Aoki Is Now The Champ, The 37KAMIINA Have Chips On Their Shoulder, Wrestle Princess V Heats up

August 27, 2024

DDT “FIGHTING BEER GARDEN 2024 IN SHINJUKU – DAY 2”, 30/08/2024
Shinjuku FACE

1. Toru Owashi & Yuki Ishida Vs Yuni & Keigo Nakamura
2. Daisuke Sasaki, KANON & MJ Paul Vs Toru Owashi, Keigo Nakamura & Yuya Koroku
3. Rock ‘N’ Roll 4 Way Death Match: Akito Vs Antonio Honda Vs To-y Vs Kazuma Sumi
4. The Long Awaited New Series By Hisaya Imabayashi! Kaidan Shin Numabukuro Deathmatch 2: Shunma Katsumata Vs Jun Akiyama Vs Danshoku Dieno Vs Makoto Oishi
5. Special Single Match: Chris Brookes Vs Ilusion
6. Beer Garden Specialty Customer Lottery 8-Man Tag Match: Yuki Ueno, MAO, HARASHIMA, Tetsuya Endo, Yuki Iino, Kazuki Hirata, Yukio Naya, Takeshi Masada

Over the weekend Ilusion made more attempts at asking Chris Brookes if he could join SCHADENFREUDE International only to be turned down again. Brookes instead offered Ilusion a singles match between them. See it as Ilusion’s last chance to convince Brookes that he deserves to be part of the unit.

DDT “MEET & GREET & FIGHT SEPTEMBER”, 04/09/2024
Shinjuku FACE

1. To-y & Kazuma Sumi Vs Keigo Nakamura & Yuya Koroku
2. 3 Way Match: Takeshi Masada Vs Yuni Vs Ilusion
3. Special Single Match: Yuki Iino Vs Kazuki Hirata
4. Special Single Match: Shinya Aoki Vs Makoto Oishi

The new KO-D Openweight Champion is Shinya Aoki so he is going to appear in DDT a little more often in the near future. He has been added to Makoto Oishi’s final run of matches in the company.

DDT “TAKESHI MASADA LOCAL TRIUMPH! DRAMATIC INFINITY 2024 TOUR IN OSAKA”, 07/09/2024
Osaka Sun Square Sports Center Sakai

1. Danshoku Dieno, Kazuki Hirata & Kazuma Sumi Vs Toru Owashi, Keigo Nakamura & Ilusion
2. HARASHIMA & Akito Vs Yukio Naya & Yuki Ishida
3. DAMNATION T.A Vs BURNING!: Daisuke Sasaki & MJ Paul Vs Tetsuya Endo & Yuya Koroku
4. Special Tag Match: MAO & Shunma Katsumata Vs Fuminori Abe & Antonio Honda
5. Special Single Match: Jun Akiyama Vs Makoto Oishi
6. Special Single Match: KANON Vs Yuki Iino
7. Osaka Specialty Special Tag Match: Chris Brookes & Takeshi Masada Vs Yuki Ueno & To-y

Another show in Osaka means Takeshi Masada gets to headline it again as the hometown boy. But Yuki Ueno and Yuni are Osaka hometown boys too!

A singles match between KANON and Yuki Iino has the added element of KANON’s Right To Challenge Shield being up for grabs if it hasn’t been used yet. You can afford to take tag losses here and there when you don’t take the fall but when it’s time for singles matches, holders like KANON will need to be more careful.

One of Oishi’s final singles matches in DDT will be against Jun Akiyama! The two of them have gotten along as part of D.O.A and the unit isn’t planning on going away anytime soon.

A preview for the next DDT Universal Title defence is happening the day before the match takes place. MAO and Fuminori Abe will get to test each other out in a tag bout around 24 hours before they fight over the title.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “ALWAYS BE A CHALLENGER ’24”, 08/09/2024
Nagoya International Conference Center Event Hall

1. International Princess Title: Yuki Arai (c) Vs Arisu Endo

In more hometown talk Arisu Endo made it her goal to become a double champion before Tokyo Joshi Pro returns to Aizuwakamatsu. She decided to challenge Yuki Arai for the International Princess Title as part of her plan. Endo was part of Arai’s debut match three years ago and the two have become good friends ever since. Even though Arai is from Kyoto, she considers Nagoya as her second home because of SKE48’s connections to the area so she will need to utilise her own home field advantage in order to stop Endo from powering up Aizuwakamatsu!

DDT “FRIENDSHIP, EFFORT, VICTORY IN NAGOYA 2024”, 08/09/2024
Nagoya International Conference Center Event Hall

1. Takeshi Masada & Yuki Ishida Vs Keigo Nakamura & Ilusion
2. Chris Brookes & Antonio Honda Vs Toru Owashi & Kazuki Hirata
3. Daisuke Sasaki, KANON & MJ Paul Vs Yuki Iino, Yuya Koroku & Kazuma Sumi
4. Yuki Ueno, Shunma Katsumata & To-y Vs Jun Akiyama, Makoto Oishi & Akito
5. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Kota Ibushi, Shuji Ishikawa & Danshoku Dieno Vs HARASHIMA, Yasu Urano & Michael Nakazawa
6. Special Single Match: Ryuichi “Fire” Kawakami Vs Yukio Naya
7. DDT Universal Title: MAO (c) Vs Fuminori Abe
8. KO-D Openweight Title: Shinya Aoki (c) Vs Tetsuya Endo

There is now a sudden shift in direction for the KO-D Title scene coming out of the weekend. Aoki is now the champion and has visions of revitalizing the championship’s value by targeting Katsuhiko Nakajima! In the leadup to Aoki’s title win he said he would like to unify the KO-D Title with the UWF World Title that is currently being used in GLEAT. Nakajima just so happens to be the champion and him knocking out Tetsuya Endo in 2022 is a subject that Aoki brought on Sunday. He does not understand why nobody from DDT ever wanted to get revenge on Nakajima for the damage he did to the company’s reputation. Endo has his reasons for being the first person to challenge Aoki. Nakajima was not meant to be top of that list but since Aoki brought it up, Endo believes it should be him who gets that revenge as champion and not Aoki.

A lot of potential challengers for the KO-D Title are waiting nearby and it’s not just the people who hold the Right To Challenge Shields. The feud between Yukio Naya and Ryuichi Kawakami could launch the winner into a future title shot. Kawakami thinks it will be easy to get one after he destroys Naya once and for all. The sneak attacks and cheating were already getting Naya mad but the thought of Kawakami taking the KO-D Title so lightly has only fired him up even more.

DDT “NO SPOILERS X BEER GARDEN PRO WRESTLING IN UENO”, 10/09/2024
Tokyo Ueno Park Outdoor Stage

1. Special Single Match: Takeshi Masada Vs Yoshihiko
2. Special 4 Way Match: Someone Who Looks Like MAO Vs Someone Who Looks Like Chris Brookes Vs Someone Who Looks Like HARASHIMA Vs Someone Who Looks Like Keigo Nakamura

DDT are holding another event where attendees are encouraged not to post anything about what happened at the show on social media until after midnight. It is doubling up as a Beer Garden show too so you know a bunch of crazy things will happen. The 4 Way Match for example sounds like it will feature wrestlers pretending to be MAO, Brookes, HARASHIMA and Keigo Nakamura fighting each other. Masada has to fight Yoshihiko by himself too.

DDT “DRAMATIC INFINITY 2024 TOUR IN SAPPORO – DAY 1”, 15/09/2024
Hokkaido Sapporo Sun Plaza

1. KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles: Daisuke Sasaki, KANON & MJ Paul (c) Vs Yuki Ueno, Shunma Katsumata & To-y

The 37KAMIINA were quick to tell fans that they are not going to let Ueno losing the KO-D Title stop their momentum. The unit threw out challenges for two championship matches next month. Shunma Katsumata is part of both as he might become a triple champion when all is said and done. First Ueno, Katsumata & To-y challenge DAMNATION T.A for the KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles.

