I’ll write more about this in next week’s DDT Around The World article but congratulations go out to Shoko Nakajima for winning the MLW Women’s World Featherweight Championship in America on Saturday! That’s the good news. The bad news is her and HIMAWARI are currently stranded in America because according to their tweets their flight home was delayed for half a day and then cancelled. Hopefully that gets sorted out quickly.
DDT “D GENERATIONS 1”, 08/04/2025 Tokyo Ueno Park Outdoor Stage
1. Oji Shiiba Vs Yuni
2. Special Single Match: Daichi Kazato Vs Keigo Nakamura
3. Munetatsu Nakamura & Ali Najima Vs Takeshi Masada & Yuki Ishida
4. Special Tag Match: Soma Takao & Shota Vs Yuya Koroku & Kazuma Sumi
5. Special Single Match: Shigehiro Irie Vs Daichi Sato
6. Special Single Match: Keisuke Ishii Vs To-y
There will be a press conference involving Keigo Nakamura taking place during tomorrow’s show. He hinted it will be about a big challenge he wants to take on and he would like to talk about it in front of his supporters.
M&A “SANSHIRO TAKAGI 30TH ANNIVERSARY PROJECT ~MATCHMAKE & AGENT~”, 09/04/2025 Tokyo Ueno Park Outdoor Stage
1. Shota Vs Mikiya Sasaki
2. 3 Minutes Impact: Shigehiro Irie Vs Ryoma Tsukamoto
3. Special Tag Match: Yumiko Hotta & Miku Kanae Vs Mio Shirai & Saran
4. Special Single Match: Jun Kasai Vs Maki Itoh
5. Special Tag Match: Yuji Nagata & Kuroshio TOKYO Japan Vs Brahman Shu & Brahman Kei
6. Special Single Match: Andreza Giant Panda Vs Poison Sawada JULIE
7. KO-D Tag Team Titles: Fuminori Abe & Takuya Nomura (c) Vs Hikaru Sato & Ippanjin Munenori Sawa
After getting through their first KO-D Tag Team Titles defence, Fuminori Abe & Takuya Nomura decided their goal as champions is to break the record for most defences. The current record is 12 wins as held by Sanshiro Takagi & Munenori Sawa. Knowing it is a long road ahead, Astronauts quickly came up with the idea to put the titles on the line in their next match which just so happens to be against the SEX-MEN of Sawa & Hikaru Sato on a show that Takagi is booking.
DDT “MENTAI WARS”, 12/04/2025 Fukuoka Nishitetsu Hall
1. Kazuma Sumi Vs Ilusion
2. Jun Akiyama, Yuya Koroku & Daichi Sato Vs Kazusada Higuchi, Soma Takao & Yukio Naya
3. HARASHIMA, Azul Dragon & Kazuki Hirata Vs Toru Owashi, Akito & Yuki Ishida
4. Special Single Match: Hideki Okatani Vs Keigo Nakamura
5. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Chris Brookes, Danshoku Dieno & Takeshi Masada Vs Yuki Ueno, Shunma Katsumata & To-y
6. Special Tag Match: Daisuke Sasaki & MJ Paul Vs MAO & KANON
A new alliance has been formed in DDT. It turns out MAO has been wanting to team up with KANON for quite some time and now is the time for them to join forces like some sort of Strange Love Connection. They’re going straight for the enemy because their first opponents as a tag team is against Daisuke Sasaki & MJ Paul from DAMNATION T.A.
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “KANDA MYOJON CULTURAL EXCHANGE CENTER PRESENTS THIS IS JAPAN”, 19/04/2025 Tokyo Kanda Myojin Hall
1. International Princess Title Next Challenger Tournament: HIMAWARI Vs Toga Vs Haru Kazashiro Vs Mifu Ashida Vs Kira Summer Vs Chika Nanase Vs Uta Takami Vs Ivy Steele
1a. Round 1: X, X, X & X Vs X, X, X & X
1b. Round 2: X & X Vs X & X
1c. Final: X Vs X
One day after the International Princess Title is being defended in America, the next No. 1 Contender will be decided back in Japan. An unusual tournament format will be used in a series of matches between wrestlers from the 2023 and 2024 classes. The first match will be an 8-Woman Tag Match with the two teams randomly selected by lottery. The winning team will move onto the next round where they will randomly split into two teams for a regular tag team match. The winning team from that will reach the final where the two remaining wrestlers face each other to become the No. 1 Contender. The date of the winner’s title shot depends on the result of the Suzume Vs Jada Stone title match happening in Las Vegas.
DDT “KANDA MYOJON CULTURAL EXCHANGE CENTER PRESENTS LAS VEGAS SERIES ~JITSUGETSU~”, 19/04/2025 Tokyo Kanda Myojin Hall
1. Yuki Ueno & To-y Vs Danshoku Dieno & Soma Takao
2. Special Tag Match: Chris Brookes & Takeshi Masada Vs HARASHIMA & Daichi Sato
3. DDT Extreme Title: Super Sasadango Machine (c) Vs Kazuki Hirata
The card for DDT’s show in Japan during the American trip is starting to take up shape. Super Sasadango Machine’s has his first DDT Extreme Title defence coming up and Kazuki Hirata is the challenger.
The voice actor Tetsu Inada will be attending both shows in Japan that weekend as an ambassador. He doesn’t know what that role entails but he will do whatever it takes to make Kanda Myojin just as exciting as Las Vegas for a weekend!
DDT “KANDA MYOJON CULTURAL EXCHANGE CENTER PRESENTS LAS VEGAS SERIES ~NESHIN~”, 20/04/2025 Tokyo Kanda Myojin Hall
1. Twilight Rouge Cup Battle Royal: X Vs X
The second show will feature the voice actress Sumire Uesaka as a special guest. She will be there to promote her pop-up café called Twilight Rouge. As part of the collaboration, the café is sponsoring a battle royal on the show.
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW SPRING TOUR 2025 IN SAPPORO”, 26/04/2025 Hokkaido Sapporo Sun Plaza
It’s been six years since Tokyo Joshi Pro last held a show in Sapporo.
DDT “DRAMATIC DREAMS! VOL. 12 ~GIVE IT TO THE CLOUDS THE MOUNTAIN CUCKOO~”, 17/05/2025 Osaka City Sumiyoshi Civic Center
1. Special 6-Man Tag Match ~Laughter Leads To Hell~: Kuishinbo Kamen, Shunma Katsumata & Ram Kaichow Vs Kikutaro, Antonio Honda & No Name
Konosuke Takeshita will be at the show.
DDT “KING OF DDT 2025 FINAL!!”, 25/05/2025 Tokyo Korakuen Hall
1. King Of DDT 2025 – Semi Final: X Vs X
2. King Of DDT 2025 – Semi Final: X Vs X
3. Special Single Match: Minoru Suzuki Vs Danshoku Dieno
4. King Of DDT 2025 – Final: X Vs X
Who knew that one of Danshoku Dieno’s biggest desires was to get into the fight of his life against Minoru Suzuki? The two of them fought to a double countout in yesterday’s tag match after Suzuki demanded Dieno to take things seriously. Dieno is willing to do that and completely drop his Danshoku moveset in order to get a singles match against Suzuki. For the moment this match has nothing to do with Suzuki’s DDT Universal Title. We’ll have to wait and see how his match with Yoshihiko goes in Vegas.
DDT “CHANGE AGE 2025 ~YOUR LIE IN APRIL~”, 06/04/2025 Tokyo Korakuen Hall ??? Fans – Unannounced
0. Dark Match: MJ Paul & Ilusion defeated Toru Owashi & Antonio Honda when Ilusion pinned Honda with the Swanton Bomb (7:30).
1. Naomi Yoshimura’s Return Match: Kazusada Higuchi, Naomi Yoshimura, Ryota Nakatsu & Yuki Ishida defeated Yukio Naya, To-y, Takeshi Masada & JJ Furno when Higuchi pinned Furno with the Claw Slam (8:26).
2. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Shunma Katsumata, Yuni & Kazuma Sumi defeated MAO, Kazuki Hirata & Kumadori when Katsumata pinned Hirata with an Inside Cradle (9:53).
3. Special Single Match: Jun Akiyama defeated Daichi Sato with the Exploder Suplex (11:03).
4. 2 Vs 1 Special Handicap Match: Daisuke Sasaki & Hideki Okatani defeated KANON when Okatani pinned KANON with a Vertical Drop Brainbuster (11:55).
