DDT “UTAN FESTA 2023” Results

October 30, 2023

DDT “UTAN FESTA 2023”, 29/10/2023
Tokyo JR Omori Station East Exit Plaza
1,029 Fans – Super No Vacancy

1. Daisuke Sasaki, KANON & MJ Paul defeated Yusuke Okada, Yuya Koroku & Yuni when Sasaki pinned Yuni with a Spear (11:01).
2. Danshoku Dieno defeated Rukiya with the Danshoku Driver (6:55).
3. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Tetsuya Endo, Jun Akiyama & Chikara defeated Sanshiro Takagi, Akito & Kazuki Hirata when Endo pinned Akito with the Burning Star Press (11:48).
4. World Omori Title: Soma Takao (c) defeated Antonio Honda with the Official Endless Waltz (11:20).
*V1 for Soma Takao.
5. Omori Specialty Special 6-Man Tag Match: Yukio Sakaguchi, Saki Akai & Hideki Okatani defeated Aja Kong, Takeshi Masada & Kazuma Sumi when Akai pinned Sumi with the Quetzalcoatl (13:13).
6. Yuki Ueno, MAO & Toy Kojima defeated HARASHIMA, Makoto Oishi & Yukio Naya when Ueno pinned Oishi with the BME (17:20).

The 37KAMIINA were close to losing in the main event. HARASHIMA & Yukio Naya came up with an effective strategy to throw Makoto Oishi at their opponents. It worked until Toy Kojima Dropkicked Naya while he held Oishi over his head. Naya recovered and put MAO in a deep Crab Hold causing Shunma Katsumata to appear at ringside and cheer his friends on for a comeback. The comeback did happen and Yuki Ueno gave Oishi two Moonsaults to win the match. The 37KAMIINA thanked the fans for coming back to the “UTAN FESTA” shows again after the pandemic took it away for a few years.

The graduation road sent Saki Akai over to meet Aja Kong one more time. Akai was ready for Kong and even took away the steel can so she could attack Kong with it instead of the other way round! That only annoyed Kong but she ended up taking that frustration out on Kazuma Sumi because he wouldn’t stop demanding her to tag him in. Akai took advantage and pinned Sumi with the Quetzalcoatl. She then thanked Kong after the match for always being a wall she wanted to climb over. Kong spoke about first knowing Akai 10 years ago as the model who made the controversial choice to become a pro wrestler. She has developed into a fine wrestler with kicks that hurt so much! Kong said it is her greatest joy to be here and see Akai fight like this. Unfortunately Kong will be wrestling in America around the same time Akai has her retirement match so she will not be there to see it in person. All she can do now is encourage the fans to go see Akai’s final match at Sumo Hall on 12th November.

The annual World Omori Title match ended with Soma Takao successfully defending the championship for the first time. His defence was also a preview of the next KO-D Tag Team Titles match because Antonio Honda was his challenger. Shota was in the corner to support his ROMANCE DAWN tag partner while Masahiro Takanashi was not at the show. Honda came up with a clever way to even the numbers by grabbing people’s food and shoes at ringside and attacking Takao with them. However Takao kept avoiding the Diving Fist Drop and pinned Honda with the Official Endless Waltz for the victory. Takao told the fans he used to go to the “UTAN FESTA” shows as a teenager so it makes him happy he now gets to wrestle on them.


DDT “GOD BLESS DDT 2023” Results

October 22, 2023

DDT “GOD BLESS DDT 2023”, 22/10/2023
Tokyo Korakuen Hall
800 Fans

0. Dark Match: Masahiro Takanashi & Antonio Honda defeated Soma Takao & Yuni when Honda pinned Yuni with a Modified Leg Clutch Hold (7:53).
1. Special Single Match: MIKAMI defeated Kazuma Sumi with the Swanton Bomb (5:57).
2. Daisuke Sasaki, KANON & MJ Paul defeated Tetsuya Endo, Toy Kojima & Rukiya when KANON pinned Rukiya with the Sleepy Hollow (9:25).
3. Yukio Naya Vs Yuya Koroku ended in a No Contest when The Saito Brothers attacked Naya (5:17).
4. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Jun Akiyama, Danshoku Dieno & Makoto Oishi defeated defeated Kazusada Higuchi, Akito & Yusuke Okada when Dieno pinned Akito with the Danshoku Driver (7:52).
5. Saki Akai Debut 10th Anniversary Match Vol. 4 ~ Special Tag Match: Yukio Sakaguchi & Hideki Okatani defeated Saki Akai & Chihiro Hashimoto when Sakaguchi pinned Akai with the God’s Right Knee (12:19).
6. DDT Extreme Title & Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title – Let’s Enjoy! Everyone Will Have A Great Time Death Match: Kazuki Hirata (E/c) defeated Takeshi Masada (I/c) by Countout (15:27).
*V4 for Kazuki Hirata. V? For Takeshi Masada.
-. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title: Kazuki Hirata defeated Takeshi Masada (c) with the Miracle One Shot Cradle (1:30 pm).
*Kazuki Hirata becomes the 1,583rd champion.
-. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title: Hiromu Takahashi defeated Kazuki Hirata (c) with a School Boy (1:32 pm).
*Hiromu Takahashi becomes the 1,584th champion.
7. Road To Ultimate Party 2023! Special Tag Match: Chris Brookes & HARASHIMA defeated Yuki Ueno & MAO when Brookes pinned Ueno with the Praying Mantis Bomb (22:11).

The upcoming Sumo Hall main event was previewed at today’s Korakuen Hall show. Chris Brookes and Yuki Ueno showed respect to each other but neither wants to lose. The competitive atmosphere carried over to the other wrestlers in the match. Brookes was teaming with HARASHIMA while Ueno teamed with MAO. This pairing of The 37KAMIINA hit their unique version of the MADMAX to Brookes but HARASHIMA broke up the pin by hitting Ueno with the Somato. Brookes then dodged the BME and gave Ueno a Piledriver only for MAO to break the pin. HARASHIMA got rid of MAO allowing Brookes to finish off his upcoming challenger. He hit a Buzzsaw Kick, the Diving Double Knee Drop and then the Praying Mantis Bomb to score the win over Ueno.

After the match Brookes said he and Ueno are both friends and rivals wanting to show their ideal vision of DDT. They can have a great match in the main event of “ULTIMATE PARTY 2023” on 12th November but Brookes thinks he is going to win at Sumo Hall. Backstage both HARASHIMA and MAO spoke about how happy they were to see Brookes and Ueno wrestle each other before Sumo Hall because recently one would get sick and the other would get injured. Ueno knows how strong Brookes is but that will not stop him on his mission to become the best in DDT!

When Takeshi Masada’s lack of a social life was discovered by DDT it was all up to Kazuki Hirata to find a way to fix it. Their double title match would use a stipulation that can teach Masada how to open up and have fun with people. The match started off normally until a few minutes in when music began to play and a group of masked people entered the ring. They assisted Hirata in teaching Masada by playing games of Jenga and basketball as well as putting together a drinking party in the ring. Masada enjoyed the experience and was having fun until Hirata and the masked men attacked him! He fought them off and was then chased around the venue. Masada soon realised he was being counted out and he rushed back to the ring. But just when he made it to the apron at the 19 count Hirata knocked him to the floor. Masada was counted out and Hirata recorded a successful DDT Extreme Title defence.

However the Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title held by Masada cannot be won by a countout so the result counted as a successful title defence for Masada as well. The two shook hands until Hirata rolled Masada into the Miracle One Shot Cradle. The masked men piled on top helping Hirata get the three count and win the Iron Man Title after all! The masked men dragged Masada away from ringside while Hirata explained he needed to become a double champion to make his Sumo Hall match with Hiromu Takahashi next month an even bigger deal. But while he was saying this, Takahashi suddenly ran into the ring and pinned him with a School Boy to become the new Iron Man Champion! He celebrated the championship now belonging to a New Japan wrestler and admitted he doesn’t even want the belt. He just took a shot at winning it because the opportunity was there. The actual reason he showed up today was to ask Hirata what the rules for their match on 12th November is going to be? Hirata said he cannot decide now but promised it will be something fun for them and the fans. Hirata then tried to win back the Iron Man Title and chased Takahashi around ringside.

Saki Akai’s road to retirement hit a rough patch this weekend. Yesterday Eruption lost the AJPW TV 6-Man Tag Team Titles in All Japan with Akai dropping the fall. Today in DDT Akai had a special tag match where she faced against the other two members of Eruption. Backing her up though was Chihiro Hashimoto from Sendai Girls. The power of Hashimoto was on show when she used German Suplexes to throw around Yukio Sakaguchi & Hideki Okatani. Akai had Sakaguchi on the ropes by hitting the Rookie Award and she tried to finish him off with the Quetzalcoatl. But Sakaguchi blocked the move and came off better in a High Kick exchange. Akai kicked out from a Right High Kick at 2 but was put away with the God’s Right Knee.

