Guide To DDT In Las Vegas

April 16, 2025

DDT “DDT GOES LAS VEGAS!”, 18/04/2025
Pearl Theater At Palms Casino Resort, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

1. Yuni Vs Starboy Charlie
2. 3 Way Tag Match: Daisuke Sasaki & Ilusion Vs Mizuki Watase & Shota Vs Dan The Dad & Kody Lane
3. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Nick Wayne, Shunma Katsumata & Kazuma Sumi Vs Gringo Loco, Marcus Mathers & Tyler Bateman
4. Special Single Match: Antonio Honda Vs Santana Jackson
5. Special Single Match: Shinya Aoki Vs Timothy Thatcher
6. Special Single Match: KONOSUKE TAKESHITA Vs MAO
7. wXw Unified World Wrestling Title: 1 Called Manders (c) Vs Yukio Naya
8. DDT Universal Title: Minoru Suzuki (c) Vs Yoshihiko

Bright lights, the sound of money being lost everywhere and of course there’s an impersonator nearby. DDT has come to Las Vegas for WrestleMania Week! Things really feel different with the show this year as many of DDT’s main roster are not making the trip out of Japan. Instead they are going to run more shows side by side with the group going to America. It means a lot of big names you come to expect from DDT are missing and the people brought in to fill those gaps seem a bit random at first. Some start to make sense the more you think about it but if you look at the card above it kind of looks like bits and pieces from other shows all being grouped together into something else. I still bet it will be a good time and if you want to know what’s going on with everything, you’ve come to the right place. You won’t get any gambling tips from me though. I’m already gambling my Switch 2 money to the Fortune Cup machines as you read this.

When and where is the show taking place?

The two shows will be held at the Pearl Theater found inside Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. “DDT GOES LAS VEGAS!” is taking place on Friday, 18th April at 3pm local time. “DDT VS TJPW VS GCW” is taking place on Saturday, 19th April at 2pm local time.

Where can I watch it online?

Both “DDT GOES LAS VEGAS!” and “DDT VS TJPW VS GCW” will air live on Triller TV with English commentary through the TrillerTV+ subscription service. The on-demand versions of both shows will be available to watch on Wrestle Universe a few weeks after the live broadcast.

Is this a proper DDT show?

Ehhhhhhh…… There’s a lot missing. When it comes to expanding into the USA, CyberFight thinks Tokyo Joshi Pro has become the better bet. I don’t think you will get the full DDT experience compared to their shows in Japan or even their recent previous American shows. It will be entertaining and mostly looks unique compared to anything else happening this week but I can’t say this looks like a complete DDT experience. Maybe treat it as a sampler if this is your first time watching the product.

Look at it this way. I’m playing Promoter Mode on Fire Pro Wrestling and I’m trying to remake DDT. A lot of the roster I want too book isn’t unlocked yet and I spent so much money on the couple of star wrestlers I love that I have to make do with who’s available in the Freelance section to fill out the rest of the card. I might end up discovering some new wrestlers I like in the process but the whole package just never seems right. This show kind of feels like that. DDT is always open to becoming a mish-mash of different styles and philosophies which is probably why some of the matches here look like they could have been booked on some of the other prominent shows happening in Vegas.

Got any non-wrestling tips for visiting Las Vegas?

Every casino looks closer to each other than they appear so be prepared to walk a lot. Even in real life The Sphere looks like it is CGI’d into the background when you see it from a distance. I like Secret Pizza in The Cosmopolitan but would not rely on it at all for a full meal. Pin-Up Pizza on the strip is the same quality as Sbarro so only go near it if you really want the novelty of eating a gigantic slice. If you’re going to see Penn & Teller at the Rio Casino, get there early to get a close up look at an old timey magician’s stage while Penn plays jazz music with his band. You might also get to be part of an inside joke that happens during the show. Tape Face is a really fun show to loosen up at. BattleBots Destruct-A-Thon is enjoyable but a little too Medieval Times for my tastes. It is also closer to pro wrestling than some of the actual pro wrestling shows happening this week.

Will The Steiner Brothers be at the show?

No.

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1. Yuni Vs Starboy Charlie

We open up with two heartthrobs in the making being pitted against each other. Yuni is part of NωA Jr. (New Wrestling Idol Jr.), a pop idol unit that’s been given the task by DDT to go and win a Best Newcomer category at a famous music awards ceremony by the end of the year. All three members of the group will be at this show so you may get a singing performance from them. Starboy Charlie isn’t singing yet but it might be in his future if The Crush Boys project he is involved in with Chigusa Nagayo ever decides to take the musical route. These two boys might just end up being two peas in a pod.

Yuni – See this 17 year old? Yuni made his pro wrestling debut at 8 years old when he and his mom convinced Sanshiro Takagi to let him try out for DDT. How did DDT get away with this at the time? Well it turns out the mom is a retired dancer from a popular idol group in the 90’s so the family is already in show business. Yay nepotism! Now fully ingrained in the business and at an age where DDT won’t get into trouble when he takes a bump, Yuni wants to live his dream of becoming a cool wrestler with loads of high flying moves in his arsenal.
Moves To Watch Out For: Phoenix Splash, Sky Twister Press, Moonault, Spinning Headscissors

Starboy Charlie – Currently making waves on the indies as one half of The Crush Boys with Titus Alexander. Charlie is more familiar with the other side of CyberFight where he has wrestled several tours in NOAH and once challenged for the GHC Jr. Heavyweight Title. Yes, he still wrestles in the denim dungarees. I still remember Jim Ross joking that the kid thinks he’s like Jerry Lawler in Memphis when he pulls the straps down.
Moves To Watch Out For: Shooting Star Press, Standing Corkscrew Moonsault, Kip Up into an Overhead Kick


2. 3 Way Tag Match: Daisuke Sasaki & Ilusion Vs Mizuki Watase & Shota Vs Dan The Dad & Kody Lane

A 3 Way Tag Match like this always looks like it’s thrown together but it makes a little bit of sense here. Two of the three teams are more likely to appear in Ganbare☆Pro rather than DDT. DAMNATION T.A is the odd one out although a previous version of the group did get into a feud with GanPro in 2017 that nearly put the promotion’s entire existence in jeopardy. Mizuki Watase has travelled to Las Vegas before and has gone through the problems such a trip would give anyone. Hopefully he’s better prepared this time. Dan The Dad & Kody Lane have toured in GanPro before so this isn’t unusual territory for them. They are also already an accomplished tag team called Home Cookin’.

