Money In The Bag Participants, June’s Title Matches, Stand Proud In July

June 16, 2020

DDT “MONEY IN THE BAG ~TOSOCHU~”, 19/06/2020
Tokyo Chateau Amoeba Studio

1. Money In The Bag Match: HARASHIMA, Danshoku Dieno & Konosuke Takeshita Vs Atsushi Onita, Shinya Aoki, Yoshiko, Daisuke Sasaki, Tetsuya Endo, Yuki Ueno, Naomi Yoshimura, Akito, Shunma Katsumata, Yuki Iino, Kazusada Higuchi, Yukio Sakaguchi, Saki Akai, Chris Brookes, Sanshiro Takagi, Makoto Oishi, Super Sasadango Machine, MAO, Mizuki Watase, Yukio Naya, Keigo Nakamura, Gota Ihashi, Yuka Sakazaki, Mizuki, Maki Itoh, Yuki Kamifuku, Mina Shirakawa & Seigo Tachibana

This is not an accurate listing explaining what the Money In The Bag match is but I don’t know how else to write it. HARASHIMA, Danshoku Dieno & Konosuke Takeshita will be going through DDT’s version of a TV game show called Tosochu Run For Money. They will fight through multiple floors of the Chateau Amoeba Studio looking for a bag containing prize money. There are wrestlers located on every floor acting as hunters tasked with stopping the contestants. What I don’t know is if HARASHIMA, Dieno and Takeshita are teaming together, competing solo against each other or captaining their own teams. But if you’ve seen previous Street Wrestling shows held in corporate buildings then you know what to expect. Each floor will pretty much be a different match building up to the finale.

The guests showing up include Atsushi Onita, Shinya Aoki, Yoshiko (I hear she’s become big on TikTok) and Seigo Tachibana (still looking for a job).

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “KOKO NI IRUZEE!”, 20/06/2020
Shin-Kiba 1st RING

The card for Tokyo Joshi Pro’s return to Shin-Kiba 1st RING is being kept secret until the show takes place. Tokyo will be entering Step 3 in the roadmap to open up after COVID-19 which means they may be allowed to add an extra 42 seats on the day of the show. The current capacity limit in the venue is 100 fans.

DDT “DDT TV SHOW! #7”, 20/06/2020
Shinjuku FACE

1. Keigo Nakamura Vs Hideki Okatani
2. Yuki Ueno Vs Mad Paulie
3. DISASTER BOX Vs ALL OUT!: Toru Owashi, Naomi Yoshimura & Kazuki Hirata Vs Konosuke Takeshita, Akito & Yuki Ueno
4. Daisuke Sasaki & Soma Takao Vs HARASHIMA & Chris Brookes
5. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title – Time Admission Battle Royal: Danshoku Dieno (c) Vs Shinya Aoki Vs Antonio Honda Vs Shunma Katsumata Vs MAO Vs Mizuki Watase Vs Yukio Naya
6. Jun Akiyama Vs Makoto Oishi
7. KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles: Tetsuya Endo, T-Hawk & El Lindaman (c) Vs Kazusada Higuchi, Yukio Sakaguchi & Saki Akai

Fans will be allowed in for this show.

DDT already have their big matches for the rest of June in place. The next episode of DDT TV SHOW sees #DAMNHEARTS put the KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles on the line against Eruption. There is the added stipulation where if the champions win then Saki Akai will have to kneel down to El Lindaman, ask him how he got so big and then lick his boots.

It’s not just the youngsters who are interested in being coached by Jun Akiyama during his stay here. Makoto Oishi also wants to walk down the Royal Road. The only downside is he has to fight Akiyama when he originally wanted to team with him. It’s going to be more painful this way.

Chris Brookes has to make some unlikely short term alliances in order to fight DAMNATION for now.

DDT “DRAMATIC DREAM TSURUMI VOL. 1”, 21/06/2020
Kanagawa Tsurumi Fruit & Vegetable Market

1. Danshoku Dieno & Toru Owashi Vs Antonio Honda & Yukio Naya
2. I Will Win Today!: Mad Paulie Vs Hideki Okatani
3. I Will Win Today!: Makoto Oishi Vs Mizuki Watase
4. I Will Win Today!: MAO Vs Gota Ihashi
5. Eruption Vs ALL OUT!: Kazusada Higuchi & Yukio Sakaguchi Vs Akito & Yuki Iino
6. 3 Way Tag Match: HARASHIMA & Kazuki Hirata Vs Konosuke Takeshita & Shunma Katsumata Vs Sanshiro Takagi & Keigo Nakamura
7. Good Town Tsurumi Special 6-Man Tag Team Match: Daisuke Sasaki, Tetsuya Endo & Soma Takao Vs Yuki Ueno, Naomi Yoshimura & Chris Brookes

The next day DDT goes over to the spacious indoor market in Tsurumi.

DDT “DDT TV SHOW! #8”, 27/06/2020
Shinjuku FACE

1. DDT UNIVERSAL Title: Daisuke Sasaki (c) Vs Chris Brookes
2. KO-D Tag Team Titles: Yuki Ueno & Naomi Yoshimura (c) Vs Tetsuya Endo & Nobuhiro Shimatani

Then next week there is two more title matches. Yuki Ueno has become a thorn in Endo’s side recently and was seconds away from beating him in the trios main event a few days ago. However Endo defended the KO-D Openweight Title against him so it’s his turn to call the shots. Endo chose Nobuhiro Shimatani to team with him and take the KO-D Tag Team Titles away from Nautilus.

Sasaki’s attempt to ice the DDT UNIVERSAL Title backfired. He nominated Masahiro Takanashi as his next challenger knowing he is many months away from recovery. That way Sasaki wouldn’t have to defend the title any time soon. Takanashi eventually accepted but nominated his friend Brookes to wrestle in his place. This finally gets Brookes his singles rematch with the man who took the title from him.