After the match Sakaguchi and Hashimoto exchanged words to let everyone know they want to fight each other again. Hashimoto also praised Akai for being strong, cool and beautiful. She asked her to continue being like this until she reties. Sakaguchi asked Akai not to cry because it would make everyone else sad too, even himself and Okatani. Today is the last time Akai wrestled in Korakuen for DDT so she should get to talk about it. Akai said Okatani’s growth has been her purpose in life lately. She thanked him for joining Eruption. She also thanked Sakaguchi for teaching her so much from her fighting spirit to her wrestling techniques. She hopes he will continue being everyone’s big brother. Until Akai’s wrestling career ends she will continue to represent Eruption.

The teams in Match #4 were slightly switched around by Danshoku Dieno’s request. Makoto Oishi and Yusuke Okada swapped sides based on Okada’s recent interactions with Dieno and his weakened state. The result of this was Dieno, Oishi & Jun Akiyama working unexpectedly well together as a trio. They won the match against Okada, Kazusada Higuchi & Akito. Oishi thought things worked so well that they should team up more often. Dieno disagreed so Oishi tried to convince him that a person like Akiyama who has had many ups and downs in his career can help Dieno get out of his current slump. Oishi already decided on a team name. Take the D from Danshoku, the O from Oishi and the A from Akiyama and you get D.O.A which also stands for Dead Or Alive! Oishi wants D.O.A to fight for the KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles once Eruption vacates them. Akiyama agreed to take part but only if the D.O.A splits up if they fail. Dieno doesn’t like the idea but he’s now stuck with it.

The Yukio Naya Vs Yuya Koroku match was interrupted by the sudden appearance of The Saito Brothers! The Voodoo Murders team from All Japan entered the ring and attacked Naya, causing the match to get thrown out. Koroku and Toy Kojima were attacked too until HARASHIMA ran down for the save. Rei Saito grabbed the microphone and complained about Naya disrespecting him and his brother lately. They are going to spend the next few months destroying him! They will be fighting Naya in a tag match at Sumo Hall next month and Rei Saito is taking part in the D-Ou Grand Prix this year, entering in the same block as Naya! Jun Saito warned everyone the D in D-Ou is the same D you will find in “DOOM!”

Daisuke Sasaki is taking his upcoming singles match with Tetsuya Endo very personally. DAMNATION T.A beat Endo today with KANON pinning Rukiya but Sasaki was focused on Endo’s fallen body outside the ring when the match ended. Sasaki told Endo what’s going on now has nothing to do with DAMNATION or BURNING. It is all about their match at Sumo Hall on 12th November. He will not let anybody get in the way of it. Endo agreed with the comments backstage, saying the match will be a pure fight between two people. He doesn’t want anything else to get mixed up in it.

One of DDT’s legends returned to the promotion today to wrestle one of the company’s prospects. MIKAMI defeated Kazuma Sumi by hitting the Mickey Boomerang (the 619 before Rey Mysterio even used it as an offensive maneuver, that’s how long MIKAMI has been around) and following it up with the Swanton Bomb. MIKAMI said Sumi has a long way to go but he’s got something good to work with. They can team up next time so Sumi can learn some MIKAMI-ism skills to his repertoire. MIKAMI then threw his name out as the next challenger for the DDT Extreme Title. He was the very first Extreme Champion when the title was created in 2006. He later approached Hirata backstage to challenge him in person. Their title match will take place on 16th November.

The dark match gave Masahiro Takanashi & Antonio Honda some prep time for their KO-D Tag Team Titles challenge at Sumo Hall. One-half of the champions Soma Takao was on the opposing team with Yuni. The other half Shota was there at ringside and even got lured in by Honda’s Gongitsune joke. Yuni took over with an RKO to Honda but he missed a Moonsault. Honda then rolled him up with a Rolling Leg Clutch for the victory.

There was a lot of newsworthy stuff on the show away from the matches in-ring. Chris Jericho sent in a video message for Konosuke Takeshita. He showered praise towards Takeshita for already creating a great pro wrestling legacy in DDT and AEW. Jericho admits he should be angry over Takeshita’s constant attacks on him but instead he wants to give him a gift. He promised he will give Takeshita the best match of his career at Sumo Hall. On that night Takeshita will learn that Jericho is the greatest wrestler of all time and he is just an idiot!

Hisaya Imabayashi revealed a new addition to “ULTIMATE PARTY 2023”. It’s the DDT return of the man formerly known as Jiro “Ikemen” Kuroshio! After announcing his return to the Japanese wrestling scene this month, this person is now being called Kuroshio TOKYO Japan! He is still the same old Kuroshio though, taking his sweet time entering the ring while “HELLO” played in the background. When he finally did speak he said Takeshita recommended he challenge Masada to a match. Masada was surprised to hear this and accepted. He was already booked for a Tag Gauntlet on the show but Imabayashi agreed to change the card so this match can go ahead.

The D-Ou Grand Prix 2023 blocks were announced at the beginning of the show. Block A contains Yuki Ueno, Tetsuya Endo, Kazusada Higuchi, Daisuke Sasaki, HARASHIMA and Yuki Iino. Block B has Chris Brookes, MAO, Yukio Naya, KANON, Kazuki Hirata and Rei Saito. The tournament will be Iino’s return to DDT after Pheromones broke up. He is currently away getting rehabilitated to remove whatever Pheromones was left inside him.


Complete “ULTIMATE PARTY 2023” Card Revealed

October 5, 2023

DDT “ULTIMATE PARTY 2023”, 12/11/2023
Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan

1. 5 Way Tag Match: KANON & MJ Paul Vs Naruki Doi & Kazuma Sumi Vs Yusuke Okada & Yuya Koroku Vs Toy Kojima & Yuki Ishida Vs Takeshi Masada & Rukiya
2. Tokyo Joshi Pro Offer 6-Woman Tag Match: X, X & X Vs X, X & X
3. Special 8-Man Tag Match: Sanshiro Takagi, Akito, Makoto Oishi & Shinichiro Kawamatsu Vs Yoshitatsu, Yoshihiko, Danshoku Dieno & Super Sasadango Machine
4. Special 6-Man Tag Match ~ DDT Vs VOODOO-MURDERS: Jun Akiyama, HARASHIMA & Yukio Naya Vs Jun Saito, Rei Saito & Toshizo
5. Special Single Match: Daisuke Sasaki Vs Tetsuya Endo
6. Special Single Match: Hiromu Takahashi Vs Kazuki Hirata
7. KO-D Tag Team Titles: Soma Takao & Shota (c) Vs Masahiro Takanashi & Antonio Honda
8. DDT Universal Title: Matt Cardona (c) (w/ Steph De Lander) Vs MAO
9. Saki Akai Retirement Match ~Strong, Noble, Beautiful~: Saki Akai, Yukio Sakaguchi & Hideki Okatani Vs Naomichi Marufuji, Kazusada Higuchi & Miyu Yamashita
10. Dramatic Dream Match: Chris Jericho Vs KONOSUKE TAKESHITA
11. KO-D Openweight Title: Chris Brookes (c) Vs Yuki Ueno

During her retirement road Saki Akai has said she wants her pro wrestling career to end like a flower that scatters beautifully, not one that withers and dies of decay. For her final ever match she chose three opponents that have the most power to scatter her petals. Eruption will have a 6-Man Tag Match against Naomichi Marufuji from NOAH, former member Kazusada Higuchi and Miyu Yamashita from Tokyo Joshi Pro. Marufuji was chosen because Akai wants to stay so strong until the end that she is able to beat “The boss next door”. It will be the first time Marufuji wrestles on a DDT only show since November 2020 (not counting the 2021 CyberFight Festival). The KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles will not be on the line because everyone is taking part in the match for Akai instead of a championship. A press conference was held today to announce this match along with the rest of the card for “ULTIMATE PARTY 2023”. Akai said at the conference that she still does not feel like she is approaching her final match. As a pro wrestler she will continue to do her best.

Hideki Okatani said he is happy to be part of Akai’s retirement match as a member of Eruption. They are double crown champions because of Akai and he is grateful to her for that. Yukio Sakaguchi admitted he is at a loss for words. For the last ten years Akai is probably the one person he’s been closest to, through all the good times to the bad. Higuchi said he has nothing but gratitude and respect for everyone in Eruption. He will express that to Akai when they are in the ring against each other. Yamashita is really happy to be included because her debut happened in the same venue on the same weekend as Akai’s debut, just one day before her. They privately hang out together and often talk about pro wrestling with each other. She wants Akai and herself to keep kicking each other until the end. Marufuji wondered why he was chosen but he wants to get a clear understanding of who Saki Akai is and how she wants her final match to end. Does she want to win by herself or win with the help of her friends? He warned her that if she does not want any bruises then she better wear gear with cushioning in it. Marufuji & Higuchi aren’t going to take it easy on Akai with their Chops and neither is Yamashita with her kicks!