5. Special Tag Match: Minoru Suzuki & Yuki Ueno Vs HARASHIMA & Danshoku Dieno ended in a Double Countout (13:29).
6. KO-D Tag Team Titles: Fuminori Abe & Takuya Nomura (c) defeated Shinya Aoki & Keigo Nakamura when Abe pinned Nakamura with the O-Manji Clutch (11:46). *V1 for Astronauts.
7. KO-D Openweight Title: Chris Brookes (c) defeated Yuya Koroku with the Praying Mantis Bomb (23:38). *V4 for Chris Brookes.
Today was Yuya Koroku’s big chance to step up and prove to Chris Brookes that he is not a generic Tetsuya Endo but the man who will lead DDT’s new generation. He didn’t have Brookes’s respect at the start though. Brookes threw a chair at him to stop a dive and targeted the leg to keep him grounded. When Koroku found an opening to go on the attack he went after Brookes’s arm. However the damage done to his leg came back to haunt him when he did the Sky Twister Press and was slow enough to go for the cover that Brookes could kick out of it. The frustration got to Koroku and he shouted “I am not Endo”, leaving his guard down for Brookes to slap him senseless. From there Brookes did the Somato but Koroku kicked out at one. Brookes then stunned Koroku with a Buzzsaw Kick and pinned him with the Praying Mantis Bomb to retain the KO-D Openweight Title.
After the match Brookes finally paid Koroku some respect. He spent all this time badmouthing him but admitted today was fun. Now Brookes is looking forward to winning this year’s King Of DDT so he can choose his next challenger for the KO-D Title. He celebrated the win by sharing drinks with Antonio Honda & Takeshi Honda. They brought a spare can into the ring for the injured Masahiro Takanashi. Backstage the three of them wondered what could happen if the King Of DDT final is between two wrestlers from SCHADENFREUDE International? Meanwhile Koroku said he has learned something from this period of his career. Between this title match and getting to wrestle in New Japan a few days ago, he realized he can’t think of himself as a junior wrestler forever. Today he fought to the end believing in the wrestling he loves. He promises he will come back to this stage and win the KO-D Title.
A tough challenge was given to Astronauts for their first KO-D Tag Team Titles defence. Shinya Aoki & Keigo Nakamura has been working well together as a teacher and student pairing. They also matched the champions strike for strike, hold for hold. There was a moment where Fuminori Abe put Nakamura in the Manjigatame so Aoki did the same to Takuya Nomura. The two then had a strike exchange while still applying the submission holds on the others. Aoki & Nakamura got the upper hand by giving Astronauts stereo Piledrivers. But when Nakamura went to finish Abe off with the Full Nelson Hold, Abe countered it into the O-Manjigatame and modified the submission into a cradle to pin Nakamura for the three count. Astronauts now want to break the record for most KO-D Tag Title defences but found out the current record is held by Sanshiro Takagi & Munenori Sawa at 12 wins. Astronauts just so happen to have a tag match against Sawa & Hikaru Sato (together known as SEX-MEN) coming up at Takagi’s MatchMake & Agent show on Wednesday so they now want to make it a title match!
It’s not often when Minoru Suzuki meets his match in the wrestling ring. It’s even more weird when the person he’s in a stalemate with is Danshoku Dieno! Suzuki did not want to deal with Dieno’s usual shenanigans during their tag match. He asked Dieno if he wants to do the same stuff he’s been doing for 20 years or if he wants to fight? Dieno took Suzuki’s comments to heart and decided to pull his tights back up in order to give Suzuki the serious fight he’s been asking for. The two of them tangled themselves into dueling Leg Locks that rolled them out of the ring. They brawled up among the fans while HARASHIMA and Yuki Ueno fought each other by the stage. As the referee was reaching the 20 count, HARASHIMA & Ueno rushed back into the ring. However neither of them were the legal man meaning Dieno and Suzuki got each other counted out for a draw!
Both were still hurting from the fight when they got back into the ring. Dieno straight up told Suzuki he wants to keep fighting so he challenged him to a singles match. Suzuki wanted to know what is with this company when they’re first putting him in a match against a doll and now in a match with Dieno? At least he enjoys teaming with Ueno and would be happy to keep doing that. He can’t tell if Dieno is serious because fighting Suzuki one on one means it is a fight to the death! Dieno understands that and is willing to throw away the Danshoku moveset so he can have a match with Suzuki. Hisaya Imabayashi agreed to book it for 25th May. Dieno then had a close staredown with Suzuki and resisted the temptation to give him the Lip Lock. Then when Suzuki left the ring Yoshihiko appeared from the balcony and lowered itself down to the entrance aisle. Suzuki no sold it and pushed Yoshihiko aside as he walked back to the locker room.
KANON showed up for his Handicap Match against DAMNATION T.A in new ring gear to show he is now fully separated from the unit. Hideki Okatani also had new gear for his comeback match but that was to show he has fully embraced becoming DAMNATION T.A’s newest member. The match was supposed to be just KANON fighting both Okatani & Daisuke Sasaki but the other DAMNATION T.A members unsurprisingly got involved. MJ Paul and Ilusion did what they could to interfere while Sasaki distracted the referee. KANON put up a valiant fight until Sasaki hit him with a chair and Okatani pinned him with a Vertical Drop Brainbuster.
After the match Sasaki said KANON is no longer of any interest to them but Okatani wanted to give him one last finishing blow. KANON blocked Okatani’s chair attack but couldn’t fight back against the numbers. Suddenly a mystery person looking like Kyonin Shihan from IWA Japan ran into the ring and cleared DAMNATION T.A out of it. The person then turned to KANON and offered to help him stand back up. He then removed his disguise to reveal he is MAO! KANON accepted his help and the two left ringside together. Backstage MAO explained that KANON is not an unwanted child because MAO needs him. He always wanted them to team up because KANON is the only one he feels can help him turn DDT upside down in one go. KANON noted that MAO has a busy schedule coming up so while MAO is away, KANON promises he will become somebody worthy enough to be by his side. MAO said they can spread a Strange Love Connection across wrestling. KANON misunderstood and said he only knows “Bad Communication”…
Young Daichi Sato is now DDT’s latest signing so leave it up to Jun Akiyama to try and kill him on his first day. Akiyama gave him a Piledriver, threw him into the corner post, hit him with Knee Strikes including one with the kneepad pulled down and also made contact with a Headbutt. Sato got to show how tough he is to kick out of pins and fight back with Middle Kicks but Akiyama eventually put him down with the Exploder Suplex. He encouraged Sato to get back up under his own power after the match. Sato did so and hit Akiyama with an Elbow Strike. Akiyama ignored it and walked off. He told reporters backstage that Sato needs to build up more stamina because if he can throw a Forearm Strike after the match then he should have done it during the match. Sato admits he was no match against Akiyama but he wants to grow in DDT and become a wrestler who will surpass Akiyama.
The masked dancer Kumadori returned to DDT for his second ever wrestling match. He had to deal with NωA Jr. who felt his abilities were overshadowing their own musical talent. Kazuki Hirata was on Kumadori’s team but put forth such a weak performance he came close to costing his team the win on several occasions. But when Shunma Katsumata declared that the era of TOKYO GO! is over, Hirata found it in himself to fight back with the power of dance. Yuni & Kazuma Sumi joined Katsumata for a singalong but that was countered by MAO & Kumadori joining in with Hirata’s dancing. A dance battle broke out between the two teams and Katsumata succeeded in pinning Hirata with an Inside Cradle for the victory.
After the match Katsumata signaled to Kumadori that he wants to wrestle him again. He then announced that NωA Jr.’s second single called “Oshi Towel de Blow Off Lucha♪” will be released on 6th May. Suddenly Sanshiro Takagi came out and told NωA Jr. the harsh reality. They made 10,000 copies of their first single and only sold 800 of them. The reason for that is because the unit does not have a clear goal. Takagi came up with a solution because he wants to see NωA Jr. win the New Artist Award at the next Japan Record Awards. So Takagi booked an NωA Jr. at Shinjuku Loft on 23rd December and their goal is to sell it out!
