GANBARE☆JOSHI “GANJO FIGHTING SPIRITS ’23”, 16/07/2023 Tokyo Ryogoku KFC Hall 205 Fans
1. GanJo Three Big Singles Match: Sumire Natsu defeated Riara with the Shining Wizard (10:32).
2. Banny Oikawa Comeback Match: Cherry & Alex Lee defeated Miyako Matsumoto & Banny Oikawa when Cherry submitted Oikawa with the Sakuran Bokari (10:20).
3. GanJo Three Big Singles Match: SAKI defeated Yoshiko Hasegawa with the Power “Zu” Ram (11:27).
4. Makoto & Asuka defeated Ami Manase & Marika Kobashi when Makoto pinned Manase with the Death Valley Bomb (16:59).
5. GanJo Three Big Singles Match: YuuRI defeated Misa Kagura with the Swanton Bomb (11:15).
As Ganbare☆Joshi begins to grow, so too does YuuRI’s success at winning matches. She scored a significant victory today by beating her old JTO classmate Misa Kagura in the main event of the latest GanJo show. With this momentum, YuuRI will be heading over to Ice Ribbon tomorrow to challenge Totoro Satsuki for the ICEx∞ Title. She told the fans she is going to win the title in the afternoon and then show up at the evening’s Ganbare☆Pro show as a champion! Backstage Kagura said she is aiming to win the ICEx∞ Title this year too. She will win it from YuuRI!
A Super Kick & Death Valley Bomb combo from Asuka & Makoto put Ami Manase down for the count. This may also be the last time we see Marika Kobashi in GanJo for a while because she is visiting England in August to spend the rest of her summer studying.
Yoshiko Hasegawa Vs SAKI was a match between two former wrestlers who made their starts in Actwres girl’Z. SAKI won the match but Hasegawa refused to shake her hand afterwards. She explained backstage that shaking hands like that would end her story with SAKI. She wants to get stronger and face SAKI again to keep that story going. When SAKI heard that was the reason, she asked if she can bring in wrestlers from her Color’s unit to turn this situation into a promotional rivalry against GanJo.
One of of Ice Ribbon’s former wrestlers returned to the ring at this GanJo show. Banny Oikawa had her comeback match teaming with Miyako Matsumoto, the woman responsible for convincing her to enter GanJo. Sadly Oikawa’s big return was spoiled by Cherry & Alex Lee. Cherry used her Sakuran Bokari submission hold to make Oikawa give up and lose the match. Still, Oikawa is committed to the return and announced she will be back in GanJo for their 11th August show. She wants to work her way up to GanPro so she can wrestle in mixed gender matches.
In a battle of the night life hostesses Sumire Natsu defeated Riara. The match consisted of Natsu pouring a bottle of champagne over her opponent and also attacking her with a whip until the referee stopped her. Natsu knocked the ref down but that led to Riara grabbing the whip and using it to fight back. However Natsu regained control of the match and pinned Riara with the Shining Wizard. Then after the match Riara unexpectedly asked Natsu if she wanted to form a tag team together! Natsu didn’t give her a straight answer. Instead she said pro wrestling and the entertainment business both value connections so they will meet again some day.
Yuna Manase appeared at the beginning of the show, thanking the fans for making up the biggest attendance yet for a GanJo show.
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW LIVE TOUR IN SPRING ’23”, 24/06/2023 Kobe Art Center
1. Kaya Toribami Vs Haru Kazashiro
2. Yuki Arai Vs HIMAWARI
3. Nao Kakuta Vs Toga
4. 3 Way Match: Yuki Kamifuku Vs Hikari Noa Vs Shino Suzuki
5. Shoko Nakajima & Hyper Misao Vs Raku & Pom Harajuku
6. Rika Tatsumi & Miu Watanabe Vs Yuki Aino & Mahiro Kiryu
7. Mizuki, Suzume & Arisu Endo Vs Miyu Yamashita, Maki Itoh & Moka Miyamoto
This weekend sees the return of Miyu Yamashita and Maki Itoh from their American tours. But before their local homecoming show takes place on Sunday, first they have to go to Mizuki’s homecoming show in Kobe.
DDT “WHAT ARE YOU DOING 2023”, 25/06/2023 Tokyo Korakuen Hall
0. Dark Match: Yuki “Sexy” Iino, Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno, Toru Owashi & Yuni Vs Akito, Soma Takao, Kazuma Sumi & Rukiya
1. Special Single Match: Naruki Doi Vs Takeshi Masada
2. Yukio Sakaguchi, Saki Akai, Hideki Okatani & Sanshiro Takagi Vs Ryota Nakatsu, Yuki Ishida, Yusuke Okada & Yuya Koroku
3. Special Single Match: HARASHIMA Vs Minoru Fujita
4. International Special Single Match: Tetsuya Endo Vs Nick Wayne
5. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Yuji Hino, Jun Akiyama & Makoto Oishi Vs Kazusada Higuchi, Masahiro Takanashi & Antonio Honda
6. KO-D Tag Team Titles: Daisuke Sasaki & MJ Paul Vs Yuki Ueno & Toy Kojima
7. DDT Extreme Title – 3 Way Dance: MAO Vs Kazuki Hirata Vs Yoshihiko
It’s only fitting that the Survival 3 Way main event is now called the 3 Way Dance. Shunma Katsumata will be in attendance to watch over MAO, Kazuki Hirata and Yoshihiko all fighting for the DDT Extreme Title he had to vacate. He also had to vacate the KO-D Tag Team Titles as well remember but it seems he is only the “special observer” for the main event.
The full card for “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2023” will be revealed at the end of the show.
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “SUMMER SUN PRINCESS ’23”, 08/07/2023 Tokyo Ota Ward Gymnasium
1. Juria Nagano Comeback Match: Suzume & Arisu Endo Vs Moka Miyamoto Vs Juria Nagano
2. Mahiro Kiryu, Haruna Neko, HIMAWARI & Shino Suzuki Vs Kaya Toribami, Toga, Haru Kazashiro & Runa Okubo
3. Ryo Mizunami & Nao Kakuta Vs Yuki Kamifuku & Asuka
4. DEFY Women’s Title: Vert Vixen (c) Vs Hikari Noa
5. 3 Way Tag Match: Shoko Nakajima & Hyper Misao Vs Aja Kong & Raku Vs Max The Impaler & Pom Harajuku
6. Nyla Rose Vs Miu Watanabe
7. Miyu Yamashita Vs Sawyer Wreck
8. Sakisama & Mei Saint-Michel Vs Yuki Arai & Wakana Uehara
9. International Princess Title: Rika Tatsumi (c) Vs Yuki Arai
10. Princess Of Princess Title: Mizuki (c) Vs Maki Itoh
Earlier this week Vert Vixen sent a video to Tokyo Joshi Pro telling them she wants to put the DEFY Women’s Title on the line in her match against Hikari Noa. The match means a lot to Vixen because when she was a child her father travelled to Japan on business trips and he would come back with gifts and stories for her. She got to tour Japan with TJPW in April where she teamed with Noa twice and together they won both matches. Vixen is so confident she will beat Noa she wants their match to be a title match so she can make her father proud. She previously had a successful title defence against Miyu Yamashita during Yamashita’s US excursion. Noa was touched by Vixen’s idea and accepted the challenge. She wants to win a singles championship and go wrestle overseas again. She warns Vixen that she fought in a death match and became even stronger since the last time they were in the ring together.
GANBARE☆JOSHI “GANJO FIGHTING SPIRITS ’23”, 16/07/2023 Tokyo Ryogoku KFC Hall
1. Ami Manase & Marika Kobashi Vs Makoto & Asuka
2. Banny Oikawa Comeback Match: Miyako Matsumoto & Banny Oikawa Vs Cherry & Alex Lee
3. GanJo Three Big Singles Match: Riara Vs Sumire Natsu
4. GanJo Three Big Singles Match: Yoshiko Hasegawa Vs SAKI
5. GanJo Three Big Singles Match: YuuRI Vs Misa Kagura
Three important singles matches highlight the next Ganbare☆Joshi card. YuuRI’s grudge match with Misa Kagura was already announced. Yoshiko Hasegawa meets SAKI in the ring again for the first time in three years. A battle between hostesses will take place when Riara takes on Sumire Natsu.
Banny Oikawa’s return to wrestling has her teaming with Miyako Matsumoto. Her entry into GanJo is because of Matsumoto so that makes sense. Alex Lee being on the opposite side is unexpected because she’s been with Matsumoto in her previous appearances here. Cherry is part of the match because she was one of Oikawa’s trainers.
I’ve noticed that all of Ami Manase’s matches so far included Marika Kobashi. They’ve been both opponents and teammates. Their next task together is facing Makoto & Asuka. That pair often teams together as Las Fresa de Egoistas.