———————————————————————–

The rest of the card was revealed today. The tag team division has gone in a completely different direction thanks to ROMANCE DAWN winning the KO-D Tag Team Titles so quickly after DAMNATION T.A claimed the vacant belts. Now we have Shota & Soma Takao getting a big spot on the show in a title defence against Masahiro Takanashi & Antonio Honda. That team is getting the shot based on Chris Brookes’s recommendation since he’s already busy with the main event to take part.

Daisuke Sasaki and Tetsuya Endo are facing each other in a singles match. This is coming off yesterday’s show when Sasaki tried to offer Endo a spot in DAMNATION T.A. Endo refused out of respect for the original DAMNATION they were both a part of. He has no interest in joining the current version of the group because it has not surpassed the first rendition. Endo then flipped the idea on its head by suggesting to reporters that Sasaki join BURNING instead. It would be a chance for Sasaki to discover a brand new side to him. Imagine Sasaki if he grew up with a Kenta Kobashi influence. I just can’t picture it.

DDT’s working relationship with All Japan has a place on the show. The VOODOO-MURDERS are rampaging over to Sumo Hall! It will be up to the combined forces of Jun Akiyama, HARASHIMA & Yukio Naya to stop them. The Saito Brothers have been one of the more visible players in Japan’s tag team scene recently. I don’t know what to think about Toshizo. If that’s not enough AJPW goodness for you then how about another serving of Yoshitatsu in the match before that?

The participants in the TJPW Offer Match will be revealed during “WRESTLE PRINCESS IV” on 9th October.


DDT “GOD BLESS DDT 2023 TOUR IN SHINJUKU” Results

October 4, 2023

DDT “GOD BLESS DDT 2023 TOUR IN SHINJUKU”, 04/10/2023
Shinjuku FACE
436 Fans – Super No Vacancy

1. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title: Takeshi Masada & Kazuma Sumi defeated Kazuki Hirata (c) & Makoto Oishi when Masada pinned Hirata with Shoda no Chikara KOBU Mukimuki (8:43).
*Takeshi Masada becomes the 1,580th champion.
2. Jun Akiyama, Yusuke Okada & Yuya Koroku defeated Hideki Okatani, Yukio Naya & Rukiya when Okada pinned Rukiya with the Sudden Death (10:43).
3. Special Tag Match: Tetsuya Endo & Kazusada Higuchi defeated Daisuke Sasaki & MJ Paul when Higuchi pinned Paul with the Brain Claw Slam (12:23).
4. Yukio Sakaguchi & Saki Akai defeated HARASHIMA & Gota Ihashi when Sakaguchi pinned Ihashi after the Double Rookie Award with Akai (14:00).
5. KO-D Tag Team Titles: Soma Takao & Shota defeated Minoru Fujita & KANON (c) when Shota pinned Fujita with the Gannosuke Clutch (12:41).
*DAMNATION T.A fails in V1. ROMANCE DAWN becomes the 80th KO-D Tag Team Champions!
6. Pheromones Final ~ 3 Vs 4 Handicap Tag Match: Yuki “Sexy” Iino, Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno & Yumehito “Fantastic” Imanari (w/ Koju “Shining Ball” Takeda) Vs Akito, Yuki Ueno, MAO & Toy Kojima ended in a No Contest (18:12).
6a. Emergency Decision Match: Yuki “Sexy” Iino defeated Hisaya Imabayashi with the STP (Stepover Toe Hold With Pheromones) (0:58).

For the last time Pheromones were in the air surrounding DDT for one final ride in Tokyo Sexy Land. Danshoku Dieno did not want the fans to be sad because the unit was splitting up, but happy that something this ridiculous existed in the first place. All four members of Pheromones were together although Koju Takeda was too injured to wrestle so the other three had the numbers disadvantage against Akito & The 37KAMIINA in the main event. Yuki Iino had an idea to even the field by pulling out a small plastic standee of Shunma Katsumata, calling him “Chunma” much to the annoyance of Toy Kojima. They then got an actual equalizer when Tetsuya Endo did a run-in for them wearing only an O-Back. Pheromones started doing their usual lewd spots putting Yukinori Matsui in a dilemma. The referee’s thoughts were suddenly projected to the audience. He should stop the match but doing so would ruin their farewell match. If only someone could make him faint. At that moment MAO got rid of him and the match continued. The Shinuku FACE manager then started thinking the same thoughts, resulting in MAO taking him out too. Finally Hisaya Imabayashi stepped in and knocked out MAO so the match could end at last.

Suddenly Iino got on the microphone and began to actually speak. Instead of giving grunts and other inappropriate noises, he spoke to Imabayashi and requested a singles match with him to close out the show. Imabayashi refused until “Fantastic City” began to play and he got dragged down to the ring. The match began and Imabayashi gave Iino the Stunner followed by an STF. Iino countered the move into the Stepover Toe Hold With Pheromones which is just another way to stick the GM’s face into his backside for the quick submission victory. Inoue Mic narrated the history of Pheromones while all four members gathered in the ring for their final sendoff. Each member left their signature item in the ring. Iino’s item was the O-Back he was wearing so that left him completely naked in the ring covering his shame with his hands.

Later that night after the show DDT held a Pheromones trial where Sanshiro Takagi, Akito & Imabayashi all judged what should happen to the remaining members who are planning to stick around. From what I could gather some of it was a parody of the Johnny Kitagawa scandal that’s been the big story in Japan’s entertainment industry this week. Dieno, Iino and Yumehito Imanari were all found guilty. As punishment Imanari must leave CyberFight (he already did), Iino has to take a leave of absence to rehabilitate himself of his remaining Pheromones and Dieno might be forced to change his “company name”, i.e. his wrestling name.

Shortly after crowning new KO-D Tag Team Champions the belts have only gone and switched over to another team already! ROMANCE DAWN scored the biggest victory in their existence by beating Minoru Fujita & KANON for the titles. Shota avoided Fujita’s Tombstone Piledriver and lured him into the Gannosuke Clutch to get the three count. Shota talked afterwards about being friends with Soma Takao since they were both 18 year old student pro wrestlers. They dreamed of becoming tag team champions together and in reality it feels even better than they ever imagined! Chris Brookes interrupted their celebrations and brought up the time CDK fought ROMANCE DAWN in Ganbare☆Pro. He would like to challenge them for the KO-D Tag Titles at “ULTIMATE PARTY 2023” but he is already defending the KO-D Openweight Title at that show. So instead he wants his friends to get the title shot. Out walked Masahiro Takanashi & Antonio Honda down to the ring to the song “My Love Letter” by Honda’s band Daisetz. Honda tripped on the ropes climbing in but was able to gut through his promo. ROMANCE DAWN accepted the challenge for 12th November at Sumo Hall.

Gota Ihashi felt today was going to be his last chance to be with his longtime crush Saki Akai. He kept thinking he would get a chance to embrace his love only to discover Yukio Sakaguchi was standing in Akai’s place instead. He finally caught Akai in a big hug but she escaped and gave him a Sandwich PK with Sakaguchi. Ihashi then missed a Moonsault and his opponents did another double team attack, this time a Double Rookie Award for the win. Akai told Ihashi afterwards she was happy to wrestle him again and the next time they see each other will be when she goes to Ebisuko Tavern for a meal while he works as their head chef. Ihashi said she doesn’t have to wait until then because he loves her. He moved in for a hug but Sakaguchi knocked him down with the God’s Right Knee. Ihashi still professed his love for Akai while HARASHIMA helped him out of the ring.

Akai then talked about the KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles and what is next for them. Eruption wants to defend them often to make the belts shine brighter and Akai still has wrestlers she wants to fight before her retirement. She called down Sanshiro Takagi and Akito to the ring. DDT is only possible because of those two which is why she wants them to be part of her road to retirement. She is nominating them as the next challengers along with one other wrestler, Makoto Oishi! He has stood by Akai during her entire wrestling career, giving advice and teaching her so much. She would love to fight him in a title match too. Oishi accepted the challenge to team with Takagi & Akito against Eruption. He is the cutest person standing in that ring and will become the champion of cuteness! The title match will take place in Sapporo on 15th October.

Tetsuya Endo was confronted with his past when Daisuke Sasaki asked him to join DAMNATION T.A after their tag match. While Endo still seems to be on good terms with Sasaki, he refused because the group cannot compare to the original DAMNATION they were both a part of. Endo suggested maybe Sasaki should join BURNING instead? He would show a new side of himself if he took on a Kenta Kobashi kind of influence.

Somebody wasn’t in the mood to dance during the opening match. Takeshi Masada kept cutting off Kazuki Hirata’s dance routine until he was offered his own pair of Hirata GO! glasses. He pretended to dance with Hirata only to attack him and pin him for the Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title! That prize is not enough so Masada then challenged Hirata for the DDT Extreme Title. Hirata was taken aback by how passionate the challenge was but Masada wants to have competitive fight instead of fun and games. The title match will take place on 22nd October. Imabayashi then warned Masada not to lose the Iron Man Title to New Japan when he wrestles at their Sumo Hall show next week.


