartley Jackson (c) Vs Shuichiro Katsumura

Nightingale won’t just be at Tokyo Joshi Pro for this tour. She’s making a GanPro appearance too!

While Shuichiro Katsumura is in the main event championship match, his buddy Tsuyoshi Okada will also be at the show wrestling against Yuki Kanzaki in the opener.

BASARA “BASARA 203 ~GLITTER~”, 08/11/2022
Shin-Kiba 1st RING

1. Chouten ~Itadaki~ – A Block Final: FUMA Vs Fuminori Abe
2. Chouten ~Itadaki~ – B Block Final: Masato Kamino Vs Yasu Urano
3. Chouten ~Itadaki~ – Final: Winner Of A Block Vs Winner Of B Block

The final rounds of the Chouten ~Itadaki~ tournament are all set. Either FUMA, Fuminori Abe, Masato Kamino or Yasu Urano will end up standing on top of the mountain as BASARA’s strongest wrestler when all is said and done.

DDT “D-OU GRAND PRIX 2022 IN OSAKA”, 12/11/2022
Osaka Edion Arena #2

0. Dark Match: Shunma Katsumata & Kazuma Sumi Vs Yusuke Okada & Yuya Koroku
1. MJ Paul & KANON Vs Hideki Okatani & Takeshi Masada
2. Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno Produce Match: Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno Vs Aja Kong & HARASHIMA
3. KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles: Yuji Hino, Makoto Oishi & Shiori Asahi (c) Vs Naruki Doi, Toru Owashi & Kazuki Hirata
4. D-Ou Grand Prix 2022 – A Block: Yuki Ueno Vs Naomi Yoshimura
5. D-Ou Grand Prix 2022 – A Block: Daisuke Sasaki Vs Joey Janela
6. D-Ou Grand Prix 2022 – A Block: Tetsuya Endo Vs RSP
7. D-Ou Grand Prix 2022 – B Block: Kazusada Higuchi Vs MAO
8. D-Ou Grand Prix 2022 – B Block: Chris Brookes Vs Yukio Naya

The new rookie Kazumi Sumi impressed with his debut match. Jae over at Dragongate revealed in a tweet that Sumi originally came from the dojo over there but dropped out. And that is how DDT is getting some of their new trainees. They start training at other companies, leave for whatever reason and end up over in DDT. Might be a little awkward if he bumps into Naruki Doi in the locker room then.

DDT “D-OU GRAND PRIX 2022 IN KYOTO”, 13/11/2022
Kyoto KBS Hall

1. Joey Janela, Makoto Oishi & Yuki Ishida Vs RSP, Yusuke Okada & Yuya Koroku
2. Pheromones Vs DISASTER BOX!: Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno Vs Toru Owashi & Kazuki Hirata
3. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Tetsuya Endo, Naruki Doi & Akito Vs Hideki Okatani, Toi Kojima & Takeshi Masada
4. Saki Akai Produce Match: Saki Akai, Yukio Sakaguchi & HARASHIMA Vs Aja Kong, Yuki Ueno & Shunma Katsumata
5. D-Ou Grand Prix 2022 – A Block: Daisuke Sasaki Vs Naomi Yoshimura
6. D-Ou Grand Prix 2022 – B Block: Kazusada Higuchi Vs Chris Brookes
7. D-Ou Grand Prix 2022 – B Block: Yukio Naya Vs KANON
8. D-Ou Grand Prix 2022 – B Block: Yuji Hino Vs MAO

Doi’s next appearance in DDT will be in Kyoto where he’s teaming with Tetsuya Endo & Akito against three of DDT’s younger wrestlers.

One of the non-tournament matches will feature Joey Janela against Rickey Shane Page on opposite sides. Not sure if there’s still bad blood between the two over the GCW Vs 44OH! feud from not so long ago but they don’t even need that excuse to do something crazy together. They’ll be facing each other in the D-Ou GP a few days later anyway so plenty of chances for them to wreck each other.