It’s full steam ahead on several different fronts for this month’s article. Konosuke Takeshita is now part of a blood feud between two of AEW’s main stables, a few familiar faces had a cup of coffee with the company during their American stay, Miyu Yamashita is all over the US indies adjusting to no longer being a big fish in a small pond, Maki Itoh’s love affair with GCW continues and Daisuke Sasaki did a tour of Mexico before returning to Japan. The rest of the summer looks to be entirely focused on Takeshita, Yamashita and Itoh’s travels. But when has that ever stopped a surprise booking or two popping up somewhere else, eh?
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Videos
LLL “MONSTER ISLAND”, 07/04/2023 The Oriental Theater, Denver, Colorado, USA
1. LLL Women’s Title: Heidi Howitzer (c) Vs Maki Itoh
DEFY “THE REALEST”, 08/04/2023 Washington Hall, Seattle, Washington, USA
1. DEFY Women’s Title: Vert Vixen (c) Vs Miyu Yamashita
IWRG “COPA HIGH POWER”, 09/04/2023 Arena Naucalpan, Naucalpan de Juarez, Estado de Mexico, Mexico
1. Mexico Vs Los Internacionales: El Hijo del Canis Lupis, Hell Boy, Aster Boy, Jhon Tito, Tonalli & Maniacop 360 Vs Hip Hop Man, Karaoui, Gianni Valetta, Shocko, Daisuke Sasaki & Kodai Nozaki
Video starts at 00:00 for the match AEW “DARK ELEVATION”, 10/04/2023 UBS Arena, Elmont, New York, USA
1. Yuki Ueno, MAO & Shunma Katsumata Vs Kip Sabian, The Butcher & The Blade (w/ Penelope Ford)
BATTLE CLUB PRO “BATTLE CLUB ICONS VOLUME 3”, 12/04/2023 Ellery Street, Brooklyn, New York, USA
1. Miyu Yamashita Vs Janai Kai
Video starts at 1:10:23 for the match OUTLAW WRESTLING “COLOSSAL TUSSLE”, 13/04/2023 Queens Brewery, Ridgewood, New York, USA
1. Daisuke Sasaki Vs Mike Bailey
NORTHEAST WRESTLING “SPRING SLAM 2023”, 15/04/2023 MJN Convention Center , Poughkeepsie, New York, USA
1. Wrestlefest Rematch: Konosuke Takeshita defeated JT Dunn with the Rollover German Suplex (17:19).
1. Raider Boy, Tormento & Fantasmin Vs Osiris, Garrobo Punk & Daisuke Sasaki
CCW “DEAD-ZONE”, 15/04/2023 Houston Volunteer Fire Department, Houston, Delaware, USA
1. CCW Title & CCW Title Match Network Title – 4 Corner Survival Match: KiLynn King (c) Vs Killer Kelly Vs Steph De Lander Vs Miyu Yamashita
Video starts at 00:0 for Match #1. Go to 16:01 for Match #2. AEW “DARK ELEVATION”, 17/04/2023 UBS Arena, Elmont, New York, USA
1. Ashley D’Amboise Vs Maki Itoh
2. Emi Sakura Vs Mizuki
AEW “DYNAMITE”, 19/04/2023 Petersen Events Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
Konosuke Takeshita comes to the aid of The Elite.
UWE “DAWN OF A NEW ERA”, 22/04/2023 Dauphin County Tech School, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA
1. Dani Mo Vs Miyu Yamashita
AEW “DYNAMITE”, 26/04/2023 FLA Live Arena, Sunrise, Florida, USA
1. The Butcher & The Blade (w/ Kip Sabian & Penelope Ford) Vs Kenny Omega & Konosuke Takeshita (w/ Don Callis)
REPUBLIC OF LUCHA “ROL IV”, 30/04/2023 Republic Of Lucha, South Pasadena, California, USA
1. Arez Vs Konosuke Takeshita
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Results
AEW “DARK ELEVATION”, 05/04/2023 (Aired 10/04/2023 & 17/04/2023) UBS Arena, Elmont, New York, USA
1. Kip Sabian, The Butcher & The Blade (w/ Penelope Ford) defeated Yuki Ueno, MAO & Shunma Katsumata when Butcher pinned Katsumata after the (7:01).
2. Maki Itoh defeated Ashley D’Amboise with the Itoh Deluxe (3:11).
3. Emi Sakura defeated Mizuki with a Cradle Cutback (3:26).
With WrestleMania week done and dusted, the DDT and Tokyo Joshi Pro crew were all heading back to America. But not all of them. Mizuki made her AEW debut by facing one of her mentors Emi Sakura. She got to hit the Whirling Candy but ended up losing after a back and forth of cradles led to Sakura taking the three count.
Itoh made her AEW return on the same taping by beating Ashley D’Amboise one on one. The match was built around Itoh’s attempts to hit the Kokeshi Headbutt. She kept missing the move until she ended up successfully hitting it by accident. D’Amboise Dropkicked Itoh, Itoh bounced off the ropes and landed head first onto D’Amboise’s ribs. It then took Itoh all of her might to turn her opponent over into the Itoh Deluxe but once she got it locked in, victory was hers.
Fans discovered on Takeshita’s Twitter that the other members of The 37KAMIINA on the USA trip were hanging out with him in New York. Then there was the surprise when Yuki Ueno, MAO & Shunma Katsumata all showed up in AEW later that night to wrestle on Dark Elevation. The three of them took on Kip Sabian along with The Butcher & The Blade in a losing effort but they all looked good in the process.
ROH “ROH ON HONORCLUB”, 05/04/2023 (Aired 06/04/2023) UBS Arena, Elmont, New York, USA
1. Konosuke Takeshita defeated Tony Nese with the Rollover German Suplex (w/ Mark Sterling, Josh Woods & Ari Daivari) (10:25).
2. ROH Women’s World Title: Athena (c) defeated Miyu Yamashita by Referee Stoppage with a Crossface Lock (13:33). *V8 for Athena.
Yamashita returned to ROH for her second crack at Athena and the ROH Women’s Title. They previously fought over that belt in Prestige back in January. The rematch was more heated with the two fighting up towards the stage late in the match where Yamashita threw the champion over with the Attitude Adjustment. However Athena got her own back by pushing Yamashita off the ramp to the floor and following up with a dive. The damage took its toll because back in the ring Athena put on a Crossface Lock and kept it held until Yamashita lost consciousness. Athena mockingly shook her hand while she was still passed out afterwards.
A problem Takeshita has found himself in the AEW landscape is having to fight off more than just his opponent in the ring. Some of his losses have come from interference and the same almost happened against Tony Nese. There was a moment where Mark Sterling grabbed Takeshita’s foot and it eventually set up Nese hitting his Pumphandle Fire Thunder Driver for a nearfall. But Takeshita recovered and used a Chaos Theory to get the win despite the numbers game being against him.
WRESTLING REVOLVER “REVOLVER THURSDAY”, 06/04/2023 Calumet Center, Dayton, Ohio, USA
1. Miyu Yamashita defeated Allie Katch with the Skull Kick (10:13).
Yamashita bounced back a bit from her ROH loss the next day by beating Allie Katch in Wrestling REVOLVER. Katch was climbing the top rope when Yamashita stopped her with a High Kick to the rear followed by a German Suplex. Katch used a Small Package for one last chance but Yamashita kicked out and knocked her silly with the Skull Kick. Katch attacked Yamashita after the match but Jessica Havoc came to the rescue and sent Katch fleeing.
LLL “MONSTER ISLAND”, 07/04/2023 The Oriental Theater, Denver, Colorado, USA
1. LLL Women’s Title: Heidi Howitzer (c) defeated Maki Itoh with the Stunner (?:??). *V1 for Heidi Howitzer.
Itoh and Heidi Howitzer were in the ring together for the first time since “GRAND PRINCESS ’23” in the main event of the latest Lucha Libre & Laughs show. Howitzer was not going to lose another title to Itoh and this time got revenge for the result back in Japan.
WEST COAST PRO “HOME OF THE KILLERS”, 07/04/2023 The State Room, South San Francisco, California, USA
1. West Coast Pro Women’s Title: Masha Slamovich (c) defeated Miyu Yamashita with the White Knight Driver (17:27). *V1 for Masha Slamovich.
There’s been a few regular opponents showing up for Yamashita and Masha Slamovich is one of them. This time Slamovich was putting her newly won West Coast Pro Women’s Title on the line. Yamashita showed a more violent side by laying in knee strikes to Slamovich’s head while holding her in the Attitude Adjustment. But Slamovich escaped the move, hit a Shining Wizard and got the win with a Package Piledriver. It’s her first time beating Yamashita.
HOODSLAM “FALLEN IDOLS”, 08/04/2023 Continental Club, Oakland, California, USA
1. Vipress defeated Maki Itoh with a School Boy (8:00).
Itoh ended up having to fight off two opponents for her appearance in Hoodslam. When she had Vipress all but beaten, Dark Sheik ran down to interfere. Itoh cut her off at the ropes with a DDT but Vipress rolled her up with a School Boy afterwards to steal the win.