Final Pheromones Match Now 3 Vs 4, All Asia Tag Title Match On Baba’s Lap, SOG Title Challenges

October 3, 2023

DDT “GOD BLESS DDT 2023 TOUR IN SHINJUKU”, 04/10/2023
Shinjuku FACE

1. Kazuki Hirata & Makoto Oishi Vs Takeshi Masada & Kazuma Sumi
2. Jun Akiyama, Yusuke Okada & Yuya Koroku Vs Hideki Okatani, Yukio Naya & Rukiya
3. Special Tag Match: Tetsuya Endo & Kazusada Higuchi Vs Daisuke Sasaki & MJ Paul
4. Yukio Sakaguchi & Saki Akai Vs HARASHIMA & Gota Ihashi
5. KO-D Tag Team Titles: Minoru Fujita & KANON (c) Vs Soma Takao & Shota
6. Pheromones Final ~ 3 Vs 4 Handicap Tag Match: Yuki “Sexy” Iino, Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno & Yumehito “Fantastic” Imanari (w/ Koju “Shining Ball” Takeda) Vs Akito, Yuki Ueno, MAO & Toy Kojima

The final Pheromones match that will headline tomorrow’s show has a slight change to it. Koju Takeda has a calf injury and is not cleared to wrestle. He will still be there though so the main event is now a 3 Vs 4 Handicap Match with Takeda hanging around in the Pheromones corner.

DDT “GOD BLESS DDT 2023 TOUR IN SANJO”, 07/10/2023
Niigata Sanjo City Welfare And Welfare Center

1. Something by Kazuki Hirata, Danshoku Dieno, Super Sadadango Machine, etc.: X Vs X
2. Yusuke Okada Vs Rukiya
3. Daisuke Sasaki & KANON Vs Takeshi Masada & Kazuma Sumi
4. Eruption Vs BURNING!: Yukio Sakaguchi & Hideki Okatani Vs Tetsuya Endo & Yuyu Koroku
5. Special Single Match: Yukio Naya Vs MJ Paul
6. Special 6-Man Tag Match: HARASHIMA, Kazusada Higuchi & Akito Vs Yuki Ueno, MAO & Toy Kojima
7. All Asia Tag Team Titles: Jun Akiyama & Kotaro Suzuki (c) Vs Takao Omori & Yoshitatsu

The reason why the All Asia Tag Team Titles are being defended in Sanjo City is because that’s where Giant Baba was from.

As announced by New Japan earlier today, Takeshi Masada & Kazuma Sumi will be wrestling in a dark match at NJPW’s Sumo Hall show next Monday. The company is trying something new called Frontier Zone, bringing in wrestlers from other promotions or the indy scene to compete against the regular roster. Masada & Sumi will be teaming up with Kengo, Jun Masaoka and Takahiro Katori for a 10-Man Tag Match against a mixture of CHAOS and the NJPW Sekigun. Two days before that happens Masada & Sumi get a warmup match against DAMNATION T.A.

Notice that Danshoku Dieno is no longer nicknamed “Dandy” in the lineup. Is tomorrow actually going to be the end of Pheromones for real? We’re not getting Pheromones T.A or anything like that afterwards?

DDT “AKOS X DDT EKIMAE PRO WRESTLING”, 08/10/2023
Saitama Akos Event Square

1. Yukio Sakaguchi, Saki Akai & Hideki Okatani Vs Kazuki Hirata, Danshoku Dieno & Kazuma Sumi
2. Tetsuya Endo, Jun Akiyama, Yusuke Okada & Yuya Koroku Vs Akito, Yukio Naya, Takeshi Masada & Rukiya
3. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Yuki Ueno, MAO & Toy Kojima Vs HARASHIMA, Kazusada Higuchi & Antonio Honda

DDT is holding a free outdoor wrestling show near Soka Station in Saitama.

GANBARE☆PRO “ELEVATOR TO THE GALLOWS ’23”, 23/11/2023
Tokyo Takashimadaira Kumin Center

1. Spirit Of Ganbare World Tag Team Titles: Shuichiro Katsumura & Takuya Wada (c) Vs Keisuke Ishii & Munetatsu Nakamura
2. Spirit Of Ganbare World Openweight Title: Isami Kodaka (c) Vs Shota

Next up to challenge Isami Kodaka is Shota and there is a little bit more on the line than just the Spirit Of Ganbare Title. Whoever wins this match will be the champion going into GanPro’s return to Korakuen Hall in December. The last time Shota headlined a Korakuen show was to challenge for the DDT Universal Title back in 2021. He promised himself that whenever he is in a Korakuen main event again it will be as the defending champion. This upcoming title shot will be his best chance of achieving his goal. However Kodaka enjoys wrestling in GanPro and fears his bookings will vanish once he loses the title. The only way he will lose the belt will be if Ken Ohka ever reaches his level and surpasses him. And if you’ve seen Ohka lately he is in no position of catching up to Kodaka anytime soon.

The rookie Munetatsu Nakamura is already making big decisions for himself by challenging Ground Absolute for the Spirit Of Ganbare Tag Team Titles. He is picking Keisuke Ishii as his tag partner for the match based on the recent back and forth results between the two. Nakamura pinned Ishii in a 6-Man Tag match in August only for Ishii to pin him back in a different tag match one month later. Shuichiro Katsumura & Takuya Wada welcome the challenge in order to reach their target of 100 title defences.


GANBARE☆PRO “GIRI GIRI CHOP! 2023” Results

October 1, 2023

GANBARE☆PRO “GIRI GIRI CHOP! 2023”, 01/10/2023
Shinjuku FACE
269 Fans – No Vacancy

1. SAKI defeated Riara with a Cradle Crush (9:36).
2. GanPro’s Famous Mixed 6-Man Tag Match: Keisuke Ishii, Munetatsu Nakamura & HARUKAZE defeated Soma Takao, Shinichiro Tominaga & Kaho Kobayashi when Nakamura pinned Tominaga with the Mune-chan Clutch (8:38).
3. GanJo x TJPW Special Tag Match: Yuki Kamifuku & YuuRI defeated Suzume & Yoshiko Hasegawa when YuuRI pinned Hasegawa with the Swanton Bomb (13:17).
4. Loser Haircut Tag Match ~ No Tag Rules: Koji Doi & Kuma Arashi defeated Ken Ohka & Shota when Arashi pinned Ohka with the Diving Senton (17:48).
5. Spirit Of Ganbare World Tag Team Titles: Shuichiro Katsumura & Takuya Wada (c) defeated Hikaru Sato & Tyson Maeguchi when Wada submitted Maeguchi with the Omoplawada Special (16:28).
*V2 for Ground Absolute.
6. Spirit Of Ganbare World Openweight Title: Isami Kodaka (c) defeated Yumehito Imanari with a Unare Lariat Hold (16:25).
*V3 for Isami Kodaka.

It was an eventful show for Ganbare☆Pro today when they were in Shinjuku FACE for the first time in over two years. It was also the first day of Yumehito Imanari being a freelance pro wrestler. He is no longer a CyberFight employee but will remain as a regular wrestler with GanPro. To mark this fresh start of “Season 2”, Imanari wanted to win the Spirit Of Ganbare Title from Isami Kodaka. But despite his best efforts, Kodaka ended up pinning him with a Jumbo no Katchigatame style Sliding Lariat.

Kodaka thanked Imanari for the match but was quickly met with Shota in the ring. He thinks he is next in line to challenge Kodaka for the SOG Title and suggested the match can take place on 23rd November. Kodaka accepted the challenge because BASARA and GanPro are both running shows at Takashimadaira Kumin Center that same day. He promised to beat Shota with a Headlock and not to lose until Ken Ohka can catch up to him. Shota brought up the time he headlined a Korakuen Hall show at the beginning of 2021. He remembers saying backstage that the next time he is in a Korakuen main event it will be when he is the top champion of a promotion. He can make this dream come true if he wins the SOG Title from Kodaka because GanPro is running a Korakuen show at the end of December! Shota promised it will be him submitting Kodaka with the Headlock, not the other way around.

There can be no denying now that Ground Absolute are the rightful Spirit Of Ganbare Tag Team Champions. They defeated Hentai Punch Drunkers, denying Hikaru Sato & Tyson Maeguchi the chance of ever holding the physical title belts that did not exist when they were the first tag champs. Instead Sato & Maeguchi had to carry around the trophies they won in the tournament to crown the first champions. To add insult to injury, Shuichiro Katsumura & Takuya Wada took the trophies for themselves after they won the match! Katsumura & Wada were then challenged by Munetatsu Nakamura. The rookie wants to become a champion and he is going to make Keisuke Ishii his tag partner for the title shot. Everyone agreed to it but Kasumura took offence to Nakamura calling him old. Ground Absolute also said they want more teams to line up and challenge them because their goal is to get 100 title defences.