DDT “DRAMATIC INFINITY 2024 TOUR IN SHINJUKU”, 20/09/2024
Shinjuku FACE

1. KO-D Tag Team Titles: Chris Brookes & Takeshi Masada (c) Vs MAO & Shunma Katsumata

Later in the week ShunMao face Brookes & Masada for the KO-D Tag Team Titles. Both MAO & Katsumata believe the tag titles have not seen the best of days ever since they had to vacate them last year. They think they were in the middle of having the best title reign ever until it had to be cut short when Katsumata broke his ankle. ShunMao now want to be the champions again so they can start a new era for the belts. They also seem to have an axe to grind over Kota Ibushi being welcomed back into DDT by the older sections of the fanbase while they’ve been working so hard to attract an audience.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “WRESTLE PRINCESS V”, 22/09/2024
Chiba Makuhari Messe International Exhibition Hall

1. Xia Zhao & Mizuki Vs Yuki Kamifuku & VENY
2. Aja Kong, Max The Impaler & Pom Harajuku Vs X, X & X
3. Emi Sakura Vs Shoko Nakajima
4. Princess Tag Team Titles: Suzume & Arisu Endo (c) Vs Miyu Yamashita & Maki Itoh
5. Princess Of Princess Title: Miu Watanabe (c) Vs Ryo Mizunami

Princess Aniki is now aiming for TJPW’s top championship! After winning the Tokyo Princess Cup on Sunday, Ryo Mizunami didn’t waste any time in challenging Miu Watanabe for the Princess Of Princess Title. Mizunami became the first outsider to win a TJPW tournament, now she can become the first to win the Princess Title too!

A big match for Shoko Nakajima on the show pits her against Emi Sakura. It will be the first time the two will face each other in the ring but Nakajima has learned a lot from Sakura going all the way back to the early years of her wrestling career.

The happy go lucky tag team of Max The Impaler & Pom Harajuku now adds a new friend to make them even happier. Which three poor souls are getting chosen to fight those two and Aja Kong? They might be in luck because SKE48’s Shiori Aoki returns to officiate another match. She might care more about doing carthweels than protecting the team from the monsters though.

Former WWE wrestler Xia Zhao is coming to TJPW so she can wrestle in Japan for the first time ever. Previously known as Xia Li, Zhao has only just begun taking wrestling bookings again after getting released from WWE back in April. Her match with Mizuki here will also reunite Yuki Kamifuku & VENY as a team. VENYU hadn’t teamed together since last summer.

DDT “DRAMATIC INFINITY 2024 ~ 3 HOUR SPECIAL~”, 29/09/2024
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Yuki Ueno, MAO & Kaisei Takeshi Vs Chris Brookes, Takeshi Masada & Masahiro Takanashi

The return of Kaisei Takeshi to DDT is such a big deal the show is going to air live on ABEMA for free.


DDT “MEMORIES OF SUMMER VACATION 2024” Results

August 25, 2024

DDT “MEMORIES OF SUMMER VACATION 2024”, 25/08/2024
Tokyo Korakuen Hall
1,369 Fans – Super No Vacancy

1. 3 Way Match: Antonio Honda defeated Kazuki Hirata and Toru Owashi when Honda pinned Hirata with a Backslide Pin (0:10).
1a. Rematch: Toru Owashi defeated Kazuki Hirata and Antonio Honda when Owashi pinned Honda with a School Boy (7:43).
2. Chris Brookes, Masahiro Takanashi & Takeshi Masada defeated Makoto Oishi, Yuni & Ilusion when Takanashi pinned Ilusion with the Uwabami (10:50).
3. MAO, Shunma Katsumata & To-y defeated Jun Akiyama, Tomomitsu Matsunaga & Keigo Nakamura when Katsumata pinned Matsunaga with a German Suplex (10:11).
4. Soma Takao 15th Anniversary ~ Special Single Match: Keisuke Ishii defeated Soma Takao with the Kneel Kick (9:02).
5. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Daisuke Sasaki, Ryuichi “Fire” Kawakami & KANON defeated HARASHIMA, Yukio Naya & Kazuma Sumi when Kawakami pinned Naya with a Lariat (12:29).
6. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Tetsuya Endo, Yuki Iino & Yuya Koroku defeated Kota Ibushi, Danshoku Dieno & Akito when Endo pinned Akito with the Burning Star Press (20:30).
7. KO-D Openweight Title: Shinya Aoki defeated Yuki Ueno (c) with the Modified Manjigatame (19:49).
*Yuki Ueno fails in V8. Shinya Aoki becomes the 83rd KO-D Openweight Champion!

A packed house at Korakuen Hall got to see a newsworthy DDT show where the top championship of the company changed hands. Yuki Ueno’s nine month reign as KO-D Openweight Champion has come to an end by Shinya Aoki’s hands. The two have been linked together for a while now with Ueno looking up to the MMA fighter but perhaps that is ultimately what cost him to lose the title. Aoki surprised Ueno by using a Topé Suicida out of the ring. The Dropkicks to the face from Ueno couldn’t keep Aoki down and neither could the BME. When Ueno set up his WR finisher Aoki countered it into a Cobra Twist and transitioned the move into a Modified Manjigatame. The hold took Ueno down to the ground and he had no choice but to give up.

After the match Aoki praised Ueno for being strong and even told everyone how much he likes him. But losers have to leave the ring. Ueno bowed to everyone and left while Aoki applauded him. The new champion promised to protect what he has taken from Ueno. He also declared he wants to get revenge on Katsuhiko Nakajima for harming the championship’s reputation while defending the title against any of the Right To Challenge Anytime, Anywhere holders. He expected one of them to come out and challenge him but he got someone completely different instead. Tetsuya Endo!

Aoki wasn’t impressed and called Endo the weakest person who could challenge him. He talked about how much Endo has struggled ever since Nakajima knocked him out. Others like Ueno and MAO struggled too but Endo may as well be sleeping compared to them. Endo understands why Aoki would reject his challenge but that is why it must be Endo who should hold the belt and be the one to find revenge! Aoki argued that the reason he brought up Nakajima in the first place was because nobody in DDT did. Endo then asked Aoki if he ever lost a match that changed his life? Was there someone there to help him at the time? Aoki can be like that for Endo if he accepts the challenge. Aoki understood and a title match between them will take place in Nagoya on 8th September.

Finally Kota Ibushi came home to DDT. A lot has changed since he left but really, a lot has stayed the same too. He started the match off against Endo and their back and forth ended with a respectful handshake. Then the match turned over to more of DDT’s silly side as Danshoku Dieno kept kissing Yuki Iino over and over. Then when Akito put Yuya Koroku in a Figure 4 Leg Lock, Dieno performed the Danshoku Nightmare over Koroku. Ibushi also carried Koroku face first into Dieno’s Hell Gate at the corner. Endo got revenge by pushing Dieno and Ibushi into each other for the Lip Lock. He then hit Akito with a Handspring Kick followed by the Swivel Torture Rack Bomb. Akito kicked out of that but was put away with the Burning Star Press.

Endo welcomed Ibushi back to DDT after the match and had a question for him. Does Ibushi still love pro wrestling? Ibushi says he still loves it. Endo was happy to hear it and said he’ll be here in DDT waiting for Ibushi anytime. Dieno wanted to hear Ibushi give his honest opinion about how he feels right now. He then handed him a cue card to read (a bunch of people in DDT used to do this for Ibushi during his first main event push). Ibushi admitted there was a time when he didn’t know if he really loved wrestling. But coming back to a DDT ring today was something he enjoyed. He had a good time but his true love is only at 60 points out of 100 right now. He will keep wrestling in AEW and DDT to find the wrestling that he enjoys so his love will reach back up to 100. He then asked Makoto Oishi why he is quitting DDT soon? When Oishi told him it was to be with his family, Ibushi then asked why was his voice sounding so hoarse? Oishi reminded him it’s been like that for a long time. Backstage Ibushi told reporters he has the money and the fame. The only thing that’s missing for him is the fun. Akito told him he would like to see him appear in DDT regularly but Ibushi has only committed to one other date so far on 8th September.

Yukio Naya felt humiliated after today’s show thanks to Ryuichi “Fire” Kawakami. The latest part of their feud saw Kawakami pin Naya thanks to some foul play. HARASHIMA & Kazuma Sumi played their part as best as they could against DAMNATION T.A so Naya could beat Kawakami by himself with a Choke Slam. But MJ Paul pulled the referee away during the pin count. Naya then fought off Daisuke Sasaki & KANON until Kawakami hit him in the back with a Chair and pinned him with a Lariat. Kawakami said he will beat Naya again in their singles match on 8th September and then go on to challenge for the KO-D Title. Naya tried to fight him again but Sasaki hit him with the chair and Kawakami put him down with the Thunder Fire Bomb. Backstage Naya promised to get revenge and make Kawakami regret ever talking about the KO-D Title so casually.

