“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.


DDT “DDT GOES YOKOHAMA! ~BLOW UP HOLLYWOOD!!~” Results

April 1, 2023

DDT “DDT GOES YOKOHAMA! ~BLOW UP HOLLYWOOD!!~”, 01/04/2023
Yokohama Radiant Hall
196 Fans – No Vacancy

1. Tomomitsu Matsunaga & Yusuke Okada defeated Toru Owashi & Kazuma Sumi when Okada submitted Sumi with a Crab Hold (6:14).
2. O-40 Title: Makoto Oishi (c) defeated Antonio Honda with the Fujiyama Knee Lock (8:44).
*V1 for Makoto Oishi.
3. Kotaro Suzuki & Soma Takao defeated Keigo Nakamura & Yuki Ishida when Takao pinned Ishida with the Official Endless Waltz (11:24).
4. Special Single Match I: Invisible Man defeated Kazuki Hirata with the Dragonrana (12:02).
5. Special Single Match II ~ Hardcore Match: Masashi Takeda defeated MJ Paul with the Reverse U-Crash Kai (12:15).
6. Special Single Match III: Yuji Hino defeated Akito with the King Kong Sleeper (10:04).
7. Special Tag Match: HARASHIMA & Hikaru Sato defeated Yukio Sakaguchi & Masahiro Takanashi when HARASHIMA pinned Takanashi with the Somato (14:15).
8. King Of DDT 2023 Qualifying Battle: Hideki Okatani defeated Toy Kojima and Yuya Koroku.
8a. Hideki Okatani defeated Toy Kojima with the Double Arm Suplex (10:09).
8b. Hideki Okatani defeated Yuya Koroku with the Double Arm Suplex (12:00).

While half of the DDT roster was enjoying their visit to Los Angeles, the other half ran a show by themselves in Yokohama. The main event was a Qualifiying Battle for the final spot in the King Of DDT tournament. Hideki Okatani, Toy Kojima and Yuya Koroku would face each other in alternating singles matches until one of them won two falls in a row. A lottery at the start of the show determined Okatani and Kojima as the first match. Okatani ended up achieving a clean sweep by beating Kojima and then Koroku, both with the Double Arm Suplex. For Okatani he still feels like he is at the starting point with everyone else in the tournament. He promised Kojima and Koroku that he will carry their feelings on his back going into King Of DDT where he will crush everyone in his way!

The semi-main event was put together to be a nostalgic tag match. For one night only Shuten-dōji were reunited. Yukio Sakaguchi teamed up with Masahiro Takanashi and they had KUDO standing in their corner. HARASHIMA brought Hikaru Sato back to DDT so they could team up against them. All of them celebrated with drinks in the ring after the match.

The Hardcore match between Masashi Takeda and MJ Paul featured chairs, tables, a chain, a ladder, skewers and also a pair of scissors. Yukinori Matsui stopped Takeda from using the scissors and Takeda wouldn’t stop complaining about it afterward.

With so much newsworthy things happening around the wrestling world this weekend, Kazuki Hirata tried to get attention by wrestling The Invisible Man. In a hard fought fight Hirata kicked out of the Rainmaker but was pinned with a Dragonrana. Hirata described The Invisible Man moving like a Heavyweight but he is pretty sure he is really a Junior Heavyweight.

The last time Kotaro Suzuki and Soma Takao teamed together was at “RYOGOKU PETER PAN 2017” but that was in a 4 Way Tag. Takao enjoyed getting to tag with Suzuki for a regular tag team match because he is such a big influence to him.

Makoto Oishi is determined to make the O-40 Title a belt that every wrestler over the age of 40 around the world will want to fight for. He was nervous going into his first defence against Antonio Honda but isn’t going to lose the title that easily.


“MASAHIRO TAKANASHI BOX OFFICE YOPPARAI IS BACK” Results

October 1, 2021

“MASAHIRO TAKANASHI BOX OFFICE YOPPARAI IS BACK”, 01/10/2021
Shinjuku FACE
202 Fans

0. Dark Match: Gota Ihashi & Antonio Honda (w/ Sayaka Obihiro & KUDO) defeated Dragon Sakurabo, “Old Wise Man” Human-Zee & Tiger Jeet Singh-juku Sumidagawa (w/ Haru Miyako) when Ihashi pinned Human-Zee with a Running Body Press (5:58).
1. Saki Akai & Rina Yamashita defeated Yuna Mizumori & Mei Suruga when Yamashita pinned Mizumori with the Implant Bomb (17:19).
-. Bonus Track – Special Single Match: Ken Ohka Vs DJ Nira ended in a No Contest when Gota Ihashi and the UMA Corps interfered (12:54).
2. Kazusada Higuchi, ken45° & Manjimaru defeated Isami Kodaka, Daiki Shimomura & Yasu Urano when Higuchi pinned Urano with the Brain Claw Slam (16:40).
3. Kenichiro Arai defeated Baliyan Akki with a Crushed Swan Dive Rotating Cradle (13:54).
4. Brahman Shu & Brahman Kei (w/ Gorgeous Matsuno) defeated Masahiro Takanashi & Chris Brookes when Kei pinned Takanashi with a Suitcase Attack (15:05).

After so many cancellations and postponements due to the pandemic, Masahiro Takanashi got to hold his comeback show at last! It took so long that Takanashi has already returned from injury and wrestled a bunch of matches before today. But that didn’t dampen the occasion one bit. Takanashi reunited his CDK team with Chris Brookes to take on The Brahman Brothers with Gorgeous Matsuno in tow. The Brahmans wrestled in pandemic masks the entire time and made Takanashi suffer with their brand of torture until Brookes made the save. Then the match fell apart when one by one the wrestlers from earlier in the show interfered and caused chaos. CDK managed to clear the ring eventually but The Brahmins threw a suitcase at Takanashi, knocking him out long enough to get pinned.

After the match The Brahmans told everyone it is a difficult experience wrestling in pandemic masks for 15 minutes. They also couldn’t believe the bad luck surrounding this show. It got delayed by the pandemic a bunch of times and now when it finally takes place, a typhoon happens preventing some of the fans from travelling to see the show! Matsuno corrected them by saying he was able to safely travel all the way from Fukushima during the typhoon. After they left, Takanashi apologized to Brookes for losing the match. The result may be disappointing but today his dream of getting to team with Brookes again came true. Brookes cheered him up and said he has a new dream for them. A match between CDK and Shuten-dōji! Takanashi invited Yukio Sakaguchi and KUDO into the ring to tell them they should do that match some day. Takanashi ended the show by saying some of his goals and dreams are the same but they can change and become something new. He also wants to do another self-produced show.

Baliyan Akki was here to wrestle a clean match but Kenichiro Arai had laid some tricks to tip things in his favour. Midway through the match Arai escaped the ring, made Akki chase him around ringside and back into the ring so he could roll him up for a nearfall. Arai then offered a handshake to distract Akki so he could kick him below the belt. Akki tried to win with a Swan Dive Sunset Flip but Arai sat down on the move and held onto the ropes to pin him without the referee seeing him cheat. Akai went for one more cheapshot after the match but Akki countered it with a Dropkick and demanded a rematch.

Kazusada Higuchi and Sakaguchi both showed up wearing matching gear to ken45° & Manjimaru. Higuchi withstood the teamwork of Isami Kodaka & Daiki Shimomura to isolate Yasu Urano. He finished him off with a twisting Brain Claw Slam to win. After the match Kodaka and Sakaguchi had a staredown but it ended with a fist bump.

The joshi tag began with Rina Yamashita and Yuna Mizumori having a sumo bout together. When they were done, Saki Akai then asked Mei Suruga for a test of strength but held her hand up too high for Suruga to reach. That led to Suruga piggybacking on Mizumori while Yamashita made Akai sit on her shoulders to do the test. It ended with Yamashita Double Clotheslining the other team with Akai still on her shoulders. Akai and Suruga continued to get on each others nerves but the match came down to the other two. Mizumori charged in and Yamashita caught her with the Implant Bomb to win.

The dark match was a preview of things to come throughout the show. The UMA Corps promised to commit chaos using a saber that was inherited from Tiger Jeet Singh himself. It was up to Gota Ihashi & Antonio Honda to stop them but they weren’t reliable at all. Sayaka Obihiro & KUDO had to get involved and guide their team to victory. That wasn’t the end though. When the match was over Haru Miyako instructed her monsters to wrap a bull rope around Ihashi’s neck and drag him off. Honda stuck around to give the opening show speech with “Kotori”, the Gatoh Move wrestler who retired back in 2017.

Later in the show the fans were treated to a bonus match between Ken Ohka and DJ Nira. That match never finished because The UMA Corps returned to cause more havoc. Ihashi ran back out to even the odds and the fighting continued until the room went dark. When the lights came back on, Daisuke Kiso was left alone in the ring wearing a diaper. He crawled around the ring while the ring was getting disinfected.