All of Harimao were reunited for Naomi Yoshimura’s long awaited return from injury. Yukio Naya wasted no time in calling Yoshimura to start the match against him. To-y was eager to get “T! O! Y!” chants going but Ryota Nakatsu wanted to replace it with “N! K! T!” chants. Takeshi Masada Power Bombed Yuki Ishida into the turnbuckles but was thrown aside by Yoshimura with the Harai Goshi. JJ Furno came close to winning when he hit the Firebird Splash on Kazusada Higuchi but the count was broken up by the rest of Harimao. Higuchi then caught Furno on a dive and gave him the Claw Slam for the finish. It was as good a result that Harimao could ask for because Yoshimura is back and Higuchi got his first direct win since returning too. Yoshimura said his goal is to help Harimao in both DDT and BASARA. This match was Furno’s last appearance in DDT for this tour. He is sure this isn’t the end of him coming here. He says next time he comes to DDT he won’t be coming alone.
In the dark match Toru Owashi wanted to show off his lucha skills against DAMNATION T.A. Honda tried to use the power of love by forming a heart with Owashi using their hands. Paul & Ilusion attacked them only to almost embrace with each other. Honda’s plan didn’t work in the end. Instead Paul & Ilusion squashed him with a Double Body Press and Ilusion went on to pin him with the Swanton Bomb.
The show ended with the King Of DDT 1st Round matches begin announced. The matches taking place on 6th May are Antonio Honda Vs Yuki Ueno, Daisuke Sasaki Vs Akito, KANON Vs Shunma Katsumata, Yukio Naya Vs Daichi Sato, Hideki Okatani Vs To-y, Chris Brookes Vs HARASHIMA, Takeshi Masada Vs Yuya Koroku and Shinya Aoki Vs Kazusada Higuchi.
DDT “JUDGEMENT 2025 ~28TH ANNIVERSARY 5 HOUR SPECIAL~”, 20/03/2025 Tokyo Korakuen Hall ??? Fans – Unannounced
1. 57th KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Champions Decision Match – Kazusada Higuchi & Shunma Katsumata Double Return Match: Shunma Katsumata, Yuni & Kazuma Sumi defeated Kazusada Higuchi, Ryota Nakatsu & Yuki Ishida when Sumi pinned Ishida with the School Boy (11:29). *NωA Jr. becomes the 57th KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Champions!
2. 3 Way Match: Toru Owashi defeated Antonio Honda and Kazuki Hirata when Owashi pinned Honda with La Magistral Cradle (8:40).
3. Special Tag Match: MJ Paul & Ilusion defeated JJ Furno & Tomomitsu Matsunaga when Paul pinned Matsunaga with the Reverse Splash (7:23).
4. Yukio Naya, Yuya Koroku & Keigo Nakamura defeated Makoto Oishi, Akito & Soma Takao when Koroku submitted Takao with the Modified Triangle Lancer (11:42).
5. Special Tag Match: HARASHIMA & Takeshi Masada defeated Jun Akiyama & Daichi Sato when HARASHIMA pinned Sato with the Somato (13:39).
6. DDT Extreme Title – Loser Joins Match: Super Sasadango Machine defeated Danshoku Dieno (c) with the Avalanche Vertical Drop Lehman Shock (8:33). *Special Observer: Amon Tsurumi. Danshoku Dieno fails in V3. Super Sasadango Machine becomes the 62nd DDT Extreme Champion! Dieno’s pet dog Haku must now join DDT!
7. Special Single Match: Daisuke Sasaki defeated KANON with La Mistica Crossface Lock (11:34).
8. KO-D Tag Team Titles: Fuminori Abe & Takuya Nomura defeated MAO & To-y (c) when Abe submitted To-y with the O-Manjigatame (16:17). *The 37KAMIINA fails in V2. Astronauts become the 86th KO-D Tag Team Champions!
9. DDT Universal Title: Minoru Suzuki defeated Yuki Ueno (c) with the Gotch-Style Piledriver (23:32). *Yuki Ueno fails in V1. Minoru Suzuki becomes the 18th DDT Universal Champion!
10. KO-D Openweight Title: Chris Brookes (c) defeated Masahiro Takanashi with the Praying Mantis Bomb (21:17). *V3 for Chris Brookes.
What was supposed to be a big DDT show to celebrate the 28th Anniversary of their debut show turned into a scary ending in the main event. Chris Brookes and Masahiro Takanashi wanted to give it their all for their KO-D Openweight Title match with neither holding back their efforts. A table was set up at ringside and Takanashi tried to put Brookes through it with the Takatonic. However Brookes blocked the move and countered it into an Implant through the table instead, busting Takanashi open in the process. KUDO made a surprise appearance at ringside to psyche up Takanashi and get him to continue the match. That inspired Takanashi to use KUDO’s Diving Double Knee Drop on Brookes but Brookes blocked it with his own knees. The fight went back up to the top turnbuckle where Brookes stopped Takanashi from doing the Avalanche Takatonic. Instead Brookes gave him the Avalanche Praying Mantis Bomb, causing Takanash’s head to hit off the back of the canvas. Brookes followed up with a regular version of the Praying Mantis Bomb for the three count.
Things quickly became concerning once the match was over when Takanashi was unable to move. He was still conscious and could talk to Brookes, Yukinori Matsui and the ring doctor. Brookes held the microphone to Takanashi so he could thank the fans, Brookes and DDT that he loves them all. The ending of the show was paused and everyone remained in their seats so the ambulance could arrive and the medical team could safely take Takanashi away on a stretcher. He was still conscious, was able to speak and he even raised his fist to the crowds as he was being taken away. As the show was officially brought to a close, Sanshiro Takagi told the fans on the microphone he is confident that Takanashi will definitely come back from this injury.
DDT are currently waiting to hear on his diagnosis before they announce any further details. Tokyo Sports were able to get a comment from the ring doctor. Takanashi told him his upper body was feeling numb and he couldn’t move his lower body. While the news article suggests there is a possibility of a cervical spine injury based on that description, the doctor himself cannot say what the extent of the injury is until they get the MRI results.
While Takanashi was being tended to in the ring, DDT tried to keep the show going by having Yuya Koroku approach Brookes at ringside. Brookes was holding the KO-D Title while Koroku carried out the D GENERATIONS CUP trophy. Koroku said he is not the same person he used to be. He is no longer the Koroku from BURNING and he is no longer a “Generic Endo” either. He found his confidence, won the DGC and will be facing Brookes for the KO-D Title on 6th April. Brookes understandably wasn’t in the mood to spend much time on this so he had a brief staredown with Koroku before trying to close out the show with the rest of SCHADENFREUDE International.
Great job, Yuki Ueno. You used the DDT Universal Title as bait to get a match with Minoru Suzuki and he just came over, beat the crap out of you and won the championship. This definitely didn’t go the way he thought it would. The “Pirate King” overwhelmed Ueno with his power and took the fight out to the bleachers. Ueno was able to fight back and even use a chair as a weapon against Suzuki. He seemed to find some joy in the fight and even used Takagi’s finisher the Sit Down Himawari Bomb for a nearfall. But Suzuki kicked out of the BME and eventually got Ueno to crack by putting him in the Sleeper Hold. The Dropkick to the face that usually works out so well for Ueno couldn’t take Suzuki off his feet. Instead Suzuki dropped Ueno with the Gotch-Style Piledriver to win his first ever DDT championship.
Suzuki could see that Ueno was in pain and agony after the match but he couldn’t help but tell him he had fun today. Suzuki will happily “play” with him again anytime. Ueno left the ring in frustration while Suzuki could hear a voice coming from the championship telling him to bring it to the outside world. Suzuki is travelling to Las Vegas next month so if anybody wants to aim for him and the Universal Title, he welcomes them to come forward and challenge him. There are no borders for him and he won’t discriminate against class or gender. Wherever there is pro wrestling Suzuki can defend the championship there as long as he can find an opponent who is undoubtedly strong. Meanwhile Ueno is coming to terms with just how big of a mistake he made by doing this match.
The Astronauts have successfully landed in DDT by beating MAO & To-y to become the new KO-D Tag Team Champions! The Bati-Bati style of the “Fighting Detectives” is just what was needed to match MAO’s fucked up wrestling along with To-y’s fiery attitude. Fuminori Abe was almost beaten when he took the Whirlwind Kick from MAO followed by the Kojima Wonderland but Takuya Nomura broke the pin. MAO attacked Nomura with a Quebrada leaving Abe and To-y left in the ring to fight each other. Abe countered the Kojima Wonderland into the Manjigatame and then forced To-y down onto the mat with a grounded version of the hold to make him give up.