Daisuke Sasaki – Here is the grimiest heel you’re ever going to find in DDT. Dirty, drunk and depressed, Daisuke Sasaki is the leader of DAMNATION T.A because this way of life is a “Total Addiction”. He has the talent to reach bigger heights and has achieved success in DDT but every time there is a setback it sends him tumbling back down into despair. Despite putting himself in a self-fulfilled cycle of destruction you can never really count him out of the running.
Moves To Watch Out For: Crossface Lock (sometimes set up with La Mistica), Crossover Face Lock (Gargano Escape), Sasaki-Style Hurricanrana, Diving Elbow Drop

Ilusion – This young masked wrestler started off his career leaning as a heel but showed traces of babyface behaviour when he wanted to join SCHADENFREUDE International. It all turned out to be a ruse he planned with DAMNATION T.A to betray his new friends and leave them with broken hearts. Now Ilusion is just a prick to everyone outside of DAMNATION T.A, flipping off his opponents and cheating like hell.
Moves To Watch Out For: Swanton Bomb, RE:VISION1 (Modified Angels Wings), Missile Dropkick, Giving everyone middle fingers

Mizuki Watase – A former comedian turned pro wrestler and he is freshly back from a ruptured Achilles tendon. He speedran his rehabilitation and made it back to the ring in only 4 months which sounds absolutely crazy when you think about it. He wants to make up for lost time which is why he is putting in four times the amount of effort needed.
Moves To Watch Out For: Venetian (Wrist-Clutch Michinoku Driver), Running Elbow Butt, Back Drop, Hanori Tiger Suplex

Shota – A reliable handyman both inside and out of the ring. Shota has spent the last few years working as a freelancer to do what’s best for himself after spending so many years putting other people in the business first. He still helps out from time to time and likes to wrestling across the indies scenes in both Japan and America. I’m under suspicion that he still helps out CyberFight as a talent scout of some sort from time to time.
Moves To Watch Out For: Gannosuke Clutch, Frog Splash, Sharpshooter

Dan The Dad – Your father’s favorite wrestler. He sometimes has to wrestle the match while drinking his morning cup of joe from his World’s No. 1 Dad mug. He also isn’t afraid to dish out punishment the old fashioned way by whipping the opponent’s behind with his belt. He got involved at last year’s DDT show in Philadelphia where his open challenge was answered by the psycho mascot Chiitan.
Moves To Watch Out For: Baby On Board (Backpack Stunner), You’re Grounded (rope draping Flatliner)

Kody Lane – Wherever Dan The Dad goes, “The Southern Flamingo” is never that far behind him. Although usually they just see each other all the time in Glory Pro anyway. The two travelled together to Japan for a GanPro tour two years ago and they are familar with each other either as partners or opponents. In the ring though Lane loves nothing more than to springboard or slingshot himself off of the ropes.
Moves To Watch Out For: Diving Senton to a bent over opponent, Jay Driller, Top Rope Springboard Moonsault, Waffle Stomp (Elevated Double Stomp to a bent over opponent in the corner)


3. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Nick Wayne, Shunma Katsumata & Kazuma Sumi Vs Gringo Loco, Marcus Mathers & Tyler Bateman

Not much to say here other than throw a few high flyers into the ring with a couple of bases and let them all do their thing. Nick Wayne is calling over from AEW to get some ring time before he heads over to New Japan for the summer. Shunma Katsumata & Kazuma Sumi are the other two members of NωA Jr. Maybe they can convince Wayne to be their fourth man. Gringo Loco, Marcus Mathers & Tyler Bateman are all going to try and ruin the other team’s day.

Nick Wayne – It’s been said before that Nick Wayne is a young wrestler who has the world at his feet. That’s all well and good but he really needs to get moving because maybe his father figure in AEW doesn’t have what’s best in mind for him. The son of the late Buddy Wayne toured with DDT in the past to get himself ready for his move to the big leagues. Now the next time he returns to Japan it will be for the Best Of The Super Jr tournament. There will come a day when Wayne is watching over the wrestling scene as a grizzled veteran with hundreds of matches under his belt while still only being in his mid twenties. But he needs to start making his moves sooner rather than later.
Moves To Watch Out For: Wayne’s World (Sprinboard Flying Cutter), Inverted Hurricanrana, Snap Dragon Suplex, Fisherman Suplex

Shunma Katsumata – Nobody in DDT loves saunas as much as this guy. Don’t let his hobby or his eternally youthful looks fool you though. Katsumata can get crazy violent whenever he wants even when his weapons of choice turn out to be Lego and party poppers. That kind of behaviour took its toll and put him on the shelf for a year. So when he came back he traded in the Lego for a microphone to become part of NωA Jr.
Moves To Watch Out For: ¡Hasta la vista! (Lightning Spiral), Totonou Splash (straight Diving Body Press), Aufguss (Diving Foot Stomp to a standing opponent)

Kazuma Sumi – Where does DDT find so many young wrestlers to train and debut quickly? Well the quiet part is they usually attract trainees who dropped out of other company dojos. Kazuma Sumi is one such example because he originally trained with Dragongate before bouncing over to DDT. One year after his debut he was taken under the wing of former DDT mainstay MIKAMI and adopted one of his most successful moves… the School Boy! There’s an alternate reality where he should be doing Swanton Bombs off of ladders instead but we don’t live in it.
Moves To Watch Out For: Lionsault, Standing Moonsault, School Boy

Gringo Loco – Do you need an opponent to be the yin to your high flyer’s yang? Then go get “The Base God”. Gringo Loco left his mark in DDT last November when he unexpectedly won the DDT Universal Title during a series of shows in Seattle. He defended the belt around North America a little bit before losing it once he actually had a title match in Japan. This match will be Loco’s return to DDT, doing what he does best.
Moves To Watch Out For: Base Bomb (Spinning Sit Down Power Bomb), Olympico Slam (Inverted Angle Slam), Gorilla Press Driver, Gringo Cutter

Marcus Mathers – It’s looking like Marcus Mathers is one of the early standouts among the WWE ID class. IWTV is also currently counting on him as their Independent World Wrestling Title. He made one previous appearance in DDT as part of GCW’s Japan tour last August. His big viral spot was crying crocodile tears with Maki Itoh during their match. That might not work here. The guy’s a pretty good spot monkey but that stuff doesn’t get over with WWE’s online fanbase unless it happens inside a WWE ring.
Moves To Watch Out For: 450 Splash, Cutter, Blue Thunder Bomb, 999 (Diamond Dust)

Tyler Bateman – Vegas is a familiar haunt for Tyler Bateman so you may see him a couple of times throughout the week, particularly in the Shooting Star Fest series of shows. He thinks pretty highly of himself and is often introduced as “The God Damn Man”. He finds his moments to strike when the opponent’s guard is down. The big move to watch out for is when he goes for Death From Above, a falling Forearm Smash he usually hits immediately after his opponent kicks out of a pin.
Moves To Watch Out For: Death From Above (Falling Forearm Smash to a grounded opponent), This Is A Kill (Tombstone Piledriver), Love Kill (Northern Lights Bomb)


4. Special Single Match: Antonio Honda Vs Santana Jackson

This is it! Antonio Honda’s love of classic American pop culture has brought forward the perfect opponent for him. Why is he Wanna Be Startin’ Something’ to get into a fight with a living, breathing Michael Jackson impersonator? It will be kind of like fighting The Man In The Mirror. If you think a match like this is going to be Bad then I advise you can go Beat It over to the concession stand…… Thriller.