DEFY “THE REALEST”, 08/04/2023 Washington Hall, Seattle, Washington, USA
1. DEFY Women’s Title: Vert Vixen (c) defeated Miyu Yamashita with the Game Over (18:25). *V3 for Vert Vixen.
A week before Vert Vixen headed over to TJPW for her first tour of Japan, she faced off with Yamashita with the DEFY Women’s Title on the line. Vixen came out on top in a match that got a great response from the fans in attendance.
IWRG “COPA HIGH POWER”, 09/04/2023 Arena Naucalpan, Naucalpan de Juarez, Estado de Mexico, Mexico
1. Mexico Vs Los Internacionales: Hip Hop Man, Karaoui, Gianni Valetta, Shocko, Daisuke Sasaki & Kodai Nozaki defeated El Hijo del Canis Lupis, Hell Boy, Aster Boy, Jhon Tito, Tonalli & Maniacop 360 (?:??).
Daisuke Sasaki went his own direction to spend some extra time abroad. First he went to hang out with Sam Adonis and Hernandez. Apparently they all teamed together for at least one match somewhere but I couldn’t find out where. Then he travelled to Mexico to compete on several lucha libre shows. The first one I could find was a Mexico Vs The World themed Torneo de Cibernetico over in IWRG. Sasaki was not the only Japanese wrestler on his team because Kodai Nozaki was there too. Both of them ended up getting eliminated from the match (Sasaki was Power Bombed onto one of his other partners and then pinned) but their team ended up beating Mexico anyway thanks to some shenanigans at the end that didn’t involve either of them.
ROH “ROH ON HONORCLUB”, 12/04/2023 (Aired 20/04/2023) UWM Panther Arena, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
1. Konosuke Takeshita defeated Lee Moriarty (12:42).
Takeshita took his ROH record this year to 4-0 after beating Lee Moriarty with the Zahi. He also got a slightly bloody lip out of it. Moriarty worked over Takeshita’s arm which saved him from getting pinned with the German Suplex. But Takeshita thought through to hold on and turn Moriarty into a Ripcord Forearm. From there he then hit the Zahi and that was it.
BATTLE CLUB PRO “BATTLE CLUB ICONS VOLUME 3”, 12/04/2023 Ellery Street, Brooklyn, New York, USA
1. Janai Kai defeated Miyu Yamashita with a School Boy (9:41).
Something a little different for Yamashita’s visit to Brooklyn was getting to wrestle outdoors at night. Her Battle Club Pro match against Janai Kai ended in defeat when Kai ducked the Skull Kick and used a School Boy to escape with the win.
OUTLAW WRESTLING “COLOSSAL TUSSLE”, 13/04/2023 Queens Brewery, Ridgewood, New York, USA
1. Daisuke Sasaki defeated Mike Bailey with La Mistica Crossface Lock (?:??).
Sasaki popped back over to America to fight an old foe in the form of Mike Bailey for Outlaw Wrestling. Sasaki’s dirty tactics won out in the end. He caught Speedball with a Low Blow and then applied La Mistica Crossface Lock to make him tap out.
1. Aero Boy & Dariux Vs Daisuke Sasaki & Josh Rios
Then Sasaki went right back to Mexico for more lucha bookings. I couldn’t find a result for this match anywhere but I did find this picture of the match on their Facebook page.
NORTHEAST WRESTLING “SPRING SLAM 2023”, 15/04/2023 MJN Convention Center , Poughkeepsie, New York, USA
1. Wrestlefest Rematch: Konosuke Takeshita defeated JT Dunn with the Rollover German Suplex (17:19).
JT Dunn had been wanting a rematch with Takeshita after their last bout in Northeast Wrestling. He got his wish but the result was the same as last time.
CCW “DEAD-ZONE”, 15/04/2023 Houston Volunteer Fire Department, Houston, Delaware, USA
1. CCW Title & CCW Network Title – 4 Corner Survival Match: Miyu Yamashita defeated KiLynn King (c), Killer Kelly and Steph De Lander when Yamashita pinned King with the Skull Kick (11:05). *KiLynn King fails in V9 for the CCW Title and V2 for the CCW Network Title. Miyu Yamashita becomes the 2nd CCW Champion and the 4th CCW Network Champion!
2. CCW Title & CCW Network Title: Christina Marie defeated Miyu Yamashita (c) with a Brass Knuckles Attack (1:17). *Miyu Yamashita fails in V1 for the CCW Title and V1 for the CCW Network Title. Christina Marie becomes the 3rd CCW Champion and the 5th CCW Network Champion!
After several failed attempts to win a championship so far in her tour there was a brief moment when Yamashita added two more belts to her collection, the first title wins of her excursion. She made her debut for Capital Championship Wrestling winning both the CCW Title and the CCW Network Title from KiLynn King in a 4 Corner Survival Match. Yamashita even pinned King to win the match, cutting off any possible dispute over whether the title change was deserved. However afterwards Christina Marie confronted Yamashita in the ring and explained to her she is allowed to get a title match whenever she wanted because of a Battle Royal she won a few months ago. She was getting that title match right now and when the referee did the pre-match check on Yamashita, Marie put on brass knuckles and knocked Yamashita out with a punch to the head. The ref didn’t see the foreign object and counted the pin, bringing Yamashita’s CCW Title reign to an instant end before it ever really begun.
1. Raider Boy, Tormento & Fantasmin defeated Osiris, Garrobo Punk & Daisuke Sasaki with a Triple Pin (?:??)
Sasaki also made a trip over to Lucha Memes to team with Osiris & Garrobo Punk to take on the trio known as Los Insoportables. It ended badly for Sasaki’s team. All three of his team were pinned at the same time with Sasaki being defeated with a One-Man Spanish Fly.
DPW “DPW LIVE 2”, 16/04/2023 Phil Sheridan Building, Ridgefield Park, New Jersey, USA
1. Miyu Yamashita defeated Nicole Matthews with the Skull Kick (13:24).
The last time Yamashita fought Nicole Matthews she lost to her in Canada. The rematch in America for Deadlock Pro went differently and now they is a 1-1 record between them.
RIW “FIGHT UNTIL WE DIED”, 16/04/2023 Gimnasio Coliseo Arena, Toluca, Mexico
1. Fight For The Revolution: Daisuke Sasaki, Impulso & Belial defeated Sol, X Devil Jr. & Astro de Plata Jr. (?:??).
Sasaki’s last appearance in Mexico before going home (that I could find ) was with Revolution Indy Wrestling in Toluca. Couldn’t find out much other than his team won the match.
UWE “DAWN OF A NEW ERA”, 22/04/2023 Dauphin County Tech School, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA
1. Miyu Yamashita defeated Dani Mo with the Skull Kick (?:??).
Yamashita had said on Twitter she was really looking forward to this match with Dani Mo. The feeling was mutual and Mo tweeted afterwards how honored she was to fight her.
AEW “DYNAMITE”, 26/04/2023 FLA Live Arena, Sunrise, Florida, USA
1. Kenny Omega & Konosuke Takeshita (w/ Don Callis) defeated The Butcher & The Blade (w/ Kip Sabian & Penelope Ford) when Takeshita pinned Butcher with the Powerdrive Knee (8:45).
A lot of progress was made with Takeshita’s storyline with Don Callis this month. It’s now sent him straight into the centre of an increasingly violent feud between The Elite and The Blackpool Combat Club. Attacks from the BCC led to Callis finding Takeshita backstage and convincing him to come save The Elite from further harm. Takeshita did so, stopping Bryan Danielson from attacking Kenny Omega with a screwdriver. It was a tense moment between the two given the respect they previously had for each other as opponents in AEW. After the show ended and things calmed down a little, Takeshita was welcomed into The Elite by The Young Bucks. Omega however was a little flustered over the decision, stopping himself from saying there was someone else he always had in mind to bring into the unit…
The following week Takeshita teamed with Omega for the first time since his AEW debut two years ago. They beat The Butcher & The Blade and we found out that Takeshita’s Zahi finisher has been renamed the Powerdrive Knee. However another BCC ambush took place after the match. This time The Elite were able to rally themselves and put them in a position for Omega to attack Jon Moxley with a screwdriver. Danielson convinced Takeshita to stop Omega but that just led to The BCC to come back and wipe out The Elite. Danielson & Claudio Castagnoli both raised Takeshita’s arm, signalling their intentions to add him to The BCC. Takeshita refused so Wheeler Yuta gave him a Low Blow and Moxley spiked him in the head with the screwdriver. Takeshita was left busted open with Omega tending to him as the show went off the air.