DDT “MASAHIRO TAKANASHI BOX OFFICE ~FOLLOW ME, THE DREAM IS STILL AHEAD~” Results

September 15, 2019

DDT “MASAHIRO TAKANASHI BOX OFFICE ~FOLLOW ME, THE DREAM IS STILL AHEAD~”, 15/09/2019
Tokyo Ryogoku KFC Hall
430 Fans – Super No Vacancy Full House

0. Under Match: Tomomitsu Matsunaga, Mizuki Watase & Naomi Yoshimura defeated Akito, Shunma Katsumata & Nobuhiro Shimatani when Yoshimura pinned Shimatani with the Shonenba (8:59).
0. Masahiro Takanashi Vs Danshoku Dieno Proxy War – Glove Match: Pokotan (w/ Sayaka Obihiro) defeated Chupacabra (w/ Miyako Haru) with a Straight Right Punch (R1 1:15).
1. Ryogoku Gauntlet Tag Match: Hoshitango & Seiya Morohashi defeated Toru Owashi & Kazuki Hirata, Antonio Honda & Riho, Gaijin A & Gaijin A, Konosuke Takeshita & Gorgeous Matsuno, Emi Sakura & Cherry, Saki Akai & Mei Suruga, Gota Ihashi & Shota (w/ Chinsuke Nakamura) and Yasu Urano & Ken Ohka.
1a. Antonio Honda & Riho defeated Toru Owashi & Kazuki Hirata when Riho pinned Hirata with the Kurukuru Ribbon (1:47).
1b. Antonio Honda & Riho defeated Gaijin A & Gaijin A by Ring Out (5:46).
1c. Konosuke Takeshita & Gorgeous Matsuno defeated Antonio Honda & Riho when Takeshita submitted Honda with the Walls Of Takeshita (9:44).
1d. Emi Sakura & Cherry defeated Konosuke Takeshita & Gorgeous Matsuno when Sakura pinned Matsuno with a Cradle (3:14).
1e. Saki Akai & Mei Suruga defeated Emi Sakura & Cherry when Suruga pinned Sakura with the Shoulder Wheel Propeller Clutch (3:37).
1f. Saki Akai & Mei Suruga defeated Gota Ihashi & Shota (w/ Chinsuke Nakamura) when Akai pinned Ihashi with the Rookie Award (1:38).
1g. Yasu Urano & Ken Ohka defeated Saki Akai & Mei Suruga when Urano pinned Suruga with a Cradle (1:12).
1h. Hoshitango & Seiya Morohashi defeated Yasu Urano & Ken Ohka when Morohashi submitted Ohka with the Crippler Crossface (4:00).
2. Super Sasadango Machine defeated DJ Nira with the Vertical Drop Lehmann Shock (10:40).
3. Daisuke Sasaki, Soma Takao, Tetsuya Endo & Mad Paulie defeated Sanshiro Takagi, Takashi Sasaki, GENTARO & Tanomusaku Toba (w/ Poison Sawada JULIE) when Sasaki pinned Takagi with a School Boy (10:18).
4. Kagetora & Yukio Sakaguchi defeated HARASHIMA & Yuki Ueno when Kagetora pinned Ueno with the Gurumakakari (12:50).
5. Masahiro Takanashi defeated Danshoku Dieno with the Takatonic (17:45).

There were a lot of reunions and old faces appearing today to celebrate Masahiro Takanashi’s 16 years as a pro wrestler. In the main event Takanashi fought Danshoku Dieno with Muscle Sakai and Yusuke Inokuma in Dieno’s corner. Takanashi used some of Dieno’s own moves against him including a Lip Lock on the top turnbuckle. It was to set up an Avalanche Takatonic but Dieno countered it into an Avalanche Implant. But there was still life left in Takanashi. He avoided the Danshoku Driver and stunned Dieno with Thrust Kicks until he could win with the Takatonic.

After the match Takanashi was reunited with KUDO and Yukio Sakaguchi. KUDO said it felt good to be inside a wrestling ring again. It’s not a place to talk but a place to fight. He assured everyone that he will come back to wrestling in the near future. Takanashi said that today felt like everybody was coming home. Everyone here is different but they all protect DDT with their own way of fighting. He will continue to do the same because there must be a ring for everyone to come home to, no matter where they are. Last year Takanashi lost his 15th anniversary match in this venue. He walked out without saying a word. This year things went better for him and he wants to stand in front of the fans, thanking them for coming today to see him. Later backstage Takanashi announced that he is will not be entering the upcoming D-Ou Grand Prix tournament. He cited his poor performances in the previous two tournaments as his reason. DDT was going to offer him a spot again but Takanashi turned it down so he can go on a different path he wants to take.

HARASHIMA and Kagetora shook hands after their tag match.

DAMNATION thought they were going to have a 4 on 1 advantage against Sanshiro Takagi. However Takagi gathered together an all star team of DDT legends to even the odds. Takashi Sasaki, GENTARO & Tanomusaku Toba fought with Takagi while Poison Sawada JULIE watched from their corner. But in a twist JULIE betrayed Takagi by spraying Green Mist into his face while Takagi tried to give Daisuke Sasaki the Sit Down Himawari Bomb. Sasaki slipped out and pinned Takagi with a School Boy. JULIE told Takagi that they are enemies for life. Takashi Sasaki and Daisuke Sasaki teased a Sasaki Contra Sasaki Showdown. Daisuke Sasaki then told JULIE that if he ever comes back, he will quit DAMNATION so the two of them can run the Snake World together.

Before Match #2 began Takanashi reminded everyone that the Consumption Tax in Japan will increase to 10% this October. There are many things Takanashi wants to do before this change happens, like sending a message to two important people in his life in order to settle a lifelong rivalry between them. Hence the match between Super Sasadango Machine and DJ Nira. Sasadango came out as Muscle Sakai dressed in casual clothes. Sakai refused to wrestle Nira because he is retired. He got tricked into doing some moves and had his clothes removed to reveal his wrestling gear underneath. He still refused to wrestle. Hisaya Imabayashi got in the ring and put the Sasadango mask over Sakai’s head, granting him his approval to wrestle the match. Sasadango took control of the match and hit an F5. He then went for a Vertical Drop Brainbuster but the room went dark. A voiceover said that the Brainbuster went wrong and this was how Sasadango created his famous Vertical Drop Lehmann Shock finishing move! This entire match turned out to be Sasadango’s origin story called “Super Sasadango Machine Episode Zero”!

The Gauntlet Tag match was a visit through DDT’s past as well as Takanashi’s wrestling relationships outside the company. Antonio Honda & Riho first eliminated Toru Owashi & Kazuki Hirata when Riho blocked Hirata’s knockout chop and rolled him up. The next team was supposed to be Yusuke Inokuma & MAO but they were injured before the show and a expected to be out of action for the next 30 years. Replacing them was the menacing return of Gaijin A & Gaijin A! They attacked Honda, Riho and Yukinori Matsui with sellotape, even hanging Riho over the ring ropes with it! Honda fought back and used the tape to hang both of the Gaijin A’s before knocking them to the floor for the elimination. Riho recovered in time for Konosuke Takeshita & Gorgeous Matsuno’s entry into the match. The unexpectedly sharp teamwork between Takeshita & Matsuno led to Takeshita submitting Honda with the Walls Of Takeshita after Matsuno his the Gorgeous Star Elbow. When Emi Sakura & Cherry came out, Takeshita attempted the Gorgeous Star Elbow but got caught in the ropes. Sakura was easily able to pin Matsuno without anyone there to stop her. A collision between Sakura & Cherry allowed Mei Suruga to pin Sakura with the Shoulder Propeller Clutch. Next up were Gota Ihashi, Shota & Chinsuke Nakamura all dressed up like Shuten-dōji wrestlers. Ihashi was Yukio Sakaguchi, Shota was Masahiro Takanashi and Chinsuke was KUDO. Suruga stopped Chinsuke from doing the Diving Double Knee Drop while Saki Akai pinned Ihashi with the Rookie Award. The joshi team’s run came to an end when Yasu Urano & Ken Ohka eliminated them. Urano countered the Propeller Clutch into a Cradle for the pin. The last team to come out was Hoshitango & Seiya Morohashi. They won the match when Morohashi made Ohka give up to the Crippler Crossface. However Morohashi and Ohka continued to fight after the match prompting Hoshitango and Urano to break them up.

In the boxing match Miyako Haru whistled Chupacabra down to the ring. It knocked Pokotan’s head off with an uppercut, revealing a rubber Danshoku Dieno mask underneath. Pokoton then knocked out Chupacabra with a Straight Right. Afterwards Sayako Obihiro pulled the rubber mask off to reveal Pokotan was Daichi Kakimoto!

Tomomitsu Matsunaga decided to wrestle in a sumo mawashi.