Jun Akiyama will be on the show.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “STAND PROUD”, 04/07/2020
Tokyo Ryogoku KFC Hall

1. Princess Tag Team Titles: Rika Tatsumi & Miu Watanabe (c) Vs Maki Itoh & Raku

Raku’s in-ring ability was progressing nicely before the lockdown. She added the Doctor Yellow to her arsenal and formed a winning team with Maki Itoh. They were supposed to get a Princess Tag Team Titles match against Daydream back in March but it got cancelled. Both teams agreed to do the match eventually but wanted it on an important show. The return to Ryogoku KFC Hall in July fits the bill.


Video – DDT “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2020 DAY 2” Digest Highlights

June 9, 2020

DDT “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2020 DAY 2”, 07/06/2020
DDT TV SHOW Studio
0 Fans

1. Super Sasadango Machine Remote Produce Match – Chop Up Challenge: Toru Owashi Vs Antonio Honda
2. Tokyo Joshi Pro 6-Woman Tag Match: Yuka Sakazaki, Miyu Yamashita & Shoko Nakajima Vs Rika Tatsumi, Nodoka Tenma & Yuki Aino
3. DDT Extreme Title – Celebration! Release Outdoor Restriction Rules: Shinya Aoki (c) Vs Yukio Naya
4. Yukio Sakaguchi & Saki Akai Vs Chris Brookes & Maki Itoh
5. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title: Danshoku Dieno (c) Vs Makoto Oishi
6. HARASHIMA & Naomichi Marufuji Vs MAO & Asuka
7. KO-D Tag Team Titles: Yuki Ueno & Naomi Yoshimura (c) Vs T-Hawk & El Lindaman
8. KO-D Openweight Title: Masato Tanaka (c) Vs Tetsuya Endo


DDT “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2020 DAY 2” Results

June 7, 2020

DDT “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2020 DAY 2”, 07/06/2020
DDT TV SHOW Studio
0 Fans

1. Super Sasadango Machine Remote Produce Match – Chop Up Challenge: Toru Owashi Vs Antonio Honda ended in a Draw (72:45) (1,000 Chops Thrown).
2. Tokyo Joshi Pro 6-Woman Tag Match: Yuka Sakazaki, Miyu Yamashita & Shoko Nakajima defeated Rika Tatsumi, Nodoka Tenma & Yuki Aino when Sakazaki pinned Aino with the Magical Magical Girl Splash (15:31).
3. DDT Extreme Title – Celebration! Release Outdoor Restriction Rules: Shinya Aoki (c) defeated Yukio Naya with a European Clutch (10:49).
*V3 for Shinya Aoki.
4. Yukio Sakaguchi & Saki Akai defeated Chris Brookes & Maki Itoh when Sakaguchi pinned Itoh with the PK (12:01).
5. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title: Danshoku Dieno (c) Vs Makoto Oishi was a No Contest.
6. HARASHIMA & Naomichi Marufuji defeated MAO & Asuka when HARASHIMA pinned Asuka with the Somato (17:24).
7. KO-D Tag Team Titles: Yuki Ueno & Naomi Yoshimura defeated T-Hawk & El Lindaman when Ueno pinned Lindaman with the WR (22:13).
*V4 for Nautilus.
8. KO-D Openweight Title: Tetsuya Endo defeated Masato Tanaka (c) with two Shooting Star Presses (26:19).
*Masato Tanaka fails in V5. Tetsuya Endo becomes the 75th KO-D Openweight Champion!

Tetsuya Endo’s path to reclaim the KO-D Openweight Title ends with success and maybe a few extra scars. Masato Tanaka put him through a table twice in their match, bringing back memories of their D-Ou Grand Prix final last December. The first table crash had Tanaka throw Endo through one from the turnbuckles. But the second happened when Endo used his knees to block the Diving Body Press. Damage to Endo’s leg prevented him from doing the Handspring Overhead Kick until late in the match. He could barely stand after kicking out of the Super Fly but Tanaka dared him into doing so. Tanaka hit the short range Sliding D after Endo missed the Shooting Star Press but Endo was close enough to grab the ropes for a pin break. Tanaka ran to the ropes for another Sliding D but Endo countered it with Testuya In The Sky. He hit a Package Canadian Destroyer for a two count then dragged Tanaka to the corner. Endo hit the Shooting Star Press not once but twice to get the three count and become the new KO-D Champion!

Tanaka grabbed the title belt from Yukinori Matsui after the match but it was just so he was the one to hand it to Endo. Tanaka left the ring when Endo called out to him. Endo promised to hold onto the title long enough for them to have a rematch at Saitama Super Arena! He looks forward to standing across the ring from him again. For now there is no No. 1 Contender set in place so Endo wants all potential challengers to know he is the one who beat Masato Tanaka when nobody else in DDT could. He then gathered DAMNATION together for a their first group pose in months. Together they are the symbol of strength in DDT and they have most of the championships to prove it. Not just DAMNATION but all of #DAMNHEARTS too!

The only miss on #DAMNHEARTS’s record this weekend was in the KO-D Tag Team Titles match. The challengers T-Hawk & El Lindaman failed to beat the champions Nautilus. At points the #STRONGHEARTS team ran circles over their opponents, cutting Yuki Ueno away from Naomi Yoshimura. But the tables turned when Ueno used a Hurricanrana to throw T-Hawk into Lindaman, knocking him off the top rope. Ueno gave Lindaman an Avalanche Uranage and then the Osaka Trad for a nearfall. Ueno then hit the Frog Splash but didn’t go for the pin. Instead he used a new finisher, a forward flipping DDT called the WR to win the match. Ueno said he was happy to have a title match like this today. They twice couldn’t win the KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles from #DAMNHEARTS but today’s win shows how much progress Nautilus has made because of those matches. Maybe they’ll have another match and this time do it in OWE.

This wasn’t their original match for the show but HarashiMarufuji reunited for the first time in ages. MAO & Asuka proved to be a lot for them to handle. They hit Double Moonsaults out of the ring and Asuka threw both HARASHIMA & Naomichi Marufuji around with German Suplexes. The momentum shifted when HARASHIMA blocked Asuka’s Moonsault with his knees. Marufuji got rid of MAO with the Tiger King knee strike then stunned Asuka with a Trace Kick. HARASHIMA then crushed Asuka with the Somato to win. After the match they offered handshakes but Asuka slapped Marufuji across the face before leaving the ring. HARASHIMA told Marufuji he isn’t satisfied by today’s match. He wants to team with him again and go against the pair they were originally meant to fight: CIMA & Soma Takao!