Antonio Honda – He has almost two decades of experience under his belt while his knees behave like he’s gone through four. Antonio Honda went through several phases of an unlikely pro wrestling career, settling into this weird mix of tranquil slapstick with hints of Memphis wrestling hidden beneath. Honda is the poster child of high risk equals high failure because he injures his knee in a clumsy way in almost every match he’s in. The pain is so bad he threatens to retire every time unless he gets to tell the story of Gon The Little Fox, a child’s tale that he then turns into a filthy joke. But it’s all a ruse so he can poke people in the eyes while his hand is in the shape of Gon. Honda loves classic American pop culture too so DDT went and found him the perfect opponent for his visit to Vegas.
Moves To Watch Out For: Octopus Hold, Diving Fist Drop, Bionic Elbow, Gongitsune/Gon The Fox (makes a fox out of his hand, says a lewd joke and pokes people in either the eyes or the nipples).

Santana Jackson – How’s this for a double life? A Michael Jackson tribute act in Vegas who moonwalks moonlights as a pro wrestler with the same gimmick. Genius! Santana Jackson usually goes viral for doing Moonwalk DDTs or replicating the baby balcony spot in Hardcore Matches. Think of an MJ cliche and he’s probably done it in the ring. Honda is going to have the time of his life against this guy. Although believe it or not, Santana is not the first Michael Jackson impersonator to wrestle in DDT. Someone by the name of Michael Okamoto beat him to the punch around 17 years ago.
Moves To Watch Out For: Sleepwalk DDT, King Of Pop Elbow Drop, Rope Walk Arm Drag, Dancing like Michael Jackson


5. Special Single Match: Shinya Aoki Vs Timothy Thatcher

Are we sure this wasn’t meant to be booked for Bloodsport? I mean are we really, really sure? Okay then. DDT has somehow become the pro wrestling home for MMA fighter Shinya Aoki. He certainly made the most of it so far. His opponent is someone you couldn’t find in DDT at all yet is still a fitting match for him. If Timothy Thatcher is going to feel a thrill from going hold to hold against Aoki, we’re not going to see it on his face. He’s there to win or accept total defeat from trying.

Shinya Aoki – If you were never around for even the immediate post-glory years of Japanese MMA then you missed a magical time. Shinya Aoki played a role in it as this little asshole who would come out to the Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo theme song and then rip his opponents apart with submission holds. It was wonderful. He unexpectedly turned to DDT in 2018 and gradually made himself at home by winning several championships including DDT’s main belt, the KO-D Openweight Title. Thankfully for everybody and their arms his personality had mellowed out by then and he has found wrestlers to get along with. His skills on the mat are still unmatched to this day and his mind for fighting is his most valuable weapon. Even his biggest doubters in wrestling couldn’t help but be impressed to see him develop the humble little Full Nelson Hold into a nigh-on unbreakable pinning manoeuvre.
Moves To Watch Out For: Sleeper Hold, Full Nelson Hold, European Clutch, Topé Suicida

Timothy Thatcher – In Europe he was once the housewive’s favourite but nowadays you can find him tangling with WWE ID recruits. No nonsense to a fault, Timothy Thatcher takes to the mat like no one else and braces for his opponent’s strikes the same way a brick wall would. You may think DDT would be the most uncharacteristic place for a guy like Thatcher to wrestle in but the company has always embraced wrestlers with catch style or MMA related backgrounds. It goes all the way back to their very beginning with the late Koichiro Kimura. So there’s sort of a legacy he can fit into.
Moves To Watch Out For: Fujiwara Armbar, Butterfly Suplex, Enzuigiri, European Uppercut


6. Special Single Match: KONOSUKE TAKESHITA Vs MAO

Nothing is stopping the Konosuke Takeshita hype train! The man has been on a roll lately and he may not be done just yet. He has some old business to deal with back in DDT where he tests how much his former allies in The 37KAMIINA have grown without him. MAO has certainly found ways to progress up the card and make himself feel a level above what he was before. But he might be in for a rude awakening if Takeshita doesn’t budge to his antics anymore.

Konosuke Takeshita – No matter where his career in AEW and now New Japan will take him, Takeshita will always have a home in DDT. He is gradually taking over the wrestling world while holding contracts with those three companies. Once he was part of a unit of sauna loving wrestlers called The 37KAMIINA until he left to chase his biggest dreams. That journey so far has evolved him into “The Alpha” you see today. He has done everything there is to do in DDT and only comes back to fight opponents he wants to fight. So you know this match matters to him when you see who his opponent is.
Moves To Watch Out For: Raging Fire (Spinning Falcon Arrow), Powerdrive Knee/Wagamama (V-Trigger style Knee Strike), German Suplex, Blue Thunder Bomb, Takeshita Line (Leaping Clothesline from the ropes)

MAO – Lives by the motto “Fucked up wrestling for a fucked up world!” so you can’t say he’s out of place in 2025. He was scouted by DDT as a teenager when they found his Youtube videos of him doing wrestling moves at home and outdoors. Just like Takeshita, MAO was part of The 37KAMIINA but very recently decided to leave the unit to move in a fresh direction. He has been immature for his entire career but in recent times developed an unshakeable confidence in his abilities and wrestling philosophy. MAO feels at his most alive during Falls Count Anywhere style situations. Putting him in an environment like Las Vegas is just asking for trouble.
Moves To Watch Out For: Iai Kick (Powerful Thrust Kick), Cannonball 450 (450 Splash), Michinoku Driver, Whirlwind Kick


7. wXw Unified World Wrestling Title: 1 Called Manders (c) Vs Yukio Naya

All of a sudden we’ve got an extra title match on our hands! Straight from Germany the wXW Unified World Wrestling Title will be defended in Las Vegas a few times this week. If all goes to plan, 1 Called Manders will put the belt on the line against his scheduled DDT opponent Yukio Naya. Manders is having a breakthrough year, one that I can’t help but wonder if Naya could have gotten in the past if things had turned out differently for him.

1 Called Manders – Previously known for being part of The Second Gear Crew in GCW and the surrounding indies, Manders went his own way and his hard work over the last few years is now paying off. His feud on the indies with Mad Dog Connelly consisting of Dog Collar and Texas Bull Ropes matches found its audience and received great acclaim online. Then a lengthy trek to Europe this year rewarded him with more success, particularly in Germany where he won the fabled 16 Carat Gold tournament and soon after that took the vacant wXw Title. He’s your man if you like your wrestling to be hard hitting with a bit of grit.
Moves To Watch Out For: Lariat, Stampede Slam, Chops

Yukio Naya – The Heavyweight division is something DDT has been trying to boost up for the last few years. Yukio Naya is someone they’ve had high hopes for in the past due to his lineage coming from a famous family of sumo wrestlers. His grandfather was the 48th yokozuna, his father was kicked out of the sport in disgrace and his three younger brothers are all currently active up and down the divisions. Sumo was never the road that Naya wanted to take though and instead he was directed towards pro wrestling by Satoru Sayama. Development was slow but when DDT became his home he eventually started to piece things together. He is in no way a finished product but through sheer determination it may someday finally all click into place for him. Watch out if he does because he can run you over easy.
Moves To Watch Out For: The World’s Best Back Drop, Choke Slam, Knee Lift