DDT “ROAD TO PETER PAN 2019” Results

June 30, 2019

DDT “ROAD TO PETER PAN 2019”, 30/06/2019
Tokyo Korakuen Hall
1,031 Fans – No Vacancy

0. Under Match: Shota defeated Mizuki Watase with a Casadora (3:35).
1. Saki Akai & Asuka defeated Akito & Shunma Katsumata when Asuka pinned Akito with the Moonsault Press (7:04).
2. DDT Megaton Class One Match: Kazusada Higuchi defeated Yukio Naya with the Doctor Bomb (8:16).
3. HARASHIMA & Shinya Aoki defeated MAO & Mike Bailey when Aoki pinned MAO with a Modified Backslide Pin (11:54).
4. Yukio Sakaguchi defeated Kota Umeda with an Arm Triangle Choke (7:40).
5. Danshoku Dieno MMA Countermeasure Series: Danshoku Dieno finishes with a 1-7-0 record.
5a. Danshoku Dieno Vs Makoto Oishi (Sambo) ended in a Time Limit Draw (1:00).
5b. Danshoku Dieno Vs Masahiro Takanashi (Boxercise) ended in a Time Limit Draw (1:00).
5c. Danshoku Dieno Vs Hiroshi Yamato (Wrestling) ended in a Time Limit Draw (1:00).
5d. Danshoku Dieno Vs Super Sasadango Machine (Kendo) ended in a Time Limit Draw (1:00).
5e. Danshoku Dieno Vs Toru Owashi (Sumo) ended in a Time Limit Draw (1:00).
5f. Danshoku Dieno Vs Kazuki Hirata (Swimming) ended in a Time Limit Draw (1:00).
5g. Danshoku Dieno Vs Antonio Honda (Judo) ended in a Time Limit Draw (1:00).
5h. Danshoku Dieno defeated Mad Paulie (Kabaddi) with La Magistral Cradle (1:05).
6. KO-D Tag Team Titles: Daisuke Sasaki & Soma Takao (c) defeated Yuki Ueno & Naomi Yoshimura when Sasaki submitted Yoshimura with La Mistica Cross Facelock (21:27).
*V3 for DAMNATION.
7. Road To Wrestle Peter Pan! Special 3 Way Match: Konosuke Takeshita defeated Chris Brookes and Sanshiro Takagi when Takshita pinned Takagi with the German Suplex (23:21).

With “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2019” just over two weeks away, a preview of the big main event was scheduled to headline this show with champion Tetsuya Endo, challenger Konosuke Takeshita and future title contender Chris Brookes facing each other in a 3 Way Match. Endo pulled out of the match a while ago citing a heel injury suffered at the Pool Wrestling show. Sanshiro Takagi took his place and completely changed the match dynamic. When Yukinori Matsui was taken out of action, Takagi called for plastic boxes to be brought into the ring. The Dramatic Dream bicycle also made an appearance with Brookes cycling it into a ladder pressed against Takagi’s crotch. Brookes hit a Maki Itoh style falling Headbutt to confirm his membership in the Itoh Respect Army. He tried to put Takagi through a stack of cases with a Diving Senton but Takagi rolled out of the way. Takagi went for the pin but Takeshita broke it up with a Diving Body Press. Brookes later used Matsui as a shield to prevent Takeshita from hitting the Fable, then gave Takeshita a Low Blow after Matsui was pushed out of the way. Brookes had the match won with the Praying Mantis Bomb to Takeshita but Takagi pulled Matsui out of the ring mid-count. Brookes went for a Topé Suicida but Takagi smacked him with another plastic case in mid-air. Takagi set up the finish by putting Takeshita on a table then leaping off the ladder with a plastic case. Takeshita got away and Takagi crashed through both the case and the table. Takeshita won the match by deadlifting Takagi and German Suplexing him for the pin.

After the match Takeshita promised Brookes that the 21st July Korakuen Hall show will have them fighting each other for the KO-D Openweight Title. He then thanked Takagi for the match and called for Endo to meet him in the ring right now. Endo came out with his left heel wrapped up and he was using a crutch to support himself. Takeshita told Endo he doesn’t know what condition his ankle is in but he is still looking forward to their match at Ota Ward Gymnasium. Endo agreed but just when it looked like things were becoming okay between the two, Endo struck Takeshita with the crutch! He then did the Torture Rack Bomb to show that his heel is completely healthy. He ended the show by saying there are two people here, one is the KO-D Champion and the other is just a stupid challenger who was fooled by his appearance.

Experience and craftiness were the keys for Daisuke Sasaki & Soma Takao to win today. Their latest KO-D Tag Team Titles defence was against the youngster team of Yuki Ueno & Naomi Yoshimura. The challengers knew when to look out for Sasaki’s Low Blow but they didn’t have Takao scouted. When Yoshimura lifted Sasaki up from the Pedigree, Takao blinded him with the Red Mist. Sasaki hit the Pedigree for a nearfall but the Cross Facelock got Yoshimura to give up.

The result means DAMNATION will be the ones defending the Tag Titles against HARASHIMA & Yasu Urano on 15th July. HARASHIMA thanked DAMNATION for including their names in the Amidakuji chart. Urano reintroduced himself to the DDT fans just in case they forgot who he was after he went freelance two years ago. Sasaki asked if their team was called Smile Squash which suddenly made Takao burst into tears. Sasaki told them that Takao has many bad memories from his time in Smile Squash to they will dispose of them at Ota Ward. It won’t just be a title match, it will be a memory cancellation match!

Danshoku Dieno put himself through a gauntlet of different martial arts to prepare himself for Shinya Aoki. Each round was a one minute match against a wrestler representing a different sport. The time limit wasn’t enough for a result to happen until the end. Super Sasadango Machine used his match with Dieno to host a PowerPoint presentation about the most powerful forms of sleeping techniques. He described Aoki’s Sleeper Hold as a top level sleeping technique. He is worried he may have to retire if Dieno loses to Aoki. But if Dieno wins Sasadango will be happy to continue offering his PowerPoint services to him. Whatever happens, he fears that Dieno Vs Aoki will end up as disturbing as the infamous 4th January Shinya Hashimoto Vs Naoya Ogawa match. The last entrant in the gauntlet was Mad Paulie and Pokotan appeared to cheer Dieno on to victory. Dieno pinned Paulie with a School Boy five seconds over the limit (if you want to explain the concept of time to Mad Paulie then be my guest) then promised he will have the most ridiculous match with Aoki. Suddenly Pokotan grabbed Dieno and choked him out with the Sleeper Hold. Its head fell off revealing it was Aoki underneath! Aoki politely told an unconscious Dieno that he doesn’t like that idea then left.

Yes, Yukio Sakaguchi and Kota Umeda kicked the shit out of each other. Sakaguchi escaped from the Umeda Driver and hit a High Kick before submitting Umeda with an Armlock inside a Triangle Choke. The two walked side by side together to the back after the match. Sakaguchi said in his interview afterwards that the match brought back memories of their time together in Shuten-dōji. He asked him to tag together one last time before Umeda leaves pro wrestling on 21st July. Umeda said he will continue fighting while he still can.

All this fear over Aoki’s Sleeper Hold only gives him the chance to surprise everyone with other moves in his arsenal. He and HARASHIMA got the win over The Moonlight Express when Aoki countered MAO’s Facelock into a Backslide Pin for the three count.

Big lads collided when the rookie Yukio Naya fought Kazusada Higuchi. A battle of Elbow Smashes ended with Higuchi hitting a Lariat and putting Naya away with the Doctor Bomb. Naya was disappointed with the result and made it his goal to beat Higuchi as revenge for the loss. On the bright side, he feels at home in DDT. Higuchi admits that Naya in his current state has a scary amount of power. He wants to wrestle him more and more.

Asuka sent Akito a big message by pinning him with the Moonsault Press in their tag match. Akito had to send a bigger message afterwards so he told her he made his decision for their DDT Extreme Title match at Ota Ward. It will be a Fluorescent Lighttube Match! Asuka told Akito she loves that match and asked how many lighttubes there would be. 100? 200? No, Akito answered there will only be one lighttube! That’s right, it’s the return of the IPPON Lighttube Death Match! Akito then asked Hisaya Imabayashi if they have permission from the venue to do that match. Otherwise Akito won’t defend the title!

What a bad slump Mizuki Watase is in. Stuck in the pre-show and he can’t even win that. Shota came in to replace a sick Nobuhiro Shimatani and caught Watase with a Casadora to get his hand raised.

At the beginning of the show Imabayashi read through the recent DDT news announcements like new merchandise and upcoming show dates. Afterwards Mr. Nakano from Soken Holdings entered the ring to complain about only have 10 followers on Twitter and having none of the DDT wrestlers follow him back. Imabayashi cheered him up by asking him to be the official witness for the Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title Battle Royal at Ota Ward. He called out Toru Owashi to confirm it. Someone looking like Owashi but in a much thinner form came out carrying the title belt. Mr. Nakano snuck up on him and pinned him with a School Boy. He thought he was the new champion but the real Owashi then walked out. It turns out this was all a marketing stunt to advertise the brand new Owashi rubber masks that will be sold at Ota Ward. If only they told Mr. Nakano that before the real Owashi knocked him out.