All throughout the week, Danshoku Dieno and Makoto Oishi tried to have their Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title match over at the Ochanomizu Dojo. However one setback after another prevented the match from happening. Either Dieno forgot to turn off his stove, the referee never turned up, Oishi was busy babysitting or both wrestlers forgot their gear and weren’t allowed wrestle in the nude. After so many cancellations today was finally the day. Dieno waited in the ring for his opponent but Oishi never appeared. A text message came saying Oishi had to mind his baby again but he promised he would still make it. Yukinori Matsui and Hisaya Imabayashi couldn’t wait and wanted to cancel the match because it was eating into their ABEMA broadcast time. Dieno begged them not to. All he needed was three minutes and Oishi will be here. Memories of Dieno and Oishi together filled the screen when suddenly Oishi appears at the entrance! He sprints down to the ring but tripped over the steps, knocking himself out. Matsui then called off the match as Dieno looked on stunned.

Eruption defeated the NEO Itoh Respect Army in the intergender tag match. Maki Itoh avoided getting into the ring with Yukio Sakaguchi unless she was certain she had the advantage. Chris Brookes tried to help out but was met with a short range God’s Right Knee. Saki Akai then got rid of him with the Quetzalcoatl. Itoh showed one last act of defiance by giving Sakaguchi the middle finger. She got a Penalty Kick for her troubles before getting pinned.

The DDT Extreme Title match had no countouts to celebrate the relaxation of Tokyo’s outdoor restrictions. Shinya Aoki and Yukio Naya fought around the hallways of Shinjuku FACE, dragging Keigo Nakamura along for the ride. At one point they all moved past Maki Itoh who was warming up for her singing entrance. Aoki, Naya and Nakamura ended up back in the ring with Nakamura getting most of the beating. Aoki countered Naya’s Back Drop into a European Clutch to score his third successful defence.

The Tokyo Joshi Pro offer match saw Yuka Sakazaki, Miyu Yamashita & Shoko Nakajima defeat Rika Tatsumi, Nodoka Tenma & Yuki Aino. The result was almost the opposite when Tenma & Aino gave Sakazaki the Bakuretsu Bulldog. Nakajima came in to even the numbers and with Sakazaki did a Double 619 to Aino. Yamashita knocked Aino silly with the Backspin Kick and Sakazaki got the three count right afterwards with the Magical Magical Girl Splash.

The longest match of the show by far was the opening contest between Antonio Honda and Toru Owashi. Before the match, Super Sasadango Machine sent a video message from Niigata announcing he would donate 100 yen to a medical workers charity for every Chop that happens in the match. Both Honda and Owashi promised to put their power and soul into their Chops for such a noble cause. They then spent the match lightly chopping and slapping each other’s chests while Shota kept count. The left the venue still chopping so the show moved on to Match #2. When that was over we saw Honda & Oishi chopping each other in the locker room. They decided to go get something to eat. After Match #4 they made it to Ebisuko Tavern but Ken Ohka refused to give them entry over social distancing guidelines. The Tavern is doing everything it can to run business safely so the last thing they want to do is let in two sweaty naked men slapping each other. Honda and Owashi agreed to get a take out meal but they also dragged Ohka along with them back to the venue. After Match #5 Honda and Owashi ate their take out meal in the locker room with a captive Ohka bound and gagged behind them. KUDO entered the room demanding money because nobody paid the 3,100 yen bill! KUDO agreed to chop Ohka 31 times instead, bringing the total number of Chops thrown to 1,000! Everyone agreed to end the match there resulting in 100,000 yen being donated to charity in Sasadango’s name.


Revised June Schedule, Audience Shows Return, Complete Peter Pan 2020 Cards

May 31, 2020

First let’s get the bad news out of the way. Even though Japan is entering the second phase of lifting their Coronavirus restrictions, the DDT Group are following requests from venues to cancel the following shows in June and July:

DDT “BLACK OUT PRESENTS KING OF DDT 2020 THE FINAL!!”, 28/06/2020
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

DDT “ROAD TO PETER PAN 2020 ~DRAMATIC DREAM TAKESHI~”, 02/07/2020
Tokyo Hanayashiki Asakusa Flower Theater

MUSCLE “HIRAGANA MUSCLE 3”, 09/07/2020
Shin-Kiba 1st RING

DDT “KAZUKI HIRATA 10TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW! 10 YEARS OF HIRATA GO!!”, 18/07/2020
Tokyo Belle Epoque Beauty School 2nd School Hall

DDT “DATE CITY 2ND ROUND! 1 YEAR UNTIL THE 60TH BIRTHDAY! ~GORGEOUS NIGHT~”, 19/07/2020
Fukushima Date City Hobara Gymnasium

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Now here’s the good news. The DDT Group can run shows in front of audiences again! They have to put in safety precautions of course such as limiting the number of seats at the venues (either around 100 fans or 50% capacity looks to be deal across the board depending on the venue size). Fans going to shows will need to wear medical masks, get their temperatures checked and have their hands disinfected as they enter. New shows in June have been announced today across the different promotions. They will be held in venues that provide a lot of open air and ventilation. That means Shin-Kiba 1st RING, Shinjuku FACE, Itabashi Green Hall and Tsurumi Vegetable Market for those not paying attention. DDT TV SHOW episodes #7 & #8 will also continue to take place as planned. DDT can now advertise the worst kept secret that they were taped in Shinjuku FACE. The revised schedule for June is as follows.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “KOKO NI IRUZEE!”, 13/06/2020
Tokyo Itabashi Green Hall

DDT “WITH DRAMATIC DREAM TEAM”, 14/06/2020
Tokyo Itabashi Green Hall

GANBARE☆WRESTLING “COMEBACK ANYTIME 2020”, 14/06/2020
Tokyo Itabashi Green Hall

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “KOKO NI IRUZEE!”, 20/06/2020
Shin-Kiba 1st RING