8. DDT Universal Title: Minoru Suzuki (c) Vs Yoshihiko

There’s going to be a few bruised egos in Vegas this week over a sex doll getting more bookings than some of the wrestlers coming to town. I’m not even making a crass joke at someone’s expense, Yoshihiko really has a couple of non-DDT matches going on as well as possibly getting the main event of this show! It is facing the one man who isn’t playing along with the joke though. Minoru Suzuki currently holds the DDT Universal Title and wants to travel the world defending it against all comers. So a sex doll suddenly appearing nearby wherever he goes is just an unfunny prank to him that is better off ignoring. With that being said have you seen what Suzuki’s schedule for this week looks like? This genuinely will end up being one of the more entertaining matches. Yoshihiko just needs to figure out how to make its dark power have an effect on Suzuki even a little bit. It’s almost as if it’s just an inanimate object…

Minoru Suzuki – The “Pirate King” of pro wrestling recently returned to DDT when Yuki Ueno used the Universal Title as a piece of treasure to lure him into a match. Ueno’s plan backfired spectacularly and now Suzuki holds DDT’s second most important championship. Since it is an international title, Suzuki now comes to America looking for anyone brave enough to challenge him. He has seen it all in his travels across the wrestling world but even he cannot believe who was first to answer his call. He’s going to show up to the event expecting to fight somebody because he isn’t buying that he’ll be headlining a wrestling show against a Dutch Wife.
Moves To Watch Out For: Gotch-Style Piledriver, Rear Naked Choke, Heel Hook, Slaps

Yoshihiko – The Grave Digger Doll From Hell has been a mysterious force in DDT for almost two decades now. It first showed up as the brother of Muscle Sakai, constantly replacing him in matches whenever Sakai suffered gun-related injuries backstage (it’s a long story). Yoshihiko vanished after that only to reappear years later as Danshoku Dieno’s surprise tag team partner. Over time the doll’s powers have only gotten stronger. It gained the ability to transform into powerful wrestlers such as The Great Muta, The Undertaker and Hulk Hogan. You can rip it limb from limb and it will survive. You can drive over it with a car and it will survive. You can throw it off a building and it will survive. To fight Yoshihiko is almost like fighting yourself. Only then can you discover your true talent as a pro wrestler.
Moves To Watch Out For: Reincarnation (multiple rotations into a Hurricanrana), Canadian Destroyer, Yoshihiko Destroyer (multiple Canadian Destroyers in a row)

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DDT/TOKYO JOSHI PRO/GCW “DDT VS TJPW VS GCW”, 19/04/2025
Pearl Theater At Palms Casino Resort, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

1. Mizuki, Hyper Misao, Yuki Aino, Raku & Pom Harajuku Vs Miu Watanabe, Suzume, Arisu Endo, Yuki Arai & Shino Suzuki
2. Yuki Kamifuku & Wakana Uehara Vs Brooke Havok & Sandra Moone
3. Rika Tatsumi & Antonio Honda Vs Kidd Bandit & Shota
4. 3 Way Match: MAO & Yoshihiko Vs Jimmy Lloyd & Alec Price Vs Jack Cartwheel & Kazuma Sumi
5. Special Tag Match: 1 Called Manders & Maki Itoh Vs Yukio Naya & Microman
6. Special Tag Match: Mance Warner & Shunma Katsumata Vs John Wayne Murdoch & Matt Tremont
7. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Daisuke Sasaki, Ilusion & Dark Sheik Vs Super Crazy, Marcus Mathers & Shoko Nakajima
8. Special Tag Match: KONOSUKE TAKESHITA & Masha Slamovich Vs Shinya Aoki & Miyu Yamashita

I made the Fire Pro comparison earlier but holy hell does this card look like I random selected everything on my save. Now don’t get me wrong, the lineup we have so far is so nutty looking that I’m looking forward to it. This isn’t even the full line up yet. Out of all the shows happening this week this may end up being the one with the most amount of never seen before and never seen again matches ever. I can’t do a proper preview of this justice so just join me in confusion at the sight of Super Crazy and Shoko Nakajima are doing double team moves together, Manders punting Microman into the third row and Yoshihiko taking Jack Cartwheel’s WWE ID deal away from him.

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There will be other chances to see a few DDT wrestlers in action across Philadelphia that week. Mainly MAO. You are going to get a lot of MAO. Yoshihiko is in demand quite a bit too.


PANDEMONIUM PRO “THE HOUSE ALWAYS WINS”, 17/04/2025
Fremont Country Club, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

1. Masha Slamovich Vs MAO

MAO is taking on the crazy schedule of wrestling 8 matches in just over 48 hours. He first match of the trip at Pandemonium Pro is already putting the pedal to the metal because his opponent is Masha Slamovich! The woman is one of the toughest people you will find in either TNA or GCW and just the kind of person who likes to match crazy with crazy.


CIRCLE 6 “MAYHEM AT THE MUSEUM”, 17/04/2025
The Punk Rock Museum, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

1. Bestia 666 Vs MAO

Around the same time MAO is fighting Slamovich he also has a match with Bestia 666 at a Circle 6 show. They’re only like a 10 minute drive away from each other so which will happen first?


WEST COAST PRO “VEGAS VACATION”, 17/04/2025
Meet Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

1. MAO Vs Jiah Jewell

Forget about LSU Vs Ole Miss. Louisiana Vs Osaka? Now there’s a real sports rivalry! Although I can’t find Modesto on the map of Louisiana and any cajun I ask tells me the only place I’ll find a Modesto over there would be in the craft beer aisle. Jiah Jewell is another crazy opponent for MAO to fight.


GCW “JOSH BARNETT’S BLOODSPORT XIII”, 17/04/2025
Pearl Theater At Palms Casino Resort, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

1. Charlie Dempsey Vs Shinya Aoki

Look, I’m not saying I want to see Aoki break Charlie Dempsey’s arm and flip him off afterwards. It’s just that if you’re going to call this Bloodsport then give us a bloodsport. Dempsey’s dad would understand that.


BZW “VIVA LAS VEGAS”, 17/04/2025
Swan Dive, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

1. BZW Tag Team Titles: MAO & Yoshihiko (c) Vs Marcus Mathers & Alec Price

If you haven’t heard, MAO & Yoshihiko have a side story going on where they are the tag team champions of Banger Zone Wrestling in France and Belgium. BZW are among the more obscure wrestling companies that decided to run a show in Vegas this year but at least they’re taking a good swing at it. The champs were originally meant to face The Gahbage Daddies for the belts but Cole Radrick is unfortunately out of action. Alec Price was able to get Marcus Mathers in as a substitute so wacky times are still a go-go.