DDT “SHUTEN-DOJI 5TH ANNIVERSARY ~DRINKING TURNS YOUR LIFE AROUND~” Results

April 17, 2019

DDT “SHUTEN-DOJI 5TH ANNIVERSARY ~DRINKING TURNS YOUR LIFE AROUND~”, 17/04/2019
Shinjuku FACE
600 Fans – Super No Vacancy Full House

1. Hikaru Sato defeated Kota Umeda with a Captured Armbar (8:19).
2. Michael Nakazawa Vs DJ Nira ended in a No Contest (7:24).
3. The Final Battle Of The Last Order Of Peace! Group Drama Of Human Beings Born In Showa And Heisei! Which Is Tomorrow! ☆Saki Akai Styling Match☆: Rina Yamashita & Naomi Yoshimura defeated Saki Akai & Kazusada Higuchi when Yoshimura pinned Akai with a Cradle (9:55).
4. Ebisuko Tavern Presents Tag Gauntlet Match: Brahman Shu & Brahman Kei defeated Poison Sawada JULIE & Hoshihebi, Danshoku Dieno & Kappa Kozo (w/ Miyako Haru), Gorgeous Matsuno & Sanshiro Takagi, Emi Sakura & Riho, Toru Owashi & Kazuki Hirata, Yasu Urano & Antonio Honda and Ryuichi Sekine & SAKI (w/ Sayaka Obihiro).
4a. Poison Sawada JULIE & Hoshihebi defeated Toru Owashi & Kazuki Hirata when Hoshihebi pinned Hirata with the Midnight Buenos Aires (3:04).
4b. Yasu Urano & Antonio Honda defeated Poison Sawada JULIE & Hoshihebi when Honda pinned Hoshihebi with a School Boy (2:07).
4c. Ryuichi Sekine & SAKI (w/ Sayaka Obihiro) defeated Yasu Urano & Antonio Honda when Sekine submitted Honda with the Let’s Combine (3:36).
4d. Danshoku Dieno & Kappa Kozo (w/ Miyako Haru) defeated Ryuichi Sekine & SAKI (w/ Sayaka Obihiro) when Kozo pinned Sekine with the Kappamaki (2:59).
4e. Gorgeous Matsuno & Sanshiro Takagi defeated Danshoku Dieno & Kappa Kozo (w/ Miyako Haru) when Matsuno pinned Kozo with a Kappamaki Cutback (1:08).
4f. Brahman Shu & Brahman Kei defeated Gorgeous Matsuno & Sanshiro Takagi when Kei pinned Matsuno after the Five Body Dissatisfaction (1:17).
4g. Brahman Shu & Brahman Kei defeated Emi Sakura & Riho when Kei pinned Sakura with a Suitcase Strike (4:32).
5. KUDO & HARASHIMA defeated MIKAMI & Tanomusaku Toba when KUDO pinned Toba with the Diving Double Knee Drop (13:50).
6. Yukio Sakaguchi defeated Masahiro Takanashi with the God’s Right Knee (18:32).

 

For five years Shuten-dōji were a constant presence on DDT shows from opening matches at touring shows to midcard bouts in Korakuen Hall all the way up to the main event of Sumo Hall. But time has been called on the unit and the three members (plus their allies) are ready to go their separate ways. Their popularity made them win last year’s unit category in the Dramatic General Election so they were owed a show to produce by themselves. This was the perfect chance for Shuten-dōji to say goodbye and get their last calls in.

For the main event Yukio Sakaguchi and Masahiro Takanashi faced off in a singles match. Both had each other scouted late in the match with Takanashi kicking out Sakaguchi’s ankle to escape the Cobra Clutch. Sakaguchi also fought his way out of the Takatonic and caught his friend with a big kick when Takanashi went to roll him into a pin. The two pressed their foreheads together knowing the match was about to end. Sakaguchi then stepped back to the opposite corner and struck Takanashi with the God’s Right Knee for the win.

KUDO joined them in the ring after the match. He reminded everyone he will be taking a break from pro wrestling for a while but when he comes back he will have no choice but to do so with his best friends in front of the best fans. He doesn’t know when his return will happen but he wants everyone to wait for that day. Sakaguchi said he and his “brothers” have seen it all together. He admitted he was scared to do this match with Takanashi today but it ended up being fun.

For KUDO’s last match he got to team with HARASHIMA one more time against The Suicide Boyz of MIKAMI & Tanomusaku Toba. HARASHIMA marked the occasion by wearing a HERO! mask to the ring. KUDO got the victory when he hit Toba with a Buzzsaw Kick and pinned him with the Diving Double Knee Drop. The four posed for a photograph afterwards and KUDO left the ring to large cheers from the fans.

The Brahman Brothers were the winners of the tag gauntlet but they refused to accept the prize of a year’s worth of meals from Ebisuko Tavern. Instead Gorgeous Matsuno, who helped them beat Emi Sakura & Riho at the end of the gauntlet, accepted the prize on their behalf. He also said he will continue to team with them in the future and together they want to win a trios championship again!

Before the gauntlet began, Poison Sawada JULIE transformed several wrestlers backstage into his snake servants so they could do a group dance for his team’s entrance.

The Heisei and Showa generations of the fashion world went to war and in this atmosphere Saki Akai showed a violent side to her never seen before. Akai attacked Rina Yamashita with a bamboo sword then tried to smother Naomi Yoshimura by pressing a plastic bag into his mouth! Kazusada Higuchi was also vile because he grabbed Yamashita’s Pikachu rucksack and pulled its tail off! It was only because of a misfired attack by Higuchi that Yoshimura was able to cradle Akai into a pin to sneak away with a victory. The pin was fatal because Akai was left motionless afterwards. Higuchi was so upset that he sang a song called “The Road” while images representing the Showa era were displayed on the video screen. Miraculously, Akai regained consciousness and everyone joined in with the song. On a more serious note, Akai thanked Shuten-dōji in her backstage interview for becoming her older brothers in the wrestling world. They taught her how to enjoy wrestling inside the ring as well as how to celebrate with drinks afterwards.

There were two unannounced matches added to the show. One was the surprise appearance of Michael Nakazawa from AEW against DJ Nira in a match where anything goes. The stipulation turned out to be a poor idea because whenever it looked liked somebody would win MAO, Nobuhiro Shimatani and even Hisaya Imabayashi would enter the ring and break the pin so the match would continue. They enjoyed the match up between Nakazawa and Nira so much that they wanted them to fight forever! Even when Nakazawa or Nira wanted to give up the others prevented the referees from stopping the match. Mayhem broke out between the wrestlers, Imabayashi, Daisuke Kiso and Yukinori Matsui until all of them had fallen from each others attacks. With no end in sight and everybody out of action the room lights shut off so the show could finally move on.

The other surprise match was former Shuten-dōji member Kota Umeda taking on Hikaru Sato! The match had plenty of stiff kicks but Sato’s submission expertise was the difference maker.

The show began with Shuten-dōji coming out but they didn’t look like themselves. It was actually Chinsuke Nakamura dressed as KUDO, Gota Ihashi dressed as Sakaguchi (including body tattoos) and Shota dressed as Takanashi! The real Shuten-dōji interrupted the parody speech and chased off the imitators.

The closing moments of the show had all of the wrestlers gathering in the ring to share a toast for Shuten-dōji. They then left leaving just KUDO, Sakaguchi and Takanashi alone in the ring for one more toast by themselves. They then placed their cups down on the ring mat along with the bottle of sake and went their separate ways.


Shuten-dōji Farewell, Max Bump Matches, Kaiju Princess, Injuries

April 16, 2019

DDT “SHUTEN-DOJI 5TH ANNIVERSARY ~DRINKING TURNS YOUR LIFE AROUND~”, 17/04/2019
Shinjuku FACE

1. Ebisuko Tavern Presents Tag Gauntlet Match: Poison Sawada JULIE & Hoshihebi Vs Danshoku Dieno & Kappa Kozo (w/ Miyako Haru) Vs Brahman Shu & Brahman Kei Vs Gorgeous Matsuno & X Vs Emi Sakura & Riho Vs Toru Owashi & Kazuki Hirata Vs Yasu Urano & Antonio Honda Vs Ryuichi Sekine & SAKAI (w/ Sayaka Obihiro)
2. The Final Battle Of The Last Order Of Peace! Group Drama Of Human Beings Born In Showa And Heisei! Which Is Tomorrow! ☆Saki Akai Styling Match☆: Saki Akai & Kazusada Higuchi Vs Rina Yamashita & Naomi Yoshimura
3. KUDO & HARASHIMA Vs MIKAMI & Tanomusaku Toba
4. Yukio Sakaguchi Vs Masahiro Takanashi

Saki Akai will be creating costumes for everyone involved in her match. The designs will be based on the Showa era of fashion for her team and the Heisei era of fashion for her opponents.

Kazusada Higuchi was missing from this past weekend’s shows because of an infection. He has been given permission from his doctor to take part in tomorrow’s Shuten-dōji farewell show.

Poison Sawada JULIE and one of his creations Hoshihebi have been added to the tag gauntlet. JULIE warns everyone that he will burn down Shinjuku FACE with glowing lotus flames!

Kazuhiko Ogasawara has a left knee injury and will be unable to wrestle. Gorgeous Matsuno will now have a mystery partner for the tag gauntlet.

BASARA “BASARA 94 ~BANQUET~”, 23/04/2019
Shin-Kiba 1st RING

1. Daiki Shimomura & Tsutomu Oosugi Vs Naoki Tanizaki & Akiyori Takizawa
2. Takumi Tsukamoto, Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi & Yasu Urano Vs Takato Nakano, Masato Kamino & Jun Masaoka
3. Aiseki Tag Vs Turnabout Pro Wrestling Trial Combination!: Fuminori Abe & Ikuto Hidaka Vs Gouma Ryu & Banana Senga
4. Yokohama Shopping Street 6-Man Tag Team Titles – 3 Way Match: Isami Kodaka, Minoru Fujita & Ryuichi Sekine (c) Vs FUMA, Yusuke Kubo & SAGAT Vs Abdullah Kobayashi, Hideki Suzuki & Yoshihisa Uto
5. Union MAX Title: Ryota Nakatsu (c) Vs Best Stretchman V3

For years now Gouma Ryu and Banana Senga have been rivals in the court. They get along when they are away from the criminal justice system so let’s see how they work as a tag team.