High stakes were on the line in the grudge match between Ohka & Shota against DoiKuma. The invadors convinced the GanPro side to do a Hair Vs Hair match where the loser who took the fall had to get his hair cut off. During the week the teams agreed to have No Tag Rules applied but right before the match began Koji Doi demanded a No DQ rule be applied as well. That was accepted and much of the match became a brawl around the room. Unfortunately for Ohka, he fell to Kuma Arashi’s Diving Senton and had to take the punishment. Ohka grabbed the clippers from Arashi and decided to start cutting his hair by himself. Arashi then continued it by using an electric shaver to cut out a big bald spot on Ohka’s head. He joked that when Ohka is completely shaven bald, Ohka should become his new disciple. Ohka said this is not the end. No matter how painful or said this is, he made it this far and will get back up from this. He asked the fans to keep supporting him so he can get his revenge on Arashi! Later in the day Ohka had the rest of his head completely shaven.

Last time around YuuRI did not impress Yuki Kamifuku that much when they teamed together. This time around YuuRI left a much better impression with her tag partner. Together they defeated Suzume & Yoshiko Hasegawa with YuuRI getting the pinfall on Hasegawa. On the other team, Suzume gave her approval to Hasegawa and said she thinks of her as a part of Tokyo Joshi Pro.

Nakamura came up with a new cradling pin move and successfully used it to win his match. The move is currently called the Mune-chan Clutch and it looks like a grounded rolling version of the One-Winged Angel.


Imanari Leaving CyberFight But Staying With GanPro

September 29, 2023

DDT “SAKI AKAI 10TH ANNIVERSARY & FINAL COUNT DOWN IN KYOTO!!”, 30/09/2023
Kyoto KBS Hall

1. Kazusada Higuchi & Rukiya Vs Yusuke Okada & Yuya Koroku
2. Pheromones Final Countdown In Kyoto: Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno Vs Yuni & Kazuma Sumi
3. Yukio Naya & Shinichiro Kawamatsu Vs Makoto Oishi & Toy Kojima
4. Special Single Match: KANON Vs Takeshi Masada
5. BURNING Vs DAMNATION T.A!: Tetsuya Endo & Jun Akiyama Vs Daisuke Sasaki & MJ Paul
6. Kazuki Hirata & Akito Vs Yuki Ueno & MAO
7. KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles: Yukio Sakaguchi, Saki Akai & Hideki Okatani (c) Vs HARASHIMA, Masahiro Takanashi & Mei Suruga

This is the match order for tomorrow’s DDT show in Kyoto. Saki Akai will get to wrestle in her home region as a double champion after all because she went to Best Body Japan Pro Wrestling a few days ago and won their Women’s Championship in the main event! Best Body’s wrestling promotion is not something I pay attention to much even though they regularly feature DDT wrestlers. Their events happen too far apart from each other for me to remember they exist. Their website has a results page so if DDT is all over those cards then maybe I’ll add a section for them someday.

GANBARE☆PRO “GIRI GIRI CHOP! 2023”, 01/10/2023
Shin-Kiba 1st RING

1. Riara Vs SAKI
2. GanPro’s Famous Mixed 6-Man Tag Match: Keisuke Ishii, Munetatsu Nakamura & HARUKAZE Vs Soma Takao, Shinichiro Tominaga & Kaho Kobayashi
3. GanJo x TJPW Special Tag Match: Yuki Kamifuku & YuuRI Vs Suzume & Yoshiko Hasegawa
4. Loser Haircut Tag Match ~ No Tag Rules: Ken Ohka & Shota Vs Koji Doi & Kuma Arashi
5. Spirit Of Ganbare World Tag Team Titles: Shuichiro Katsumura & Takuya Wada (c) Vs Hikaru Sato & Tyson Maeguchi
6. Spirit Of Ganbare World Openweight Title: Isami Kodaka (c) Vs Yumehito Imanari

It was revealed in a Shukan Puroresu interview this week that Yumehito Imanari is leaving his video team job with CyberFight at the end of September. However he is going to continue his pro wrestling career with Ganbare☆Pro as a freelancer. He intends to start his next chapter as a wrestler by winning the Spirit Of Ganbare Title and becoming the main character of GanPro.

Shota demanded the Hair Vs Hair Match have a No Tag Rule in effect. He noticed that somebody in the match could theoretically not tag in and then abandon their partner to lose because only the wrestler who drops the fall will suffer the punishment. Shota swears he would never do that to Ken Ohka but does not trust Kuma Arashi will do the same for Koji Doi. It wouldn’t be right for Arashi to come up with the Hair Match stipulation only to run away when his team is about to lose. By adding this rule Ohka will then be able to get his hands on Arashi much more easily. DoiKuma agreed to the demand.

DDT “GOD BLESS DDT 2023 TOUR IN OSAKA”, 01/10/2023
Osaka City Minato Ward Citizens Center

1. Pheromones Final Countdown In Osaka: Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno Vs Makoto Oishi & Yuni
2. Daisuke Sasaki, KANON & MJ Paul Vs Akito, Yusuke Okada & Yuya Koroku
3. Osaka Specialty 3 Way Match: “brother” YASSHI Vs Kazuki Hirata Vs Kazuma Sumi
4. Tetsuya Endo & Jun Akiyama Vs Hideki Okatani & Rukiya
5. Special Single Match: Yukio Naya Vs Takeshi Masada
6. Special 6-Man Tag Match: HARASHIMA, Masahiro Takanashi & Kazusada Higuchi Vs Yuki Ueno, MAO & Toy Kojima

Takeshi Masada’s campaign to enter this year’s D-Ou Grand Prix begins on Sunday.

DDT “GOD BLESS DDT 2023 TOUR IN SHINJUKU”, 04/10/2023
Shinjuku FACE

1. Jun Akiyama, Yusuke Okada & Yuya Koroku Vs Hideki Okatani, Yukio Naya & Rukiya
2. Kazuki Hirata & Makoto Oishi Vs Takeshi Masada & Kazuma Sumi
3. Yukio Sakaguchi & Saki Akai Vs HARASHIMA & Gota Ihashi
4. Special Tag Match: Tetsuya Endo & Kazusada Higuchi Vs Daisuke Sasaki & MJ Paul
5. KO-D Tag Team Titles: Minoru Fujita & KANON (c) Vs Soma Takao & Shota
6. Pheromones Final ~ Special 8-Man Tag Match: Yuki “Sexy” Iino, Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno, Yumehito “Fantastic” Imanari & Koju “Shining Ball” Takeda Vs Akito, Yuki Ueno, MAO & Toy Kojima

Goodbye Pheromones. This is goodbye… right? The timing of Imanari going freelance is something that points towards the group supposedly splitting up.

DDT “GOD BLESS DDT 2023 TOUR IN SANJO”, 07/10/2023
Niigata Sanjo City Welfare And Welfare Center

1. Yusuke Okada Vs Rukiya
2. Eruption Vs BURNING!: Yukio Sakaguchi & Hideki Okatani Vs Tetsuya Endo & Yuyu Koroku
3. Special Single Match: Yukio Naya Vs MJ Paul
4. Special 6-Man Tag Match: HARASHIMA, Kazusada Higuchi & Akito Vs Yuki Ueno, MAO & Toy Kojima
5. All Asia Tag Team Titles: Jun Akiyama & Kotaro Suzuki (c) Vs Takao Omori & Yoshitatsu

It’s not that long ago when DDT would promote a Yukio Naya Vs MJ Paul match as a Megatonweight bout. You know how pro wrestlers these days have gotten smaller and lighter that when an actual heavyweight shows up they get called a super heavyweight? Yeah it was that sort of idea.

DDT “GOD BLESS DDT 2023 TOUR IN SAPPORO – DAY 1”, 14/10/2023
Hokkaido Sapporo ii-one Stadium

1. Daisuke Sasaki & KANON Vs Tomoya & Yusuke Okada
2. Special Tag Match: Kazusada Higuchi & Takeshi Masada Vs Kouki Iwasaki & Rukiya
3. Sapporo Specialty Special Tag Match: Tetsuya Endo & Noriyuki Yoshida Vs Jun Akiyama & Yuya Koroku
4. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Chris Brookes, HARASHIMA & Kazuki Hirata Vs Yuki Ueno, MAO & Toy Kojima

DDT’s weekend trip to Sapporo sees Noriyuki Yoshida, Kouki Iwasaki and Tomoya joining in the fun.

Barring any setbacks, Chris Brookes will be returning to action here to start his preview matches with Yuki Ueno.

DDT “GOD BLESS DDT 2023 TOUR IN SAPPORO – DAY 2”, 15/10/2023
Hokkaido Sapporo ii-one Stadium

1. Daisuke Sasaki & KANON Vs Yukio Naya & Yuya Koroku
2. Special Tag Match: HARASHIMA & Rukiya Vs Kouki Iwasaki & MAO
3. Sapporo Specialty Special 6-Man Tag Match: Tetsuya Endo, Jun Akiyama & Noriyuki Yoshida Vs Tomoya, Kazusada Higuchi & Kazuma Sumi
4. Special Tag Match: Chris Brookes & Takeshi Masada Vs Yuki Ueno & Toy Kojima

Iwasaki gets to reform a DNA team with MAO.