PRIDESTYLE “OUT OF THIS WORLD”, 18/04/2025
Swan Dive, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

0. Yoshihiko’s Super Special Open Challenge: Yoshihiko Vs X
1. G-Sharpe Vs MAO

MAO is also taking in favours from the Nevada based promotions during the week. There is a heel unit in PrideStyle named The Cartel de Los Villanos who have called MAO in to deal with one of their enemies G-Sharpe. While that is going on, Yoshihiko will also be there on the pre-show looking to put out an open challenge.


GRAPHOUSE “FOR VEGAS, BY VEGAS”, 18/04/2025
Fergusons Downtown, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

1. Lazarus Vs MAO

By the looks of things MAO ends his run of Vegas shows with one of the local promotions called GrapHouse. His opponent Lazarus is being advertised as the W4TN Champion but I’m not sure if the title will be on the line. Lazarus is also nicknamed “The Cannibal Cryptid”. Sounds about right. Also I think the venue is near Fremont Street so MAO should find a way to do a Moonsault off of Vegas Vic.


GCW “CLUSTERF*CK FOREVER”, 19/04/2025
Pearl Theater At Palms Casino Resort, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

1. Clusterfuck Match: Yoshihiko Vs X

Almost anyone and anything could show up at GCW’s annual Clusterfuck match that usually draws the non-WWE side of the week to a close. Yoshihiko has been confirmed to take part in the match for a second year in a row. Last year it made it all the way to the final three. Former TJPW wrestler Sayaka Unagi is also being advertised to take part. Can you imagine the kind of eye opening things Unagi would do in Vegas?


Just Arrived Now, Guides Coming Up Soon

April 16, 2025

Okay, okay, okay. Bare with me for a bit. I arrived in Vegas and saw the extra match announcements so let me finish up the two guides and they should be ready in an hour or two. Also I’m spamming some posts so the massive Around The World article gets pushed off the front page and the site won’t crash due to overload once the guides are up.

DDT “DDT GOES LAS VEGAS!”, 18/04/2025
Pearl Theater At Palms Casino Resort, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

1. Yuni Vs Starboy Charlie
2. 3 Way Tag Match: Daisuke Sasaki & Ilusion Vs Mizuki Watase & Shota Vs Dan The Dad & Kody Lane
3. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Nick Wayne, Shunma Katsumata & Kazuma Sumi Vs Gringo Loco, Marcus Mathers & Tyler Bateman
4. Special Single Match: Antonio Honda Vs Santana Jackson
5. Special Single Match: Shinya Aoki Vs Timothy Thatcher
6. Special Single Match: KONOSUKE TAKESHITA Vs MAO
7. wXw Unified World Wrestling Title: 1 Called Manders (c) Vs Yukio Naya
8. DDT Universal Title: Minoru Suzuki (c) Vs Yoshihiko

This is the complete card for DDT’s Las Vegas show. Mizuki Watase, Shota, Dan The Dad, Kody Lane and Starboy Charlie are the last people added.

DDT/TOKYO JOSHI PRO/GCW “DDT VS TJPW VS GCW”, 19/04/2025
Pearl Theater At Palms Casino Resort, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

1. Rika Tatsumi & Antonio Honda Vs Kidd Bandit & Shota
2. 3 Way Match: MAO & Yoshihiko Vs Jimmy Lloyd & Alec Price Vs Jack Cartwheel & Kazuma Sumi
3. Special Tag Match: 1 Called Manders & Maki Itoh Vs Yukio Naya & Microman
4. Special Tag Match: Mance Warner & Shunma Katsumata Vs John Wayne Murdoch & Matt Tremont
5. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Daisuke Sasaki, Ilusion & Dark Sheik Vs Super Crazy, Marcus Mathers & Shoko Nakajima
6. Special Tag Match: KONOSUKE TAKESHITA & Masha Slamovich Vs Shinya Aoki & Miyu Yamashita

Who is the cutest in the world? Maki Itoh could have some competition with Microman when it comes to that claim. Add 1 Called Manders and Yukio Naya into the mix and we got ourselves the plot of a straight to video sequel of The Hangover.

No seriously what the hell is this card? There’s still like a third of the lineup still to be booked!

DDT “SAPPORO NIGHT CRUSH”, 26/04/2025
Hokkaido Sapporo Sun Plaza

1. MAO & KANON Vs Yukio Naya & Yuya Koroku
2. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Jun Akiyama, Noriyuki Yoshida & Daichi Sato Vs Kazusada Higuchi, Tomoya & Yuki Ishida
3. Sapporo’s Famous Trial Singles Best Of Two Matches – First Round!!: Akito Vs Kazuki Hirata
4. SCHADENFREUDE International Vs The 37KAMIINA!: Chris Brookes & Takeshi Masada Vs Yuki Ueno & To-y
5. Special Single Match: HARASHIMA Vs Danshoku Dieno
6. KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles: Shunma Katsumata, Yuni & Kazuma Sumi (c) Vs Daisuke Sasaki, Hideki Okatani & Ilusion.

DAMNATION T.A want to take back the KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles after having to vacate them when they kicked KANON out of the group. They now have Hideki Okatani replacing him and Ilusion wants to be on the team this time too. He’s been targeting NωA Jr. a lot recently anyway. And why does MJ Paul have to be taken out of the equation? Can’t Daisuke Sasaki let him lead the team for once?

DDT “MENKOI DAY SMASH”, 27/04/2025
Hokkaido Sapporo Sun Plaza

1. Yuni Vs Ilusion
2. Yuki Ueno, Shunma Katsumata & To-y Vs Jun Akiyama, Yukio Naya & Daichi Sato
3. Special 6-Man Tag Match: HARASHIMA, Tomoya & Noriyuki Yoshida Vs Danshoku Dieno, Yuya Koroku & Kazuma Sumi
4. Sapporo’s Famous Trial Singles Best Of Two Matches – Second Round!!: Akito Vs Kazuki Hirata
5. SCHADENFREUDE International Vs DAMNATION T.A!: Chris Brookes & Takeshi Masada Vs Hideki Okatani & MJ Paul
6. STRANGE LOVE CONNECTION Vs Harimao!: MAO & KANON Vs Kazusada Higuchi & Yuki Ishida

Updating the main event match name now that MAO & KANON are the Strange Love Connection.


M&A “SANSHIRO TAKAGI 30TH ANNIVERSARY PROJECT ~MATCHMAKE & AGENT~” Results

April 9, 2025

M&A “SANSHIRO TAKAGI 30TH ANNIVERSARY PROJECT ~MATCHMAKE & AGENT~”, 09/04/2025
Tokyo Ueno Park Outdoor Stage
??? Fans – Unannounced

1. Shota defeated Mikiya Sasaki with a Reverse Sleeper Hold Pin (8:37).
2. Special Tag Match: Yumiko Hotta & Miku Kanae defeated Mio Shirai & Saran when Hotta pinned Saran with a Lariat (12:08).
3. 3 Minutes Impact: Shigehiro Irie defeated Ryoma Tsukamoto with the Beast Bomber (2:43).
4. Special Single Match: Andreza Giant Panda defeated Poison Sawada JULIE with the Lockdown (5:57).
5. KO-D Tag Team Titles: Fuminori Abe & Takuya Nomura (c) defeated Hikaru Sato & Ippanjin Munenori Sawa when Abe submitted Sawa with the O-Manjigatame (15:15).
*V2 for Astronauts.
6. Special Single Match: Jun Kasai defeated Maki Itoh with the Pearl Harbor Splash (17:17).
7. Special Tag Match – Falls Count Anywhere Match: Yuji Nagata & Kuroshio TOKYO Japan defeated Brahman Shu & Brahman Kei when Nagata submitted Kei with the Arm Lock (16:36).