The 15th Anniversary of Soma Takao’s debut match put him against someone who has been linked to him for most of his career. Keisuke Ishii was one of Takao’s tag partners in his debut and they want on to wrestle together as part of Team Drift. Ishii didn’t take it easy on his friend though. They fought up to the aisleway where Ishii gave Takao the Double Arm Driver onto the floor. Takao just about made it back to the ring to avoid being counted out. He fought back using a Double Stomp and the Perfect Driver for nearfalls. But Ishii caught him with a Frankensteiner and won the match with the Kneel Kick.

Two Right To Challenge Shield holders were on opposite teams for Match #3 so there was a little more risk of a Shield changing hands. Jun Akiyama kept grabbing To-y’s hair and did it even more after Shunma Katsumata complained about it. Keigo Nakamura went after Katsumata but things ended evenly between the two Shield holders. Tomomitsu Matsunaga got a nearfall on Katsumata with a Lariat. Katsumata turned things around with a Neckbreaker and Thrust Kick. He then scored the pin on Matsunaga with a German Suplex.

Today was another attempt by Ilusion to convince Chris Brookes he belongs in SCHADENFREUDE International. He even put Brookes in the Octopus Stretch during their match. Masahiro Takanashi wanted to thank Makoto Oishi for everything he’s done but it was just a trick to attack him. Oishi then tried singing a birthday song for Brookes but got attacked for that too. Takeshi Masada blocked Yuni’s Moonsault and Brookes tried to finish the match with the Praying Mantis Bomb but Yuni avoided it. The match came down to Ilusion and Takanashi trying to pin each other with different cradle moves. Takanashi got the better of Ilusion and got the three count with the Uwabami. Brookes wasn’t convinced by Ilusion’s performance.

The 3 Way Match to open the show featured voice actor and wrestling fan Tetsu Inada as a special guest commentator. However Antonio Honda pinned Kazuki Hirata seconds into the match before Toru Owashi could even do anything. Hisaya Imabayashi got mad like he always does and admitted he is getting tired of this. Inada took the microphone from him and demanded a restart because he wanted to see an exciting match. The match begun again but the wrestlers were showing low energy, causing Inada to get mad again. Hirata tried to do his dance but Inada asked him to do something new. Inada then joined in with Honda’s Gongitsune joke and together they attempted the Super Pheonix Fire Thunder Ultra Gongitsune attack! However they both missed. Owashi rolled up Honda with a School Boy and Hirata did the same to Inada. Both of them got a three count pin but since Inada was never a match participant, Owashi was the winner.

At the very end of the show MAO & Katsumata told the fans that Ueno losing the title is not going to stop The 37KAMIINA’s momentum. ShunMao intends to challenge for the KO-D Tag Team Titles and KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles again. Backstage they said the championship has been turning rotten ever since they had to vacate it due to Katsumata’s injury. No reign since then has been as good as theirs so they want to start a new era for the championship. MAO also described Ibushi’s return today as Golden Star Syndrome. The middle aged fans who came to the show are only chasing shadows because the glory days from Ibushi’s time are gone. DDT has been drowning in muddy waters ever since and it is thanks to the likes of ShunMao that things have started to pick up for the company. MAO is telling the fans not to lose their minds from Golden Star Syndrome and they should not be taking the current generation for granted.

The 37KAMIINA are also going to be part of Kaisei Takeshi’s return match on 29th September. Takeshi, Ueno & MAO will take on Brookes, Takanashi & Masada from SCHADENFREUDE International on 29th September!

As part of Takeshi Masada’s sponsorship with Bodix bodywear, several models known as the BB Girls were in attendance. Imabayashi got to take a group photo in the ring with them at the start of the show.


EVE x TJPW Card, NωA Reunites One Last Time, Daisy Monkey Vs 121000000

August 20, 2024

EVE/TOKYO JOSHI PRO “EVE X TJPW: JAPAN & UK WRESTLING UNITE!”, 24/08/2024
Conway Hall, London, England

0. Pre-Show Match: X Vs X
1. HIMAWARI Vs Mahiro Kiryu
2. Alex Windsor Vs Lena Kross
3. Session Moth Martina Vs Raku
4. Zizi & Safire Reed Vs Aja Kong & Max The Impaler
5. EVE Title: Nina Samuels (c) Vs Miyu Yamashita

The card is now complete with the EVE only matches being added. Alex Windsor, who is a former International Princess Champion will be facing Lena Kross. There is also going to be a pre-show match of some sort taking place too.

DDT “MEET & GREET & FIGHT SEPTEMBER”, 04/09/2024
Shinjuku FACE

1. To-y & Kazuma Sumi Vs Keigo Nakamura & Yuya Koroku
2. 3 Way Match: Takeshi Masada Vs Yuni Vs Ilusion
3. Special Single Match: Yuki Iino Vs Kazuki Hirata

Since Makoto Oishi will be a month away from wrapping things up with DDT, there will be a one night only NωA reunion with MAO & Shunma Katsumata. They intend to sing all of their singles for what is going to be their last ever live performance together as an idol unit.

DDT “FRIENDSHIP, EFFORT, VICTORY IN NAGOYA 2024”, 08/09/2024
Nagoya International Conference Center Event Hall

1. Special Single Match: Ryuichi “Fire” Kawakami Vs Yukio Naya
2. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Kota Ibushi, Shuji Ishikawa & Danshoku Dieno Vs HARASHIMA, Yasu Urano & Michael Nakazawa
3. DDT Universal Title: MAO (c) Vs Fuminori Abe

MAO is still dealing with the disappointment of how his 10th DDT Universal Title defence ended. He has to move on though because his 11th challenger has been decided for next month. It is going to be Fuminori Abe!

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “WRESTLE PRINCESS V”, 22/09/2024
Chiba Makuhari Messe International Exhibition Hall

1. Princess Tag Team Titles: Suzume & Arisu Endo (c) Vs Miyu Yamashita & Maki Itoh

A few weeks ago 121000000 made it known they wanted to get back in the hunt for the Princess Tag Team Titles. Then a few days ago Miyu Yamashita pinned Suzume in a tag match while a helpless Arisu Endo had to watch on. Yamashita put out the challenge to Daisy Monkey for a title shot afterward. The match will happen at “WRESTLE PRINCESS V” over one month away, partly because Maki Itoh needs to recover from her hand injury first.


DDT “MEMORIES OF SUMMER VACATION 2024 TOUR IN YOKOHAMA” Results

August 17, 2024

DDT “MEMORIES OF SUMMER VACATION 2024 TOUR IN YOKOHAMA”, 17/08/2024
Yokohama Radiant Hall
271 Fans – Super No Vacancy

1. Shunma Katsumata & Kazuki Hirata defeated Makoto Oishi & Yuni when Katsumata pinned Oishi with a German Suplex (6:24).
*Shunma Katsumata wins Makoto Oishi’s Right To Challenge Anytime, Anywhere Shield.
2. Chris Brookes & Takeshi Masada defeated Antonio Honda & Ilusion with the Masada No Chikara KOBU Mukimuki (12:44).
3. Special Tag Match: MAO & Jun Akiyama defeated Tetsuya Endo & Yuya Koroku when MAO pinned Koroku with the Iai Kick (11:20).
4. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title: Danshoku Dieno (c) defeated Michael Nakazawa by Disqualification when Nakazawa attacked the referee (13:49).
5. Daisuke Sasaki, Ryuichi “Fire” Kawakami, KANON & MJ Paul defeated HARASHIMA, Soma Takao, Keigo Nakamura & Kazuma Sumi when Kawakami pinned Sumi with the Thunder Fire Bomb (8:42).
6. Yukio Naya’s Birthday Celebration Match ~ Special Single Match: Yukio Naya Vs Yuki Iino ended in a Double KO (17:45).
7. Special Tag Match: Shinya Aoki & Akito defeated Yuki Ueno & To-y when Aoki pinned To-y with a Kick To The Face (14:28).
-. KO-D Openweight Title: Yuki Ueno (c) defeated Antonio Honda with the Dropkick (19:09).
*V7 for Yuki Ueno. Antonio Honda cashes in his Right To Challenge Anytime, Anywhere Shield.