DDT “DDT TV SHOW! #7”, 20/06/2020
Shinjuku FACE

DDT “DRAMATIC DREAM TSURUMI VOL. 1”, 21/06/2020
Kanagawa Tsurumi Fruit & Vegetable Market

DDT “DDT TV SHOW! #8”, 27/06/2020
Shinjuku FACE

DDT “DRAMATIC DREAM TSURUMI VOL. 2”, 28/06/2020
Kanagawa Tsurumi Fruit & Vegetable Market

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DDT “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2020 DAY 1”, 06/06/2020
DDT TV SHOW Studio

1. Soma Takao & Mad Paulie Vs Keigo Nakamura & Hideki Okatani
2. Keisuke Ishii & HARUKAZE Vs Hiroshi Yamato & Saori Anou
3. DDT Yuru-chara No. 1 Battle In Niigata: Super Sasadango Machine Vs Pokotan
4. Singles Match Between Wrestlers Who Want To Participate In DDT Regularly: Nobuhiro Shimatani Vs Seigo Tachibana
5. Jun Akiyama & Mizuki Watase Vs Akito & Yuki Iino
6. DDT UNIVERSAL Title – Hardcore 3 Way Match: Daisuke Sasaki (c) Vs Isami Kodaka Vs Shunma Katsumata
7. DDT Vs Kongoh All Out Battle!: Sanshiro Takagi, Kazusada Higuchi & Tomomitsu Matsunaga Vs Kenoh, Masa Kitamiya & Hao
8. TOKYO 2020 LAST MAN STANDING: Yoshihiko Vs Konosuke Takeshita

Before the audiences can come back, “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2020” will hopefully be the bookend for DDT’s empty arena era (fingers crossed). I don’t think I’ll write a full blown preview for these shows due to the short amount of time most of the matches were put together. So this will do for now.

The big feud of DDT TV SHOW has been between Konosuke Takeshita and Yoshihiko. A hatred led to warning messages of “ALL OUT All Dead” where Yoshihiko defeated each member of the unit one by one. It even brought back another battle doll named Akihiro to join the fight. Yesterday ALL OUT reached their breaking point and launched a vicious counter attack where Takeshita ripped off Akihiro’s arm. Alone again, Yoshihiko has to fight Takeshita one more time in a Last Man Standing match!

Kongoh popped by to visit Sanshiro Takagi on yesterday’s DDT TV SHOW. They seem like nice lads. Well if you ignore the leader Kenou threatening violence on Takagi if he doesn’t leave NOAH alone. That’s difficult because Takagi is NOAH’s president. And as president Takagi is ordering Kenoh, Masa Kitamiya & Hao to fight him, Kazusada Higuchi & Tomomitsu Matsunaga in a DDT ring!

Daisuke Sasaki originally chose Shunma Katsumata to be his next DDT UNIVERSAL Title defence because he thinks it is a match he can easily win. Then two things happened that he did not expect. One, Isami Kodaka came in wanting to win a title that didn’t exist back when he was a DDT employee. And two, Katsumata went into his Super Hardcore form to attack the champion. A Hardcore 3 Way Match will solve those problems.

Mizuki Watase has shown some progress by wrestling with coach Jun Akiyama. This is the first time they are teaming together.

Both Nobuhiro Shimatani and Seigo Tachibana want regular bookings in DDT. The company isn’t big enough for the both of them.

DDT “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2020 DAY 2”, 07/06/2020
DDT TV SHOW Studio

1. Super Sasadango Machine Remote Produce Match: Toru Owashi Vs Antonio Honda
2. Tokyo Joshi Pro 6-Woman Tag Match: Yuka Sakazaki, Miyu Yamashita & Shoko Nakajima Vs Rika Tatsumi, Nodoka Tenma & Yuki Aino
3. Yukio Sakaguchi & Saki Akai Vs Chris Brookes & Maki Itoh
4. DDT Extreme Title – Celebration! Release Restriction Rules: Shinya Aoki (c) Vs Yukio Naya
5. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title: Danshoku Dieno (c) Vs Makoto Oishi
6. HARASHIMA & Naomichi Marufuji Vs MAO & Asuka
7. KO-D Tag Team Titles: Yuki Ueno & Naomi Yoshimura Vs T-Hawk & El Lindaman
8. KO-D Openweight Title: Masato Tanaka (c) Vs Tetsuya Endo

On Day 2, Tetsuya Endo reaches his destination. There was a setback here and there but now nothing is stopping him from facing Masato Tanaka for the KO-D Openweight Title. Endo’s big goal for #DAMNHEARTS is to monopolize DDT’s championships so T-Hawk & El Lindaman are challenging Nautilus for the KO-D Tag Team Titles.

MAO will return from injury one day too late. The last active Right To Challenge Gauntlet has expired and he was too hurt to use it. So he has to take a detour and will chase after the UNIVERSAL Title. MAO will also team with Asuka for now because the Coronavirus measures prevent Mike Bailey from entering Japan. They get a big challenge in the form of HarashiMarufuji!

Danshoku Dieno is finally moving away from his Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title defences against Antonio Honda. He still hasn’t beat him but another figure decided to get in his way. Makoto Oishi has a decade of history with Dieno and he will let it all out for the big clash.


DDT “DDT TV SHOW! #5” Results

May 30, 2020

DDT “DDT TV SHOW! #5”, 30/05/2020
DDT TV SHOW Studio
0 Fans

1. Kazusada Higuchi, Yukio Sakaguchi & Saki Akai defeated Chris Brookes, Mizuki Watase & Yukio Naya by TKO when Sakaguchi used the Modified Sleeper Hold on Watase (9:41).
2. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title: Antonio Honda defeated Danshoku Dieno (c) by Disqualification when Dieno gave the referee a Low Blow (8:11).
*No title change due to Disqualification.
3. DAMNATION VS ALL OUT!: Daisuke Sasaki & Soma Takao defeated Shunma Katsumata & Yuki Iino when Takao pinned Iino with a Running Elbow Butt (13:18).
4. Jun Akiyama defeated Hideki Okatani with a Crab Hold (4:24).
5. Konosuke Takeshita & Akito defeated Yoshihiko & Akihiro by Referee Stoppage when Takeshita ripped Akihiro’s arm off (9:35).
6. KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles: Tetsuya Endo, T-Hawk & El Lindaman (c) defeated HARASHIMA, Yuki Ueno & Naomi Yoshimura when Endo pinned Ueno with the Shooting Star Press (16:17).
*V2 for #DAMNHEARTS.