The recent stretch of wrestling events held at Tokyo Ueno Park was completed today with the debut show for MatchMake & Agent Pro Wrestling. The series was put together by Sanshiro Takagi to celebrate his 30th anniversary in wrestling this year by booking shows without using full time DDT talent. The planned schedule is to run these kind of shows once every two months at least for the rest of the year. With a wide range of connections at his disposal Takagi put together an entire card of first times matchups. He also treated the show like a startup and due to a lack of staff decided to work as a ringside attendant for every match today.

The main event was revealed to be a Falls Count Anywhere match right before it begun. Yuji Nagata & Kuroshio TOKYO Japan continued their new Ikemen tag team and fought fire with fire against The Brahman Brothers. Kuroshio played the song “Keep On Journey” by The Sailor Boys over the speakers to cause massive pcychic damage to The Brahmans (they hate to be reminded of that gimmick). Takagi got caught in the crossfire and ended up getting a bucket of ink poured over his head while Kuroshio and Brahman Shu was fighting over it. Brahman Kei regurgitated green goo from his mouth and drooled it over Nagata. But Nagata grabbed him in the Arm Lock, went into his trance and started regurgitating blue goo from his mouth in response! Kei had no way to combat this and had to give up.

After the match Kuroshio said today he learned that Nagata is the best in the industry and also the best ikemen. He gave Nagata his jacket for him to pose in for the fans when Takagi interrupted them. He told Nagata there is someone backstage who really wants to fight him. It’s Ken Ohka! After Ohka made his entrance he told Nagata he created Ganbare☆Pro 11 years ago to turn pro wrestling into a major sport but he also wanted to be a great wrestler ever since he ws a child. That dream never came true but he wants to challenge “Mr. IWGP” anyway. Takagi confirmed the match will happen on 25th June.

The match between Maki Itoh and Jun Kasai was supposed to be held under normal rules but the two of them treated it like a Hardcore Match. Itoh used her pizza cutter to draw blood from Kasai’s foreheard. Kasai brought out a forkboard only for Itoh to Power Bomb him onto it. Itoh then felt the pain when Kasai stuck a bundle of bamboo skewers onto her head and hit a Lariat. Itoh kicked out of the Reverse Tiger Driver and stuck up her middle finger. Kasai got a kick out of that and shouted out El Desperado’s name before giving Itoh the Pinche Loco. He then won with the Pearl Harbor Splash. He told Itoh afterwards he was going to stick her middle finger up her nose but he isn’t in the mood now. Instead he will raise his index finger to Itoh because she is the No. 1 entertainer wrestler! Itoh said she will definitely surpass Kasai someday. She also said the fans in attendance must be really weird people to come out to a place like this on a Wednesday night. But no matter what happens he encourages them to stick up the middle finger in their hearts.

The KO-D Tag Team Titles match fell apart when the referee kept getting attacked by the wrestlers and put in submissions holds. With him out of the way. Astronauts and SEX-MEN ended up fighting around ringside. During the chaos Hikaru Sato disappeared only for Takagi to show up wearing his wrestling gear and take his place! Takagi & Munenori Sawa teamed up for the first time in years but Astronauts easily launched a counter attack and won the match when Fuminori Abe made his mentor Sawa give up to the O-Manjigatame. Takuya Nomura said they still have a long way to go to break the championship record for most defences. Abe suggested they go find some old guys and beat them.

Panda defeated snake on Match #4. Poison Sawada JULIE was able to stun Andreza Giant Panda with his snake magic but it could only work for so long until Andreza Headbutted him and won with a Body Press. JULIE got a little measure of revenge on Takagi after the match by using his snake magic to throw him to the canvas.

The show introduced Takagi’s attempt at copying the WWE Speed formula called 3 Minutes Impact. Shigehiro Irie defeated Ryoma Tsukamoto in a match Takagi recorded on his phone to stream on DDT’s Twitter account.

Mio Shirai was quickly put into an irritated mood for her match, complaining about Takagi missing Yumiko Hotta’s chain while taking away her entrance gear and calling Miku Kanae ugly while fighting her. She also kept breaking up Hotta’s pins on Saran but Hotta was able to get the win in the end. Hotta praised Shirai for her performance after the match and said she was right to come back to wrestling. She admits she even could have lost to her today if she underestimated her. The two agreed to fight again some day.

The spirit of Dory Funk Jr. was on display in the opening match when Mikiya Sasaki used that kind of moveset against Shota. In a back and forth match Shota countered a Sleeper Hold into a Roll Up to get the win. Sasaki was still in Dory Funk mode after the match and hit Shota with a series of Dory style punches.

At the start of the show Takagi announced that Suwama Vs Muscle Sakai will happen on the 25th June show.


DDT “D GENERATIONS 1” Results

April 8, 2025

DDT “D GENERATIONS 1”, 08/04/2025
Tokyo Ueno Park Outdoor Stage
??? Fans – Unannounced

1. Oji Shiiba defeated Yuni with the Ungai Soten (8:43).
2. Special Single Match: Daichi Kazato defeated Keigo Nakamura with the Rocket Punch (7:08).
3. Takeshi Masada & Yuki Ishida defeated Munetatsu Nakamura & Ali Najima when Masada pinned Nakamura with the Masada No Chikara KOBU Mukimuki (12:07).
4. Special Tag Match: Soma Takao & Shota defeated Yuya Koroku & Kazuma Sumi when Takao pinned Sumi with the Gin And Tonic (10:34).
5. Special Single Match: Shigehiro Irie defeated Daichi Sato with the Beast Bomber (15:00).
6. Special Single Match: Keisuke Ishii defeated To-y with the Spinning Body Bomb (11:35).

The first edition of the new “D GENERATIONS” sub-series showed just high a mountain there is for DDT’s young wrestlers to climb. In the six matches pitting the D GENERATION against veterans and outsiders they were only able to win one match. It is a challenge that their predecessors from the Young Communication generation faced back when they ran shows similar to this for little to no money. Keisuke Ishii made it clear after the main event that his generation have the pride needed to win their matches today. The D GENERATIONS though are too dependant on DDT and the softer modern day wrestling environment. If any of the D GENERATION wrestlers were to step outside of DDT, would they be able to survive in this industry for five or ten years? The veterans here don’t think so. The complaints from Ishii, Soma Takao, Shota and Shigehiro Irie at the end of the show caused a standoff to happen between the two generations in the ring. The likes of To-y and Keigo Nakamura said they don’t care about the past or about money. This series is for the young wrestlers to show their dreams to everyone. They also would like to make a little profit and fill out the seats at the same time.