The direction towards Yuki Ueno Vs Shinya Aoki almost went off track because the first Right To Challenge Shield was cashed in today! After Aoki’s team beat Ueno’s team in the main event, Keigo Nakamura walked out and teased cashing in. But all he did was announce that he was not going to do it today. Antonio Honda then entered the ring and talked about 2024 being a good year for him. He’s been able to keep standing all this time so he could fight a wonderful wrestler like Ueno for the KO-D Openweight Title. He decided to cash in his title shot right away and fight as if it is his last match!

Honda left out the shenanigans for what could be his final chance at winning the KO-D Title proper (he was one time an interim champion back in 2010). Instead of tripping over and using Gongitsune he used the Tenzan Tombstone Driver, Enzuigiri and Manjigatame. But a well timed Dropkick to the face ended his dream and Ueno remained the champion. Ueno said you must have courage to use the Right To Challenge prize correctly. What happens in the DDT ring is the most fun you can have anytime, anywhere and he can make it more fun when he beats beat Aoki!

Aoki did not have much to say about next week’s title match both during the contract signing and after the show. He is going to savor the match when it happens. He is also impressed that Ueno was able to defend the title straight after wrestling another match. He thinks that shows both strength and responsibility. Honda said he feels like the happiest person around even though he lost. He fought like it was his last match and he is glad to have met someone like Ueno.

For his 30th birthday Yukio Naya was given a one on one match against Yuki Iino. Both went into the match wanting to showcase and revitalise DDT’s heavyweight scene. That kind of can’t lose attitude from both wrestlers resulted the match ending in a double knockout draw. Iino avoided The World’s Best Back Drop and hit Naya with the Spear. But Naya got back up and the two collided with Shoulder Blocks to knock each other down. Neither were able to get back to their feet before the 10 count was reached. The two shook hands while recovering after the match but the moment was spoiled when Ryuichi “Fire” Kawakami and DAMNATION T.A attacked Naya while he was returning to the locker room. Kawakami hit him with a chair, calling it Naya’s birthday present. Backstage Naya said once his match with Kawakami on 9th September happens, he’ll make sure Kawakami won’t come back to DDT!

Michael Nakazawa apologised to the fans before his match began because he hasn’t had a match in over a year and forgot how to wrestle. He proceeded to go through the match unmotivated which annoyed Danshoku Dieno. Nakazawa started showing some enthusiasm when he did the Angle Slam but lost interest again after Dieno kicked out of it. Nakazawa then asked for the match to end because he failed in America and he’s a failure here too. Hisaya Imabayashi told him he isn’t a failure. He became DDT’s GM because of Nakazawa and to prove it he pulled down his trousers to show off his underwear just like Nakazawa used to do. Other wrestlers like Takeshi Masada, Makoto Oishi, Shunma Katsumata and Kazuki Hirata all did the same around ringside. Yuni wanted to join in but Yukinori Matsui stopped him. But more people like the referees, camera crew, ring announcer, staff and even Shukan Puroresu reporter all joined in to encourage Nakazawa. He got his spirit back and collected all of the underwear to power up the Ultimate Venom Arm. Unfortunately he missed Dieno and grabbed Matsui with the move by mistake. Nakazawa was then disqualified.

Ilusion spent a lot of Match #2 asking Chris Brookes if he could join SCHADENFREUDE International. Brookes refused because he doesn’t believe Ilusion really has it in his heart to be part of the group. At least not yet anyway. So Brookes doesn’t want him in it.

The White RTC Shield is bouncing around from person to person. Oishi won it during the week but lost it to Katsumata in today’s opening match. Katsumata even asked Oishi why he lost it after making such a big deal over protecting the prize after he won it? Katsumata is already the DDT Extreme Champion so he will take some time to think about what he will do with the Shield.


DDT “FIGHTING BEER GARDEN 2024 IN SHINJUKU – DAY 1” Results

August 15, 2024

DDT “FIGHTING BEER GARDEN 2024 IN SHINJUKU – DAY 1”, 15/08/2024
Shinjuku FACE
460 Fans – Super No Vacancy Full House

1. 4 Vs 3 Handicap Match: Daisuke Sasaki, KANON, MJ Paul & Mataro Suzuki defeated Toru Owashi, To-y & Keigo Nakamura when KANON pinned To-y with the Ground Cobra Twist (11:21).
2. Blindfold Hidden Breast Tag Team Death Match: Chris Brookes & Antonio Honda defeated Super Sasadango Machine & Kazuma Sumi when Brookes stripped off Sumi’s bra (14:34).
3. International Special Single Match: Danhausen defeated Kazuki Hirata with the Danhausen Special (9:14).
4. Special 3 Way 6-Man Tag Match: Jun Akiyama, Makoto Oishi & Yukio Naya defeated Yuki Ueno, MAO & Shunma Katsumata and Tetsuya Endo, Yuki Iino & Yuya Koroku when Oishi pinned Koroku after the Mad Max from MAO & Katsumata (10:06).
*Makoto Oishi wins Yuya Koroku’s Right To Challenge Anytime, Anywhere Shield.
5. Drunk Match: Masahiro Takanashi defeated HARASHIMA with the Yokoiri Style Cradle (12:41).
*Masahiro Takanashi wins HARASHIMA’s Right To Challenge Anytime, Anywhere Shield.
6. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title – International Special Tag Match ~ Sandman Match: Joey Janela & Takeshi Masada defeated Danshoku Dieno (c) & Effy when Janela pinned Dieno with the Death Valley Driver onto a pile of Cans (15:47).
*Joey Janela becomes the 1,663rd champion.
-. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title: Effy defeated Joey Janela (c) with a School Boy (9:15 pm).
*Effy becomes the 1,664th champion.
-. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title: Danshoku Dieno defeated Effy (c) with a School Boy (9:21 pm).
*Danshoku Dieno becomes the 1,665th champion.

Never let the Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title come between partners. It will not end well. This year’s summer beer garden shows are featuring several wrestlers from the GCW tour who stuck around in Japan for a few more days (most of the GCW crew had to leave the country earlier than planned because an incoming typhoon was disrupting flights). In the main event of today’s show Danshoku Dieno & Effy wanted to be partners instead of opponents so the 4 Way Match was changed into a tag match. Takeshi Masada took the brunt of Dieno & Effy’s attacks but it was Joey Janela who ended up winning the match and becoming the Iron Man Champion.

After the match Masada tried to turn on Janela to take the title from him but failed. Effy however succeeded in rolling up Janela from behind to become the new champion. Then backstage Dieno and Effy got into an argument about the title that led to them heading back over to ringside while the audience were leaving the venue. Masada again tried to sneak attack the champ and again failed. But that distraction allowed Dieno to pin Effy with a Low Blow and run off as the Iron Man Champion once more. Dieno wants the title in order to become the longest champion in the belt’s history. Today his plan was reset to zero days but that only means his year long title reign starts now!

The Right To Challenge Shields are already switching hands a lot and it’s only been one week. Masahiro Takanashi won the Blue Shield from HARASHIMA in a match where the rules were both got to drink until they were drunk. The two of them became so inebriated that they needed help to wrestle. Chris Brookes & Antonio Honda were on Takanashi’s side while HARASHIMA unexpectedly had KUDO coming to his aid! Takanashi was able to beat HARASHIMA by countering the Somato into a Cradle. He later made hints towards using the Shield to get a DDT Universal Title shot because he had to watch while MAO beat other members of SCHADENFREUDE International one after the other.

Yuya Koroku only just won the White Shield and he has already lost it. That prize now belongs to Makoto Oishi when he scored the pin in a 3 Way Trios Match. Shunma Katsumata & MAO did the damage to Koroku but they were both held back by Jun Akiyama & Yukio Naya so Oishi could steal the pinfall. We then had a repeat of the current Shield holders all publicly telling everyone they are not going to cash in just yet. Honda was the exception but he once again tripped over the ropes and injured his knee so had to delay cashing in his shot on Yuki Ueno. Oishi, who will be leaving DDT in October believes it is fate for him to win a Shield. He wants to use it at a time that will set off fireworks. Perhaps he will wait until his final show as a DDT wrestler.