DDT “D-OU GRAND PRIX 2022 IN KORAKUEN HALL”, 18/11/2022
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

0. Dark Match: Yusuke Okada Vs Yuki Ishida
0. Dark Match: Yuki “Sexy” Iino, Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno, Yumehito “Fantastic” Imanari & Koju “Shining Ball” Takeda Vs Akito, Masahiro Takanashi, Antonio Honda & Gorgeous Matsuno
1. Minoru Fujita, MJ Paul & KANON Vs Yukio Sakaguchi, Hideki Okatani & Yuya Koroku
2. Special 8-Man Tag Match: HARASHIMA, Naruki Doi, Toru Owashi & Kazuki Hirata Vs MAO, Shunma Katsumata, Toi Kojima & Takeshi Masada
3. D-Ou Grand Prix 2022 – A Block: Daisuke Sasaki Vs Yuki Ueno
4. D-Ou Grand Prix 2022 – A Block: Joey Janela Vs RSP
5. D-Ou Grand Prix 2022 – A Block: Tetsuya Endo Vs Naomi Yoshimura
6. D-Ou Grand Prix 2022 – B Block: Kazusada Higuchi Vs Yukio Naya
7. D-Ou Grand Prix 2022 – B Block: Chris Brookes Vs Yuji Hino

Last we heard from Gorgeous Matsuno he was in the early stages of preparations donating a kidney to his partner Junko Tashiro. He gave an update during the week that the kidney transplant has been delayed until next Spring. He explained in an interview that Tashiro’s recent blood tests showed she is in good health and her doctors suggested it might not be a good idea to get a transplant right away while her own kidneys are still functioning. The operation will have to happen eventually but right now Matsuno has been given extra time to go back to his different entertainment activities, including pro wrestling.

“MASAHIRO TAKANASHI INDEPENDENT PERFORMANCE – BOKUTACHI 4 HANJUKU 4 I LOVE YOU! 2022”, 22/11/2022
Shinjuku FACE

1. Mixed Gauntlet Tag Match: Ram Kaichow & Yuko Miyamoto Vs Saki Akai & Brahman Kei (w/ Brahman Shu) Vs Mochi Natsumi & Hoshitango Vs Cherry & Gorgeous Matsuno Vs Chie Koishikawa & Shin Suzuki
2. Chris Brookes, Drew Parker & Antonio Honda Vs Keisuke Ishii, Shigehiro Irie & Soma Takao
3. Mei Suruga Vs MAO
4. Daisuke Sekimoto Vs Masahiro Takanashi

A Team Drift reunion is on the cards over at Masahiro Takanashi’s show. He’s also added a bunch of teams to the Mixed Tag Gauntlet match. Takanashi has already apologised to Saki Akai for sticking her with the Brahman Brothers.

DDT “NEVER MIND 2022”, 29/12/2022
Tokyo Dome City Hall

1. Special Tag Match: Saki Akai & Yuki Arai Vs Saori Anou & Riko Kawahata
2. KO-D Openweight Title: Kazusada Higuchi (c) Vs X

It’s very likely that the D-Ou winner will challenge Kazusada Higuchi for the KO-D Openweight Title at the end of the year. Or if Higuchi wins the tournament then he will likely nominate his challenger.

Two outsiders have come to challenge Reiwa AA Cannon. The duo of Saori Anou & Riko Kawahata both have histories with Saki Akai but they are completely brand new opponents for Yuki Arai.


DDT “GOD BLESS DDT 2022” Results

October 23, 2022

DDT “GOD BLESS DDT 2022”, 23/10/2022
Tokyo Korakuen Hall
701 Fans – Super No Vacancy Full House

0. Dark Match – Pheromones Vs Takagi-gun Complete Showdown FINAL ~ Dissolution Contra 1 Day President! 2 Vs 5 Handicap Match: Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno (w/ Yumehito “Fantastic” Imanari) defeated Sanshiro Takagi, Toru Owashi, Makoto Oishi, Antonio Honda & Akito when Dieno pinned Takagi after a Chairshot from Hisaya Imabayashi (7:39).
*Yuki “Sexy” Iino gets to be CyberFight President for 1 day.
1. Kazuma Sumi Debut Match: Kazuki Hirata defeated Kazuma Sumi with a Crab Hold (8:48).
2. Daisuke Sasaki, Minoru Fujita, MJ Paul & KANON defeated Shunma Katsumata, Toi Kojima, Saki Akai & Hideki Okatani when KANON pinned Kojima with the Sleepy Hollow (12:08).
3. Special Tag Match: Soma Takao & Hikaru Machida defeated HARASHIMA & Takeshi Masada when Machida pinned Masada with the Iai Punch (10:56).
4. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Jun Akiyama, Yusuke Okada & Yuya Koroku defeated Osamu Nishimura, Shinichiro Kawamatsu & Yuki Ishida when Koroku submitted Ishida with the Triangle Lancer (10:39).
5. Road To D-Ou GP Special 6-Man Tag Match: Naomi Yoshimura, Yuji Hino & Chris Brookes defeated Tetsuya Endo, MAO & Yukio Naya when Brookes pinned Naya with a Roll Up (15:22).
6. DDT Universal Title: Yuki Ueno (c) defeated Koju “Shining Ball” Takeda with the WR (15:24).
*V2 for Yuki Ueno.
7. KO-D Openweight Title: Kazusada Higuchi (c) defeated Yukio Sakaguchi with the Brain Claw Slam (16:12).
*V4 for Kazusada Higuchi.