There was a press conference put together on short notice for Keigo Nakamura to make an announcement. He is going on an indefinite overseas excursion! Over the last few months Nakamura has lost important matches in places like the DDT Vs NOAH rivalry, the D GENERATIONS CUP and most recently the KO-D Tag Team Titles challenge with Shinya Aoki. By the way he hasn’t told Aoki about this plan yet. Nakamura feels like he has reached a turning point and needs to make a change which is why he will travel abroad for training. He will be doing it independantly so he can grow by himself. His final match in Japan before going on excursion will be at the 23rd April DDT show.


Loser Must Join DDT Match, 3 Minutes Impact, GanPro’s Korakuen Main Event

March 17, 2025

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.


GANBARE☆PRO “JUSTICE LEAGUE 2025” Results

March 16, 2025

GANBARE☆PRO “JUSTICE LEAGUE 2025”, 16/03/2025
Tokyo Takashimadaira Kumin Center
138 Fans

1. Shota Kawakami defeated Shota Kofuji with a School Boy (7:50).
2. Yuna Manase, YuuRI & Banny Oikawa defeated Hanako Nakamori, Moeka Haruhi & HARUKAZE when YuuRI pinned HARUKAZE with the Swanton Bomb (10:07).
3. Shinichiro Tominaga & Rekka defeated Takuya Wada & PSYCHO when Tominaga pinned Wada with the JK (13:30).
4. Ken Ohka defeated Tyson Maeguchi with the Flame Spear (12:15).
5. Shuichiro Katsumura, Yuki Kanzaki & Munetatsu Nakamura defeated Keisuke Ishii, Hagane Shinno & Choun-Shiryu when Nakamura pinned Shiryu with a German Suplex (14:29).
6. Spirit Of Ganbare World Openweight Title: Yumehito Imanari (c) defeated Fuminori Abe with a Sliding Lariat (19:35).
*V3 for Yumehito Imanari.

A back and forth match between Yumehito Imanari and Fuminori Abe led to both wrestlers scrambling for pins multiple times until Imanari kept Ae down for the three count after a Sliding Lariat. Imanari praised Abe after the match for using the Fighting Detectives to pursue his ideals for pro wrestling. He is influenced by them so when Imanari becomes influential to Abe they can have a rematch. Abe usually dislikes it when he hears people say they will do their best but he understands where Imanari is coming from. Also if Abe knew what his vision for pro wrestling is he would have quit wrestling a long time ago!

Imanari’s next Spirit Of Ganbare World Title defence will be at Korakuen Hall on 11th April. As he was promoting the show Shinichiro Tominaga came down to the ring to challenge him. He has gotten three title shots in the past and failed every time but that is nothing to repeating his second year of university! Imanari talked about his past with Tominaga because he once filmed his student wrestling matches for a documentary. It was his first video project so they have known each other for a long time and can have a title match that only they can do together.

HARUKAZE announced that she will soon be taking a break from pro wrestling to go work in her father’s business. She told fans that she met with her 80 year old father over Christmas and he asked her to take over his self employed business. HARUKAZE turned him down at the time because she wanted to focus on wrestling and comedy. She then took some time to think about it further and realized she’s been living a bit too freely so she changed her mind and will go work for him after all. Her final match before her break will be on 5th May and she insists she is not retiring from pro wrestling. Until then she wants to win one of her last remaining matches. Yuna Manase told her that women who work hard are always accepted into Ganbare☆Joshi and that means HARUKAZE will always be a part of GanJo.

Today was Shota Kawakami’s first singles win and it happened close to the first anniversary of his debut match. On 5th May he will face his coach Shota in a match to celebrate that anniversary.


KO-D 6-Man Title Match Decided, Wedding Hall Matches, T-HEARTS Vs Former Ice Ribbon

March 11, 2025

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!

BASARA “BASARA 274 ~UTAGE AKA – HIEN~”, 25/03/2025
Shin-Kiba 1st RING

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.


Video – “BAKA GAIJIN + FRIENDS VOL. TWENTY”

March 4, 2025


BAKA GAIJIN + FRIENDS “VOL. 20: LIFE IS PEACHY”, 04/03/2025
Tokyo ARENA Shimokitazawa
??? Fans – Unannounced

1. Special Tag Match: Shota & Soma Takao Vs Chris Brookes & Masahiro Takanashi
2. Special Single Match: Hagane Shinno Vs Ram Kaichow
3. Antonio Honda & Antonio Honda XL Vs Great King Ueki & Munek
4. Special Single Match: Mr. Bueno Vs Shuji Ishikawa


BAKA GAIJIN + FRIENDS “VOL. 20: LIFE IS PEACHY” Results

March 4, 2025

BAKA GAIJIN + FRIENDS “VOL. 20: LIFE IS PEACHY”, 04/03/2025
Tokyo ARENA Shimokitazawa
??? Fans – Unannounced

1. Special Tag Match: Chris Brookes & Masahiro Takanashi defeated Shota & Soma Takao when Takanashi pinne Shota with the Bacchus (16:16).
2. Special Single Match: Hagane Shinno defeated Ram Kaichow with a Crushed Onryo Clutch (8:36).
3. Antonio Honda & Antonio Honda XL defeated Great King Ueki & Munek when Honda pinned Munek with the Super Bionic Elbow (11:58).
4. Special Single Match: Shuji Ishikawa defeated Mr. Bueno with the Running Knee Lift (15:03).

A big mystery challenge awaited Mr. Bueno at Baka Gaijin & Friends and they don’t come bigger than Shuji Ishikawa! Despite the intimidating first impression, Bueno told Ishikawa to “come on, big boy” when the match began. Ishikawa overpowered him early and would barely budge for Bueno’s attacks. The chops thrown by Ishikawa were strong enough to knock him into the rows of fans sitting in the room. But Bueno would not give up because he is a Baka Gaijin. The only way he could throw Ishikawa off his game was to make him corpse by calling him cute but even that couldn’t do much. Antonio Honda couldn’t stand by and watch Ueno get beaten up so he led all of the Baka Gaijin in a train attack on Ishikawa to finally knock the big dog off his feet. Bueno was able to hit a Diving Body Press from the bar counter but it only got him a 2 Count. He also dodged the Giant Driver, hit a Flying Somato and also found the power to do a Body Slam. In a last ditch effort he applied a Sleeper Hold. Sadly for him, Ishikawa powered out of it, Headbutted him, hit the Kamigoye and then did the Giant Driver. Bueno somehow kicked out so Ishikawa had to use the Running Knee Lift to win the match.