It hasn’t been a good month for BURNING. They just lost the KO-D Tag Team Titles and now they no longer have a RTC shield. Yuki Iino is trying to look on the bright side though and came up with the idea of challenging DAMNATION T.A for the KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles. It should work out for them because he, Tetsuya Endo and Koroku no longer have anything to lose.

Kazuki Hirata is a germaphobe so the worst thing Danhausen could do to him was pour a jar of teeth into his mouth and then kick him in the face. Danhausen absolutely did that and won the match.

Everyone in Match #3 being blindfolded caused some obvious problems. They spent a lot of the match reaching out into thin air trying to find one another. They even all ended up going outside and Super Sasadango Machine mistakenly thought a male fan in the front row was one of his opponents. Despite the handicap, Brookes was eventually able to give Kazuma Sumi the Praying Mantis Bomb and stripped him of his bra to win along with Honda.

Daisuke Sasaki spent all day drinking and was too drunk to wrestle so DAMNATION T.A announced they added a new member to their team. It was Mataro Suzuki from DDT’s video crew. He was kicked out of the team after they won their match.


DDT/GCW “NEVER ENDING NOISY SUMMER” Results

August 12, 2024

DDT/GCW “NEVER ENDING NOISY SUMMER”, 12/08/2024
Tokyo Korakuen Hall
999 Fans – No Vacancy

1. Special 8-Man Tag Match: Maki Itoh, Chris Brookes, Takeshi Masada & Marcus Mathers defeated Yuki Ueno, Masha Slamovich, Yuni & Ilusion when Itoh pinned Ilusion after the 450 Splash from Mathers (15:02).
2. DDT Variety Team Vs The Mothership: Allie Katch & Dark Sheik defeated Kazuki Hirata & Antonio Honda when Sheik pinned Hirata with the Diving Leg Drop (10:30).
3. DDT Vs GCW Special Tag Match: Daisuke Sasaki & KANON defeated Rina Yamashita & Broski Jimmy when Sasaki pinned Jimmy after the Freedom Call (12:36).
4. DDT Vs GCW Special Tag Match: Tetsuya Endo & Yuki Iino defeated Gringo Loco & 1 Called Manders when Endo pinned Loco with the Burning Star Press (14:47).
5. DDT Vs GCW Special Single Match: Danshoku Dieno Vs Effy ended in a No Contest (9:48).
6. GCW World Title – 3 Way Hardcore Match: Mance Warner (c) defeated Shunma Katsumata and Joey Janela when Warner pinned Katsumata with the Impaler DDT (18:26).
*V8 for Mance Warner.
7. DDT Universal Title: MAO (c) defeated Alex Zayne by Referee Stoppage (8:17).
*V10 for MAO.

As part of this year’s tour of Japan, GCW teamed up with DDT to put everything together. This includes the opening night where both promotions held a joint show at Korakuen Hall mixing their two rosters together. The main event would have been MAO’s crowning moment of his DDT Universal Title reign because he reached his 10th successful defence. Unfortunately no one was happy with how it went. Alex Zayne injured his ankle during a spot outside the ring where he did a backflip off of the stage and landed on his feet. The landing seemed to have jacked in his ankle and despite making the effort to get back into the ring, Yukinori Matsui made the call to end the match and reward MAO the victory by TKO. In an update since the show ended, Zayne got an X-ray and the results showed no serious damage was done. MAO promised to give him a rematch. He is under the impression that DDT and GCW will do a show like this again next year.

Shunma Katsumata was inserted into the big fed over the GCW World Title. The champion Mance Warner and top contender Joey Janela are in the middle of several fights over the belt and the latest battle was a 3 Way Hardcore Match with Katsumata as the third wheel. Tables, ladders, chairs and toy blocks were all used in the match. Warner also used handcuffs on Katsumata before attacking him with a stapler, a wrench and a screwdriver to bust him open. Katsumata was still able to fight while handcuffed and eventually the key was found to free him. He put Janela through the table with the Totonou Splash but Warner stole the win by giving Katsumata the Impaler DDT right afterwards. Janela promised to one day beat Warner for the GCW Title and also beat Katsumata so he can be the DDT Extreme Champion again. Katsumata wants to wrestle at GCW shows in America more often and defend the Extreme Title over there. He thinks it wouldn’t be any fun if these matches only happened in Japan.

People were warned in advance about the Danshoku Dieno Vs Effy match and those expectations were met. Before the match even began the audience were told to raise their hands if they wanted to be kissed by Dieno. GCW’s ring announcer Emil Jay was among the volunteers. Effy offered Dieno a bracelet when the match began but Dieno was too shy to take it. The actual wrestling quickly turned intimate causing Hisaya Imabayashi to enter the ring and demand them to take the match seriously. The two wrestlers obliged but it didn’t take long for the mood to get sensual again. A missed Lip Lock from Dieno knocked out Matsui so Daisuke Kiso became the replacement ref. He was then taken out of action by a Lip Lock from Effy. GCW sent out their referee Dan Perch to sort things out but Dieno & Effy joined forces to give him a Doomsday Lip Lock! One of GCW’s other referees on site Scarlette Donovan then ran in hoping to be part of the fun but neither Dieno nor Effy were interested. They gave her a Double Brainbuster instead. Referee vengeance finally happened when Adam Gault avoided the attack and gave Effy a Stunner followed by a Standing Moonsault. Dieno caught him in the Lip Lock though and formed the Hell Gate with Makoto Oishi. Imabayashi had enough because they are on a live broadcast but Effy threw him into the Hell Gate. By this point Matsui had no choice but to call off the match. Dieno and Effy celebrated together anyway. They also asked DDT to turn the 4 Way Match they are both in on 15th August into a tag match so they can be partners in more ways than one.

BURNING bounced back from losing the KO-D Tag Team Titles over the weekend by winning their DDT Vs GCW match. Gringo Loco & 1 Called Manders shared a similar tag team dynamic of agility and strength working together. Loco gave Tetsuya Endo a One Man Spanish Fly from the top rope. Manders followed up with a Moonsault but Endo rolled out of the way. Yuki Iino took down Manders with a Spear, leaving Endo to give Loco the Swivel Torture Rack Bomb and then the Burning Star Press for the win.

DDT also beat GCW when DAMNATION T.A were victorious against the unusual pairing of Rina Yamashita & Broski Jimmy. There was some help from MJ Paul along the way but KANON found himself in danger when the other team attacked him with chairs. Daisuke Sasaki got some momentum back by putting Lloyd in La Mistica Crossface Lock but Yamashita broke the hold. KANON returned and with Sasaki left Lloyd beaten with the Freedom Call. KANON is relieved because he didn’t want to lose his Right To Challenge Anytime, Anywhere Shield or risk having it go overseas. Sasaki just hated everything about today. His post-match comments? “Fuck Jimmy! Fuck Yamashita! Fuck GCW! Fuck DDT! Fuck off everything!”

Together Allie Katch & Dark Sheik are known as The Mothership and they have experienced a lot that makes pro wrestling weird and wonderful. Even so they hadn’t met a team quite like Antonio Honda & Kazuki Hirata. Honda got their attention by telling his Gongitsune joke in English. Gon wants to enter the Olympics and play table tennis but when he found a place to train he found out it was “Table Penis” instead! Hirata tried to power up with the Hirata GO! glasses but The Mothership stopped him and put the glasses on themselves. All four wrestlers danced and continued fighting to the music. It ended with Sheik pinning Hirata with the Diving Leg Drop.

Normally when Maki Itoh wrestles in Japan it is for Tokyo Joshi Pro but today she was here as a GCW wrestler and leader of the NEO Itoh Respect Army. She got upset when Yuki Ueno tried to act cuter than her. It caused a chain reaction where the rest of Itoh’s team and even referee Gault sulked with her until Ueno tagged out. Yuni tagged in and tried to cheer them all up but it was all a trap so they could take control of the match. Ueno got back in and did well against both Chris Brookes & Takeshi Masada but he found a tough challenge in Marcus Mathers. Itoh also spent a lot of the match fighting with Masha Slamovich. Yuni, Slamovich & Ilusion all hit dives to the outside. Itoh considered joining in but had cold feet so Brookes gave her a Military Press out of the ring onto everyone outside. Poor Ilusion then got ganged up on. He was given the Triangle Enzui from Masada, the Praying Mantis Bomb from Brookes, the I.S.D from Itoh and then the 450 Splash from Mathers. Itoh took the spoils by pinning Ilusion after all of that.