PRESTIGE “ROSELAND 5”, 29/04/2023 Roseland Theater, Portland, Oregon, USA
1. Triple Threat Match: Miyu Yamashita defeated Liiza Hall and Trish Adora when Yamashita pinned Hall with the Crash Rabbit Heat (?:??).
Yamashita’s original opponent for this show Queen Aminata had to pull out of the match “due to reasons beyond anyone’s control” according to Prestige. Yamashita instead took part in a a Triple Threat against Liiza Hall and Trish Adora. The latter brought power to the match, finding ways to lift and slam both Yamashita and Hall at the same time. She got taken out of the picture though and Hall tried to finish off Yamashita with a Piledriver. Yamashita countered the move and threw Hall off her, setting up the Crash Rabbit Heat. However there was a disputed finish because Hall kicked out right as the ref counted three.
REPUBLIC OF LUCHA “ROL IV”, 30/04/2023 Republic Of Lucha, South Pasadena, California, USA
1. Miyu Yamashita defeated Kidd Bandit with the Skull Kick (?:??).
2. Konosuke Takeshita defeated Arez with the Powerdrive Knee (?:??).
Daga did not heal from his injury in time so Takeshita took on Arez instead. Arez went the flight route with some dives but that stopped when Takeshita caught him on a Topé and dropped him onto the floor with a Brainbuster. But Arez is a smart little fecker and he found unusual ways to tie up Takeshita limb by limb. However he made the mistake of getting into strike exchanges and that’s a battle he just could not win. A Wheelbarrow Suplex was used to set up the Powerdrive Knee and that was the end for him.
Kidd Bandit went to Reddit asking for advice about how to beat Yamashita. Here is some of the advice they got. Duck, don’t get kicked and use unorthodox tactics. None of that worked.
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Upcoming Appearances
EVE “LUCKY 13 – NIGHT 1”, 05/05/2023 The Dome, Tufnell Park, London, England
1. EVE Title – Iron Woman Match: Miyu Yamashita (c) Vs Millie McKenzie
Could this be the countdown towards Yamashita losing the EVE Title?
EVE “LUCKY 13 – NIGHT 2”, 06/05/2023 The Dome, Tufnell Park, London, England
1. Special Challenge Match: Billie Starkz Vs Miyu Yamashita
There is a chance that Yamashita and Billie Starkz could end up fighting each other for the EVE Title somewhere down the line if Yamashita retains against Millie McKenzie and Starkz wins a tournament that EVE is putting together. However the promotion doesn’t want to miss their chance to do this match in England while both are available.
NEW TEXAS PRO “SUPER TEXAS CONTENDERS SERIES 1”, 11/05/2023 Houston Premier Arena, Houston, Texas, USA
1. New Texas Pro Women’s Title: Hyan (c) Vs Miyu Yamashita
Remember this place from Shota’s excursion? Now Yamashita gets to experience the Houston Premier Arena for a big New Texas Pro show. She takes on Hyan with the New Texas Pro Women’s Title on the line.
MAW “VENDETTA”, 13/05/2023 2nd St. Depot, Hastings, Minnesota, USA
1. Miyu Yamashita Vs Sierra
Nothing new to add here.
HOG “BEWARE THE FURY”, 19/05/2023 Amazura, Queens, New York, USA
1. Miyu Yamashita Vs X
Add House Of Glory to the growing list of promotions Yamashita is wrestling in this summer.
AIW “GAUNTLET FOR THE GOLD 16”, 20/05/2023 Force Sports, Eastlake, Ohio, USA
1. Miyu Yamashita Vs X
Still waiting to see what will happen in AIW.
GCW “THE WAY I AM”, 20/05/2023
Harpo’s Theatre, Detroit, Michigan, USA
1. Maki Itoh Vs Shazza McKenzie
Itoh returns to America for a few more GCW appearances. Her first match back is against Shazza McKenzie and once that’s done she has a storyline to sink her teeth into.
GCW “I CAN’T SAVE YOU”, 21/05/2023 Valley Dale Ballroom, Columbus, Ohio, USA
1. Maki Itoh Vs Steph De Lander
Itoh and Steph De Lander just keep bumping into each other whenever Itoh goes travelling. Their next meeting in GCW however ties into the Nick Gage and Matt Cardona feud. De Lander has become Cardona’s right hand woman on the indies ever since his wife Chelsea Green signed with WWE (Cardona compares it to losing his Miss Elizabeth and then gaining his own Sensational Sherri). The two tried to ruin the one night only tag match for Maki Death Kill and Cardona is still avoiding Gage’s demands for another death match. So while that problem is still bubbling on the surface, Itoh and De Lander will get to continue their little rivalry in the meantime.
GLORY PRO “GO FOR BROKE”, 21/05/2023 South Broadway Athletic Club, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
1. Tootie Lynn Vs Miyu Yamashita
Another new opponent for Yamashita. Tootie Lynn welcomes her to Glory Pro. I’m sensing some of Yamashita’s bookings in May is all thanks to the groundwork Shota laid out with his excursion last year.
GCW “LIFESTYLE”, 26/05/2023 Silver Nugget Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
1. Maki Itoh Vs X
Here’s a tip for those getting an Uber away from the Silver Nugget Casino after the show based on my experience there last year. Try and get over to the cinema across the road. It is so much easier for the driver to pick you up there while avoiding the rest of the crowd all calling their own rides home at the same time.
LLL “BEST WISHES WARMEST REGARDS”, 02/06/2023 The Oriental Theater, Denver, Colorado, USA
1. 3 Way Match: Masha Slamovich Vs Heidi Howitzer Vs Miyu Yamashita
After Howitzer dealt with Itoh, she is now onto even bigger challenges in Lucha Libre & Laughs. Now she has to fight both Masha Slamovich and Miyu Yamashita at the same time! It’s another chance for Yamashita to clash with Slamovich too.
BLACK LABEL PRO “FANCY WRESTLING 2”, 03/06/2023 RDS Gym, Crown Point, Indiana, USA
1. Miyu Yamashita Vs X
It’s a safe bet Yamashita will get a bigger pop for her Black Label Pro debut than Sean Ross Sapp did.
ST. LOUIS ANARCHY “GIANT’S WOKE EYES OPEN”, 09/06/2023 The House of Anarchy, Alton, Illinois, USA
1. Billie Starkz Vs Miyu Yamashita
They’ll have faced each other before already but this is still a match Starkz has been demanding to happen in St. Louis Anarchy.
SPARK “IGNITE EAST”, 11/06/2023 The Heart Ballroom, Newark, New Jersey, USA
1. Miyu Yamashita Vs X
SPARK “IGNITE WEST”, 16/06/2023 East San Gabriel Valley Japanese Cultural Center, West Covina, California, USA
1. Miyu Yamashita Vs X
A new women’s wrestling promotion is opening up in America called SPARK Joshi Puroresu. Obviously with a name like that their goal is to become a Japanese style wrestling promotion. Yamashita is the third name attached to the indie with Ram Kaichow and SAKI being the first two announcements. However Yamashita is being advertised for both of SPARK’s first two shows while the other two are only doing one each at the moment. I’m a little bit skeptical over how much legs an idea like this has especially when SPARK is trying to run both the east and west coast of USA.
ENJOY “???”, 17/06/2023 Mr. Smalls Theatre, Millvale, Pennsylvania, USA
1. Ray Lyn Vs Miyu Yamashita
Still looks like this will be the last match of Yamashita’s excursion.
WRESTLING REVOLVER “RING OF DESTINY”, 17/06/2023 Calumet Center, Dayton, Ohio, USA
1. Konosuke Takeshita Vs X
Takeshita makes his Wrestling REVOLVER debut. Interesting thing to note is this is the same date as the rumored debut event for AEW’s new weekly TV show Collision. With rumours of a soft roster split taking place in AEW to accompany the return of CM Punk, it will be of no surprise to find out Takeshita is in The Elite’s half of the company. God what a mess that entire thing is.
GCW “THANK ME LATER”, 17/06/2023 Ukrainian Cultural Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
1. Maki Itoh Vs X
Meanwhile Itoh will be on the other side of the country for GCW. Imagine if she goes back to AEW and ends up in the middle of that civil war?
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 – 3 Vs 4 Handicap Match: Yuki “Sexy” Iino, 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: Joey Janela (4) Vs RSP (4)
4. D-Ou Grand Prix 2022 – A Block: Tetsuya Endo (5) Vs Naomi Yoshimura (2)
5. D-Ou Grand Prix 2022 – A Block: Daisuke Sasaki (5) Vs Yuki Ueno (4)
6. D-Ou Grand Prix 2022 – B Block: Chris Brookes (2) Vs Yuji Hino (7)
7. D-Ou Grand Prix 2022 – B Block: Kazusada Higuchi (7) Vs Yukio Naya (6)
I’ll dig into the different paths to the final in another post tomorrow but long story short, the A Block is wide open for everyone except Naomi Yoshimura while the B Block is coming down to Kazusada Higuchi, Yuji Hino and Yukio Naya. The matches will be overseen by Kenta Kobashi who will be in attendnace.