A fourth successful KO-D Openweight Title defence is in the books for Kazusada Higuchi and it was his most emotional one yet. Yukio Sakaguchi spent the build up to the match pulling the “big brother” card and reminding everyone that he is Higuchi’s senpai. It was all mind games to see if Higuchi has really moved on from Eruption or not. It added more danger to Sakaguchi’s kicks and choke holds. The attacks left Higuchi bleeding from the bridge of his nose. But Higuchi hit back with the Brain Claw Slam and several Horizontal Chops. Sakaguchi was spent by the end of it while Higuchi yelled at him to stand back up. Both of them knew the match was finished and a tearful Higuchi gave his “big brother” another Brain Claw Slam to get the win.

The aftermatch saw Sakaguchi praising Higuchi for being merciless and also as strong as ever. He told Naomi Yoshimura & Yuki Ishida that they are part of a good unit in Harimao and they should trust Higuchi as their leader. It also made Sakaguchi tell Saki Akai & Hideki Okatani that Eruption need to fire up even stronger from now on because they cannot lose. Higuchi thanked Sakaguchi & Akai for what they taught him in Eruption. He then gave Okatani a gift. It is Higuchi’s entrance gown he wore when he was part of Eruption. When they left, Higuchi said the D-Ou Grand Prix is a physically and mentally tough challenge but he is going to face it and break through. The next KO-D Title defence won’t be until 29th December.

Old allies from the DNA days turned into fresh rivals for the DDT Universal Title. The champion Yuki Ueno not only had to worry about fighting Koju Takeda but the rest of Pheromones too. However The 37KAMIINA were there to support Ueno and get Pheromones out of the way, although it took some dives from Takeda and Ueno to help clear out the interference. When it went back into a 1 on 1 match, Ueno pinned Takeda with the WR to defend the title. He told Takeda afterwards he is glad their match has gone from Kitasenju Theatre 1010 to Korakuen Hall. Ueno doesn’t want to face anyone from Pheromones again but he can’t help but feel jealous at them. Now he will move on to the D-Ou Grand Prix where he hopes to do one better than last year and win the tournament.

A lot of the D-Ou field used today’s matches to get ready and call their shots for the tournament next month. Chris Brookes declared after the trios match he was going to win the D-Ou GP. Yoshimura then cut off the music to say he would win it instead. Yuji Hino called the two of them idiots because he will win. Then Tetsuya Endo questioned all of their opinions and decided he was going to be the winner. MAO kept cutting in during this so everyone just heard the two of them talk over each other. Yukio Naya had enough and shoved them over to say he will win. They played his music to end the segment, which annoyed Brookes because Brookes beat Naya to win the match.

The wrestling politicians team came back. Osamu Nishimura & Shinichiro Kawamatsu teamed with Ishida to take on three members of BURNING. Kawamatsu was thrown right in there with Jun Akiyama which has to be both an exciting and terrifying experience for a long time wrestling fan. Maybe the same can be said for Yusuke Okada getting to fight Nishimura. But it was the two youngest wrestlers of the match who determined which side won. Yuya Koroku timed Ishida’s momentum well and drew him into a Triangle Lancer to get the submission victory. Okada criticized Kawamatsu’s performance in the post-match interview backstage. He said the politician should put more energy into his performance. Elsewhere Kawamatsu said he fell into the same trap as his last match. Whenever he gets into the ring, his mind goes blank and his body stiffens up. If he gets another chance to do a match he promises to devote himself into showing everyone a more solid performance.

A brand new challenge was presented to Takeshi Masada. How would he fare taking on a kickboxer like Hikaru Machida? The match also presented a big challenge for Machida because HARASHIMA was Masada’s tag partner. Masada held his own against both Machida & Soma Takao until Machida started getting the combos in. They took their toll on the rookie and he was done for once the Iai Punch found its target. HARASHIMA would like to team with Masada again but they need a better tag name. The suggestions they got were Pantaloon Tag and Harashimasada but HARASHIMA thinks both of them sound too dorky.