DDT/GCW Tomorrow, Princess Cup Final 4, F’ed Up Fest Full Match Lineup

August 11, 2024

DDT/GCW “NEVER ENDING NOISY SUMMER”, 12/08/2024
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Special 8-Man Tag Match: Yuki Ueno, Masha Slamovich, Yuni & Ilusion Vs Maki Itoh, Chris Brookes, Takeshi Masada & Marcus Mathers
2. DDT Variety Team Vs The Mothership: Kazuki Hirata & Antonio Honda Vs Allie Katch & Dark Sheik
3. DDT Vs GCW Special Tag Match: Daisuke Sasaki & KANON Vs Rina Yamashita & Broski Jimmy
4. DDT Vs GCW Special Tag Match: Tetsuya Endo & Yuki Iino Vs Gringo Loco & 1 Called Manders
5. DDT Vs GCW Special Single Match: Danshoku Dieno Vs Effy
6. GCW World Title – 3 Way Hardcore Match: Mance Warner (c) Vs Shunma Katsumata Vs Joey Janela
7. DDT Universal Title: MAO (c) Vs Alex Zayne

Tomorrow GCW will begin their tour of Japan by co-promoting a Korakuen Hall show with DDT. They will be doing two other events at Shinjuku FACE during the week. According to an article on DDT’s website that was written by the owner of the FREEBIRDS online shop*, one of the reasons GCW now works with DDT is to show the Japanese audience they have moved on from just being a death match promotion.

*The answer to the question, are there Japanese fans who are diehard into the American wrestling scene just like there are American fans who obsess over puro?

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TOKYO PRINCESS CUP”, 23/08/2024
Shinjuku FACE

1. Tokyo Princess Cup – Semi Final: Yuki Arai Vs Ryo Mizunami
2. Tokyo Princess Cup – Semi Final: Yuki Aino Vs Zara Zakher

What an unlikely final four we have here. The two semi-finals both feature a pair of opponents who are familiar with each other. Yuki Arai fought Ryo Mizunami in a tag match at “WRESTLE PRINCESS IV” last October and she even won that match for her team. Mizunami thinks highly of her and it will make her summer if she can make it to the Tokyo Princess Cup Final by beating Arai. Yuki Aino and Zara Zakher teamed together at “TJPW LIVE IN PHILLY” this past April. Zakher already produced two shocking upsets in the tournament already but Aino claims she has already been studying her opponent.

BAKA GAIJIN + FRIENDS “FUCKED UP FEST”, 24/08/2024
Tokyo Nakano Moonstep

1. Special Single Match: Mr. Bueno Vs To-y
2. Special Tag Team Match: Munetatsu Nakamura & Kota Ibushikoshi Vs Keigo Nakamura & Kazuma Sumi
3. Special Single Match: Tyrannosaurus Inoue Vs Tyrannosaurus Morozumi
4. Special Tag Team Match: Masahiro Takanashi & Chie Koishikawa Vs Thanomsak Toba & Sayaka
5. International 4 Way Dance: Shivam Vs Dr. Gore Vs Monomoth Vs Jake De Leon
6. Triple Threat Match: Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi Vs Antonio Honda Vs Yasu Urano
7. Special Single Match: Maya Yukihi Vs Ram Kaichow
8. Hardcore 4 Way Match: Shunma Katsumata Vs MAO Vs Chris Brookes Vs Mad Dr. Ueki

Since this big festival is happening on Chris Brookes’s birthday, he gets to have a big main event match. A Hardcore 4 Way free for all pitting him against Shunma Katsumata, MAO and Mad Dr. Ueki sounds like the right way to bring the party towards its ending. The event is lasting all day with one match scheduled to happen on the hour, every hour until the final two matches take place later at night.

Tyrannosaurus Inoue is not the only inflatable wrestling dinosaur to be found in Japan these days. Tyrannosaurus Morozumi has been doing the same thing in the University Pro Wrestling scene.


DDT “OSAKA VS TOKYO ~DREAM EAST-WEST PRO WRESTLING BATTLE 2024~” Results

August 10, 2024

DDT “OSAKA VS TOKYO ~DREAM EAST-WEST PRO WRESTLING BATTLE 2024~”, 10/08/2024
Osaka Edion Arena #2
586 Fans – Super No Vacancy

1. East Vs West All-Out Competition: Keigo Nakamura (Iwate) & Yuya Koroku (Chiba) defeated Yuki Ishida (Kumamoto) & Kazuma Sumi (Mie) when Koroku submitted Sumi with a Modified Arm Lock (7:20).
*Yuya Koroku wins Kazuma Sumi’s Right To Challenge Anytime, Anywhere Shield.
2. Daisuke Sasaki, KANON & MJ Paul defeated Toru Owashi, Yukio Naya & Ilusion when KANON pinned Ilusion with the Sleepy Hollow (9:22).
3. East Vs West All-Out Competition: Danshoku Dieno (Hiroshima) & Yuni (Osaka) defeated Makoto Oishi (Shizuoka) & Akito (Aichi) when Dieno pinned Oishi with the Danshoku Driver (7:12).
4. East Vs West All-Out Competition ~ Special Tag Match: Sayaka Unagi (Osaka) & Momoka Hanazono (Osaka) defeated Yoshiko Hasegawa (Saitama) & Riara (Miyagi) when Unagi pinned Riara with the Sliding TANAKA (10:32).
5. East Vs West All-Out Competition ~ Special 4 Way Match: MAO (Miyagi) defeated Tsutenkakka (Osaka), The Great Koji (Osakananko) and A.YAZAWA (Hiroshima) when MAO pinned Koji with a Spinning Cradle (7:36).
6. DDT Extreme Title ~ East Vs West All-Out Competition ~ Energetic!! 37 Great Battles: Shunma Katsumata (c) (Chiba) defeated Kohei Kinoshita (Osaka) when Katsumata reached the 37th Pin Count (11:28).
*V5 for Shunma Katsumata.
7. East Vs West All-Out Competition ~ Tokyo Vs Osaka Special Tag Match: Yuki Ueno (Osaka) & Jun Akiyama (Osaka) defeated HARASHIMA (Tokyo) & Kazuki Hirata (Tokyo) when Ueno pinned Hirata with a Lariat (0:05).
7a. Rematch: Yuki Ueno (Osaka) & Jun Akiyama (Osaka) defeated HARASHIMA (Tokyo) & Kazuki Hirata (Tokyo) (w/ Yoshihiko) when Ueno pinned Hirata with the WR (11:17).
8. KO-D Tag Team Titles – East Vs West All-Out Competition ~ Takeshi Masada Debut 2nd Anniversary Match: Chris Brookes (England) & Takeshi Masada (Osaka) defeated Tetsuya Endo (Miyagi) & Yuki Iino (Tokyo) (c) when Brookes submitted Endo with the Octopus Stretch (26:13).
*BURNING fails in V4. SCHADENFREUDE International becomes the 83rd KO-D Tag Team Champions!

Eastern Army: Shunma Katsumata (Chiba), HARASHIMA (Tokyo), Kazuki Hirata (Tokyo), MAO (Miyagi), Tetsuya Endo (Miyagi), Yuki Iino (Tokyo), Daisuke Sasaki (Tokyo), KANON (Ishikawa), Toru Owashi (Nagano), Makoto Oishi (Shizuoka), Akito (Aichi), Yukio Naya (Tokyo), Keigo Nakamura (Iwate), Yuya Koroku (Chiba), Yoshiko Hasegawa (Saitama) and Riara (Miyagi)

Western Army: Kohei Kinoshita (Osaka), Yuki Ueno (Osaka), Jun Akiyama (Osaka), Chris Brookes (England), Takeshi Masada (Osaka), Danshoku Dieno (Hiroshima), Yuki Ishida (Kumamoto), Yuni (Osaka), Kazuma Sumi (Mie), Tsutenkakka (Osaka), The Great Koji (Osakananko), A.YAZAWA (Hiroshima), Sayaka Unagi (Osaka) and Momoka Hanazono (Osaka)

Place Of Unknown Origin: MJ Paul, Ilusion

On the week when Takeshi Masada celebrates two years of being a pro wrestler, today he needed to get something to show for it. He and Chris Brookes were originally meant to face Tetsuya Endo & Yuki Iino in a non-title match that was only put together to celebrate Masada’s anniversary in his hometown. But the KO-D Tag Team Champions were confident enough to put their championship on the line to make an example of Masada and his recent slump in performance. Big mistake! Brookes & Masada brought the fight to BURNING and it ended up with Brookes putting Endo in the Octopus Stretch and Masada grabbing Iino in the same move to stop him from breaking it up. Endo reached his limit and gave up, making the SCHADENFREUDE International duo the new tag champs!