Jun Masaoka doesn’t want to get along with anybody but he is pretty much a part of the current BASARA rookie generation. Takato Nakano & Masato Kamino have been teaming together anyway. A third partner for them wouldn’t hurt.

DDT “SOUKEN HOLDINGS PRESENTS MAX BUMP 2019”, 28/04/2019
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Toru Owashi & Kazuki Hirata Vs Masahiro Takanashi & Pokotan (w/ Danshoku Dieno)
2. Keisuke Okuda Farewell Match: Keisuke Okuda, Yuki Ueno & Naomi Yoshimura Vs Kota Umeda, Mizuki Watase & Yuki Iino
3. Saki Akai & Asuka Vs Mad Paulie & Nobuhiro Shimatani
4. Legendary Wrestler Yoshiaki Yatsu First Match In DDT: Yoshiaki Yatsu, Sanshiro Takagi & Yukio Sakaguchi Vs Akito, Kazusada Higuchi & Hiroshi Yamato
5. DDT Extreme Title: HARASHIMA (c) Vs Antonio Honda
6. KO-D Tag Team Titles – 4 Way Tag Match: Daisuke Sasaki (c) & Soma Takao Vs Konosuke Takeshita & Shunma Katsumata (?) Vs MAO & Mike Bailey Vs Ricky Starks & Mike Rollins
7. KO-D Openweight Title: Tetsuya Endo (c) Vs Makoto Oishi

For his first KO-D Openweight Title defence, Tetsuya Endo has chosen Makoto Oishi to be his opponent because he is guaranteed to beat him. That was proven over the weekend when Endo submitted Oishi in the main event of Sunday’s show. Oishi thinks he has a chance because he could outsmart Endo with his wrestling knowledge. Endo thinks he has everything in his arsenal to beat Oishi anyway no matter how Oishi uses his head when they wrestle.

There is a lot of craziness surrounding the KO-D Tag Team Titles match. Konosuke Takeshita challenged the new champions DAMNATION because he wants to get revenge for losing the KO-D Title to Daisuke Sasaki in New York. The Moonlight Express want to get their rematch because they are the former champions. Newcomers Ricky Starks & Mike Rollins saw an opportunity to get involved in the title picture and also want to be in the match. So we are getting a 4 Way Match for the belts. Now there is a new bump in the road for ALL OUT because it was announced today that Shunma Katsumata is out of action for an undetermined amount of time with a left ankle injury.

The mascot Pokotan wrestles in a DDT ring for the first time since its debut at “JUDGEMENT 2019”.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “HEISEI 31 YEARS “AH” IT’S BUSY!”, 29/04/2019
Tokyo Itabashi Green Hall

1. Yuki Kamifuku & Mahiro Kiryu Vs Haruna Neko & Pom Harajuku
2. Raku Vs Mina Shirakawa
3. Natsumi Maki & Hikari Noa Vs Yuna Manase & Himawari Unagi
4. Yuka Sakazaki & Mizuki Vs Yuki Aino & Thunder Rosa
5. Sakisama & Misao Vs Nodoka Tenma & YUMI
6. Miyu Yamashita, Reika Saiki & Marika Kobashi Vs Shoko Nakajima, Rika Tatsumi & Miu Watanabe

With Marika Kobashi taking a break from wrestling soon to focus on her education, this may be the last time the Muscle JK Strikers will team together for a while.

Thunder Rosa makes her Tokyo Joshi Pro debut here.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “YES! WONDERLAND 2019 ~OPPORTUNITY IS THERE~”, 03/05/2019
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Reika Saiki & Marika Kobashi Vs Riho & Raku
2. Sakisama & Misao Vs Rika Tatsumi & Miu Watanabe
3. Special Single Match: Aja Kong Vs Maki Itoh
4. TOKYO Princess Tag Team Titles: Yuka Sakazaki & Mizuki (c) Vs Natsumi Maki & Hikari Noa
5. TOKYO Princess Of Princess Title: Miyu Yamashita (c) Vs Shoko Nakajima

With 10 defences under her belt and two championships over her shoulders, Miyu Yamashita has been looking mighty unbeatable lately. Yuka Sakazaki has been the same and both of them have more overseas bookings they’re looking forward too. Sadly for Shoko Nakajima when it comes to the most established power trio of Tokyo Joshi she’s been feeling left out. Well no more! Nakajima has challenged Yamashita for the TOKYO Princess Title at Korakuen Hall. Will Anguirus topple Godzilla?

Misao is constantly telling everyone that Hyper Misao is dead and never coming back. Rika Tatsumi doesn’t believe her and is willing to fight her to prove the superhero is still alive in there somewhere. Miu Watanabe has been constantly fighting and losing to NEO Biishiki-gun ever since Misao joined the unit. With the Up Up Girls now down one member and her other partners currently taking separate paths, she gets another chance to stand up to Sakisama.

DDT “DRAMATIC DREAMS VOL. 6 ~YUKINORI MATSUI REFEREE 25TH ANNIVERSARY MEMORIAL CONCERT RUT~”, 26/05/2019
Osaka Edion Arena #2

1. Gongitsune Vs US Freelance Special Single Match: Antonio Honda Vs Kikutaro
2. Super Space Time Wars Kaientai DX Vs Kishiwada Brigade ~ Special Tag Match: Dick Togo & MEN’S Teioh Vs Magnitude Kishiwada & Buffalo
3. Special Tag Match ~Dramatic Dream~: Konosuke Takeshita & HARASHIMA Vs Shigehiro Irie & Kazusada Higuchi

Kikutaro’s original opponent Kuishinbo Kamen cannot compete because of an injury so the match has been cancelled. Antonio Honda has asked to be Kikutaro’s new opponent because it is what he wants more than anything else in his life.


Video – Gorgeous Brahmans Vs Shuten-dōji 6-Man Tag

April 10, 2019

DDT “DATE CITY FIRST LANDING! DDT WRESTLING FUKUSHIMA ~ HEISEI LAST GORGEOUS NIGHT”, 31/03/2019
Fukushima Date City Yorohara Gymnasium
1,200 Fans – Super No Vacancy Full House

Gorgeous Brahman Vs Shuten-dōji! Fukushima Specialty Special 6-Man Tag Match: Gorgeous Matsuno, Brahman Shu & Brahman Kei Vs KUDO, Yukio Sakaguchi & Masahiro Takanashi


DDT “DDT IS COMING TO AMERICA” Results

April 5, 2019

DDT “DDT IS COMING TO AMERICA”, 04/04/2019
La Boom, Queens, New York
650 Fans – Super No Vacancy Full House

-. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title: Makoto Oishi defeated Saki Akai (c) with an Inside Cradle (8:07 pm)
*Makoto Oishi becomes the 1,351st champion.
1. Soma Takao & Tetsuya Endo defeated Yukio Sakaguchi & Masahiro Takanashi when Endo submitted Takanashi with the Modified Yurikamome Hold (9:27).
2. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title – Battle Royal: Kazuki Hirata defeated defeated Makoto Oishi (c), Saki Akai, Yoshihiko, Kikutaro, Colt Cabana, Mizuki Watase and Yuu (11:36).
2a. Kikutaro was eliminated by Doctor’s Orders (2:24).
2b. Kazuki Hirata eliminated Colt Cabana by Ring Out (5:32).
2c. Yuu eliminated Mizuki Watase by Ring Out (6:40).
2d. Makoto Oishi (c) eliminated Saki Akai with an Inside Cradle (6:55).
*V1 for Makoto Oishi.
2e. Makoto Oishi (c) eliminated Yuu by Ring Out (6:55).
*V2 for Makoto Oishi.
2f. Yoshihiko eliminated Makoto Oishi (c) with a Single Leg Crab Hold (8:44).
*Yoshihiko becomes the 1,352nd champion.
2g. Kazuki Hirata eliminated Yoshihiko (c) with a Cradle (8:39 pm).
*Kazuki Hirata becomes the 1,353rd champion. Kazuki Hirata wins Yoshihiko’s Right To Challenge Anyime, Anywhere Gauntlet.
-. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title: Saki Akai defeated Kazuki Hirata (c) with the Quetzalcoatl (8:40 pm).
*Saki Akai becomes the 1,354th champion.
3. 3 Way Tag Match: HARASHIMA & Kazusada Higuchi defeated Akito & Ethan Page and Shigehiro Irie & Jason Kincaid when HARASHIMA pinned Akito with the Somato (8:54).
4. Weapon Rumble In U.S.A.: Sanshiro Takagi defeated MAO with the Sit Down Himawari Bomb onto Plastic Cases (12:26).
5. Miyu Yamashita defeated Maki Itoh with the Crash Rabbit Heat (6:49).
6. Joey Ryan & Royce Isaacs defeated Danshoku Dieno & Antonio Honda when Ryan pinned Honda with the Super Kick (13:19).
7. KO-D Openweight Title: Daisuke Sasaki defeated Konosuke Takeshita (c) with the Sasaki Hurricanrana (19:00).
*Konosuke Takeshita fails in V2. Daisuke Sasaki becomes the 70th KO-D Openweight Champion!
-. KO-D Openweight Title: Tetsuya Endo defeated Daisuke Sasaki (c) with the Shooting Star Press (4:03).
*Daisuke Sasaki fails in V1. Tetsuya Endo cashes in his Right To Challenge Anytime, Anywhere Gauntlet. Tetsuya Endo becomes the 71st KO-D Openweight Champion!
-. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title: Makoto Oishi defeated Saki Akai (c) with an Inside Cradle (10:26 pm)
*Makoto Oishi becomes the 1,355th champion.
-. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title: Kazuki Hirata defeated Makoto Oishi (c) with a School Boy (22:27 pm).
*Kazuki Hirata becomes the 1,356th champion.
-. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title: Maki Itoh defeated Kazuki Hirata (c) with a Cradle (22:28 pm).
*Maki Itoh becomes the 1,357th champion.
-. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title: Danshoku Dieno defeated Maki Itoh (c) with the Danshoku Driver (22:29 pm).
*Danshoku Dieno becomes the 1,358th champion.