Three matches were advertised for the show. The unexpected fourth came when Takayuki Ueki and Munetatsu Nakamura showed up looking different than they normally do. They were now Great King Ueki and his servant Munek, possessed by an evil spirit from a magical vase they found a few days ago. They were here to crash the show and go chat up some cute girls in the audience. After they found one and held her captive, Antonio Honda & Antonio Honda XL came to the rescue, demanded “Princess Peach” be freed and challenged Ueki & Munek to a match. The Super Honda Brothers hit their opponents with Gongitsune and also the Super Bionic Elbow to win. As a result the fan was rescued, Ueki & Nakamura were freed from their spell and ARENA Shimokitazawa was safe once again.

Just taking a kick at the start of the match made Ram Kaichow realized she was in for a long night. Hagane Shinno’s wrestling skills outmatched her own and she was reaching her limit just trying to fight back. She was able to Choke Slam Shinno and hit him with a Low Blow to set up the Onryo Clutch. However Shinno blocked the Clutch and countered it into a cradle to pin Kaichow for the three count.

Later this month Chris Brookes and Masahiro Takanashi will face each other for the KO-D Openweight Title at DDT’s 28th Anniversary show. Today that was nothing to worry about because CDK were teaming up to face ROMANCE DAWN for the first time since their 2022 feud in Ganbare☆Pro. There were a lot of double team moves within the short space they fought in. A Neckbreaker/Dropkick combo got rid of Soma Takao but Shota kept fighting despite the numbers disadvantage. His luck ran out when Takanashi countered the Gannosuke Clutch into the Bacchus for the pinfall. The two teams gestured having another match together sometime. Takanashi then took a look at the KO-D Title and wished Brookes the best before leaving the room.

The next Baka Gaijin & Friends show will be on 15th April.


Ueno Cleared To Return, Hirata’s 15th Anniversary, JJ Furno Coming To DDT

February 18, 2025

DDT “NEXT GENERATION 2025 ~KISARAGI ROMAN~”, 23/02/2025
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Toru Owashi & Yuki Ishida Vs Yuni & Kazuma Sumi
2. Daisuke Sasaki, KANON, MJ Paul & Ilusion Vs To-y, Jun Akiyama, Tomomitsu Matsunaga & Daichi Sato
3. Special Single Match: Kazuki Hirata Vs Antonio Honda
4. Special Tag Match: Chris Brookes & Masahiro Takanashi Vs Shinya Aoki & Keigo Nakamura
5. Special Tag Match: Danshoku Dieno & Koju Takeda Vs Super Sasadango Machine & Yumehito Imanari
6. “Brave Bang Bravern!” Collaboration 6-Man Tag Match ~ Bravern Debut Match: Bravern, Yuki Ueno & MAO Vs Yukio Naya, Akito & Soma Takao
7. D GENERATIONS CUP 2025 – Final: Takeshi Masada Vs Yuya Koroku

The week started off with good news regarding Yuki Ueno. His test results for hematuria showed no signs of abnormality so his doctor have given him permission to start wrestling again. Ueno’s return to the ring will be at Korakuen Hall.

In news that might be more exciting than it sounds Kaisei Takechi will be at the show as a guest commentator. He last wrestled in DDT back in October. Who knows, maybe he’ll get the itch to have a match again this year.

DDT “CHIBA KEIRIN PIST6 X PRO WRESTLING DOME FIGHT 2025 IN TIPSTAR DOME CHIBA”, 01/03/2025
TIPSTAR DOME CHIBA

1. Yuya Koroku Vs Yuki Ishida
2. Kazuki Hirata Vs Yukio Naya
3. Danshoku Dieno Vs Kazuma Sumi
4. Falls Count Anywhere Special 6-Man Tag Match: Chris Brookes, Antonio Honda & Takeshi Masada Vs Yuki Ueno, MAO & Shinya Aoki

In the first weekend of March both DDT and Tokyo Joshi Pro will be holding matches at a keirin cycling racetrack. The three single matches will be held in between the 7th and 12th races. The Falls Count Anywhere match will happen after the 12th race.

DDT “NARAHA TOWN IMMIGRATION AMBASSADOR (UNOFFICIAL) TO-Y THANKSGIVING SEASON 2 – NARAHA TOWN C’MON!!”, 02/03/2025
Fukushima Naraha Sky Arena

1. 3 Way Match: Danshoku Dieno Vs Kazuki Hirata Vs Takeshi Masada
2. KANON Vs Tomomitsu Matsunaga
3. Daisuke Sasaki, MJ Paul & Ilusion Vs Akito, Yuya Koroku & Kazuma Sumi
4. Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling Offer Match: Arisu Endo Vs Shino Suzuki
5. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Shiro Koshinaka, Jun Akiyama & HARASHIMA Vs Yukio Naya, Keigo Nakamura & Yuki Ishida
6. The 37KAMIINA Vs SCHADENFREUDE International!: Yuki Ueno, MAO & To-y Vs Chris Brookes, Masahiro Takanashi & Antonio Honda

The unofficial ambassador of Naraha Town is bringing along a special guest for the show. To-y has gotten Shiro Koshinaka to come over and wrestle!

DDT “IT’S FINALLY HERE!! KAZUKI HIRATA 15TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIVE EVENT ~ TALK! 15 YEARS OF HIRATA GO!!”, 12/03/2025
Shinjuku FACE

1. Talk! 15 Years Of HIRATA GO!! Special 6-Man Tag Match: Kazuki Hirata, Keisuke Ishii & X Vs YO-HEY, Kenshin Chikano & Soma Takao

I wasn’t sure if Kazuki Hirata’s 15th Anniversary show was going to be a wrestling show or a special talk event. Looks like it is the former. The main event is Hirata in a 6-Man Tag Match with several wrestlers who are close to him and also a mystery partner. Keisuke Ishii, Soma Takao, YO-HEY and Kenshin Chikano have all spent a lot of time with Hirata in and out of the wrestling ring. Katsumi Tamagawa will also be involved as the referee for the bout.

Other wrestlers booked for the show include Shinya Aoki, Shigehiro Irie, Shota, Naruki Doi and Punch Tominaga.

DDT “JUDGEMENT 2025 ~28TH ANNIVERSARY 5 HOUR SPECIAL~”, 20/03/2025
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Kazusada Higuchi Return Match: Kazusada Higuchi Vs X
2. KO-D Tag Team Titles: MAO & To-y (c) Vs Fuminori Abe & Takuya Nomura
3. DDT Universal Title: Yuki Ueno (c) Vs Minoru Suzuki
4. KO-D Openweight Title: Chris Brookes (c) Vs X

We still don’t know who Chris Brookes wants to defend the KO-D Openweight Title against at DDT’s 28th Anniversary show. The only information we know is Brookes has whittled his choices down to about five wrestlers. He still hasn’t said who is among them.

One of Japan’s strongest tag teams have come to challenge the KO-D Tag Team Champions. If there is any pair of wrestlers out there who can match the eccentric levels of MAO & To-y it’s the Astronauts/Fighting Detectives of Fuminori Abe & Takuya Nomura!

Coming to DDT this March is the Japan debut of “The Fire” JJ Furno! He is a high flying wrestler from Melbourne, Australia who was strongly recommended to DDT by Royce Chambers. Furno will be touring with DDT for eight shows starting on 20th March until 6th April.