Akai will be on the show to wrestle her last match in Sapporo.


DDT “WHO’S GONNA TOP? 2023” Results

September 24, 2023

DDT “WHO’S GONNA TOP? 2023”, 24/09/2023
Tokyo Korakuen Hall
967 Fans – No Vacancy

0. Dark Match: Yusuke Okada & Yuya Koroku defeated Kazuma Sumi & Rukiya when Koroku submitted Rukiya with the Triangle Lancer (8:42).
1. Daisuke Sasaki, KANON & MJ Paul defeated Hideki Okatani, Yuni & Takeshi Masada when Sasaki pinned Yuni with the Vietnam Driver IV (7:43).
2. Pheromones Final Countdown In Korakuen ~ 3 Way Tag Match: Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno defeated Kazuki “Magnum” Hirata & Naruki Doi and Akito & Antonio “FOXY” Honda when Iino submitted Akito with the Eiffel Tower (7:24).
3. Tetsuya Endo, Jun Akiyama, Kazusada Higuchi & Yukio Naya defeated Yuji Hino, Makoto Oishi, HARASHIMA & Yukio Sakaguchi when Naya pinned Oishi with The World’s Largest Back Drop (13:39).
4. Special Tag Match ~ DDT Vs AJPW: Yuki Ueno & Toy Kojima defeated Atsuki Aoyagi & Dan Tamura when Ueno pinned Tamura with the BME (10:12).
5. DDT Universal Title: Matt Cardona (c) (w/ Steph De Lander) defeated Maki Itoh by Pinfall (15:03).
*V1 for Matt Cardona.
6. Special Single Match: KONOSUKE TAKESHITA defeated MAO with the Wagamama (11:28).
7. KO-D Openweight Title: Chris Brookes (c) defeated Saki Akai by Referee Stoppage with the Modified Octopus Stretch (21:00).
*V2 for Chris Brookes.

In the last ten years as a pro wrestler, Saki Akai had never competed for the KO-D Openweight Title before today. With retirement from the business around the corner, Akai was chosen by Chris Brookes to be his next challenger so they could have a rematch of their 2021 bout at Korakuen Hall, this time in front of an audience. Akai went into the match determined to show this opportunity was earned and wasn’t given to her out of charity. She fired with a Big Boot from the beginning but Brookes quickly turned things around by doing a Death Valley Bomb on the ring apron. The challenger had to pull out some deep moves to fight back, including her old Riemann Galaxy submission as well as the Takatonic. The two wrestlers found themselves fighting on the top rope where Akai dropped Brookes with the Avalanche Quetzalcoatl. However Akai wasn’t able to pin him afterwards, giving Brookes valuable recovery time. Brookes powered out of a Triangle Choke but was given the regular version of the Quetzalcoatl. To Akai’s surprise it only got a two count, marking it one of the rare times when her finisher did not end her opponent. Brookes fought back with a Piledriver, Double Knee Drop, Buzzsaw Kicks and the Praying Mantis Bomb but Akai kicked out of all of them. Brookes had to twist and pull Akai apart with the Octopus Stretch until Yukinori Matsui called for the match to end.

After the match Brookes reminded the fans he will face Akai again on 30th September, this time with the roles reversed because Eruption are defending the KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles against CDK & Mei Suruga. He thanked Akai for doing her best and asked her to continue doing so until her retirement because we only live once. Brookes next wanted to talk about his next KO-D Title defence at “ULTIMATE PARTY 2023” on 12th November. Yuki Ueno walked out to the ring and appealed for the title shot. Brookes accepted and the two talked about being close friends for the last four years even though they hang out in seperate units. He wants the best challenger at the biggest stage so he’s fighting Ueno at Sumo Hall! Backstage Akai spoke about the pressure and responsibility she felt going into today’s main event. She is going to fight for herself as well as for everyone who supports her starting with the KO-D 6-Man Tag Title match taking place in Kyoto. She wants to pin Brookes in her hometown to clear up her regrets from today!

It turned out Konosuke Takeshita did not come back to DDT alone this time around. Midway during Takeshita’s match with MAO, his manager Don Callis walked down to ringside. MAO was taken aback by his appearance but kept his focus on the match. He tried to go big with the Avalanche Michinoku Driver but Takeshita blocked the move and turned it into an Avalanche Driver of his own. MAO tried to turn things around with a Palm Strike but Takeshita worn him down with Jumping Knee Strikes and the Zahi to get the win. Despite the recent differences between the two, Takeshita encouraged MAO after the match to take his own path because he is proving his style of pro wrestling can be successful around the world. They both joined DDT as teenagers and they are already in their late twenties so Takeshita thinks it is time for MAO to make decisions for himself.

Takeshita then introduced the DDT audience to Don Callis and spoke about how much they get booed in America. He said the Don Callis Family is only getting started so the entire pro wrestling world should pay attention to them from this point forward. Takeshita revealed his next appearance in DDT will be at “ULTIMATE PARTY 2023” where he would like to make everyone dream again. Suddenly the lights in the room went out and a video played on the screen. The video is sent by Chris Jericho and he is challenging Takeshita to a singles match at Sumo Hall! Jericho listed all of the Japanese wrestling legends he has fought over the years and swore to get revenge on Takeshita for his recent attacks over in AEW. Takeshita agreed to the match, calling it a “dramatic dream” to defeat him in a DDT ring. He promised to destroy everything about Jericho from “Lionheart” to “Y2J” to “The Painmaker”!

The GCW feud between Deathmatch Royalty and Maki Death Kill made its way over to Japan when Matt Cardona put the DDT Universal Title on the line against Maki Itoh. The champion was accompanied by Steph De Lander while Itoh went into the match alone. She had a plan to battle the number disadvantage though. Cardona made a big mistake by giving Itoh a Low Blow and being confused when it didn’t effect her. He then accidentally knocked out the referee Matsui with a missed Clothesline. Itoh’s plan came into play when she ducked De Lander’s attack with the title belt causing Cardona to get hit instead. Itoh took out a trolley at ringside, taped De Lander to it and pushed her away from ringside. She then took out a pizza cutter back in the ring and sliced Cardona’s forehead open with it! However De Lander freed herself from the trolley, returned to the ring with a chair and dropped Itoh onto it with a Modified Facebuster. Cardona pinned Itoh while De Lander revived Matsui so he could count to three.

Backstage Cardona complained about his match not being in the main event while De Lander said she wants DDT to put her in a match against Itoh the next time she shows up here. Itoh regretted not using more tape on De Lander. She knows this feud isn’t finished and there will be more matches against them when she goes back to America. She will chase after Cardona & De Lander to the depths of Hell in order to beat them one more time! Meanwhile MAO made the decision to challenge Cardona for the Universal Title at Sumo Hall. His thought process is if he can beat the indie wrestling god then he can become a puroresu god! Cardona accepted his challenge with a handshake but then attacked MAO with a belt strike from behind. When MAO recovered he warned Cardona that he just pulled out the Joker card.

The new DDT Vs All Japan rivalry continued with AJPW sending over Atsuki Aoyagi & Dan Tamura to take on The 37KAMIINA. The visitors entered the ring wearing sauna caps and then paired off against their opponents. Toy Kojima spent a lot of time fighting Aoyagi while Ueno went back and forth against Tamura. Ueno scored the win for the home team by pinned Tamura with the BME. He called the match fun and praised All Japan for being bright, intense and fun in a way that feels similar to The 37KAMIINA. Kojima then stole the All Japan team’s sauna cap and dared them to try and take it back. Aoyagi mentioned he will be wrestling MAO in AJPW on 5th October so his fight against The 37KAMIINA isn’t done yet.

Yuji Hino finished up his run with DDT by getting HARASHIMA & Yukio Sakaguchi to wrestle in Ω shirts. Makoto Oishi had his cane taken by Jun Akiyama while HARASHIMA went toe to toe with Tetsuya Endo. It wouldn’t have been Hino’s last match with DDT if he didn’t get into a chop battle with Kazusada Higuchi so one went down here. In the end though it was Yukio Naya who won the match for his team by pinning Oishi with The World’s Largest Back Drop. Hino thanked all the wrestlers after the match. He told the fans not to be said because today does not mean Hino will never wrestle in DDT again. He spoke about his children and how it is up to parents to protect their children. Backstage Hino said his wrestling future will be with Yasu Urano because apparently Urano is his mentor, not TAKA Michinoku. Oishi called him out for lying. Naya said the next time Hino will wrestle him will be when he is the KO-D Champion. Naya will even pick Hino as his first challenger.