DDT promised an authentic show for their visit to New York this week. They delivered on all ends and then some. In the main event Daisuke Sasaki avenged his defeat to Konosuke Takeshita at Sumo Hall by beating him to win back the KO-D Openweight Title! It went back and forth with Takeshita catching a dive outside the ring and turning it into a Brainbuster. In return Sasaki did a Diving Elbow Drop out of the ring onto Takeshita in the front row. Takeshita almost won with the Fable but Sasaki grabbed Yukinori Matsui to disrupt the flow. Takeshita leap frogged over the ref but Sasaki kicked him in between the legs as he landed. Sasaki hit another low blow and used the Sasaki Hurricanrana to grab the victory.

Sasaki celebrated the title win with Tetsuya Endo and Soma Takao in his company. He said “This is my championship!” But then something happened. Sasaki noticed that Endo was busy playing with his Right To Challenge Gauntlet during his speech so he knocked it out of Endo’s hands. Endo picked it back up and suddenly hit Sasaki with a Lariat. He grabbed the microphone, held up the Gauntlet and said “This is now.” Endo cashed in the Gauntlet to get his title match! Sasaki had some fight left in him but after four minutes, Endo hit the Shooting Star Press and shockingly became the new KO-D Champion! When the dust settled, Endo had something important to tell Sasaki… “Charisma, I’m sorry!” He explained that with so many fans here to see the show and some of them being pretty blonde haired women he couldn’t resist taking this chance to win the title. This belt is the symbol of DDT and Endo feels proud to win it for the first time. Sasaki accepted Endo’s apology. Endo wants New York to become his second home and promised everyone they will come back. “Remember us!”

DDT came up with a solution to any possible trouble Danshoku Dieno was going to cause with his behaviour. It was so genius in its simplicity. The announcer simply told fans to raise their hands if they wanted Dieno to kiss them during his entrance and many people did. Antonio Honda got to tell his Gon The Fox story in English. It was about Gon visiting the Empire State Building only to discover it was the Empire Big Dick. Dieno got “We Want Ass” chants as he fought off Joey Ryan & Royce Isaacs while the back of his tights were pulled down. It led to the big battle between Ryan’s dick and Dieno’s ass. Honda stuck his Gongitsune fingers into Dieno’s backside to charge them up but Dieno forced those fingers into Honda’s eyes. Ryan then stuck a lollipop into Dieno’s ass, placed it in Honda’s mouth and Super Kicked him for the win.

Both Miyu Yamashita and Maki Itoh were popular with the fans in their match. Yamashita beat Itoh after hitting a Back Spin Kick and the Crash Rabbit Heat. She wanted to shake Itoh’s hand after the match but Itoh gave her the middle finger.

The weapons for the Weapon Rumble included Antonio Honda doing his Hulk Hogan impersonation (which got booed to hell and back), plastic cases, a trash can, a bicycle, a box of “educational toy blocks” (we can’t say the brand name for legal reasons), a toilet and Chinsuke Nakamura. The ending came when Sanshiro Takagi put MAO through the plastic cases with the Sit Down Himawari Bomb.

Shigehiro Irie made his first appearance for DDT in six months to be part of the 3 Way Tag Match. He and Jason Kincaid reunited RENEGADES for the match. Ethan Page threw his weight around too. But amongst the chaos HARASHIMA hit Akito with the Buzzsaw Kick and finished him off with the Somato to win the match for himself & Kazusada Higuchi.

The Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title had a very busy night. During the show opening introductions Mr. HAKU brought out Saki Akai to explain the concept of the title to any new fans in attendance. Makoto Oishi ran out and cradled Akai to win the belt. Later the Rumble happened with Oishi now as the defending champion. Kikutaro was stopped from entering the match by the ring doctor because he had too high blood pressure. Colt Cabana was more interested in getting a kiss from Akai than wrestling her. Mizuki Watase piled several wrestlers into the corner and hit the Coast To Coast Dropkick on them. Yuu was the surprise entrant and she threw around everyone with her judo throws. Oishi eliminated Akai and Yuu but his momentum was cut short when Yoshihiko grappled him into a Half Crab to submit him. Kazuki Hirata countered Yoshihiko’s Reincarnation into a cradle to win the match. The result meant Hirata won both the Iron Man Title and Yoshihiko’s Right To Challenge Gauntlet. However Saki Akai got back into the ring and gave Hirata the Quetzalcoatl to win back the Iron Man Title. Hirata still holds the Gauntlet. At the end of the show Akai was chased back out to the ring by a bunch of wrestlers. The title changed hands to Oishi then Hirata then Itoh then finally Dieno to close out the show.

In the opener DAMNATION were victorious over Shuten-dōji with Endo getting Masahiro Takanashi to give up to the Modified Yurikamome Hold.


Guide To DDT In New York

April 1, 2019

DDT “DDT IS COMING TO AMERICA”, 04/04/2019
La Boom, Queens, New York

1. Miyu Yamashita Vs Maki Itoh
2. Danshoku Dieno & Antonio Honda Vs Joey Ryan & Royce Isaacs
3. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title – Battle Royal: Saki Akai (c) Vs Makoto Oishi Vs Kazuki Hirata Vs Yoshihiko Vs Kikutaro Vs Colt Cabana Vs Mizuki Watase Vs X
4. Soma Takao & Tetsuya Endo Vs Yukio Sakaguchi & Masahiro Takanashi
5. 3 Way Tag Match: HARASHIMA & Kazusada Higuchi Vs Akito & Ethan Page Vs Shigehiro Irie & Jason Kincaid
6. Weapon Rumble In U.S.A.: MAO Vs Sanshiro Takagi
7. KO-D Openweight Title: Konosuke Takeshita Vs Daisuke Sasaki

So you got a ticket for DDT’s first show in America but you’d like some guidance over what to expect. Maybe you’ve only seen the gifs or read about the crazy angles online or by some chance this just happens to be the wrestling show you get to see while in New York and you’re going in blind. Well step on board and welcome to the Dramatic Dream Team! There are many shows at Wrestlemania week this year that is following the trend of wacky, over the top action (thanks Spring Break) but even so, what DDT is offering to everyone at La Boom in Brooklyn will be unlike anything else going on.

When the New York show was announced DDT promised they will be doing an authentic show just like the ones they do in Japan. I can confidently say they are staying true to their word. Even the non-Japanese wrestlers they are using have regularly toured with DDT in Japan in recent years. This is the type of line-up they would put together for their regular monthly shows in Korakuen Hall which is their regular spot for advancing stories, putting together angles and announcing their important events. The card also resembles a “Best Of” theme for the past year of DDT. So for newcomers and fairweather fans you get to see DDT at its most, well, DDT while the hardcore fans will get some rather big rematches to look forward to.

Where Can I Watch It Online?

There are two streaming sites offering the show on iPPV. Both are airing it live and will add it to their Video On Demand services within 24 hours after the show is over. The show will not air live on DDT Universe. The plan is to add the show to the archives later in April but nothing has been confirmed yet.

It is available on FITE for $14.99. FITE is also offering a More Than Mania event bundle with this show included for $69.99.

It is also available on WWN Live for $19.99.

The matches are listed in order as found on DDT’s official website. However that is not a guarantee it will be the official match order on the night.

1. Miyu Yamashita Vs Maki Itoh

This is a rematch of Tokyo Joshi Pro’s Korakuen main event from 4th January. Miyu Yamashita and Maki Itoh are usually friendly to each other but that goes out the window when they face each other in the ring. This is being advertised as a non-title match.

Miyu Yamashita: The ace of Tokyo Joshi since Day 1. The “Pink Striker” has a karate background and is the girl most associated with the TOKYO Princess Of Princess Title. She is the current champion with the most defences under her belt. At one point she was notoriously bad at speaking English but she’s been studying and has apparently improved. Yamashita previously wrestled in America at the 2018 Chikara King Of Trios tournament where she made it to the final as part of the Tokyo Joshi Freedom Fighters.
Moves To Watch Out For: Crash Rabbit Heat (Penalty Kick style Knee Strike), Attitude Adjustment, Modified Cobra Clutch, Brazilian Kick

Maki Itoh: A former singer from the pop group LinQ who turned to pro wrestling when her idol career fell apart. Has a big ego over her cute appearance yet isn’t shy with her opinions of others. When she’s about to punch her opponent in the corner she yells out “Who is the cutest in the world?” and the audience respond with “Ito-chan!” Loves to give the middle fingers to her opponents. Despite her bad attitude during matches, Itoh garnered a big fanbase for her un-idol like behaviour which includes being open about her mental health on social media.
Moves To Watch Out For: Itoh Special (Texas Cloverleaf that was NOT stolen from Hiroshi Tanahashi), Jumping DDT, Flying Big Head (Diving Headbutt), The World’s Most Cutest Knuckle Punch

2. Danshoku Dieno & Antonio Honda Vs Joey Ryan & Royce Isaacs

Here is the match that can cause the most controversy since it is guaranteed to be filled with very lewd comedy. Joey Ryan is the famous dick wrestler, Danshoku Dieno is the gay wrestling gimmick who was the other half of the viral video that shot Ryan into fame, Royce Isaacs has an ass that can break bones yet create miracles and Antonio Honda has a filthy sense of humour whenever he gets to speak English.