One week to go until “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2020” and everything is set for the big weekend. Tetsuya Endo is now all clear to challenge for the KO-D Openweight Title. Today’s main event was changed into an official KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles defence when DISASTER BOX asked for it. Yuki Ueno wanted the most motivation possible for his first match back in two months. El Lindaman accepted on his team’s behalf but only DISASTER BOX understood that challenging twice in a row means there is also a big risk attached. #DAMNHEARTS had already beaten them once before and they wouldn’t agree to a second chance under normal circumstances. T-Hawk dodged the Somato from HARASHIMA but was Clotheslined out of the ring by Naomi Yoshimura. Lindaman got rid of Yoshimura with a German Suplex and then held Ueno up for Endo to hit him with the Handspring Overhead Kick. Endo got a nearfall with the Swivel Torture Rack Bomb then hit the Shooting Star Press while his teammates held the rest of DISASTER BOX back.

#DAMNHEARTS got an extra few shots in on DISASTER BOX after the match. Lindaman reminded them about the big risk they accepted. Now it’s time for the other tag belts to be defended. T-Hawk & El Lindaman want to challenge for the KO-D Tag Team Titles at “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2020”! Yoshimura accepted the challenge. Meanwhile Endo got confirmation that he is guaranteed to face Masato Tanaka for the KO-D Title on 7th June. He promised #STRONGHEARTS will take the KO-D Tag Title belts from Nautilus and he will take the KO-D Title from Gold’s Gym! Endo wants everyone to know that Saitama Super Arena is not his end goal. His end goal is for #DAMNHEARTS to monopolize all of the championships and make pro wrestling even hotter!

If having #STRONGHEARTS around wasn’t enough for DDT to handle, now there’s another invading force coming in, one a little more closer to home. The Kongoh stable from Pro Wrestling NOAH entered the ring before the main event and their leader Kenoh demanded to see Sanshiro Takagi. Kenoh hates Takagi! He hates that Takagi is the president of NOAH. He believes Takagi wants DDT to take over NOAH so Kenoh swears to protect NOAH from him. Takagi came out and told him they are in a DDT ring. He can complain all he wants but if it bothers him that much they should fight over it. As the president of NOAH, Takagi orders Kenoh to fight him in DDT! Kenoh shouted that he will! DDT and Kongo will face off at “WRESTLE PETER PAN” next weekend.

An eye for an eye. An arm for an arm. ALL OUT came out for revenge on Yoshihiko & Akihiro in a violent clash. The battle dolls were ambushed by Shunma Katsumata & Yuki Iino during their entrance. Konosuke Takeshita & Akito joined the beating and brought Yoshihiko into the ring to finish it off. Akihiro came to the rescue and the dolls gave Takeshita a Double Canadian Destroyer. They then went to German Suplex Akito but he switched positions with Katsumata’s help. Takeshita then grabbed onto them to deliver a quadruple stacked German Suplex! Akito dragged Yoshihiko over to the stage and tied him in knots before hanging the rolled up doll from the banners. Akito then forced Yoshihiko to watch on as Takeshita ripped off Akihiro’s arm! The referee stopped the match by TKO and Takeshita celebrated with his new trophy. He blamed Yoshihiko for all of the physical and mental anguish ALL OUT has suffered over the last month. Now it has suffered like they have. Takeshita challenged Yoshihiko to one more match next week to settle the score. It will be a Last Man Standing match!

The younger generation of DDT wrestlers have shown themselves eager to get in the ring with Jun Akiyama. The rookie Hideki Okatani jumped out of the starting blocks hitting Running Elbows. Akiyama took the wind out of his sails with a Body Slam onto the floor outside. Okatani tried to regain ground with more Elbow Strikes and even went for a Northern Lights Suplex but Akiyama cut him off with a Guillotine Choke. Akiyama let go just to knee Okatani in the head. There was enough in the rookie to kick out of the pin but when the Crab Hold was locked in it was all over once Akiyama moved it to the centre of the ring.

Soma Takao pinned Yuki Iino in the DAMNATION Vs ALL OUT tag match but the story to focus on was what happened afterwards. Daisuke Sasaki’s interview was interrupted by an attack from Shunma Katsumata in his Super Hardcore form. A confused Sasaki shouted about how Katsumata looked like he came from a wedding while he was being attacked. He then called for the police or Batman to save him. Katsumata beat him up with chairs and gave him a Pedigree onto the chair covered with toy blocks. He then raised the DDT UNIVERSAL Title over his head.

Let’s try this Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title match again! Early in the bout, Antonio Honda put Danshoku Dieno in a tight Hammerlock. Dieno sounded like he was about to say “Give Up” but instead said different phrases that rhymed with it. Honda then tried palm reading to see Dieno’s fortune. He found out Dieno’s pro wrestling luck is the worst! Dieno put Honda in a Sleeper Hold and almost made him pass out. Honda’s arm fell two times but on the third it popped up with a Gongitsune puppet on his hand. The match suddenly paused and the WRESTLE UNIVERSE audience were given time to vote on Twitter what they wanted to happen next. Either a) Dieno could listen to Gongitsune, b) Dieno told his own story or c) the referee gets attacked for some reason. The audience voted for b) and Dieno told his own Gongitsune story. But when he went for the Sweet Chin Music sneak attack, Honda dodged it and it hit Yukinori Matsui in the groin instead! For some reason Dieno and Honda agreed to attack Matsui together. Matsui fought them off with a Double Lariat but when he went to leave, Dieno gave him a Low Blow. A badly hurt Matsui disqualified Dieno but he remains the champion.