A threat loomed over the 3 Way Tag Match when Danshoku Dieno announced that somebody among the other two teams was a traitor! Much to Akito and Naruki Doi’s horror it was gradually revealed that Kazuki Hirata and Antonio Honda were wearing O-backs, which means they are both with Pheromones! From there Yuki Iino, Dieno, Kazuki “Magnum” Hirata & Antonio “FOXY” Honda all joined forces to defeat Akito, giving Pheromones the victory. The effect on Hirata and Honda is only temporary but Dieno explained afterwards that even when Pheromones dies, it will never die!

Daisuke Sasaki unleashed a fourth version of the Vietnam Driver to win the opening match for DAMNATION T.A. While their match was against Hideki Okatani, Yuni & Takeshi Masada there were more people for them to fight when ROMANCE DAWN appeared. Shota & Soma Takao started a brawl at ringside when they stopped Minoru Fujita from interfering. KANON went over to help Fujita fight them while MJ Paul was there to stop anybody from breaking up Sasaki’s pin.

There was a Dark Match where Yusuke Okada & Yuya Koroku defeated Kazuma Sumi & Rukiya. The rookies team showed teamwork when Sumi Dropkicked Koroku into a Backslide Pin from Rukiya for a nearfall. Koroku took control by grabbing Rukiya’s arm and eventually grinded him into submission.

Before the main show began there was a contract signing for the KO-D Tag Team Titles match on 4th October. ROMANCE DAWN talked about how long they have known each other and their excitement of fighting for the championship together. Fujita didn’t find their story interesting while KANON started acting erraticly. He started crying at one point and then switched to shouting at people before excitedly posing for the group photo.


“MASAHIRO TAKANASHI 20TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW” Results

September 19, 2023

“MASAHIRO TAKANASHI 20TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW”, 19/09/2023
Shinjuku FACE
??? Fans

0. Dark Match: Dr. Gore & Yasu Urano defeated Monomoth & Kappa Kozo (w/ Miyako Haru) when Urano pinned Monomoth with the Modern Times (5:30).
1. Gauntlet Tag Match: Takashi Sasaki & Baliyan Akki defeated Daisuke Sasaki & Minoru Fujita, Shogo “Jet” Takagi & Antonio Honda (w/ Toru Owashi), Choun-Shiryu & Shin Suzuki, Chie Koishikawa & Hagane Shinno, Brahman Shu & Brahman Kei (w/ Gorgeous Matsuno), and Shota & Gota Ihashi.
1a. Shogo “Jet” Takagi & Antonio Honda (w/ Toru Owashi) defeated Shota & Gota Ihashi when Honda pinned Ihashi with La Magistral Cradle (2:39).
1b. Choun-Shiryu & Shin Suzuki defeated Shogo “Jet” Takagi & Antonio Honda (w/ Toru Owashi) when Shiryu pinned Honda with the Chinese Leg Roll Clutch (1:59).
1c. Chie Koishikawa & Hagane Shinno defeated Choun-Shiryu & Shin Suzuki by Ring Out when Shinno eliminated Suzuki (2:55).
1d. Brahman Shu & Brahman Kei (w/ Gorgeous Matsuno) defeated Chie Koishikawa & Hagane Shinno when Shu pinned Koishikawa with a Cradle (2:54).
1e. Takashi Sasaki & Baliyan Akki defeated Brahman Shu & Brahman Kei (w/ Gorgeous Matsuno) when Sasaki pinned Kei with a Cradle (5:01).
1f. Takashi Sasaki & Baliyan Akki defeated Daisuke Sasaki & Minoru Fujita by Ring Out when Akki eliminated Fujita (7:31).
2. Saki Akai Vs DJ Nira ended in a No Contest (?:??).
3. Special Single Match: Minoru Suzuki defeated Mei Suruga with a European Clutch (12:19).
4. Yukio Sakaguchi, Isami Kodaka & Ken Ohka defeated MAO, Daiki Shimomura & Munetatsu Nakamura when Sakaguchi pinned Nakamura with the God’s Right Knee (15:05).
5. Chris Brookes defeated Masahiro Takanashi with the Praying Mantis Bomb (24:07).
-. Special Exhibition: KUDO (1) defeated Masahiro Takanashi (0) (5:00).
-a. KUDO (1) pinned Masahiro Takanashi (0) with the Diving Double Knee Drop (?:??).

Masahiro Takanashi gathered a bunch of his friends together to celebrate twenty years of him being a pro wrestler. The advertised main event was a singles match between the two CDK teammates Takanashi and Chris Brookes. In the end Brookes countered the Takatonic into the Implant for a nearfall and then used the Praying Mantis Bomb to get the three count. However the final match of the night took place right afterward when KUDO entered the ring in full gear to take part in a five minute long exhibition against Takanashi. It was the first time KUDO got to wrestle in any form since 2019. The five minutes went by in a sprint and KUDO scored a pinfall with the Diving Double Knee Drop right before time expired.

During the post-show interview backstage Takanashi asked KUDO how did it feel to wrestle again after such a long time? KUDO said it felt great and he appreciated the support from the fans. He would like to do it again. He has no plans to retire so he will definitely come back some day. Takanashi said next time he hopes to do a CDK Vs KUDO & Yukio Sakaguchi tag match. Brookes said he doesn’t want to fight Takanashi again anytime soon. CDK is stronger together as a team and they have plenty of dreams they want to chase. Next year will be CDK’s 5th Anniversary as a team so maybe Takanashi will put together a show to celebrate that in 2024 instead of his 21st anniversary.

Minoru Suzuki’s weird weekend was stretched out into Monday when he had to fight Mei Suruga in a singles match. He decided to fight fire with fire by using some of Suruga’s moves and poses against her! Suruga complained about the fans cheering for him because he doesn’t look cute when he acts like her. Suzuki got the win in the end, oddly enough not by choking the life out of Suruga but by using a European Clutch to pin her. Suruga kept attacking Suzuki after the match but he shrugged her off. He praised her for putting up a good fight, gave her a hug and left the ring, ignoring that she was still trying to attack him.

Saki Akai was promised a match if she showed up to the event. When she entered the ring she was immediately attacked by DJ Nira! He also attacked Daisuke Kiso before the bell rang so the match never officially started. Still, Akai tried to wrestle Nira and had him beaten with the Quetzalcoatl. Kiso was still knocked out so Akai went to revive him. Gradually the ring started to fill up with wrestlers like Antonio Honda, Hoshitango, Gota Ihashi and Thanomsak Toba all dressed in diapers. According to Nira they were all old men and it is now up to Akai to take care of them. The match was declared a Diaper Royal when suddenly the room went dark. A voice told the audience that Akai went on to build a facility for the elderly but everyone who lived there got poisoned on the opening day. Kiso was caught as the accomplice so Toba strangled him to death. That’s how the match ended.

Shota & Ihashi entered the Gauntlet Tag Match dressed as Takanashi & Sakaguchi respectively. Ihashi even sported fake body tattoos.


Loading Up Korakuen, DDT Vs AJPW, Monomoth’s Japanese Debut

September 11, 2023

DDT “TETSUYA ENDO LOCAL TRIUMPH! WHO’S GONNA TOP? 2023 TOUR IN SHIROISHI”, 16/09/2023
Miyagi Shiroishi White Cube

1. Pheromones Final Countdown In Shiroishi: Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno Vs Akito & Makoto Oishi
2. Daisuke Sasaki, MJ Paul & KANON Vs Kazusada Higuchi, Yukio Naya & Kazuma Sumi
3. Kazuki Hirata & Antonio Honda Vs MAO & Yoshihiko
4. Chris Brookes & Takeshi Masada Vs Yuki Ueno & Toy Kojima
5. Special Tag Match: Yuji Hino & Jun Akiyama Vs HARASHIMA & Rukiya
6. Shiroishi Specialty Special 6-Man Tag Match ~ BURNING Vs Eruption!: Tetsuya Endo, Yusuke Okada & Yuya Koroku Vs Yukio Sakaguchi, Saki Akai & Hideki Okatani

This may be the last month Pheromones will exist so they have already begun their farewell tour. How they behave in these matches will help Akito decide if the unit should be broken up or not. So far based on the first match that happened yesterday, Pheromones are not going to change their behavior.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW CITY CIRCUIT ’23 ~RIKA TATSUMI LOCAL TRIUMPH~”, 16/09/2023
Nagano Kissei Bunka Hall Middle Hall

1. Mahiro Kiryu Vs Toga
2. 3 Way Match: Pom Harajuku Vs Haruna Neko Vs Shino Suzuki
3. Suzume & Arisu Endo Vs Kaya Toribami & Haru Kazashiro
4. Maki Itoh vs HIMAWARI
5. Mizuki & Hikari Noa Vs Yuki Kamifuku & Wakana Uehara
6. Aja Kong, Yuki Aino & Raku Vs Shoko Nakajima, Nao Kakuta & Moka Miyamoto
7. Rika Tatsumi & Miu Watanabe Vs Miyu Yamashita & Hyper Misao

Nagano’s local mascot Arukuma will be at the show to celebrate Rika Tatsumi’s return to her home area. It is a bear obsessed with apples who likes to walk around the area spreading charm to people who aren’t bears. Tatsumi is the kind of person who will strangle that thing to death… with love of course… Oh my God, she’s Elmyra from Tiny Toons!