Danshoku Dieno: Dieno is DDT’s most infamous gimmick, starting out as a hyper aggressive gay wrestler who wanted to grope his opponents while fighting them. Maybe it’s refuge in audacity or maybe it’s the grandfather clause from lasting this long but over the years Dieno developed his character and turned it into one of DDT’s most beloved creations. The big question is will Dieno be able to act like himself in New York? He has wrestled in America before and was able to hold himself back a bit when he was in family friendly promotions like Chikara. I reckon at this point the people in the crowd know what they’re getting into and Dieno will be Dieno.
Moves To Watch Out For: Danshoku Driver (Piledriver with the victim’s head stuffed into Dieno’s tights), Lip Lock (a paralysing kiss) Danshoku Nightmare (Dieno pulls down his tights and teabags his opponent)

Antonio Honda: The man of many international backgrounds. He’s been Cuban, he’s been Hawaiian, he’s been Italian, at times he probably wouldn’t feel out of place inside Memphis. But nowadays Honda is the man who loves go talk about a children’s story called Gon, The Little Fox (or Gongitsune depending on the translation). Sometimes accident prone, Honda tells himself the story of Gon to cheer himself up when he gets hurt. This is all so his opponent drops their guard and Honda can poke them in the eyes with “Gon” (imagine the Too Sweet handsign).
Moves To Watch Out For: Diving Fist Drop, Octopus Hold, Bionic Elbow, Gongitsune Eye Pokes

Joey Ryan: Famous dick wrestler Joey Ryan has a busy week ahead of him. He has his own Penis Party happening the day after DDT but he shouldn’t look past this match. If it was up to him he would be called the craziest gaijin in DDT but that is a contested claim. Maybe he can earn that accomplishment and prove all his doubters wrong.
Moves To Watch Out For: YouPorn Plex (Ryan’s penis flips the opponent onto their back), Lollipop Assisted Super Kick

Royce Isaacs: Behold the man with the Miracle Ass! When Isaacs toured with DDT he discovered with Dieno’s help that the strength of his backside was powerful enough to break limbs and pop open even the most jammed of jars. It’s been two years since Isaacs wrestled in a DDT show but he still represented the promotion when he guided Naomi Yoshimura and Rekka around the US indies during their overseas excursions.
Moves To Watch Out For: The Zenith (German Suplex lift into a Uranage), Hush Money (Dragon Suplex lift into a German Suplex)

3. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title – Battle Royal: Saki Akai (c) Vs Makoto Oishi Vs Kazuki Hirata Vs Yoshihiko Vs Kikutaro Vs Colt Cabana Vs Mizuki Watase Vs X

The WWF Hardcore Championship taken to it’s most logical extreme. The Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title is always being defended 24/7. If there is a referee or anything resembling a referee nearby then they must officiate what is happening to the champion. Due to the ref’s discretion, pretty much everything is eligible to win the belt. Every wrestler, every person, every living creature, every inanimate object, every concept of existence the human mind can think of, you get the drill.

The current champion going into the show is Saki Akai, a supermodel who became a wrestler thanks to DDT. The physical belt has seen better days so Akai has been fixing it by filling the empty studs with pretty stars and bonbons. Makoto Oishi is a 17 year veteran and usually the butt of the joke during comedy spots. Kazuki Hirata loves to imitate an old gimmick from Dragon Gate called Magnum TOKYO. He wears a special pair of Hirata Go! glasses that forces the room to play the “TOKYO GO!” song for him to dance to. Yoshihiko is the wrestling sex doll. Kikutaro and Colt Cabana are both masters of comedy wrestling. Mizuki Watase wasn’t originally meant to be on this show but he spent his own money to fly over so he could meet up with his buddy Shigehiro Irie.

And then there is the mysterious X. DDT often adds the X label for an unadvertised wrestler to appear in these kinds of Battle Royals. It doesn’t always mean just one extra wrestler, there might be more. I think a few of the wrestlers around for the other shows in La Boom this week could make their appearance in this match even if they have no prior history with DDT. But there are some guesses going around online and it’s fun to talk about them so let’s mention it. Kenny Omega is the popular wish of course. Nobody would be happier to see him show up than me but I doubt it’s happening. Jiro “Ikemen” Kuroshio would be a welcome appearance especially since his entrance is perfect comedy for a Rumble match. My prediction however is someone I haven’t seen mentioned elsewhere. I think X will be Chunsuke Nakamura, the Shinsuke Nakamura impersonator! He usually travels to America to see his muse at Wrestlemania and he often works with DDT whenever they want to cash in on Shinsuke’s popularity.

You can never predict what the Iron Man Title can get up to. If it gets unleashed on New York during a wrestling week as busy as this then there will be untold mayhem all over the place!

4. Soma Takao & Tetsuya Endo Vs Yukio Sakaguchi & Masahiro Takanashi

A tag team match between members of DAMNATION against Shuten-dōji. The DAMNATION side features the No. 2 & No. 3 regular members of the unit Soma Takao & Tetsuya Endo. Shuten-dōji will be splitting up later in April so this will be one of Yukio Sakaguchi & Masahiro Takanashi’s last matches together as a team.

Soma Takao: A homegrown wrestler who DDT had big hopes for but never reached that potential. Instead he fell in with the rough crowd in DAMNATION. Prefers not to speak much. Usually low blows his opponents en route to victory. He is currently one half of the KO-D Tag Team Champions with Daisuke Sasaki.
Moves To Watch Out For: Gin And Tonic (Axe Guillotine Driver), Official Endless Waltz (countless number of cradled and crucifix pins), Sorarina (Wrist Clutch Inside Cradle), Diving Foot Stomp

Tetsuya Endo: A high flying prodigy and generational rival to Konosuke Takeshita. Endo is in a similar boat to Takao in that he hasn’t quite reached the level of success to match his abilities. Tries to tell everyone he is a rotten person but deep down he is very tidy and carefully follows a diet that gives him one of the best physiques in the company.
Moves To Watch Out For: Shooting Star Press, Spinning Torture Rack Bomb, Tetsuya In The Sky (Spanish Fly), Tetsuya In The Sky With Diamonds (Top Rope Spanish Fly)

Yukio Sakaguchi: A former MMA fighter and son of retired wrestler Seiji Sakaguchi. He switched to pro wrestling in 2012 and has been with DDT for seven years now. Usually a serious figure, he would fight to the death if the situation ever calls for it!
Moves To Watch Out For: God’s Right Knee (Charging right knee strike into the turnbuckle), Purgatory (Double High Kick) Penalty Kick, Cobra Clutch

Masahiro Takanashi: If Shuten-dōji is a family then Takanashi is the little brother who knows the best ways to sneak cans of beer into the home without anyone noticing. Due to his small size, Takanashi has to rely on his smarts and ring presence which can make him a crafty wrestler when he wants to be. Underestimate him at your peril.
Moves To Watch Out For: Takatonic (Yoshitonic), Bacchus (Modified Gannosuke Clutch), Lightning Leg Lariat, Laphroaig (Modified Leg Roll Clutch)

5. 3 Way Tag Match: HARASHIMA & Kazusada Higuchi Vs Akito & Ethan Page Vs Shigehiro Irie & Jason Kincaid

A 3 Way tag sprint mixing together a bunch of wrestlers. HARASHIMA & Kazusada Higuchi have been rivals over the KO-D Openweight Title in the past but team together here. Ethan Page had no strong alliance with any unit during his tours in Japan last year but he is being put with Akito from ALL OUT. The only unit being properly represented here is RENEGADES and they don’t really exist in DDT anymore!