Astronauts were quickly met by one of their first challengers when Keigo Nakamura got into the ring. Nakamura wants to challenge them with Shinya Aoki as his tag partner. Abe said they would be happy to do the match and it was confirmed for the 6th April Korakuen Hall show. Nakamura said backstage he’s been relying on Aoki so much that he wants to win the tag belts under his own power. Astronauts told reporters they want to use the KO-D Tag Titles to help them investigate not just DDT but the wider pro wrestling scene to prove they are the best tag team in the world!
As for the former tag champs, MAO dropped a big announcement by telling reporters he will now leave The 37KAMIINA! He believes he has done everything he can do with the group and has nothing more to teach To-y. In fact now is the time he expects To-y to try and beat him. There are many more things away from The 37KAMIINA that MAO wants to do including things he admits he should have already done by now. He already made his mind up to leave once he lost the KO-D Tag Titles with To-y so that means today is the day. DDT is going to completely change because of this decision and MAO wants to bet on that happening. He said he’s not quitting DDT but his schedule for the next four months is going to make people a bit dizzy when they see it.
KANON Vs Daisuke Sasaki was advertised as a singles match but it may as well have been a Handicap Match given how much DAMNATIONA T.A got involved. KANON took a bamboo stick beating from Hideki Okatani, had Ilusion all over his back and just when he though the coast was clear MJ Paul was there to cause more trouble. In the end another stick strike from Okatani set KANON up for La Mistica Crossface Lock so Sasaki could win. After the match Sasaki called KANON weak but took back the claim he is an unwanted child. He is in fact needed to serve as a sacrifice for Okatani’s return match on 6th April. Sasaki decided the match at that show will be Sasaki & Okatani against KANON in a 2-on-1 Handicap Match! Hell is still to come for KANON and Okatani told him not to run away. KANON was in an emotional mess backstage but accepted the match because he has nothing left to lose.
The DDT Extreme Title match is meant to be Super Sasadango Machine’s last time fighting for the belt so he, Danshoku Dieno and Amon Tsurumi wanted to make it as dramatic as possible. Dieno chose a stipulation that would force Sasadango to join DDT full time if Dieno won the match. But if Sasadango won the match then Dieno’s beloved pet dog Haku would join the DDT roster instead. It became the topic of Sasadango’s pre-match PowerPoint presentation where he talked about labour regulations and the risks of forced labour. Tsurumi argued Sasadango’s point by reminding him he retired from wrestling once before and came back anyway. To make the match even more dramatic it slowed down and paused at points so the audience could listen in to the thoughts and feelings of those at ringside. Yukinori Matsui wondered when to step in and ask if the wrestlers would give up, the cameraman was complaining about how difficult it is to film Dieno without getting into trouble and Dieno wanted to convince Sasadango just how fun pro wrestling can be. The audience even heard the thoughts of the celebrity guest commentator Leyla Ikeda from the comedy duo Kanjuku Fresh. She was completely bored out of her mind by the match and was waiting for the handsome wrestlers to show up. Tsurumi however was thinking the complete opposite and was moved by the match his friends were putting on. Dieno called his shot to finish the match with three Moonsaults in a row but Sasadango caught up to him and hit the Lehman Shock from the top rope to win the match and the Extreme Title!
Tsurumi complained about the finish and told Sasadango he couldn’t do a top rope move in slow motion. Sasadango admitted it didn’t turn out the way he expected. He apologised to everyone including Stardom and their company president Taro Okada for some reason. Haku was brought down to the ring by Makoto Oishi to give a comment about becoming DDT’s newest roster member but all he did was sniff the microphone. Sasadango later said he wanted to do his best for Yuki Iino because Iino’s injury made him miss out on an Extreme Title shot. Sasadango also announced he has an event coming up in Tokyo on 9th June and advised fans to keep their schedule free for that day. Dieno admitted he is a bad owner and bad father for letting Haku join such a barbaric wrestling company. However he knows Haku has guts and they will do their best together side by side. He also needs to negotiate what percentage of Haku’s merchandise they’re going to get from the company once DDT starts selling it.
In just a few weeks time Daichi Sato will become DDT’s newest roster member (getting beaten to the punch by Haku is DDT in a nutshell) so he was given a big tag match teaming with Jun Akiyama to take on HARASHIMA & Takeshi Masada. Sato wasted little time going toe to toe with HARASHIMA and linked together well with Akiyama when it came to fighting against Masada. But HARASHIMA won out in the end by pinning Sato with the Somato. Akiyama was pleased with Sato’s performance and challenged him to a singles match on 6th April as Sato’s first official match as a DDT wrestler. Akiyama encouraged Sato to hunt the old man down!
Part of Koroku’s preparation for his KO-D Title match was to show up in new wrestling gear for his match today. However Akito had new gear too so that spoiled things a little bit. He had Yukio Naya & Keigo Nakamura teaming with him but went at it alone with Soma Takao for the final stretch. Koroku was able to counter Takao’s Gin And Tonic into the Triangle Lancer and held onto the move to make Takao give up.
DAMNATION T.A also ruined JJ Furno’s DDT debut. Ilusion didn’t know who he was and made fun of his hair. He seemed to care more about his brand new college diploma, until he used that to hit Tomomitsu Matsunaga over the head with. MJ Paul then went on to pin Matsunaga with the Reverse Splash.
The 3 Way Match was filled with the nonsense you’d expect from the people involved. Kazuki Hirata was ignored and felt left out. Then he got mad when Antonio Honda and Toru Owashi decided to act like a tag team against him. He powered up with the Hirata GO! glasses but was stopped when Honda tripped over the ropes and summoned Gongitsune. Honda and Owashi fought each other but it slowly turned into something more romantic with Honda forming Owashi’s hands into a heart sign. Just when they were about to kiss, Hirata interrupted the moment so he could get a kiss from Matsui. However Owashi rolled up Hirata in a School Boy so the match continued. Honda hit Hirata with the Shining Gongitsune but Owashi then rolled up Honda with La Magistral Cradle to get the win.
New KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Champions were guaranteed in the opening match. It was also the return bouts for both Kazusada Higuchi and Shunma Katsumata so one of them was becoming a champion in their first match back from injury. Kazuma Sumi & Yuni did stereo Moonsaults out of the ring while Ryota Nakatsu & Yuki Ishida doubled up with sumo slaps to the opponents. It all came down to Sumi catching Ishida by surprise with a School Boy to make NωA Jr. the new champions at Harimao’s expense. Sumi said it was speed and quickness that defeated power and strength today. Katsumata said no matter how many times he falls he always crawls and gets back up. He wants to show his true colors and show everyone bigger dreams with NωA Jr.
There is more good news for Harimao coming up though. Naomi Yoshimura gave everyone an update on his health since he took time off from wrestling in November 2022 to rehab his neck injury. He will soon return to the ring and have his first match back on 6th April! He promised to repay all of the kindness he received during his absence and will show his wrestling to new fans who haven’t seen him before. He is not going to return to a full time schedule at first but whenever DDT wants to book him he will be available. Yoshimura’s first match back will be an 8-Man Tag featuring all of Harimao teaming together.
The field for King Of DDT 2025 was revealed. The 16 participants announced for this year’s tournament are Chris Brookes, HARASHIMA, Daisuke Sasaki, Kazusada Higuchi, Yuki Ueno, Yukio Naya, KANON, Takeshi Masada, Masahiro Takanashi, Shunma Katsumata, Akito, Hideki Okatani, To-y, Yuya Koroku, Daichi Sato and Shinya Aoki. Obviously with Takanashi’s injury he will no longer be taking part.
Things are going to be different for DDT’s usual biggest show of the year this time round. “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2025” will be held over a two day weekend. Day 1 will be held at Higashin Arena in Sumida on 30th August and Day 2 will be in Korakuen Hall on 31st August.
I won’t be writing up a preview for the show because I want to keep that to big arena shows and American events. So even though DDT is celebrating their anniversary on Thursday it’s still a Korakuen Hall show at the end of the day. Also I’ve had a busy St. Patrick’s Day and would like to sleep some of it off while I have the chance. The next previews I write will be for the Las Vegas shows next month.