Danshoku Dieno is off the show with a fever. The Pheromones match on the pre-show will now be a 3 Vs 4 Handicap match with Akito’s team having the one man advantage.
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW AUTUMN TOUR ’22”, 20/11/2022 Shinjuku FACE
1. 3 Way Match: Mizuki Vs Hikari Noa Vs Mahiro Kiryu
2. Hyper Misao Vs Pom Harajuku
3. Rika Tatsumi, Yuki Kamifuku & Nao Kakuta Vs Suzume, Moka Miyamoto & Arisu Endo
4. Miu Watanabe Vs Kaya Toribami
5. Yuki Aino & Raku Vs Shoko Nakajima & Haruna Neko
6. Yuka Sakazaki & Miyu Yamashita Vs Millie McKenzie & Billie Starkz
Miyu Yamashita has come back to Japan with a new White Belt over her shoulder but her international adventure continues much closer to home. She and Yuka Sakazaki both have foreign opponents at Korakuen Hall next weekend so all four will face off in a big preview tag match. Sakazaki has Billie Starkz to worry about in a first time meeting. Yamashita meanwhile gets right back to business as her global rivalry with Millie McKenzie reaches its third country.
Also back from England is Hyper Misao. Did she bring back anything nice for Pom Harajuku? She’s been on her best behaviour while Misao was abroad.
Maki Itoh is wrestling in America for GCW and JCW this weekend. She’s already in the company so who knows, maybe she shows up somewhere at AEW tonight?
“MASAHIRO TAKANASHI INDEPENDENT PERFORMANCE – BOKUTACHI 4 HANJUKU 4 I LOVE YOU! 2022”, 22/11/2022 Shinjuku FACE
0. Dark Match: Shinsetsu Gomu Ningen & Gota Ihashi (w/ Miyako Haru) Vs SAKI & Yasu Urano (w/ KUDO)
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 Vs Choun-Shiryu & Lee Yoneyama Vs Isami Kodaka & Emi Sakura W
2. Mei Suruga Vs MAO
3. Chris Brookes, Drew Parker & Antonio Honda Vs Keisuke Ishii, Shigehiro Irie & Soma Takao
4. Daisuke Sekimoto Vs Masahiro Takanashi
The dark match has some news surrounding it. Yuna Mizumori is out of action with a knee injury so SAKI will take her place. That’s not all, the UMA Corps creature known as Shinsetsu Gomu Ningen entered the Ebisuko Tavern during the week and attacked KUDO with its long arms! Gota Ihashi didn’t do anything to stop it because hey, he’s teaming with that monster and KUDO is supporting the other side. Screw him.
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
Juria Nagano and Yoshiko Hasegawa will both be on the show.
DDT/ONLY WE “DRAMATIC DREAM TOUR 2022 IN CHIBA”, 03/12/2022 Chiba 2AW Square
1. Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno Vs Akito & Hiroshi Yamato
2. ONLY WE x DDT Special Tag Match ~ DAMNATION T.A Vs PERON GRANDES!: Daisuke Sasaki & KANON Vs Shogun Okamoto Vs Akira Raijin
3. ONLY WE x DDT Special Tag Match ~ Harimao Vs Ω!: Kazusada Higuchi & Naomi Yoshimura Vs Yuji Hino & Makoto Oishi
For the last time this year DDT and ONLY WE have a co-promoted show together. Although the ONLY WE stuff has kind of been hijacked by the Ω revival that took place on these shows. The D-Ou Grand Prix will be over at this point but I bet Higuchi and Hino will have unsettled business after their block match ended in a stalemate. Yoshimura wants to put the whole tournament behind him at this point and you can never count out Makoto Oishi in these situations.
Some of the earlier ONLY WE shows had DAMNATION T.A and PERON GRANDES alliance going on but that seems to be out the window now.
DDT/ONLY WE “GET ALIVE 2022 TOUR IN CHIBA”, 08/10/2022 Chiba TKP Garden City
1. DDT x ONLY WE Special Tag Match I: Saki Akai & Shunma Katsumata Vs Kaji Tomato & Soma Takao
2. HARASHIMA & Toru Owashi Vs Chris Brookes & Takeshi Masada
3. Special Single Match: Shinya Aoki Vs Hiroshi Yamato
4. DDT x ONLY WE Special Tag Match II: Quiet Storm & Yukio Naya Vs Akira Raijin & Hoshitango
5. The 37KAMIINA Vs Pheromones!: Yuki Ueno, MAO & Toi Kojima Vs Yuki “Sexy” Iino, Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno & Koju “Shining Ball” Takeda
6. Kazusada Higuchi, Naomi Yoshimura, Yuki Ishida & Akito Vs Tetsuya Endo, Jun Akiyama, Yusuke Okada & Yuya Koroku
7. KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles: Daisuke Sasaki, MJ Paul & KANON (c) Vs Yuji Hino, Makoto Oishi & Shiori Asahi
There are two changes to the show that were made during the week. Shogun Okamoto found out he might be a close contact to a covid case so he was taken off the show just to be safe. Hoshitango takes his place in the ONLY WE Vs PERON GRANDES match.
Hibiscus Mii is off the show due to a family situation. Soma Takao takes her place in the opening match.
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “WRESTLE PRINCESS III”, 09/10/2022 Tokyo Dome City Hall
1. Moka Miyamoto & Juria Nagano Vs Arisu Endo & Kaya Toribami
2. Yuki Kamifuku, Mahiro Kiryu & Haruna Neko Vs Nao Kakuta, Yuna Manase & Yoshiko Hasegawa
3. Suzume Vs Ryo Mizunami
4. Mizuki Vs Hyper Misao
5. Aja Kong, Raku & Pom Harajuku Vs Rika Tatsumi, Yuki Aino & Max The Impaler
6. Miyu Yamashita & Maki Itoh Vs Riho & Hikari Noa
7. International Princess Title: Alex Windsor (c) Vs Miu Watanabe
8. Princess Tag Team Titles: Saki Akai & Yuki Arai (c) Vs Rhia O’Reilly & Nightshade
9. Princess Of Princess Title: Shoko Nakajima (c) Vs Yuka Sakazaki
I couldn’t find the time this week to write up a preview for Tokyo Joshi Pro’s big show in Tokyo Dome City Hall.
DDT “DRAMATIC DREAMS! VOL. 9 ~NO CLOUDS OVER THE MOON~”, 10/10/2022 Osaka Higashinari Ward Community Center
0. The Man Called Supernova & The Man Who Was Once Called Supernova Vs The Men Who Were Never Called Supernova: Soma Takao & Takeshi Masada Vs Yusuke Okada & Yuki Ishida
1. Special 6-Man Tag Match ~Smile Squash Vs DAMNATION T.A~: HARASHIMA, Yasu Urano & Akito Vs Minoru Fujita, MJ Paul & KANON
2. A Song Of Geniuses! Special 4 Way Tag Match: Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno Vs Toru Owashi & Kazuki Hirata Vs Sanshiro Takagi & Makoto Oishi Vs Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi & Yoshihiko
3. DDT Dotonbori THE NEXT!: Toi Kojima & Harutoki Vs Hideki Okatani & Yuya Koroku
4. Naniwa Earthquake! Super Special 6-Man Tag Match: Magnitude Kishiwada, Yuji Hino & Yukio Naya Vs Shuji Ishikawa, Yukio Sakaguchi & Chris Brookes
5. Special Tag Match Sterness Siege ~Men Of Ice Vs Men Of Melting Ice~: Jun Akiyama & Antonio Honda Vs Kuishinbo Kamen & Kikutaro
6. Special Single Match ~Road Of Former Champions~: Tetsuya Endo Vs Masahiro Takanashi
7. Double Main Event I Special Tag Match ~Wrestling Master Jrs Vs The 37KAMIINA~: Daisuke Sasaki & HUB Vs Yuki Ueno & Shunma Katsumata:
8. Double Main Event II Special Tag Match Osaka Monogatari ~ Destruction Demon King Vs The “It Was The Power Of Wrestling That Resolved The Worst Of Their Relationship To The Point Where They Didn’t Even See Eye To Eye. Their Belief Is That There Is Never A Normal Good Match And The Common Denominator Is An Unusual wrestling Head”z~: Kazusada Higuchi & Naomi Yoshimura Vs Shigehiro Irie & MAO
The final match on the show is something Yukinori Matsui had wanted to do for a long time. He believes if Shigehiro Irie & MAO can get along and be on the same page it could result in an amazing tag team. Irie & MAO had a falling out several years ago when Irie left DDT but their icy relationship began to thaw at the last New Year’s Eve show. Matsui has the happiest of all to see the two repair their friendship and has high hopes the two will work great together. Irie is also close with Kazusada Higuchi & Naomi Yoshimura. He held the KO-D Tag Team Titles one time with Higuchi and spent time with Yoshimura when the two wrestled in Canada together back in 2018.