HARASHIMA: The backbone of DDT for the last 13 years if not longer. There are others to come from the company who have reach bigger heights in bigger places but HARASHIMA will always be there for DDT. Usually a straightforward wrestler but always up to get involved in the wackier stuff if he has to, HARASHIMA is a jack of all trades. Being the current DDT Extreme Champion should tell you that. If he wins a match, 999 times out of 1000 it is with the Somato.
Moves To Watch Out For: Somato (Double knee strike to a seated opponent), Double Knee Gutbuster, Reverse Frankensteiner, Falcon Arrow

Kazusada Higuchi: A former sumo who was an unbeaten powerhouse in his rookie years. Has since mellowed out and fits in with the sillier side of the roster despite still being difficult to beat. Maybe he can feel a little out of place in that position but hey, you’d rather be with him than against him. I assure you of that.
Moves To Watch Out For: Goten (Canadian Backbreaker into a Choke Slam), Doctor Bomb, Canadian Backbreaker, Oklahoma Stampede

Akito: The “Submission Freak” has an amateur wrestling background and is one of the original members of ALL OUT. Likes to take submission moves and add “perfect” modifications to them.
Moves To Watch Out For: Scorpion Deathlock, Kinniku Big Move (Muscle Buster lift into a Power Bomb), Hanamasa (Lifting Reverse DDT), Perfect Figure Four Leg Lock (Figure Four Leg Lock with Akito grabbing onto both of his opponent’s arms)

Ethan Page: “All Ego” toured with DDT twice in 2018 and is always working a busy schedule around the North American scene. Like with Joey Ryan, Page’s week in New York is filled to the brim with many matches in different places.
Moves To Watch Out For: Spinning Dwayne (Spinning Rock Bottom), Head Shot (Slingshot RKO)

Shigehiro Irie: Returning to DDT for the first time since October 2018. Irie has spent a lot of his time since then wrestling freelance in America and Europe. He will be heading back to Japan soon and will be wrestling on a DDT show there so this isn’t the last we will see of him.
Moves To Watch Out For: Beast Bomber (Lariat), Tazzmission, Final Impact (Arm Trapped Piledriver), Cannonball into corner

Jason Kincaid: Brought into DDT as a “Gift” from Irie, Kincaid has made the company his home away from home. When Irie left DDT and the RENEGADES unit they were a part of split up, Watase stuck around and became friends with Antonio Honda. Now that Irie is back, so is RENEGADES even if it’s just for a day.
Moves To Watch Out For: Philosopher’s Stomp (Diving Double Stomp from the ring post)

6. Weapon Rumble In U.S.A.: MAO Vs Sanshiro Takagi

A rematch of a very crazy DDT stipulation (yes I know Hustle did it before them, shush) from last October’s visit to Sumo Hall. The Weapon Rumble is a Royal Rumble but for weapons! Every time the buzzer goes off a new “weapon” is introduced to the match for the wrestlers to fight over. Just like with the Iron Man Title, anything can constitute as a weapon. Expect a lot of wacky items, unusual mind games and even a cameo or two.

MAO: “Fucked up wrestling for a fucked up world!” That is the motto MAO lives by. The high flyer has taken the mantle as DDT’s new leader of the Falls Count Anywhere match. He established this by beating Takagi in last October’s Weapon Rumble. He won the match but still holds a grudge with Takagi because one of Takagi’s weapons was telling everyone MAO’s phone number. Part of The Moonlight Express tag team, sadly his partner “Speedball” Mike Bailey will not be on the show for visa reasons.
Moves To Watch Out For: Cannonball 450 (450 Splash), Michinoku Driver (I & II), Screw High Kick, Spaceman Plancha

Sanshiro Takagi: The big boss of DDT. I don’t mean he’s the final challenge, I mean he is the company president! That’s right, Sanshiro Takagi is the one ultimately responsible for all this nonsense. He always enters to a remix of “FIRE” by Scooter and encourages the fans to chant along until the song goes “1…2…3. FIRE!” Has a habit of either copying famous wrestlers or dressing up as a Gundam for important matches. Also likes to decided he will retire after every major achievement only to immediately tell everyone he was lying.
Moves To Watch Out For: Sitdown Sunflower/Himawari Bomb (Electric Chair spun into a Sitdown Power Bomb), Stone Cold Stunner, Spicolli Driver (Power Slam lift into a Death Valler Driver)

7. KO-D Openweight Title: Konosuke Takeshita Vs Daisuke Sasaki

The biggest rematch of them all on the show. This was the main event of DDT’s 22nd Anniversary show in Sumo Hall from February. However this time the roles are reversed. Takeshita is the KO-D Champion and Sasaki is going in as the challenger. The match was originally announced as a non-title bout but last weekend Sasaki demanded the belt be put on the line in New York.

Konosuke Takeshita: The current top dog in DDT, Takeshita is only 23 years old but he has been wrestling for DDT since 2012. The leader of ALL OUT has faced some of the biggest names in Japan when he was a rookie supernova and nowadays he still wants to face the best wrestlers outside of DDT. Some of his influences have rubbed off on him as he built his moveset. He uses Kenny Omega’s knee strikes, added the Chicago Skyline from Colt Cabana and most dangerously of all, on rare occasions he busts out the El Generico Brainbustaaaaahhhhh!!!!! It’s only just recently that Takeshita has opened his horizons and wrestled outside of Japan. He is one to follow during Mania week.
Moves To Watch Out For: German Suplex (includes Deadlift and Cross-Arm variations), Surprise Rose (Wrist Clutch Fisherman Suplex) Fable (Springboard Swanton Bomb onto a seated opponent), V Trigger Knee Strikes

Daisuke Sasaki: The leader of DAMNATION and simply known to his lackeys as “Charisma”. Sasaki is as talented as he is always depressed. He was the previous KO-D Champion until Takeshita won it off him at Sumo Hall in February. Was so down in the dumps over the loss that he considered throwing his entire career away until he won the KO-D Tag Titles with Takao. He better hope Takeshita doesn’t give him the Brainbustaaaaahhhhh!!!!! again because last time they missed the turnbuckle! Also don’t let him know he’ll be staying in the same state as Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae during the week. Sasaki fell in love with LeRae when they teamed together for a tour then his life fell apart when he found out she married Gargano. So if the TakeOver: New York main event gets ruined by a Japanese man dressed in dirty clothes, it will probably be Sasaki.
Moves To Watch Out For: Cross Facelock (includes La Mistica and Gargano Escape variations), Sasaki Hurricanrana, Now Or Never (Power Slam lift twisted into a Reverse DDT), Vietnam Driver II (Reverse Michinoku Driver), Diving Elbow Drop onto a chair

Anything else we should know?

Oh, yes! I almost forgot. Currently in DDT there is something called the Right To Challenge Anytime, Anywhere Gauntlet. It is DDT’s version of the Money In The Bank Contract. However there are three of them in existence and they are defended in every match the gauntlet holders are in until they get cashed in for an instant KO-D Title match. Two of the Gauntlet holders are Tetsuya Endo and Yoshihiko, who are both on this show. Will the gauntlet rules be in effect while they are in America? Well if it’s meant to be an authentic DDT event then it should. Maybe we’ll get a surprise title match after the main event!

Is that everything?

No! DDT will be present at several other shows being held in La Boom throughout Mania week. They are tied in with the WWN Live More Than Mania series so if you want to see more of DDT you will find them there. Here is the rundown of DDT related talent appearing on other shows.

EVOLVE “EVOLVE 125”, 04/04/2019
La Boom, Queens, New York

1. Special Attraction Match: Kazusada Higuchi Vs Curt Stallion
2. EVOLVE Tag Team Titles: Eddie Kingston & Joe Gacy (c) Vs Konosuke Takeshita & MAO

There are two shows taking place in La Boom before DDT takes the stage. First up is EVOLVE at noon. Takeshita & MAO are teaming together to go after the EVOLVE Tag Team Championship. The current champions are Eddie Kingston & Joe Gacy, two members of a unit in called The Unwanted. Higuchi has some things lined up for later in the week so for now he gets a warm up match against Curt Stallion.

WXW “AMERIKA IST WUNDERBAR”, 04/04/2019
La Boom, Queens, New York

1. Yuu Vs LuFisto
2. wXw Unified World Title: Bobby Gunns (c) Vs Shigehiro Irie

Next up, Germany’s wXw will run a show in the afternoon. Irie and Yuu are both freelancers now but I want to include their matches here since it felt so good to see and hear what they’ve been up to in Europe the last few months. Irie gets a shot at the wXw Unified World Title when he faces Bobby Gunns, aka the reason why chants are now done to the tune of “Robot Rock” at some European wrestling shows. Meanwhile Yuu faces indy wrestling legend LuFisto.

WWN LIVE “WWN SUPERSHOW 2019 – MERCURY RISING”, 05/04/2019
La Boom, Queens, New York

1. SHINE Title: Allysin Kay (c) Vs Miyu Yamashita
2. WWN Title: JD Drake (c) Vs Kazusada Higuchi
3. The Six Man Tag Team Tradition Continues: AR Fox, Leon Ruff & Adrian Alanis (w/ Ayla) Vs Daisuke Sasaki, Tetsuya Endo & Soma Takao

The entire WWN Live lineup of promotions get together for the annual Mercury Rising supershow. The event likes to hype up their 6-Man Tag Matches and one of them features DAMNATION against The Skulk. Higuchi gets his big match of the week by facing JD Drake for the WWN Championship. Finally Yamashita has challenged Allysin Kay to a match for the SHINE Title.

BLACK LABEL PRO “ADVENTURES IN WRESTLING”, 05/04/2019
White Eagle Hall, New Jersey

1. Jonathan Gresham Vs Shigehiro Irie

The Beast gets to tangle with The Octopus over in Black Label Pro.

WWN LIVE “MORETHANMANIA.COM 2019 WRAP UP PARTY”, 06/04/2019
The Bell House, Brooklyn, New York

1. Falls Count Anywhere Match: Konosuke Takeshita & Sanshiro Takagi Vs Dr. Cube’s Posse

DDT’s week ends in the most wackiest way possible. They get to work with Kaiju Big Battel! At this show, DDT stands for Double Danger Tandems. Takeshita & Takagi are going in together to find the most danger. They are supposedly going to face two kaiju from Dr. Cube’s Posse.

And then that’s it. Unless there are any unadvertised or last minute appearances on other shows, that’s the complete DDT schedule for their trip to New York. Any last questions?

Will the Steiner Brothers be at the DDT show?

No.