DDT “JUDGEMENT 2025 ~28TH ANNIVERSARY 5 HOUR SPECIAL~”, 20/03/2025 Tokyo Korakuen Hall
1. 57th KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Champions Decision Match – Kazusada Higuchi & Shunma Katsumata Double Return Match: Kazusada Higuchi, Ryota Nakatsu & Yuki Ishida Vs Shunma Katsumata, Yuni & Kazuma Sumi
2. 3 Way Match: Toru Owashi Vs Antonio Honda Vs Kazuki Hirata
3. Special Tag Match: MJ Paul & Ilusion Vs JJ Furno & Tomomitsu Matsunaga
4. Makoto Oishi, Akito & Soma Takao Vs Yukio Naya, Yuya Koroku & Keigo Nakamura
5. Special Tag Match: Jun Akiyama & Daichi Sato Vs HARASHIMA & Takeshi Masada
6. DDT Extreme Title – Loser Joins Match: Danshoku Dieno (c) Vs Super Sasadango Machine *Special Referee: Amon Tsurumi
7. Special Single Match: Daisuke Sasaki Vs KANON
8. KO-D Tag Team Titles: MAO & To-y (c) Vs Fuminori Abe & Takuya Nomura
9. DDT Universal Title: Yuki Ueno (c) Vs Minoru Suzuki
10. KO-D Openweight Title: Chris Brookes (c) Vs Masahiro Takanashi
The DDT Extreme Title match will be held under normal pro wrestling rules however the stipulation is in regards to the result. If Danshoku Dieno wins then Super Sasadango Machine must become a full time regular member of the DDT roster again instead of his current semi-affiliation with the company. If Sasadango wins and becomes champion then Dieno’s pet dog Haku must join the DDT roster!
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW SPRING TOUR 2025 IN YOKOHAMA”, 22/03/2025 Yokohama Radiant Hall
1. 3 Way Match: Rika Tatsumi Vs Haruna Neko Vs HIMAWARI
2. Mahiro Kiryu Vs Ivy Steele
3. Yuki Kamifuku & Wakana Uehara Vs Haru Kazashiro & Toga
4. Raku & Pom Harajuku Vs Yoshiko Hasegawa & Chika Nanase
5. Shoko Nakajima & Hyper Misao Vs Miu Watanabe & Uta Takami
6. Suzume & Arisu Endo Vs Maki Itoh & Mifu Ashida
7. Mizuki, Miyu Yamashita & Kaya Toribami Vs Yuki Aino, Moka Miyamoto & Shino Suzuki
A few things are noticeable here in the first show after “GRAND PRINCESS ’25”. It’s mostly opponents at that show going back to teaming with each other. Daisy Monkey look to be on the same page and so to are RakuPom. We also have Kyoraku Kyomei’s first match since winning the Princess Tag Team Titles. The team that isn’t together anymore is 121000000 because Miyu Yamashita and Maki Itoh have been put in different matches here.
Kira Summer will not be at the show due to family reasons.
M&A “SANSHIRO TAKAGI 30TH ANNIVERSARY PROJECT ~MATCHMAKE & AGENT~”, 09/04/2025 Tokyo Ueno Park Outdoor Stage
1. 3 Minutes Impact: Shigehiro Irie Vs Ryoma Tsukamoto
2. Shota Vs Mikiya Sasaki
3. Special Tag Match: Yumiko Hotta & Miku Kanae Vs Mio Shirai & Saran
4. Special Tag Match: Fuminori Abe & Takuya Nomura Vs Hikaru Sato & Ippanjin Munenori Sawa
5. Special Single Match: Jun Kasai Vs Maki Itoh
6. Special Tag Match: Yuji Nagata & Kuroshio TOKYO Japan Vs Brahman Shu & Brahman Kei
A new match type is being introduced on the MatchMake & Agent show. Sanshiro Takagi must have watched Yoshiki Inamura’s match from WWE Speed last month that’s been getting rave reviews everywhere because he’s straight up copying the Speed gimmick! The 3 Minutes Impact match has a three minute time limit and is being booked to air on DDT’s Twitter page. The first match under the rules has Shigehiro Irie taking on former All Japan now JTO associated wrestler Ryoma Tsukamoto.
GANBARE☆PRO “MAD MAX 2025 ~ GANBARE☆PRO WRESTLING 12TH ANNIVERSARY BOX OFFICE”, 11/04/2025 Tokyo Korakuen Hall
1. Ken Ohka Vs X
2. Special 6-Woman Tag Match: Moeka Haruhi, YuuRI & Ami Manase Vs Yuna Manase, Hazuki & Koguma
3. Special Tag Team Match: Shuichiro Katsumura & Keisuke Ishii Vs Yuji Nagata & Tatsuhito Takaiwa
4. Spirit Of Ganbare World Openweight Title: Yumehito Imanari (c) Vs Shinichiro Tominaga
The big return to Korakuen Hall now has a main event. Yumehito Imanari will defend the Spirit Of Ganbare World Title against Shinichiro Tominaga. The two have known each other for many years going back to the days when Imanari filmed Tominaga’s student wrestling matches for a documentary.
GANBARE☆PRO “SUICIDE SQUAD 2025”, 05/05/2025 Yokohama Radiant Hall
1. Shota Kawakami 1st Anniversary Match: Shota Kawakami Vs Shota
For the 1st Anniversary of his debut match, Shota Kawakami will face his coach and former Ganbare☆Pro wrestler Shota one on one. GanPro thought Shota would be the most suitable opponent for the rookie and he is happy to return for the match.
HARUKAZE will have her last match for a while on this show. She is taking a break from pro wrestling to go work for her father’s business.
DDT “IT’S FINALLY HERE!! KAZUKI HIRATA 15TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIVE EVENT ~ TALK! 15 YEARS OF HIRATA GO!!”, 12/03/2025 Shinjuku FACE
1. Starting With The Young Communication Generation: Shigehiro Irie, Akito & Shota Vs Yukio Naya, Takeshi Masada & Keigo Nakamura
2. Punch-san, I Am Looking Forward To This Tag Match: Danshoku Dieno & Antonio Honda Vs Toru Owashi & Punch Tominaga
3. Staggered Entrance Battle Royal: Chris Brookes Vs Yuya Koroku Vs Yuni Vs Kazuma Sumi Vs Gota Ihashi Vs X
4. They’re Back! Zuncha♪Muscle Survivor’s Tearful Reunion!: Shinya Aoki & Naruki Doi Vs Yuki Ueno & Yuki Ishida
5. Crazy Semi-Final!: MAO & Yoshihiko Vs HARASHIMA & Pokotan
6. Talk! 15 Years Of HIRATA GO!! Special 6-Man Tag Match: Kazuki Hirata, Hiromu Takahashi & Keisuke Ishii Vs YO-HEY, Kenshin Chikano & Soma Takao *Special Referee: Katsumi Tamagawa
To-y has been pulled from the show because he has caught a stomach bug and cannot compete. Freshly graduated from college Takeshi Masada takes his place in the opening match.
DDT “JUDGEMENT 2025 ~28TH ANNIVERSARY 5 HOUR SPECIAL~”, 20/03/2025 Tokyo Korakuen Hall
1. 3 Way Match: Toru Owashi Vs Antonio Honda Vs Kazuki Hirata
2. Makoto Oishi, Akito & Soma Takao Vs Yukio Naya, Yuya Koroku & Keigo Nakamura
3. Special Tag Match: MJ Paul & Ilusion Vs JJ Furno & Tomomitsu Matsunaga
4. Special Tag Match: Jun Akiyama & Daichi Sato Vs HARASHIMA & Takeshi Masada
5. 57th KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Champions Decision Match – Kazusada Higuchi & Shunma Katsumata Double Return Match: Kazusada Higuchi, Ryota Nakatsu & Yuki Ishida Vs Shunma Katsumata, Yuni & Kazuma Sumi
6. Special Single Match: Daisuke Sasaki Vs KANON
7. KO-D Tag Team Titles: MAO & To-y (c) Vs Fuminori Abe & Takuya Nomura
8. DDT Extreme Title: Danshoku Dieno (c) Vs Super Sasadango Machine *Special Referee: Amon Tsurumi.
9. DDT Universal Title: Yuki Ueno (c) Vs Minoru Suzuki
10. KO-D Openweight Title: Chris Brookes (c) Vs Masahiro Takanashi
There is guaranteed to be new champions crowned on this show because DDT decided the winners of Harimao versus NωA Jr. will be rewarded with the vacant KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles!