Yuki Ueno said he is looking forward to facing HUB because he admires him so much. Ueno got into wrestling when his high school classmate Konosuke Takeshita became a wrestler. He quickly discovered Osaka Pro and HUB/Super Dolphin was the person who stood out to him the most. It is why Ueno uses the WR as his finisher because it was originally HUB’s move first.
The last time Tetsuya Endo Vs Masahiro Takanashi was supposed to happen both wrestlers held the top two singles titles in DDT. Things have changed a lot since then and now the match is happening under different circumstances. Endo is still hoping to gain something from the match that will help him in the future. Takanashi still represents the older years of DDT that are different to the era Tetsuya Endo broke in with. The match is just as much a clash of two different DDT ideologies as it is two former champions facing off.
DDT “GET ALIVE 2022”, 12/10/2022 Tokyo Korakuen Hall
1. 4 Way Tag Match: Daisuke Sasaki & MJ Paul Vs Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Yumehito “Fantastic” Imanari Vs Yusuke Okada & Yuya Koroku Vs Yukio Naya & Hideki Okatani
2. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Tetsuya Endo, Jun Akiyama & Yuji Hino Vs HARASHIMA, Chris Brookes & Masahiro Takanashi
3. Get Alive 4 Major Single Match! Yuki Ishida 1st Anniversary Match ~ Playfulness Series Act 4: Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno Vs Yuki Ishida
4. Get Alive 4 Major Single Match!: Koju “Shining Ball” Takeda Vs Toi Kojima
5. Get Alive 4 Major Single Match!: Toru Owashi Vs Kazuki Hirata
6. Get Alive 4 Major Single Match!: Yukio Sakaguchi Vs Takeshi Masada
7. Makoto Oishi 20th Anniversary Match ~ Men’s Club Vs The 37KAMIINA: Makoto Oishi, MEN’S Teioh & Shiori Asahi Vs Yuki Ueno, MAO & Shunma Katsumata
8. KO-D Tag Team Titles: Kazusada Higuchi & Naomi Yoshimura (c) Vs Daisuke Sasaki & KANON
Daisuke Sasaki is spreading lies about Harimao being bad for DDT. He claimed at a press conference Hisaya Imabayashi is expecting the company to decline because Higuchi & Yoshimura are the KO-D Tag Champions so he is begging Sasaki & KANON to win the belts for DDT’s sake. KANON wants to add another title belt to the KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles and thinks the red tag belts will look better on DAMNATION T.A. The matches building up to the title shot saw Sasaki & KANON target Higuchi’s right hand.
The Men’s Club reunion is supposed to be a one time get together to celebrate Makoto Oishi’s 20th Anniversary. However there’s been a little bit of speculation that if they win against The 37KAMIINA then Oishi & Shiori Asahi might try and convince MEN’S Teioh to revive the unit for a new generation.
Takeshi Masada has been training with a former K-1 World Champion to prepare for his match with Yukio Sakaguchi. Masada approached Hideaki Yamazaki for advice against Sakaguchi’s kicks. Yamazaki inspected Masada’s Roundhouse Kick and agreed to teach him his signature Hanging Kick to use against Sakaguchi.
There was more trickery in the press conference during Yuki Ishida’s interview. Danshoku Dieno showed up disguised as a reporter and kept asking him shameful questions. When Ishida and Imabayashi figured out it was Dieno, he attacked the both of them and left them in a beaten state with their backsides both exposed. Dieno then took over the interview and complained about having another “Final Battle” against Sanshiro Takagi on 23rd October. It wasn’t until he finished and left the room when Matsui revived both Ishida and Imabayashi.
TJPW “YUME PRO WRESTLING -DREAM ON THE RING-”, 14/10/2022 Shinjuku FACE
1. Exhibition Match: Risako Vs Rika Tatsumi
2. Exhibition Match: Wakana Uehara Vs Shoko Nakajima
3. Exhibition Match: Himari Manaka Vs Miyu Yamashita
This week’s episode of Yume Pro Wrestling -dream on the ring- on TJPW’s Youtube channel revealed the exhibition matches that Risako, Wakana Uehara and Himari Manaka have spent month training for. Risako takes on Rika Tatsumi, Uehara faces Shoko Nakajima and Manaka goes against Miyu Yamashita. The matches were determined by a random draw.
GANBARE☆PRO “PUNCH DRUNK LOVE 2022”, 22/10/2022 Tokyo Oji BASEMENT MON☆STAR
1. GanPro Oji Specialty Secret Captain’s Fall 8-Man Tag Match: Soma Takao, Yuna Manase, Moeka Haruhi & YuuRI Vs Shinichiro Tominaga, Harukaze, Yuna Mizumori & Yoshiko Hasegawa
2. Just Before 11.3! Special Tag Match: Hartley Jackson & Seiya Morohashi Vs Shuichiro Katsumura & Kouki Iwasaki
3. GanPro Specialty Three Great Singles Match: Yumehito Imanari Vs Yuki Kanzaki
4. GanPro Specialty Three Great Singles Match: Mizuki Watase Vs Tyson Maeguchi
5. GanPro Specialty Three Great Singles Match ~Ken Ohka Debut 21st Anniversary Match~: Ken Ohka Vs Keisuke Ishii
Ken Ohka celebrates 21 years in the business, Hartley Jackson and Shuichiro Katsumura get a preview tag match for their Spirit Of Ganbare Title match and newly freelance Yuna Mizumori joins in the party that is the Secret Captain’s Fall match.
DDT “HIROSHI YAMATO 15TH ANNIVERSARY DEBUT ~ KIMI NO WA PRO WRESTLING FESTA”, 30/10/2022 Chiba Kimitsu Shiritsu Shuto Junior High School Gymnasium
1. Hideki Okatani Vs Takeshi Masada
2. Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno Vs Naoshi Sano & Kazuki Hirata
3. Kuishinbo Kamen & Makoto Oishi Vs Chris Brookes & Yuya Koroku
4. HARASHIMA & Yukio Sakaguchi Vs Yuji Hino & Yusuke Okada
5. Kimitsu Specialty Special Tag Match: Saki Akai & Antonio Honda Vs SAKI & Shunma Katsumata
6. DAMNATION T.A Vs The 37KAMIINA!: Daisuke Sasaki, MJ Paul & KANON Vs Yuki Ueno, MAO & Toi Kojima
7. Hiroshi Yamato Debut 15th Anniversary Special 6-Man Tag Match: Hiroshi Yamato, Tetsuya Endo & Jun Akiyama Vs Kazusada Higuchi, Naomi Yoshimura & Yuki Ishida
Another celebration show, this time for Hiroshi Yamato. He teams with BURNING to take on Harimao. There are also special guests like Kuishinbo Kamen, SAKI and Naoshi Sano involved.
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW INSPIRATION”, 10/04/2022 Shin-Kiba 1st RING 107 Fans
1. Miyu Yamashita defeated Kaya Toribami with the Attitude Adjustment (7:03).
2. Yuka Sakazaki defeated Moka Miyamoto with a Chickenwing Lock (11:25).
3. Marika Kobashi & Abdullah Kobayashi defeated SAKI & Antonio Honda when Kobashi pinned Honda with the Bakachinga Elbow Drop (17:29).
3a. Extra Match: Abdullah Kobayashi Vs Marika Kobashi ended in a Time Limit Draw (3:00).
4. Rika Tatsumi defeated Suzume with the White Dragon Sleeper (13:32).
The latest edition of “TJPW INSPIRATION” presented two matches where one wrestler got to be in the ring with someone who influenced them. In the main event Suzume faced Rika Tatsumi, the woman she aspires to be. She wasn’t able to beat her but Tatsumi was left impressed by her opponent. It was a chance for Suzume to look at herself and see how much she has grown. She is catching up with her seniors but can’t stop because they too are also moving forward. Suzume promised she will continue to fly higher whether it’s as a singles wrestler or in a tag team.
The other big match of the show had Marika Kobashi team up with her favourite pro wrestler, Abdullah Kobayashi. The origin of this story is Kobashi first met Kobayashi back when she was in elementary school. She then became a fan of his in junior high school after seeing him wrestle in a shopping district. In fact, he is one of the reasons why Kobashi took that name for her moniker. Getting the chance to team with him today was a dream come true for her. They won too, beating SAKI & Antonio Honda when the two of them gave Honda the Bakachinga Elbow.