More antics happened straight away when Makoto Oishi entered the ring and gave Stunners to Dieno and Matsui. He demanded an Iron Man Title match because he can give Dieno a lively challenge. Dieno told Oishi he’s been waiting for him all this time and on 7th June they will settle 10 years of history between them. He went for a handshake but Oishi spat in his face instead.

Unfortunately due to a right ankle injury he suffered during training, MAO is currently out of action. The good news is he will recover in time to wrestle on 7th June. The bad news is the Right To Challenge Gauntlet he currently possesses expires before that date. Today’s show was the last chance it could be used. MAO threw a hissy fit over the decision and said he wants to give the Gauntlet to Mike Bailey if he can’t use it. Hisaya Imabayashi told him that was impossible. MAO has no other friends so he doesn’t know what to do. Imabayashi then struck him a deal. He gives up the Gauntlet and it becomes invalid. In return a new Gauntlet will be active after “WRESTLE PETER PAN”. When MAO comes back he will be put in the match where the new Gauntlet is on the line. MAO agreed to the deal. He then found out he will team with Asuka to take on HARASHIMA & Naomichi Marufuji for his return match! MAO likes that idea. Since Bailey can’t be in DDT for now, maybe MAO teaming with Asuka will be the next best thing.

Eruption are now bouncing back from their failed plan to take over DDT’s main event scene. Their win in the opener was also a preview of their tag match against the NEO Itoh Respect Army next week. Chris Brookes got to tangle with both Yukio Sakaguchi & Saki Akai. A motivated Mizuki Watase went after Sakaguchi but his Back Drop was countered into a Sleeper Hold. Brookes & Yukio Naya were taken out by the rest of Eruption while Sakaguchi sent Watase to sleep.

After last week’s setback, Seigo Tachibana returned at some point during the show again demanding to be booked. Imabayashi told him he wouldn’t because he couldn’t beat Okatani last week. Tachibana threatened him into giving another match. Suddenly Nobuhiro Shimatani entered the room also demanding to be booked! He lost 15kg in weight since his last DDT appearance and thinks he deserves to be here more than Tachibana does. The two were about to fight when Imabayashi told them they can have a match on Day 1 of “WRESTLE PETER PAN”. Tachibana then admitted he thought that show was today.


DDT “DDT UNIVERSE LIVE! APRIL FOOL 2020” Results

April 4, 2020

DDT “DDT UNIVERSE LIVE! APRIL FOOL 2020”, 04/04/2020
Chiba 2AW Square
0 Fans

1. Jordan Heatley Debut & Goodbye Match: Konosuke Takeshita defeated Jordan Heatley with the Komoritsuri Otoshiiiiii!!!!!!!!!! (11:27).
2. Handicap Match: Kazusada Higuchi defeated Keigo Nakamura & Hideki Okatani when Higuchi submitted Okatani with the Canadian Backbreaker (6:22).
3. Akito, Shunma Katsumata & Yukio Naya defeated Daisuke Sasaki, Soma Takao & Mad Paulie when Akito submitted Paulie with a Figure 4 Leg Lock (8:41).
4. Saki Akai “Okibariyasu” 7 Match Series – 5th Match: Syuri defeated Saki Akai with the Suzaku (8:02).
5. MAO & Mike Bailey Vs Chris Brookes & Danshoku Dieno ended in a No Contest (13:56).
6. DDT Extreme Title – NO MOVE, NO LIFE Rule: Shinya Aoki (c) defeated Makoto Oishi by TKO (12:09).
*V1 for Shinya Aoki.
7. KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles: Tetsuya Endo, T-Hawk & El Lindaman (c) defeated HARASHIMA, Yuki Ueno & Naomi Yoshimura when Lindaman pinned Ueno with the Tiger Suplex (16:02).
*V1 for #DAMNHEARTS.

Every dog has his day. Today’s that day and El Lindaman is that dog. In the closing stretch of the main event, Lindaman was close to losing the match when Yuki Ueno hit the Frog Splash. T-Hawk broke the pin and Lindaman got his second wind by clearing the ring with German Suplexes. Tetsuya Endo dove onto HARASHIMA & Naomi Yoshimura with the Sasuke Special. That gave Lindaman clear to pin Ueno with the Tiger Suplex. Endo isn’t satisfied with #DAMNHEARTS only defending the KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles once. T-Hawk told everyone he and Lindaman will continue to go 100%.

Inspired by the recent Go Shiozaki Vs Kazuyuki Fujita match, the DDT Extreme Title was put on the line in a NO MOVE, NO LIFE match. The match would go as normal for 60 seconds then Shinya Aoki and Makoto Oishi would have to hold still for a minute. When the minute was up they could wrestle again for another 60 seconds before having to freeze again. This would continue until somebody could not stay still three times. Oishi got Aoki to move twice at time when they were stuck grappling each other. Oishi sneakily licked Aoki’s nipple and poked him in the rear to make him jump. Knowing he was ahead, Oishi purposely moved twice to attack a defenceless Aoki. He did this thinking it did enough damage to pin Aoki. But the plan cost him big time when Aoki caught him in a Cradle in the moment they had to freeze. The pin was counted and Oishi kicked out at two. But it was the third time he moved so he still lose the match by TKO.

Aoki made a surprising choice for his next challenger. It’s Keigo Nakamura! He told Nakamura to take this opportunity seriously. Nakamura accepted the challenge and Aoki yelled at him for not stretching the moment out like a pro wrestler should.

Even without an audience Danshoku Dieno finds a way to get his match cancelled. He tried to get his hands on Mike Bailey at every opportunity, making Bailey mad enough to throw a chair at him. Chris Brookes joined in the fun for extra insult but that just made Bailey even madder. The two teams fought their way out to the parking lot where Dieno & Brookes threw The Moonlight Express into a van and drove off. Yukinori Matsui was left on his own inside the ring and he bowed to the cameras in apology. The match was a no contest.

The Saki Akai Vs Syuri match was taped in Tokyo Ochanomizu Dojo. Hey if taping matches from the same show in different locations is good enough for WWE then it’s good enough for DDT. Syuri escaped from the Quetzalcoatl and made Akai submit to the Suzaku Armbar. She is apologetic for confusing Akai’s Kyoto accent with an Osaka one. Akai’s penultimate match for the “Okibariyasu” series is against Saori Anou on on 3rd May.