1. Takato Nakano Vs Shota Kofuji
2. Masato Kamino Vs Yuko Miyamoto
3. Daiki Shimomura Vs Keisuke Ishii
4. Isami Kodaka Vs Kosuke Sato
5. Ryuichi Sekine, FUMA & Ryota Nakatsu V Takumi Tsukamoto, SAGAT & Yasu Urano
All of the current BASARA champions are teaming up for the main event. That gives the opposing team a great chance to get a title shot somewhere down the line if they can beat them.
DDT “WEDDING HALL PRO WRESTLING SPRING FESTIVAL IN SENTIR LA SAISON GIFU”, 30/03/2025 Gifu Sentir la Saison
1. Yuya Koroku Vs Yuki Ishida
2. Daisuke Sasaki, MJ Paul & Ilusion Vs JJ Furno, Yuni & Keigo Nakamura
3. Special 6-Man Tag Match: MAO, Jun Akiyama & Yukio Naya Vs Kazusada Higuchi, Toru Owashi & Kazuma Sumi
4. SCHADENFREUDE International Vs The 37KAMIINA!: Chris Brookes, Antonio Honda & Takeshi Masada Vs Yuki Ueno, Shunma Katsumata & To-y
Last year’s Wedding Hall show that wasn’t to be has not been abandoned. DDT had to wait until the end of March a year later to finally walk down the wedding aisle for a wrestling show. The venue is an outdoor one too so if it rains on the day it might end up getting postponed again.
DDT “DDT & SENTIR LA SAISON GIFU PRESENTS WEDDING PRO WRESTLING”, 30/03/2025 Gifu Sentir la Saison
1. Falls Count Anywhere Tag Team Match: HARASHIMA & Akito Vs Danshoku Dieno & Kazuki Hirata
There will also be a Falls Count Anywhere match taking place in the venue later in the day. Due to the flexibility of the match stipulation it should be able to go ahead under shelter somewhere if rain does happen to change plans.
M&A “SANSHIRO TAKAGI 30TH ANNIVERSARY PROJECT ~MATCHMAKE & AGENT~”, 09/04/2025 Tokyo Ueno Park Outdoor Stage
1. Shota Vs Mikiya Sasaki
2. Special Tag Match: Yumiko Hotta & Miku Kanae Vs Mio Shirai & Saran
3. Special Single Match: Jun Kasai Vs Maki Itoh
4. Special Tag Match: Yuji Nagata & Kuroshio TOKYO Japan Vs Brahman Shu & Brahman Kei
Two more matches added to Sanshiro Takagi’s new project. The joshi tag match has Yumiko Hotta & Miku Kanae coming in representing the T-HEARTS promotion against two wrestlers who left Ice Ribbon at the end of last year. Mio Shirai needs no introduction. Saran is 16 years old yet is already reaching four years of in-ring experience under her belt.
Shota’s opponent Mikiya Sasaki is nicknamed the “Dotonbori Bronco” and is heavily influenced by Dory Funk Jr. He’s been wrestling for 20 years across the micro indies.
BASARA “BASARA 275 ~YOKOHAMA MONOGATARI 2~”, 12/04/2025 Yokohama Radiant Hall
1. Gouma Ryu Vs Kikutaro
2. Iron Fist Tag Team Titles: Ryuichi Sekine & FUMA (c) Vs Daiki Shimomura & Keisuke Ishii
Kikutaro has been in a few legal troubles here and there but his match with Gouma Ryu here will not be in the court room.
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “QUERI PRESENTS TJPW LIVE IN LAS VEGAS”, 18/04/2025 Pearl Theater At Palms Casino Resort, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
1. Special Single Match: Masha Slamovich Vs Miu Watanabe
2. International Princess Title: Suzume (c) Vs X
3. Princess Tag Team Titles: Miyu Yamashita & Maki Itoh (c) Vs X & X
4. Princess Of Princess Title: Mizuki (c) Vs X
Some extra wrestlers have been confirmed for Tokyo Joshi Pro’s busy weekend in April. Over in Las Vegas Max The Impaler will be in action.
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “KANDA MYOJON CULTURAL EXCHANGE CENTER PRESENTS THIS IS JAPAN”, 19/04/2025 Tokyo Kanda Myojin Hall
While over in Japan both Ryo Mizunami and Kakeru Sekiguchi will be appearing alongside the roster who are not travelling to America.
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TOKYO 2025 WINTER FES. 「WEST」”, 15/02/2025 Osaka Azalea Taisho Hall 300 Fans – Super No Vacancy Full House
1. Moka Miyamoto defeated Chika Nanase with the Rashomon (7:00).
2. 3 Way Match: Pom Harajuku defeated Arisu Endo and Uta Takami when Harajuku pinned Takami with the Pom de Justice (7:09).
3. Yuki Aino, Yoshiko Hasegawa & Shino Suzuki defeated Yuki Kamifuku, Kira Summer & Ivy Steele when Aino submitted Steele with the Full Nelson Of Love And Fire (11:32).
4. Suzume & Haru Kazashiro defeated Toga & Mifu Ashida when Suzume pinned Ashida with the Ring A Bell (11:05).
5. Shoko Nakajima & Hyper Misao defeated Mahiro Kiryu & Haruna Neko when Nakajima pinned Neko with the Hypami Returns (10:07).
6. Jada Stone & Kaya Toribami defeated Rika Tatsumi & Wakana Uehara when Toribami pinned Uehara with the Sento Choryu (12:03).
7. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title: Miyu Yamashita, Maki Itoh, Yuki Arai & Max The Impaler defeated Mizuki, Aja Kong, Miu Watanabe & Raku (c) when Yamashita pinned Raku with the Skull Kick (16:42). *Miyu Yamashita becomes the 1,732nd champion.
-. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title: Mecha Fist defeated Miyu Yamashita (c) after the Rocket Punch from Sanshiro Takagi (7:45 pm). *Mecha Fist becomes the 1,733rd champion.
-. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title: Tetsu Inada defeated Mecha Fist (c) by Pinfall (7:46 pm). *Tetsu Inada becomes the 1,734th champion.
Continuing on from today’s earlier Shinkansen Pro Wrestling match, an 8-Woman Tag rematch of the bullet train bout took place in a more normal environment at Tokyo Joshi Pro’s evening show in Osaka. Raku was coming into the show as the new Iron Man Heavymetalweight Champion. She also brought along a bullet train shaped bento box she bought after that match and wanted to eat from it during the main event. Max The Impaler grabbed the box from Raku and gave it over to Pom Harajuku. That made both Raku & Aja Kong furious. Mizuki was still armed with her Pico Pico Hammer from earlier and she jumped off the top rope to strike Max over the head with a mighty downward swing. Kong also attacked Max with the steel can afterwards. Raku saw her moment and went to give Miyu Yamashita the Doctor Yellow but Yamashita countered it into the Attitude Adjustment. She then hit Raku with the Skull Kick for the victory, winning the Iron Man Title from her.
Maki Itoh encouraged Yamashita to pose for victory photos after the match but it was just so Itoh and Yuki Arai could try to roll her up from behind for the championship. Yamashita escaped with the belt and promised the fans she will defend the title for them. However backstage Yamashita was giving a post-match interview when all of a sudden a Rocket Punch flew across the room and knocked her out. It was launched by Sanshiro Takagi and he put the Mecha Fist back on to pin Yamashita for the title. Daisuke Kiso made the three count but declared it was the Mecha Fist that pinned Yamashita, not Takagi. So the new champion is the Mecha Fist! That didn’t last long because Tetsu Inada ran in, pushed Takagi aside and pinned Mecha Fist to win back the championship for himself.
Hyper Misao reminded everyone before the start of Match #5 that Kyoraku Kyomei have won this year’s Max Heart Tournament. She then made Mahiro Kiryu & Haruna Neko mad by asking them if they took part in it this year? She had forgotten they were knocked out in Round 2 and lost their only match in the tournament. Kiryu grabbed the microphone off her and complained about being ran over by Kiryu’s Hyper Mobile three times in the last three months! She dared Misao to wrestle this match without relying on her bike. Misao was able to do just that, although she still used some of her other tricks. Shoko Nakajima hit Kiryu & Neko with a Double 619 and Misao pinned Kiryu with the Hypami Returns.