That wasn’t all though. Kobayashi said he wanted to wrestle against Kobashi and challenged her to a match right there and then! However he had a busy evening ahead of him so he only had time for the match to have a 3 minute time limit. The match began with Kobashi threw Dropkicks, Chops and Elbow Strikes but Kobayashi stopped her with a Headbutt. He landed the Bakachinga Elbow but Kobashi kicked out and the match ended in a time limit draw. Kobayashi told her not to forget these feelings after she graduates from pro wrestling. Also she is still young so she can always come back to wrestling in the future. Kobashi thanked him for making her dream come true. She also explained her graduation from Tokyo Joshi Pro does not mean she is retiring from pro wrestling. She is going to grow up and become stronger. She told Kobayashi not to retire while she is gone because she will come back as a cool lady wrestler ready to crush him!
Two other singles matches filled up the small card. Yuka Sakazaki submitted Moka Miyamoto with a Chickenwing Lock. Sakazaki spent the match tying up Miyamoto in other submission holds. Miyamoto had some of her own like the Rashomon and a Sleeper Hold. That Sleeper Hold though was countered into the Chickenwing leading to the finish.
Miyu Yamashita beat Kaya Toribami in a similar match where the veteran put their less experience opponent through a tough challenge. Toribami did avoid the Attitude Adjustment early but the move was successfully pulled off later to finish her off.
The show began with Shoko Nakajima announcing she will be wrestling in London, England for EVE on 23rd April. That means she will not be at the Ryogoku KFC Hall show on the 24th. Nakajima said she wants to travel around the world and England will be the third country she will have wrestled in. Her goal is to make it to 100!
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TOKYO JOSHI 2022 WINTER”, 05/03/2022 Tokyo Ryogoku KFC Hall
1. Nao Kakuta & Kaya Toribami Vs Mahiro Kiryu & Haruna Neko
2. 3 Way Match: Hyper Misao Vs Yuki Aino Vs Arisu Endo
3. Yuki Kamifuku & Hikari Noa Vs Raku & Pom Harajuku
4. Nodoka Tenma Vs Marika Kobashi
5. Miyu Yamashita, Yuka Sakazaki, Mizuki, Maki Itoh & Suzume Vs Shoko Nakajima, Rika Tatsumi, Miu Watanabe, Yuki Arai & Moka Miyamoto
Tomorrow is kind of the go home show for “GRAND PRINCESS ’22”. There is also a fan club show happening on Sunday but that is usually just fun and games rather than anything serious. Not like Shoko Nakajima is going to beat Miyu Yamashita into a bloody mess to get some last minute heat on that show or anything like that.
DDT “JUDGEMENT 2022 TOUR IN OSAKA”, 13/03/2022 Osaka Suminoe Maikon Hall
1. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Kazusada Higuchi, Yukio Sakaguchi & Kazuki Hirata Vs Yuji Hino, Bodyguard & Yukio Naya
2. Osaka Specialty Special Single Match: Naomi Yoshimura Vs Chris Brookes
3. Maikon no Kohara Presents Special Survival Tag Match: Konosuke Takeshita, Yuki Ueno, Shunma Katsumata & Toui Kojima Vs Tetsuya Endo, Jun Akiyama, Yusuke Okada & Yuya Koroku
Hey, hey, hey, the Survival Tag Match is supposed to be Ganbare☆Pro’s gimmick! It’s a rule that works so well now DDT are giving it a go for The 37KAMIINA Vs BURNING. The stipulation is both teams have four wrestlers and two are chosen to take part in a regular tag team match. When a wrestler is beaten, they are eliminated and get replaced with the next in line. When a team is reduced to one wrestler left they lose because they do not have enough members to do a tag match. So the first team to get three eliminations win. Over the top rope elimination rules are enforced too for this match.
One KO-D Tag Team Champion down, one to go. Chris Brookes has already beaten HARASHIMA so now he is taking on Naomi Yoshimura. You can bet Masahiro Takanashi will get involved again.
Kazuki Hirata returns from covid and has to make up for lost time preparing for his match against Jun Akiyama later this month. Throwing him in there against three heavyweights should move him along nicely. At least he has Eruption backing him up.
DDT “KOMINATO RAILWAY TRAIN PRO WRESTLING”, 02/04/2022 Kominato Railway Goi Station
Back in 2017 DDT held a pro wrestling match inside a moving train travelling from Nakanomachi to Ogawa. They are going to do it again this time partnering with Kominato Railway in Chiba. There will be three matches taking place on the day. One will be held inside a moving train leaving the Goi Station with 32 fans in attendance. The destination is Yoro Valley Station where a wrestling ring is set up for two more matches to begin there minutes after arrival.
Right now only Hiroshi Yamato is advertised to be involved with the DDT wrestlers to be announced. There is obviously fans hoping to see the train lover Raku be able to take part. However Tokyo Joshi Pro has a show going on in Ryogoku KFC Hall that same day at the same time so we have to wait and see where she can go.
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW INSPIRATION”, 10/04/2022 Shin-Kiba 1st RING
1. Miyu Yamashita Vs Kaya Toribami
2. Yuka Sakazaki Vs Moka Miyamoto
3. Rika Tatsumi Vs Suzume
4. Marika Kobashi & Abdullah Kobayashi Vs SAKI & Antonio Honda
It’s a dream come true for Marika Kobashi! No seriously, it is. Abdullah Kobayashi is her favourite wrestler and part inspiration for her own ring name (The “Ko” in Kobashi refers to Kobayashi). SAKI returns to TJPW for the occasion but I don’t know if she has the same level of admiration for Antonio Honda.
BASARA “BASARA 188 ~GLITTER~”, 12/04/2022 Shin-Kiba 1st RING
Isami Kodaka is getting surgery on his jaw soon and will be out of action during most of April, including the monthly Shin-Kiba 1st RING show. He fractured the left side of his jaw back in 2018 wrestling a cage match against Masashi Takeda. The surgery here is to remove the material that was used to aid with recovery, which I guess is stuff like a plate and screws. His first match back in BASARA after the surgery is scheduled to be on 28th April.
DDT “NEVER MIND 2021 IN YOYOGI”, 26/12/2021 Yoyogi National Stadium 2nd Gymnasium
0. Dark Match: Toru Owashi & Yukio Naya Vs Antonio Honda & Hideki Okatani
0. Dark Match: Sanshiro Takagi Vs Maku Donaruto
0. Dark Match – DDTeeeen!! Special Single Match: Ilusion Vs Vent Vert Jack
1. Soma Takao & Shota Vs Akito & Yuki Ishida
2. Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno, Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Yumehito “Fantastic” Imanari Vs Shinya Aoki, Yumiko Hotta & Super Sasadango Machine
3. Special Single Match: Shuji Kondo Vs Kazuki Hirata
4. BURNING Vs The 37KAMIINA!: Tetsuya Endo, Jun Akiyama, Yusuke Okada & Yuya Koroku Vs Shunma Katsumata, Yuki Ueno, MAO & Toui Kojima
5. Special 6-Man Tag Match – Yukio Sakaguchi Return Match: Yukio Sakaguchi, Kazusada Higuchi & Saki Akai Vs Minoru Suzuki, Chris Brookes & Maki Itoh
6. KO-D Tag Team Titles: HARASHIMA & Naomi Yoshimura Vs Yuji Hino & Bodyguard
7. DDT Universal Title: Daisuke Sasaki (c) Vs Masahiro Takanashi
8. KO-D Openweight Title: Konosuke Takeshita (c) Vs Yuji Okabayashi
Earlier today Chris Brookes & Maki Itoh went to visit Minoru Suzuki at his clothing store Piledriver in Harajuku. Their intention was to initiate Suzuki as the newest member of The Itoh Respect Army before their match against Eruption. Despite Suzuki’s intimidating presence, the two introduced themselves to him and explained what was going on. Suzuki told them if they spent 10,000 yen in his shop then he would become friends with them. He gave advice to Itoh, telling her not to compare herself to others. He also said he will target Yukio Sakaguchi because he has known him since junior high. Brookes volunteered to fight Saki Akai because they are both tall and slim wrestlers who have good chemistry together in the ring. That leaves Itoh to deal with Kazusada Higuchi. Brookes told Itoh they both have iron heads so it will be an even fight. Itoh welcomed Suzuki into the Itoh Respect Army after making Brookes pay for their items. However Suzuki denies joining the unit because he is still Suzuki-gun.
GAKE NO FUCHI JOSHI PRO “CLOCKWORK GAKE NO FUCHI 2022 ~GAKE NO FUCHI VS PROMINENCE~”, 04/01/2021 Shinjuku FACE
1. Hardcore Match: Chris Brookes Vs Suzu Suzuki
Two years ago Gake No Fuchi Joshi held an unforgettable Ittenyon show where Brookes and Miyako Matsumoto had a nightmare of a Falls Count Anywhere Match. Matsumoto urgently decided to hold a show on 4th January again but this time it’s to welcome one of the newest joshi units onto the scene. A few weeks ago several wrestlers from Ice Ribbon announced their intentions to go leave the company and become a freelance death match unit called Prominence. One of the key members of this new unit is Suzu Suzuki who was built up by Ice Ribbon to be their young prodigy with a love for death match wrestling. A Hardcore Match against Brookes is exactly what she is looking for after taking her career in a new direction.