Springtime in DDT means Mad Paulie is back in heat! He appeared with a red pattern in his face and he was difficult to control during his match. He attacked his DAMNATION teammates as well as his opponents. Akito weathered the assault and directed Paulie to attack Daisuke Sasaki & Soma Takao. Paulie then attacked Akito with Mounted Punches but that left him open for Yukio Naya to hit him with a Running Knee. Akito applied a Figure 4 Leg Lock from that position which was enough to make Paulie give up.

Kazusada Higuchi was the only Eruption member in Chiba today. He was put in a handicap match against the two rookies Nakamura & Hideki Okatani. Higuchi’s power nulled the 2 on 1 handicap and he made Okatani submit to the Canadian Backbreaker. For Higuchi this match was made to show off his power to Endo.

Jordan Heatley said his favorite wrestler was El Generico so it is only fitting for Konosuke Takeshita to beat him with a move similar to the Brainbustaaaaahhhhh!!!!! Takeshita beat Heatley with an Avalanche Air Raid Crash onto the top turnbuckle, which I’m translating as Komoritsuri Otoshiiiiii!!!!!!!!!! for the time being.

Heatley got to give a speech later on to keep the show going after Dieno’s van incident. He said it was sad to wrestle in front of no fans but he still had fun. He hopes to return to Japan some day so he can wrestle in front of the Japanese fans. A group photo was then put together for him. When Heatley goes home he promises to spread the DDT style across the world.

At the end of the show Dieno returned to the ring and gave a speech. He thanked the fans at home for watching at a time when Japan and the rest of the world are in a very difficult situation. He explain the job of a major professional wrestler is to get up ever day no matter how driven or beaten they are. He promises that he and the rest of DDT will never give up. He will always fight even if his wrestling style in vulgar.

There was a part in the show where Takeshita also gave a speech to the audience about how hard the entire DDT Group was working to put these shows together.

Yukio Sakaguchi sent in a video message to promote his match with Masato Tanaka for the KO-D Openweight Title. Sakaguchi wanted it to be at Korakuen Hall but it will have to be at Shinjuku FACE instead. He told the DDT fans to take care of each other and he will see them again soon.


New No People Shows In April

March 31, 2020

DDT “DDT UNIVERSE LIVE! APRIL FOOL 2020”, 04/04/2020
Chiba 2AW Square

1. Jordan Heatley Debut Match: Konosuke Takeshita Vs Jordan Heatley
2. Saki Akai “Okibariyasu” 7 Match Series – 5th Match: Syuri Vs Saki Akai
3. KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles: Tetsuya Endo, T-Hawk & El Lindaman (c) Vs HARASHIMA, Yuki Ueno & Naomi Yoshimura
4. DDT Extreme Title: Shinya Aoki (c) Vs Makoto Oishi

We’re back to empty arena shows for the time being. At least it’s happening in different venues. Chiba 2AW Square is available so Jordan Heatley’s debut match, Saki Akai Vs Syuri, the KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles match and the DDT Extreme Title match that were all meant to happen in the first weekend of April are now taking place there.

DDT “DDT UNIVERSE LIVE! MAX BUMP 2020”, 12/04/2020
Shinjuku FACE

1. Special Single Match: Tetsuya Endo Vs Kazusada Higuchi
2. KO-D Tag Team Titles: Yuki Ueno & Naomi Yoshimura (c) Vs MAO & Mike Bailey
3. KO-D Openweight Title: Masato Tanaka (c) Vs Yukio Sakaguchi

The 12th April Korakuen Hall show was cancelled so the big matches booked for that show are now happening in Shinjuku FACE on the same day. So the KO-D Openweight Title and KO-D Tag Team Titles are still getting defended. Also Tetsuya Endo Vs Kazusada Higuchi for the Saitama Super Arena Sword. There may be some other Right To Challenge Gauntlet shenanigans going on.

BASARA “BASARA 129 ~BANQUET~”, 21/04/2020
Shin-Kiba 1st RING

1. IRON FIST Tag Titles: Tsutomu Oosugi & Banana Senga (c) Vs Gouma Ryu & Ryuji Ito
2. Union MAX Title: Fuminori Abe (c) Vs Isami Kodaka

Fuminori Abe gets the toughest test possible for his first Union MAX Title defence. Isami Kodaka pinned him in a tag match on the last show so that makes him the No. 1 Contender.


DDT “DRAMATIC HYAKUMANGOKU! 2020” Results

March 22, 2020

DDT “DRAMATIC HYAKUMANGOKU! 2020”, 22/03/2020
Kanazawa Distribution Hall
193 Fans

1. Yuki Ueno & Naomi Yoshimura defeated Keigo Nakamura & Hideki Okatani when Yoshimura pinned Okatani with a Crab Hold (9:23).
2. Akito defeated Kazuki Hirata by Countout (8:02).
3. MAO & Antonio Honda defeated Daisuke Sasaki & Mad Paulie when MAO pinned Paulie with the Cannonball 450 (10:59).
*MAO wins Mad Paulie’s Right To Challenge Anytime, Anywhere Gauntlet.
4. Kazusada Higuchi & Yukio Sakaguchi defeated HARASHIMA & Yukio Naya when Sakaguchi pinned Naya with the God’s Right Knee (11:06).
5. Toru Owashi & Ken Ohka defeated Mike Bailey & Mizuki Watase when Ohka pinned Watase with the Fire Spear (12:51).
6. Kanazawa Specialty! Stubborn Special Tag Match: CIMA & Soma Takao defeated Chris Brookes & Makoto Oishi when CIMA pinned Oishi with the Mad Splash (11:02).
7. KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles: Tetsuya Endo, T-Hawk & El Lindaman defeated Konosuke Takeshita, Shunma Katsumata & Yuki Iino (c) when Endo pinned Katsumata with the Shooting Star Press (19:28).
*ALL OUT fails in V4. #DAMNHEARTS becomes the 40th KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Champions!