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “SHINKANSEN JOSHI PRO WRESTLING PRODUCED BY SANSHIRO TAKAGI”, 15/02/2025 Nozomi 343 Departing From Tokyo Station 75 Fans – Super No Vacancy Full House
1. Falls Count Anywhere 8-Woman Tag Match: Miyu Yamashita, Maki Itoh, Yuki Arai & Max The Impaler defeated Mizuki, Aja Kong, Miu Watanabe & Raku when Yamashita pinned Raku with the Crash Rabbit Heat Nozomi Special (43:58).
-. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title: Raku defeated Tetsu Inada (c) by Knockout with the Lullaby (1:20 pm). *Raku becomes the 1,731st champion.
When DDT held a match inside a travelling bullet train in 2023 it made headlines around the world. So this time Tokyo Joshi Pro wanted in on the action and got Sanshiro Takagi to put the match on a second time.
The train departed from Tokyo Station where Sayuri Namba was on board to start the introductions. When the train arrived at Shinagawa Station, Takagi stepped on board accompanied by Shino Suzuki and Uta Takami. The two of them joined up with Miu Watanabe and Raku so The Up Up Girls (Pro Wrestling) could sing “Upper Kick!” up and down the aisle. However they had technical difficulties midway through. The rest of the wrestlers made their entrances when the train reached Shin-Yokohama Station. Mizuki arrived armed with a Pico Pico Hammer while Aja Kong carried a steel can onboard threatening to rip the bullet train apart!
The match started off with Watanabe and Miyu Yamashita. There was enough room in the aisle for Yamashita to Snapmare Watanabe and follow up with a Soccer Ball Kick. Yuki Arai fought with Mizuki but was chased down the train by Kong. Raku borrowed a cup of ice cream (which has a reputation on the Shinkansen of being served frozen solid) from one of the passengers and hit Arai over the head with it.
As the train was approaching Mt. Fuji, Kong wanted to get a good photo from the window. While she was looking for a good spot, Raku was trying to sing Arai to sleep in the middle of the aisle with towels and a pillow provided. Kong finally saw Mt. Fuji in the distance and stepped on top of Arai so she could lean over and get the best view.
Raku’s lullaby also sent Yamashita & Maki Itoh to sleep so Kong & Raku did the Oyasumi Express on them. Max The Impaler then took centre stage and had a violent pillow fight with Raku. Itoh took over by hitting the 300km/h Kokeshi on Raku and following up with the Cutest Knuckle Punch In The World.
The 121000000 pair started using double team moves until Mizuki attacked them with the Pico Pico Hammer. After that a a chain of multiple Headscissors was formed stretching down the aisle. Itoh then used a Boston Crab to flip the chain over.
A face off between Kong and Itoh then took place. Kong hit her over the head with the steel can but Itoh’s iron head took the blow no problem. Kong then Heabutted her but again she withstood the impact. As Itoh jumped onto Kong’s back to put her in a Sleeper Hold, the doorway opened for the arrival of the ticket inspector. Oh, the inspector is Minoru Suzuki!
When Suzuki saw the fighting going on he threw away the tickets and walked right over to confront the wrestlers. Not because they were causing trouble but because he wanted to show Itoh what a real Sleeper Hold on Kong looks like! He scared everyone off and got into fighting with Kong. Itoh found Mecha Mummy’s Mecha Fist on board and fired a Rocket Punch at Kong. She dodged it and Suzuki got hit instead. Suzuki then attacked Itoh and Kong joined in, causing Takagi to step in and break up the chaos.
Takagi successfully took Suzuki away so the match could continue. Watanabe lifted Itoh up into the Canadian Backbreaker and spun around in circles. Itoh was able to fight back by giving Watanabe the Stunner.
The match broke down into a free for all. Mizuki fought with Arai while Kong and Max were charging down both ends of the aisle to smash into each other in the middle. Their brawl made its way into another train car.
Yamashita targeted Raku with a High Kick. Others stopped her from giving Raku the Attitude Adjustment but she fought all of them off. Raku was left as a sitting duck as Yamashita ran down the aisle and hit her with the Crash Rabbit Heat at the combined travelling speed of 600km/h! Her math is the train was travelling at 285km/h which means the speed she hits the Crash Rabbit Heat reached 315km/h. That put an end to the match with Yamashita, Itoh, Arai & Max as the winners.
The match was finished but the train journey hadn’t completed yet to Yamashita, Itoh & Arai stuck around to talk about their victory. Arai asked if she could go home early because the train hadn’t even reached Nagoya yet. She had fun but it was tough and doing one more match like this would be enough for her. Itoh wanted to know why did Minoru Suzuki get on the train half-naked wearing a tiny hat? She has never seen a perverted train conductor like him before. She also wants TJPW to do more crazy matches in weird locations. She suggested they can go do one in Yamashita’s house. Yamashita refused and said it would be rude to do that without her permission. Itoh then suggested they do the match at Yamashita’s parents’ house. Again Yamashita refused because apparently one time she and Yuka Sakazaki actually had a wrestling match inside somebody’s house and they ended up destroying the place…
The train journey did not end there though. There was a bonus event for VIP passengers involved Arai, Raku & Max. While it was taking place, Tetsu Inada suddenly entered the train asking if he could take part too because he is the Iron Man Heavymetalweight Champion. He was told no by Daisuke Kiso but refused to leave so Raku approached him from behind and started to sing a lullaby. Inada fell asleep right where he stood. Kiso then raised and dropped his arm three times signaling that he was knocked out, meaning Raku is now the new Iron Man Champion!
DDT “NEPPA OVER FLOWERS 4 ~LOVE SO SAUNA~”, 14/02/2025 Shinjuku FACE
1. 120℃ High Temperature Sauna Match: Danshoku Dieno & Fuminori Abe Vs Yukio Naya & Yuki Ishida
2. Totonoi ALL OUT: Shin KONOSUKE TAKESHITA & Shin Shunma Katsumata Vs Akito & Yuki Iino
3. Big NeppoWER!!: Shinya Aoki Vs Keigo Nakamura
4. SeaSaunaShack Presents ~To-y Löyly~: To-y Vs Sauna Lover X
5. Ueno Nordic Presents ~Yuki Ueno Löyly~: Yuki Ueno Vs Kuishinbo Kamen Vs Kikutaro
6. BZW Tag Team Title – NELJAS Presents ~MAO Löyly~: MAO & Yoshihiko (c) Vs Chris Brookes & Masahiro Takanashi
The next sauna themed show from The 37KAMIINA has its full card with a bunch of sponsorships also applied. The ALL OUT match is going to be as advertised. Akito & Yuki Iino will face new (and improved?) versions of Konosuke Takeshita & Shunma Katsumata. If it turns out to be Sakura Hirota portraying both gimmicks at once then that’s wrestler of the year for 2025 already wrapped up.
Shinya Aoki has thrown his support behind Keigo Nakamura for the D GENERATIONS CUP. Nakamura might have made it to the final by the time they face off against each other on this show.
As for the 120℃ Temperature match, that sounds like something IWA Japan did for a video tape many, many years ago.
DDT “NEXT GENERATION 2025 ~KISARAGI ROMAN~”, 23/02/2025 Tokyo Korakuen Hall
1. 3 Way Match: Super Sasadango Machine Vs Antonio Honda Vs Kazuki Hirata
2. “Brave Bang Bravern!” Collaboration 6-Man Tag Match ~ Bravern Debut Match: Bravern, Yuki Ueno & MAO Vs Yukio Naya, Akito & Soma Takao
3. Special Tag Match: Danshoku Dieno & Koju Takeda Vs Yuki Iino & Yumehito Imanari
4. D GENERATIONS CUP 2025 – Final: Winner Of A Block Vs Winner Of B Block
How big is the mech Bravern going to be when it stands face to face with Yukio Naya? Could Akito or Soma Takao find ways to trip it down or will they be handled by Yuki Ueno & MAO?
Tetsu Inada will return to DDT as a commentator for this match. The current Iron Man Heavymetalweight Champion is a cast member on the anime and has been spending his time proudly showing off the title belt to other voice actors from across the industry. There’s been a couple of title changes in that time that I’ll have to look up when I have the time. Inada is as of this writing the 1,711st champion.