Brookes described his opponents as being strong and they are welcome to fight them again anytime. Masada brought up all the criticism other wrestlers had been saying about him. If he was missing something then the KO-D Tag Titles are the signpost that will point him towards what he is looking for! Masada is not going to be the second coming of Konosuke Takeshita like people thought he would but he will lead the way as the future of DDT! Endo took fault for losing the match. He admits they lost not because of teamwork but because he gave up. He remembers when a DDT veteran entrusted the company to him eight years ago but he isn’t ready to do the same for Masada right now. Iino thinks they have no choice but to shift gears.

Throughout the show there was a team challenge pitting wrestlers from the west side of Japan against those from the east side. The score was tied 3-3 when it came down to the last match. The west’s captain Yuki Ueno instantly defeated the east’s captain Kazuki Hirata but they agreed to restart the match because they couldn’t let the competition end like that. Hirata & HARASHIMA had some extra help from Yoshihiko in the rematch. That lasted until Jun Akiyama grabbed Yoshihiko and attacked the other team with the doll. Ueno then pinned Hirata again to confirm victory for the Western Army.

The DDT Extreme Title was on the line with a bonus rule involving the pin count. You could win the match with a three count as normal but every 1 count and 2 count gets added up. If a wrestler’s total pin count reached 37 (“sauna”) then they would automatically win the match that way. Shunma Katsumata and Kohei Kinoshita went back and forth leading them both to 36 points. Katsumata was able to roll up Kinoshita to grab the match winning 37th count. He wants to have another match with Kinoshita because neither of them have gotten a 3 count on each other yet. Katsumata discovered that winning the match with a 1 count pin doesn’t feel right. If they can’t have a rematch for the title he still wants to be in the ring with him in either DDT or Dove Pro. They can even be teammates instead of opponents next time.

The Right To Challenge Anytime, Anywhere Shields have become active and there was movement right from the start. Yuya Koroku submitted Kazuma Sumi in the opening match, taking his Shield away from him. That has to really bother Sumi because he wanted to cash in his title shot as soon as possible. Koroku told reporters he already knows what he wants to do with the Shield and will use it when the time is right.

When Ueno’s match was over KANON entered the ring to taunt him with his RTC Shield. However he wasn’t going to use it because Ueno isn’t at his worst and most worn out state yet. Keigo Nakamura and Yuya Koroku also walked out to tease cashing in but neither would do it. Finally, Antonio Honda rushed into the ring with his Shield but tripped over the ropes and decided not to cash in because he was now injured


Osaka Princess Cup, West Vs East, MAO Aiming For His 10th Defence

August 9, 2024

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TOKYO PRINCESS CUP”, 10/08/2024
Osaka Edion Arena #2

1. 3 Way Match: Pom Harajuku Vs Mahiro Kiryu Vs Runa Okubo
2. Arisu Endo & Chika Nanase Vs Moka Miyamoto & Kaya Toribami
3. Miu Watanabe, Raku, Shino Suzuki & Uta Takami Vs Shoko Nakajima, Wakana Uehara, Haru Kazashiro & Kira Summer
4. Miyu Yamashita & Maki Itoh Vs Masha Slamovich & Toga
5. Tokyo Princess Cup – Quarter Final: Rika Tatsumi Vs Ryo Mizunami
6. Tokyo Princess Cup – Quarter Final: Yuki Kamifuku Vs Yuki Aino
7. Tokyo Princess Cup – Quarter Final: Mizuki Vs Zara Zakher
8. Tokyo Princess Cup – Quarter Final: Suzume Vs Yuki Arai

Tomorrow Osaka will hosting a Tokyo Princess Cup show for the first time ever as we get through the Quarter Finals.

DDT “OSAKA VS TOKYO ~DREAM EAST-WEST PRO WRESTLING BATTLE 2024~”, 10/08/2024
Osaka Edion Arena #2

1. East Vs West All-Out Competition: Keigo Nakamura (Iwate) & Yuya Koroku (Chiba) Vs Yuki Ishida (Kumamoto) & Kazuma Sumi (Mie)
2. Daisuke Sasaki, KANON & MJ Paul Vs Toru Owashi, Yukio Naya & Ilusion
3. East Vs West All-Out Competition: Makoto Oishi (Shizuoka) & Akito (Aichi) Vs Danshoku Dieno (Hiroshima) & Yuni (Osaka)
4. East Vs West All-Out Competition ~ Special Tag Match: Yoshiko Hasegawa (Saitama) & Riara (Miyagi) Vs Sayaka Unagi (Osaka) & Momoka Hanazono (Osaka)
5. East Vs West All-Out Competition ~ Special 4 Way Match: MAO (Miyagi) Vs Tsutenkakka (Osaka) Vs The Great Koji (Osakananko) Vs A.YAZAWA (Hiroshima)
6. DDT Extreme Title ~ East Vs West All-Out Competition ~ Energetic!! 37 Great Battles: Shunma Katsumata (c) (Chiba) Vs Kohei Kinoshita (Osaka)
7. East Vs West All-Out Competition ~ Tokyo Vs Osaka Special Tag Match: HARASHIMA (Tokyo) & Kazuki Hirata (Tokyo) Vs Yuki Ueno (Osaka) & Jun Akiyama (Osaka)
8. KO-D Tag Team Titles – East Vs West All-Out Competition ~ Takeshi Masada Debut 2nd Anniversary Match: Tetsuya Endo (Miyagi) & Yuki Iino (Tokyo) (c) Vs Chris Brookes (England) & Takeshi Masada (Osaka)

Eastern Army: Shunma Katsumata (Chiba), HARASHIMA (Tokyo), Kazuki Hirata (Tokyo), MAO (Miyagi), Tetsuya Endo (Miyagi), Yuki Iino (Tokyo), Daisuke Sasaki (Tokyo), KANON (Ishikawa), Toru Owashi (Nagano), Makoto Oishi (Shizuoka), Akito (Aichi), Yukio Naya (Tokyo), Keigo Nakamura (Iwate), Yuya Koroku (Chiba), Yoshiko Hasegawa (Saitama) and Riara (Miyagi)

Western Army: Kohei Kinoshita (Osaka), Yuki Ueno (Osaka), Jun Akiyama (Osaka), Chris Brookes (England), Takeshi Masada (Osaka), Danshoku Dieno (Hiroshima), Yuki Ishida (Kumamoto), Yuni (Osaka), Kazuma Sumi (Mie), Tsutenkakka (Osaka), The Great Koji (Osakananko), A.YAZAWA (Hiroshima), Sayaka Unagi (Osaka) and Momoka Hanazono (Osaka)

Place Of Unknown Origin: MJ Paul, Ilusion

It’s time for Takeshi Masada to put up or shut up. He and Chris Brookes can become KO-D Tag Team Champions together if they can beat BURNING in the main event.

To clear up the rules for the DDT Extreme Title match, it can still be won by a traditional three count pinfall. One count and two count kickouts will be added up until either Shunma Katsumata or Kohei Kinoshita reach a total of 37 points. But if one of them gets a regular three count pin, they win the match then and there.

From tomorrow onwards the Right To Challenge Anytime, Anywhere Shields will become active. The current holders are HARASHIMA (Blue), Antonio Honda (Red), KANON (Black), Keigo Nakamura (Sky Blue) and Kazuma Sumi (White).