The two members of DAMNATION T.A entering the D-Ou GP are also looking in good shape going into it. Daisuke Sasaki & KANON were victorious along with Minoru Fujita & MJ Paul against a combined foursome of Eruption and The 37KAMIINA members. Sasaki and Shunma Katsumata had a close exchange but KANON got the win by pinning Toi Kojima. After the match Sasaki said he hates the D-Ou GP but will make sure he still wins it. He will see KANON in the final. KANON replied that the D-Ou GP will be covered in DAMNATION T.A’s colours. However things looked to get tense between the two so Fujita and Paul stepped in to keep things cool between everyone.

The debut of Kazuma Sumi gave Kazuki Hirata the opportunity to wrestle a mostly serious match without his wacky antics getting in the way. Sumi made it clear he is going to be a fast moving high flyer. Hirata stopped mid-match and asked Sumi what his goal is going to be. Sumi said he wants to win the match. Hirata asked for the answer to be bigger and louder. Sumi shouted he is going to be at the top of DDT! Hirata wanted an even bigger and louder answer. Sumi shouted he will become the KO-D Champion! Hirata shook his hand and then kicked him to continue the match. He got the rookie to submit to the Crab Hold, as is tradition in pro wrestling. Kojima said Sumi has a good mindset but there are a lot of young wrestlers now in DDT that Sumi has to compete with. Sumi said a week ago he fell into a slump and couldn’t sleep but his debut match was fun and he has Hirata to thank for that.

Perhaps the match with the greatest consequence today took place on the pre-show. The dark match featured Sanshiro Takagi leading a team of wrestlers against Pheromones in a 5 Vs 2 battle. It was kind of 5 Vs 3 because Yumehito Imanari was there at ringside to help his mates out. Still, Yuki Iino & Danshoku Dieno still had to fight Takagi, Toru Owashi, Makoto Oishi, Antonio Honda & Akito all at once. Takagi had Dieno beat with the Himawari Bomb and called Hisaya Imabayashi into the ring. He gave the DDT GM a chair and told him to finish Dieno off once and for all. Imabayashi hesitated until he finally swung the chair… at Takagi! Dieno jumped on top of Takagi to get the three count, meaning Yuki Iino now gets to be President of CyberFight for a day!

Imabayashi explained his actions after the match. He was not betraying Takagi to join Pheromones. Instead he was taking a stand towards Takagi for his abuse of power. A 5 Vs 2 Handicap match was unfair from the beginning. Takagi has too much on his plate as CyberFight president to keep worrying about Pheromones. DDT has a very important project coming up next year that Takagi needs to put his full attention on. Imabayashi won’t be able to feel at peace when he leaves DDT if Takagi doesn’t move on. Takagi understands and announced he his “graduating” from his feud with Pheromones. However he appointed Akito to take his place and keep the feud going. Akito complained that he always fights Pheromones anyway but he accepts the decision.

Midway through the show Saori Anou & Riko Kawahata were brought into the ring to be announced as the opponents for Reiwa AA Cannon on 29th December. Anou was carrying the ICEx∞ Title from Ice Ribbon with her. She said she will prove she is more attractive and strong than either Saki Akai or Yuki Arai. Kawahata said she lost to Akai the last time she was in DDT so she wants to mess up the faces of both Akai & Arai on 29th December. Later Akai said she had singles matches against Anou and Kawahata before. She wonders if anything has changed with Kawahata since their previous match. She also thinks it will be great experience for Arai to fight wrestlers from other promotions and see what they all have to offer.

The big project for next year seems to be DDT’s return to America! First, Takagi announced “DDT GOES HOLLYWOOD” will take place on 30th March, 2023 at the Ukrainian Cultural Center in Los Angeles! The show will be part of The Collective, a series of events spearheaded by GCW held during WrestleMania week. If that wasn’t enough, Joey Janela sent in a video announcing “GCW VS DDT” will take place in the same venue on 31st March! It will be the first time in 4 years DDT will be holding shows in America. Takagi said he’s been wanting to do it every year since the New York show in 2019 but the pandemic kept putting them back at square one. The Yen is weak against the Dollar right now so Takagi is aiming to make a lot of money while DDT is in the USA.

Soma Takao is now the store manager of the Dropkick Bar. So if you ever want to drink with Takao, he’ll be waiting for you at the Dropkick Bar!