DDT “DRAMATIC EXPLOSION 2023”, 18/09/2023
Nagoya International Conference Center Event Hall

1. Pheromones Final Countdown In Nagoya ~ 3 Way Tag Match: Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno Vs Kazuki Hirata & Akito Vs Sanshiro Takagi & Takeshi Masada
2. Kazuma Sumi Vs Rukiya
3. Daisuke Sasaki, MJ Paul & KANON Vs Hideki Okatani, Yusuke Okada & Yuya Koroku
4. HARASHIMA & Yukio Naya Vs Yuki Ueno & Toy Kojima
5. Nagoya Specialty Special 6-Man Tag Match: Yuji Hino, Makoto Oishi & Tetsuya Endo Vs Shigehiro Irie, Kazusada Higuchi & Shinya Ishida
6. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Chris Brookes, MAO & Antonio Honda Vs Minoru Suzuki, Yukio Sakaguchi & Saki Akai
7. All Asia Tag Team Titles – Current Blast Tag Death Match: Atsushi Onita & Yoshitatsu (c) Vs Jun Akiyama & Kotaro Suzuki

Even though Atsushi Onita’s team beat Jun Akiyama’s team in an exploding death match over the weekend, he still accepted the challenge to make the next one an All Asia Tag Team Titles match. It will be the first time since 2014 when the titles will be defended on a DDT show. Onita felt he and Yoshitatsu needed to accept the challenge of Akiyama & Kotaro Suzuki in order to increase the championship’s value. Given how much this match relates to All Japan, Onita will have the late Terry Funk on his mind going into it.

“MASAHIRO TAKANASHI 20TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW”, 19/09/2023
Shinjuku FACE

0. Dark Match: Monomoth & Kappa Kozo (w/ Miyako Haru) Vs Dr. Gore & Yasu Urano
1. Gauntlet Tag Match: Shogo “Jet” Takagi & Antonio Honda (w/ Toru Owashi) Vs Takashi Sasaki & Baliyan Akki, Choun-Shiryu & Shin Suzuki Vs Chie Koishikawa & Hagane Shinno
2. Yukio Sakaguchi, Isami Kodaka & Ken Ohka Vs MAO, Daiki Shimomura & Munetatsu Nakamura
3. Special Exhibition: Masahiro Takanashi Vs KUDO
4. Special Single Match: Mei Suruga Vs Minoru Suzuki
5. Chris Brookes Vs Masahiro Takanashi

The “Thai Smiling Prince” Monomoth makes his Japanese pro wrestling debut on Masahiro Takanashi’s show. He is a regular with the SETUP promotion in Thailand. The dark match Monomoth is in features another SETUP wrestler named Dr. Gore teaming with Yasu Urano. Monomoth’s tag partner is Kappa Kozo from the UMA Corps which of course means Miyako Haru will be there to keep an eye on things.

Saki Akai is on the show but there is still no announcement yet as to what she will be doing there.

DDT “WHO’S GONNA TOP? 2023”, 24/09/2023
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

0. Dark Match: Yusuke Okada & Yuya Koroku Vs Kazuma Sumi & Rukiya
1. Daisuke Sasaki, MJ Paul & KANON Vs Hideki Okatani, Yuni & Takeshi Masada
2. Pheromones Final Countdown In Korakuen ~ 3 Way Tag Match: Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno Vs Kazuki Hirata & Naruki Doi Vs Akito & Antonio Honda
3. Tetsuya Endo, Jun Akiyama, Kazusada Higuchi & Yukio Naya Vs Yuji Hino, Makoto Oishi, HARASHIMA & Yukio Sakaguchi
4. Special Tag Match ~ DDT Vs AJPW: Yuki Ueno & Toy Kojima Vs Atsuki Aoyagi & Dan Tamura
5. Special Single Match: KONOSUKE TAKESHITA Vs MAO
6. DDT Universal Title: Matt Cardona (c) (w/ Steph De Lander) Vs Maki Itoh
7. KO-D Openweight Title: Chris Brookes (c) Vs Saki Akai

There was only one person Chris Brookes had in mind for his next challenger. He wants to defend the KO-D Openweight Title against Akai before her retirement in November. The two of them had a double title singles match involving the DDT Extreme Title and Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title inside an empty Korakuen Hall back in May 2021 because of the covid pandemic. Akai gets to challenge for the KO-D Title for the first time ever but warns she is not doing this for sentimental reasons. She wants to win and become champion so Brookes better take her seriously!

The aftermath of Yuki Ueno choosing The 37KAMIINA over Konosuke Takeshita has calmed things down a little bit. Takeshita has said at the end of the day he is still friends with everyone in the unit even if they aren’t seeing eye to eye right now. That claim will be taken to the test after MAO challenged him to a singles match. Is this MAO testing himself against Takeshita when they are at their strongest or will there be some frustations being taken out on each other?

DDT’s inter-promotional rivalry with All Japan continues with Atsuki Aoyagi & Dan Tamura coming on over to fight The 37KAMIINA. Aoyagi is excited to fight Ueno for the first time and sees MAO as a future opponent too. However when Toy Kojima heard that he got worked up at being overlooked as always. He is just as much an important member of The 37KAMIINA as the others but nobody ever names him as an opponent they want to fight. In Aoyagi’s defence, he admits he doesn’t know who Kojima is. But then he repeated he only wants to fight Ueno and MAO so whatever Kojima does to him in response is kind of deserved.

DDT “SAKI AKAI 10TH ANNIVERSARY & FINAL COUNT DOWN IN KYOTO!!”, 30/09/2023
Kyoto KBS Hall

1. KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles: Yukio Sakaguchi, Saki Akai & Hideki Okatani (c) Vs Chris Brookes, Masahiro Takanashi & Mei Suruga

Brookes offering Akai a KO-D Title match wasn’t something he did for the sake of being charitable. The day after he gave out the challenge he told Eruption he would like a shot at the KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles in return. He already has a team put together with Takanashi & Mei Suruga, mixing CDK and ChocoPro together. Eruption want to defend their championships as much as they can before Akai’s retirement and do not mind who their opponents are. The announcement of this match on DDT’s website only mentions the KO-D 6-Man Tag Titles so it looks like the AJPW TV 6-Man Tag Team Titles will not be on the line.

DDT “GOD BLESS DDT 2023 TOUR IN SHINJUKU”, 04/10/2023
Shinjuku FACE

1. Pheromones Final Match: X Vs X
2. KO-D Tag Team Titles: Minoru Fujita & KANON (c) Vs Soma Takao & Shota

ROMANCE DAWN quickly made themselves the first challengers for the new KO-D Tag Team Champions. They approached Minoru Fujita & KANON shortly after the title change to set up the time and the place for their shot.

On this date Akito will decide the fate of Pheromones. Will he go with his head and finally split up the group or will he go with his heart and keep them together for their fanbase? He could probably go with another part of his body to come up with a third option but let’s not go into detail with that sort of fantasy booking.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “WRESTLE PRINCESS IV”, 09/10/2023
Tokyo Tama Mirai Messe

1. Sakisama, Mei Saint-Michel, Martha & Yukio Saint Laurent Vs X, X, X & X
2. Special Single Match: Nyla Rose Vs Maki Itoh
3. Princess Tag Team Titles: Yuki Kamifuku & Mahiro Kiryu Vs Hikari Noa & Nao Kakuta
4. Princess Of Princess Title: Mizuki (c) Vs Miyu Yamashita

The next Princess Tag Team Champions are either going to be Toyo Mates or Free WiFi. Either result will give us a first time champion. I don’t just mean first time tag title reigns for either team but also a first championship for Mahiro Kiryu or Nao Kakuta too. Both Yuki Kamifuku and Hikari Noa have previously held the International Princess Title.

DDT “ULTIMATE PARTY 2023”, 12/11/2023
Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan

1. Saki Akai Retirement Match: Saki Akai Vs X
2. Special Single Match: Hiromu Takahashi Vs Kazuki Hirata

It was already announced that Hiromu Takahashi will be at Sumo Hall but the choice of opponent was going to be all up to him. Kazuki Hirata read out a heartfelt letter written for Takahashi asking him to be his opponent at the show. Hirata didn’t expect Takahashi was actually in the room at the time and certainly didn’t expect to roll him up and try to win the Iron Man Title either. Takahashi decided to make Hirata’s dream come true and they will face each other. So far no championship is on the line. Not the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title held by Takahashi nor the DDT Extreme and Iron Man Titles held by Hirata. Things may change as we get closer to the show but who knows what championships either will be hold by the time we get there.