BAKA GAIJIN + FRIENDS “VOL. 20”, 04/03/2025 Tokyo ARENA Shimokitazawa
1. Special Tag Match: Shota & Soma Takao Vs Chris Brookes & Masahiro Takanashi
The next Baka Gaijin + Friends show sees CDK taking on ROMANCE DAWN. It will be a rematch of their “WRESTLE SEKIGAHARA” bout from Ganbare☆Pro back in 2022. ROMANCE DAWN won that one. Can CDK get some revenge on their own home turf?
DDT “JUDGEMENT 2025 ~28TH ANNIVERSARY 5 HOUR SPECIAL~”, 20/03/2025 Tokyo Korakuen Hall
1. Kazusada Higuchi Return Match: Kazusada Higuchi Vs X
2. DDT Extreme Title: Danshoku Dieno (c) Vs Yuki Iino
3. DDT Universal Title: Yuki Ueno (c) Vs Minoru Suzuki
4. KO-D Openweight Title: Chris Brookes (c) Vs X
It’s been confirmed straight from the devil’s mouth. Minoru Suzuki will challenge Yuki Ueno for the DDT Universal Title! The championship itself does not have any particular special value to Suzuki but the fact that Ueno dared call him out for the match has him interested.
M&A “SANSHIRO TAKAGI 30TH ANNIVERSARY PROJECT ~MATCHMAKE & AGENT~”, 09/04/2025 Tokyo Ueno Park Outdoor Stage
1. Special Tag Match: Yuji Nagata & Kuroshio TOKYO Japan Vs Brahman Shu & Brahman Kei
The concept for Sanshiro Takagi’s recent 30th Anniversary show worked out so well that he wants to continue doing it, once again without the need for DDT contracted talent to be involved. Thus the creation of MatchMake & Agent Pro Wrestling which Takagi is planning to hold a show once every two months at least up to the summer. He definitely has the vast amount of connections to keep the cards fresh. The first match though is coming out of the anniversary show. Yuji Nagata & Kuroshio TOKYO Japan are teaming together as a pair of “Ikemen” to take on The Brahman Brothers!
DDT “DDT GOES LAS VEGAS!”, 18/04/2025 Pearl Theater At Palms Casino Resort, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
1. Special Single Match: Antonio Honda Vs Santana Jackson
The first match for DDT’s trip to Las Vegas has been revealed and it sure has left me speechless. Santana Jackson is a Michael Jackson gimmick who regularly goes viral for incorporating Michael’s spots into his wrestling matches. Apparently whenever Japanese fans find footage of him it’s DDT who get the requests to bring him over. Antonio Honda must be looking forward to the match too given how much he loves classic American pop culture.
DDT “SANSHIRO TAKAGI 30TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMERATION EVENT ~ NEVER SAY NEVER”, 03/02/2025 Shinjuku FACE ??? Fans – Unannounced
1. Special Single Match: Fumihito Kihara defeated Shota with a European Clutch (8:02).
2. Special Single Match: Hyper Misao defeated Muscle Sakai with the I Am A Hero (14:40).
3. Special Tag Match: Fuminori Abe & Ippanjin Munenori Sawa defeated Yumiko Hotta & Shinya Aoki when Hotta was Disqualified for going on a rampage (9:24).
4. Special Tag Match: Dump Matsumoto & Toru Owashi defeated Brahman Shu & Brahman Kei when Shu was Disqualified for throwing powder at Referee Sanshiro Abe (0:44).
4a. Complete Conclusion No DQ Tornado Match: Dump Matsumoto & Toru Owashi defeated Brahman Shu & Brahman Kei when Dump pinned Kei with a Body Press (8:03).
5. Special Single Match: Meiko Satomura defeated Shin Sanshiro Takagi (w/ Sanshiro Takagi) with an Overhead Kick (11:04).
6. Special Single Match: Yuji Nagata defeated Kuroshio TOKYO Japan with the Exploder Suplex (1:33).
6a. Rematch: Yuji Nagata defeated Kuroshio TOKYO Japan with the Exploder Suplex (0:30).
6b. Rematch: Yuji Nagata defeated Kuroshio TOKYO Japan with the Back Drop Hold (6:11).
To celebrate 30 years in the business, Sanshiro Takagi wanted to put his connections across Japan’s wrestling scene to good use by booking a DDT show without using any DDT contracted talent. It gave him the opportunity to book many first time matches that nobody would have ever thought could happen before. In some cases there was probably a good reason why such as in the main event. Yuji Nagata waited patiently for Kuroshio TOKYO Japan to complete his long entrance and when the match finally began, Nagata beat him in around 90 seconds. Takagi asked for the match to restart but Nagata then beat Kuroshio in just 30 seconds. Takagi had to beg Nagata to have one more rematch. Kuroshio used his jacket to obscure Nagata’s vision before applying his own version of the White-Eyed Arm Lock. However Nagata fought back and pinned him with the Back Drop Hold to make it three wins in a row.
Nagata told Kuroshio he is a strange guy but he had fun today and would like to team up with him. There were some calls of New Japan coming from the crowd but Nagata quickly encouraged them to chant “Ikemen” instead. Kuroshio blamed his three losses on Takagi’s decision making but agreed to team up with Nagata. Takagi likes the idea and already has a team lined up for them… The Brahman Brothers! The match will happen on 9th April as part of Takagi’s new project that will be explained below.
Takagi had second thoughts on his choice for Shin Sanshiro Takagi when she was already hitting the canvas just from taking Meiko Satomura’s Leg Kicks. He kept telling everyone he’s not that weak while she was being bumped around the ring. He brought out the Dramatic Dream combat bike as an equalizer but Satomura took it off him and decided to use it herself! She crashed the bike into the two Takagis, hit the Scorpio Rising to the real Takagi back in the ring and then hit the Overhead Kick to Shin Takagi. Satomura then pinned both of them to win the match.
Takagi put on a referee outfit to officiate Match #4 as Sanshiro Abe. Unfortunately it was for a match featuring such rulebreakers as The Brahamn Brothers and Dump Matsumoto so he only had himself to blame when powder was thrown into his eyes. He disqualified the Brahmans over it but they demanded a rematch under Tornado Tag rules and with No DQs. Matsumoto swung her bamboo stick around and accidentally hit Toru Owashi with it. Takagi got his revenge by grabbing a bucket of water from Brahman Shu and throwing it at Brahman Kei. Matsumoto then hit Kei over the head with a Steel Can and pinned him with a Body Press.
MIO had her hands full as the referee for Match #3. Fuminori Abe couldn’t see why Shinya Aoki & Yumiko Hotta are into each other so he and Munenori Sawa kept telling Aoki that Hotta is an ugly old hag. Hotta snapped and attacked her opponents with a chain while her ringside attendant Miku Kanae joined in the assault. Once they started using the chain to hang Abe over the ring apron MIO had to disqualify them.
Two kindred spirits were pitted against each other when Muscle Sakai fought Hyper Misao. The match was held using a “personal novel” format where the match is simply a story being told while the audience listened to the inner monologues of the wrestlers involved. Through this format the fans learned that Misao could not lose to a middle aged man while Sakai simply couldn’t think of anything. Soon the inner monologues turned into insults as Sakai kept calling Misao an ugly 35 year old. Misao had enough of the insults and pulled off her mask before kicking him below the belt over and over. She put the mask back on and pinned Sakai with the I Am A Hero to win.
Fumihito Kihara worked double duty on the show as both the ring announcer as well as the opening bout wrestler. Shota was determined to beat him and told the fans that they cannot let the elderly run wild forever. However Kihara fired back and outmaneuvered Shota, pinning him with a flat European Clutch and lifting his own right shoulder up right before the three count to avoid getting himself pinned too.
Even though DDT are continuing not to announce attendance numbers for their shows this year, Takagi revealed that this show had sold out so he feels encouraged to book another event like this again. There are many more wrestlers that Takagi has ties with that he couldn’t fit on the card today. Also in the leadup to this show he received many calls from people asking why were they not invited to take part? Takagi’s solution is to come up with a new project to continue celebrating his 30th Anniversary. He is launching a new series of shows called MatchMake & Agent Pro Wrestling, or M&A Pro Wrestling for short. The first show will be held at Ueno Park on 9th April with Nagata & Kuroshio Vs The Brahman Brothers already announced. There will also a second show booked for Shinjuku FACE on 25th June.
Posted by JamieOD 
Dramatic DDT 