The other members of Prominence will also be on the show for other matches. The members are Risa Sera, Mochi Miyagi and Akane Fujita. Gake No Fuchi in the past hasn’t held more than two matches in a single show so I expect it to be a tag match with Matsumoto also involved. As you will see below the Prominence wrestlers have no problem with wrestling each other.
DDT “DDTEEEEN!!”, 05/01/2022 Tokyo Itabashi Green Hall
1. Raimu Imai & Toui Kojima Vs Yuya Koroku & Yuki Ishida
2. Daichi Sato Vs Yuki Ueno
3. Hardcore Match: Suzu Suzuki & Hideki Okatani Vs Akane Fujita & Shunma Katsumata
4. Ilusion & Tetsuya Endo Vs Vent Vert Jack & Naomi Yoshimura
5. El Unicorn Vs You-sei☆Estrella
The main event between El Unicorn and You-sei☆Estrella promises to be a high flying battle.
If there is any unsettled business between Ilusion and Vent Vert Jack from Yoyogi then Tetsuya Endo and Naomi Yoshimura will help clear things up between them.
Prominence is also showing up on the next DDTeeeen!! show with Suzuki and Fujita taking part in a Hardcore Match. Suzuki will team with Hideki Okatani who recently took part in his first Hardcore Match thanks to Shunma Katsumata. Only makes sense for Katsumata to drag him into another here.
The other teenage wrestlers Daichi Sato and Raimu Imai are back for more.
GANBARE☆PRO “MOEKA HARUHI PRODUCE ~PARADISE AFTER THE RAIN 2022~”, 08/01/2022 Kitazawa Town Hall
1. Rain And Bumblebees: Shuichiro Katsumura Vs Thanomusaku Toba Vs Fuminori Abe
2. Rain And Then Downpour: Ken Ohka & Miyako Matsumoto Vs Nobuhiro Shimatani & HARUKAZE
3. After The Rain, Gokigen: Kaori Yoneyama Vs YuuRI
4. I Like The Rain: Moeka Haruhi, Makoto & Cherry Vs Yuna Manase, Rina Yamashita & Tsubasa Kuragaki
The final match added to Moeka Haruhi’s produce show is a heavy striking 3 Way between Shuichiro Katsumura, Tanomusaku Toba and Fuminori Abe.
GANBARE☆PRO “TROPIC THUNDER 2022”, 10/01/2022 Tokyo Itabashi Green Hall
1. Hatsuyume Special Tag Match 2nd Round: Yuna Manase & YuuRI Vs SAKI & Hikari Shimizu
2. RENEGADES Are Back! New Year Special Tag Team Match: Shigehiro Irie & Mizuki Watase Vs Yumehito Imanari & Baliyan Akki
3. Ganpro New Year Battle 2022 2nd Round: Shuichiro Katsumura, Taison Maeguchi & Moeka Haruhi Vs Shota, Nobuhiro Shimatani & HARUKAZE
4. New Year Special Single Match 2nd Round: Soma Takao Vs Shinichiro Tominaga
5. Ganpro Vs Takaiwa Army Full Scale Battle 2nd Round: Keisuke Ishii & Kouki Iwasaki Vs 5th Black Tiger & Kenya Maeda
6. Spirit Of Ganbare World Openweight Title: Tatsuhito Takaiwa (c) Vs Ken Ohka
Now that Mizuki Watase has gotten his feet wet in Ganbare☆Pro he is getting straight to business. He is reviving RENEGADES with Shigehiro Irie! The tag team was originally a unit led by Irie during his 2018 main event run in DDT. However most of the unit was made up of foreign wrestlers so for now RENEGADES is coming back as just a tag team. Watase said he will DM the other members and ask them to come back once the pandemic is over. There is one question I have to ask. Does this mean Watase will wrestle in a suit again?
The Ganbare☆Joshi division is open to work with Color’s and that relationship continues here. Yuna Manase is looking for more joshi to appear on GanJo shows. YuuRI also just learned a harsh lesson being in the ring with SAKI.
GANBARE☆JOSHI “PROTECT YOU AND LOVE YOU 2021”, 19/12/2021 Shin-Kiba 1st RING 168 Fans – No Vacancy
1. Ganjo Three Special Singles Match – YuuRI “Glamorous Valkyrie” Trial Single Match Round 3: SAKI defeated YuuRi with a Power Slam (12:34).
2. Actwres girl’Z Offer Match: Miku Aono & Aoi Natsu defeated Hikari Shimizu & Rina Amikura when Aono pinned Amikura with the Double Arm Suplex (11:52).
3. Ganjo Three Special Singles Match: Moeka Haruhi defeated HARUKAZE with the 79.5MHz (12:00)
4. Secret Captain’s Fall Elimination 6-Man Tag Match: Ken Ohka, Keisuke Ishii & Mizuki Watase (C) defeated Shota (C), Soma Takao & Shinichiro Tominaga (16:46).
4a. Shota (C) eliminated Ken Ohka by Ring Out (6:48).
4b. Shota (C) eliminated Keisuke Ishii by Ring Out (8:55).
4c. Mizuki Watase (C) eliminated Soma Takao by Ring Out (15:00).
4d. Mizuki Watase (C) eliminated Shota (C) with a Cradle Cutback (16:46).
5. Ganjo Three Special Singles Match: Yuna Manase defeated Yuu Yamagata with the Suzuki Dynamic (12:41).
All year long Yuna Manase has been searching for a win against Yuu Yamagata. It has been the one story that had been built around Ganbare☆Joshi since its reboot. Today was the day it finally happened! Lariats and hitting the Suzuki Dynamic twice were what Manase needed to do to win. Afterwards a defeated Yamagata declared she was withdrawing from Ganjo. She finally lost like Manase wanted and saw no reason to sick around. But Manase stopped her and said Yamagata was the one main eventing Ganjo all year. She is Ganjo more than anyone else! Manase welcomed Yamagata to stay and the two sang “Tonbo” together. Backstage Manase told reporters that her goal this year was not to leave a mark but to produce results. She achieved her goal of beating Yamagata and proved that if you never give up, your dreams can come true. Manase also asks if there is anybody out there looking to join Ganpro to send her a DM. She knows the joshi scene is undergoing tremendous upheaval right now and Ganjo is looking to find new friends.
There were some arguments over the Secret Captain’s Fall Elimination rules before that match began. The two teams chose their captains by writing them on pieces of paper and handing them over to the ring announcer. Shota said that while it is a thrilling rule it is also unfair and he would prefer if everyone knew who the captains were before the match starts. Ken Ohka shrugged away the complaints which led to Shota thinking he was the captain. He was proven wrong when Ohka was eliminated first and the ring announcer revealed he was not the captain. Keisuke Ishii and he wasn’t the captain either which meant Mizuki Watase was meant to be the target all along. Watase pulled off a come from behind victory by eliminating Soma Takao and then pinning Shota, who was the captain for his team all along.
Watase celebrated the victory by declaring he is now part of Ganbare☆Pro and won his first match with the promotion. He then announced that on the 10th January tripleheader he wants to revive RENEGADES with Shigehiro Irie and main event one of the shows. Ohka said it isn’t up to Irie to make that decision. They’re in Ganpro so it is Ohka who decides and he approves of a RENEGADES revival! Watase later revealed he will DM the other members Sammy Guevara and Jason Kincaid to come over when the pandemic ends.
Moeka Haruhi had a lot of fun wrestling HARUKAZE because it was a long time since their last singles match together. However Haruhi is concerned over the path HARUKAZE took over the last few months to get stronger. It must be hard for her but Haruhi felt her persistence in the ring and never saw her as being weak. She is clumsy but does her best and lives life to the fullest. A tearful HARUKAZE said she was the very first person to join the Ganjo division but once others joined was instantly the weakest member among them. She tried not to show her depression but Haruhi was always there for her and she is grateful for it. From now on she is going to stop calling herself weak. The two promised to continue working hard for Ganjo, hugged and then bowed to each other.
Today’s show gets to play a little part in the wider story of Actwres girl’Z going away and Color’s coming out of it. Hikari Shimizu & Rina Amikura both did the “We are Color’s” pose during their tag match. Miku Aono & Aoi Natsu got the better of them in the end and won the match.
YuuRI is now zero for three in her trial series after losing to the Color’s leader SAKI. Ohka gave YuuRI advice after the match, telling her never to forget the regret she feels for losing. He then told her the 4th match in her trial is against Hong Kong International Police Man. YuuRI doesn’t know who that is but promised to win against him. SAKI was more a little more harsh with her advice for YuuRI. She said YuuRI should not be making excuses in order to work hard and she also should not give herself the excuse that all she needs to do is work hard.
Posted by JamieOD 
Dramatic DDT 