DDT/GCW “NEVER ENDING NOISY SUMMER”, 12/08/2024
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Special 8-Man Tag Match: Yuki Ueno, Masha Slamovich, Yuni & Ilusion Vs Maki Itoh, Chris Brookes, Takeshi Masada & Marcus Mathers
2. DDT Variety Team Vs The Mothership: Kazuki Hirata & Antonio Honda Vs Allie Katch & Dark Sheik
3. DDT Vs GCW Special Tag Match: Daisuke Sasaki & KANON Vs Rina Yamashita & Broski Jimmy
4. DDT Vs GCW Special Tag Match: Tetsuya Endo & Yuki Iino Vs Gringo Loco & 1 Called Manders
5. DDT Vs GCW Special Single Match: Danshoku Dieno Vs Effy
6. GCW World Title – 3 Way Hardcore Match: Mance Warner (c) Vs Shunma Katsumata Vs Joey Janela
7. DDT Universal Title: MAO (c) Vs Alex Zayne

If MAO defeats Alex Zayne tomorrow it will be the tenth successful DDT Universal Title defence for him. A title reign in DDT reaching a double digit amount of successful defences is really rare. It has only happened once with the KO-D Openweight Title (Konosuke Takeshita in 2017-2018), once with the Extreme Title (Sanshiro Takagi in 2020-2021) and once with the KO-D Tag Titles (Takagi & Munenori Sawa in 2010). MAO can add the Universal Title to that sort of history on Monday.


37 Major Battles, 1st F’ed Up Fest Matches, Ibushi Returns To DDT, Cavalry Reunion

August 7, 2024

DDT “OSAKA VS TOKYO ~DREAM EAST-WEST PRO WRESTLING BATTLE 2024~”, 10/08/2024
Osaka Edion Arena #2

1. Daisuke Sasaki, KANON & MJ Paul Vs Toru Owashi, Yukio Naya & Ilusion
2. East Vs West All-Out Competition: Keigo Nakamura (Iwate) & Yuya Koroku (Chiba) Vs Yuki Ishida (Kumamoto) & Kazuma Sumi (Mie)
3. East Vs West All-Out Competition: Makoto Oishi (Shizuoka) & Akito (Aichi) Vs Danshoku Dieno (Hiroshima) & Yuni (Osaka)
4. East Vs West All-Out Competition ~ Special Tag Match: Yoshiko Hasegawa (Saitama) & Riara (Miyagi) Vs Sayaka Unagi (Osaka) & Momoka Hanazono (Osaka)
5. East Vs West All-Out Competition ~ Special 4 Way Match: MAO (Miyagi) Vs Tsutenkakka (Osaka) Vs The Great Koji (Osakananko) Vs A.YAZAWA (Hiroshima)
6. East Vs West All-Out Competition ~ Tokyo Vs Osaka Special Tag Match: HARASHIMA (Tokyo) & Kazuki Hirata (Tokyo) Vs Yuki Ueno (Osaka) & Jun Akiyama (Osaka)
7. KO-D Tag Team Titles – East Vs West All-Out Competition ~ Takeshi Masada Debut 2nd Anniversary Match: Tetsuya Endo (Miyagi) & Yuki Iino (Tokyo) (c) Vs Chris Brookes (England) & Takeshi Masada (Osaka)
8. DDT Extreme Title ~ East Vs West All-Out Competition ~ Energetic!! 37 Major Battles Between East And West: Shunma Katsumata (c) (Chiba) Vs Kohei Kinoshita (Osaka)

East Army: Shunma Katsumata (Chiba), HARASHIMA (Tokyo), Kazuki Hirata (Tokyo), MAO (Miyagi), Tetsuya Endo (Miyagi), Yuki Iino (Tokyo), Daisuke Sasaki (Tokyo), KANON (Ishikawa), Toru Owashi (Nagano), Makoto Oishi (Shizuoka), Akito (Aichi), Yukio Naya (Tokyo), Keigo Nakamura (Iwate), Yuya Koroku (Chiba), Yoshiko Hasegawa (Saitama) and Riara (Miyagi)

West Army: Kohei Kinoshita (Osaka), Yuki Ueno (Osaka), Jun Akiyama (Osaka), Chris Brookes (England), Takeshi Masada (Osaka), Danshoku Dieno (Hiroshima), Yuki Ishida (Kumamoto), Yuni (Osaka), Kazuma Sumi (Mie), Tsutenkakka (Osaka), The Great Koji (Osakananko), A.YAZAWA (Hiroshima), Sayaka Unagi (Osaka) and Momoka Hanazono (Osaka)

Place Of Unknown Origin: MJ Paul, Ilusion

It wasn’t possible for DDT to bring Shunma Katsumata and Kohei Kinoshita together to sign the contract for their DDT Extreme Title match so a remote press conference was held for them yesterday. Katsumata decided the rules for the match is they will score a point for every second they pin their opponent for. The first wrestler to reach 37 points in total will be the winner and champion. The reason why Katsumata chose 37 as the target number is because 37 means “sauna” and he heard Kinoshita also likes saunas.

Kinoshita said he wanted to wrestle in DDT for years but it was always difficult to get bookings because he lives in Kansai. He is excited to wrestle for a title and will use this match as a chance to expand his horizons. Katsumata had wanted to do a singles match with him ever since they fought each other in a 6-Man Tag at Yukinori Matsui’s produce show back in May. He is even happier the match gets to happen in Osaka. Even though the contract signing was done electronically, the two still found a way to almost start a brawl by arguing with each other over who is going to win.

BAKA GAIJIN + FRIENDS “FUCKED UP FEST”, 24/08/2024
Tokyo Nakano Moonstep

1. Special Tag Team Match: Masahiro Takanashi & Chie Koishikawa Vs Thanomsak Toba & Sayaka
2. International 4 Way Dance: Shivam Vs Dr. Gore Vs Monomoth Vs Jake De Leon
3. Triple Threat Match: Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi Vs Antonio Honda Vs Yasu Urano
4. Special Single Match: Maya Yukihi Vs Ram Kaichow

The first few matches for “FUCKED UP FEST” have been revealed. Maya Yukihi and Ram Kaichow are being paired off against each other. Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi and Yasu Urano come to Baka Gaijin + Friends for the first time. An international 4 Way invites Shivam, Dr. Gore, Monomoth and Jake De Leon all to Japan. Also Chie Koishikawa, Thanomsak Toba and Sayaka all return to the Baka Gaijin mat.

The event is supposed to be an all day thing and so far Masahiro Takanashi is the only regular to have a match announced. A lot of the other regulars haven’t been mentioned yet so expect a lot more matches to be added soon.

DDT “MEMORIES OF SUMMER VACATION 2024”, 25/08/2024
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Soma Takao 15th Anniversary ~ Special Single Match: Soma Takao Vs Keisuke Ishii
2. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Kota Ibushi, Danshoku Dieno & Akito Vs Tetsuya Endo, Yuki Iino & Yuya Koroku
3. KO-D Openweight Title: Yuki Ueno (c) Vs Shinya Aoki

Seven years after his last match with the company Kota Ibushi is finally going to wrestle in DDT again! His return match is being purposely put together too because one of his opponents is Tetsuya Endo. When Ibushi left DDT, Endo was one of the wrestlers he entrusted the future of the promotion to. Ibushi wants to prove to everyone he is in much better form than his NOAH match at the start of the year. He had a five minute exhibition at GLEAT recently where he looked alright but still nowhere near the image of Ibushi that we all know and love. I’d say if he’s reduced to just being the hot tag for the match he won’t embarrass himself. Heck if he just wants to goof around Korakuen Hall and fight up in the balcony again for old time’s sake that won’t be bad either. Unless his teases of going over the barrier get taken too far…

BASARA “BASARA 256 ~SOUEN~”, 27/08/2024
Shin-Kiba 1st RING

1. Iron Fist Tag Team Titles: Fuminori Abe & Takuya Nomura (c) Vs Ryuichi Sekine & Ryota Nakatsu

The “SOUEN” events are supposedly going to be the same kind of shows BASARA were already doing at Shin-Kiba 1st RING before they increased the schedule. The first match announced definitely goes into the promotion’s history because Ryuichi Sekine & Ryota Nakatsu are reuniting as Cavalry to challenge Astronauts for the Iron Fist Tag Team Titles. Cavalry was one of the first new teams established in BASARA during the brand’s debut year back in 2016. It lasted until 2018 when Nakatsu won the Union MAX Title and Sekine felt it was time for them to split up so he could challenge him for the belt. It’s only fitting that another championship is what gets them to reunite six years later.