The Business Alliance between DAMNATION and #STRONGHEARTS are going from strength to strength. Now they have title belts to share between them because Tetsuya Endo, T-Hawk & El Lindaman are the new KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Champions! The title change happened when Endo wiped out Konosuke Takeshita & Yuki Iino with a Sasuke Special. In the ring T-Hawk & Lindaman gave Shunma Katsumata a Double Impact Codebreaker. Endo then came back to pin Katsumata with the Shooting Star Press. After the match Endo revealed the official name of the Business Alliance. They figured out how to mash the two unit names together and they are now called #DAMNHEARTS! Their first defence is against DISASTER BOX on 4th April.

The next goal for #DAMNHEARTS is for CIMA & Soma Takao to win the KO-D Tag Team Titles. That way all of the full time members will be a champion, except for Mad Paulie but he doesn’t seem to mind (even though he lost his Right To Challenge Gauntlet to MAO earlier in the show). CimaSoma are making progress on earning their tag title shot. The two Mad Splash combo is continuing to win them matches.

Toru Owashi brought Ken Ohka’s father to ringside so they could cheer Ohka on. Owashi got so into it he forgot he was part of the match and Ohka couldn’t tag him in. He got back in, gave Mike Bailey & Mizuki Watase a Double Choke Slam and set Ohka up to hit the match winning Fire Spear. Owashi told the crowd that today was the first time he and Ohka teamed together since February 2013. Ohka said he was upset because next week’s Bakuha Koshien show was postponed. But once he got back in the ring this weekend to wrestle again he remembered how fun pro wrestling can be.

Yukio Sakaguchi and the rest of Eruption have had a busy weekend wrestling for both DDT and Ganbare☆Wrestling. Sakaguchi said it is giving him a good feel for challenging Masato Tanaka over the KO-D Openweight Title soon. Higuchi got the word out that he is chasing after the Saitama Super Arena Sword because he wants to, not because Sakaguchi told him to.

By being on the winning side today, Antonio Honda thinks he has earned a DDT UNIVERSAL Title shot. He asked Daisuke Sasaki again for a match. He got Sasaki to meditate so he could decide on a clear mind. Sasaki meditated then turned down the challenge again. Honda had to go find Hisaya Imabayashi after the show and use meditation on him to get the title shot. Sasaki Vs Honda for the UNIVERSAL Title will now take place on 19th April.

Kazuki Hirata appeared on the balcony to dance during his entrance. He brought Akito up to the balcony and knocked him out with the Tegatana Chop. Hirata then put on the Hirata GO! glasses and danced in the balcony while Akito escaped back down to the ring. Hirata was still dancing when he got counted out.


DDT “JUDGEMENT 2020 ~DDT 23RD ANNIVERSARY~” Results

March 20, 2020

DDT “JUDGEMENT 2020 ~DDT 23RD ANNIVERSARY~”, 20/03/2020
Tokyo Korakuen Hall
916 Fans

0. Exhibition Match: Kazusada Higuchi defeated Jordan Heatley with the Canadian Backbreaker (3:50).
1. Hideki Okatani Debut Match: Naomi Yoshimura & Keigo Nakamura defeated Shunma Katsumata & Hideki Okatani when Yoshimura pinned Okatani with a Lariat (6:01).
-. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title: Masahiro Takanashi defeated Toru Owashi (c) with a School Boy (11:51 am).
*Masahiro Takanashi becomes the 1,474th champion.
2. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title – Battle Royal: Kazuki Hirata defeated Masahiro Takanashi (c), Toru Owashi, Danshoku Dieno, Antonio Honda, Mizuki Watase, Yukio Naya and Hiroshi Yamato (7:42).
2a. Toru Owashi & Hiroshi Yamato eliminated Masahiro Takanashi (c) with a Double Lateral Cradle (2:06).
*Toru Owashi & Hiroshi Yamato both become the 1,745th co-champions.
2b. Danshoku Dieno, Yukio Naya, Antonio Honda & Mizuki Watase eliminated Toru Owashi (1/2 c) & Hiroshi Yamato (1/2 c) with Simultaneous Pinfalls (2:40).
*Danshoku Dieno, Yukio Naya, Antonio Honda & Mizuki Watase all become the 1,746th co-champions.
2c. Kazuki Hirata eliminated Mizuki Watase (1/4 c) with a School Boy (5:13).
*Kazuki Hirata becomes 1/4 of the 1,476th champions.
2d. Kazuki Hirata (1/4 c) eliminated Yukio Naya (1/4 c) with a School Boy (5:54).
*Kazuki Hirata becomes 2/4 of the 1,476th champions.
2e. Kazuki Hirata (2/4 c) eliminated Antonio Honda (1/4 c) by Pinfall (6:54).
*Kazuki Hirata becomes 3/4 of the 1,476th champions.
2f. Kazuki Hirata (3/4 c) eliminated Danshoku Dieno (1/4 c) with the Miracle One Shot Cradle (7:42).
*Kazuki Hirata becomes the unified 1,477th champion.
-. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title: Toru Owashi defeated Kazuki Hirata (c) with a School Boy (12:01 pm).
*Toru Owashi becomes the 1,478th champion.
3. CIMA, Soma Takao, Mad Paulie & El Lindaman defeated Shinya Aoki, MAO, Mike Bailey & Makoto Oishi when Takao pinned Oishi with the Mad Splash (9:24).
4. HARASHIMA, Naomichi Marufuji & Yuki Ueno defeated Akito, Yuki Iino & Royce Chambers when HARASHIMA pinned Akito with the Somato (10:33).
5. Business Alliance Vs Eruption!: Kazusada Higuchi, Yukio Sakaguchi & Saki Akai defeated Tetsuya Endo, T-Hawk & Nobuhiro Shimatani when Sakaguchi pinned Shimatani with the God’s Right Knee (9:15).
5a. Emergency Decision: Tetsuya Endo defeated Royce Chambers with the Shooting Star Press (4:42).
*Royce Chambers cashed in his Right To Challenge Anytime, Anywhere Gauntlet.
6. DDT UNIVERSAL Title: Daisuke Sasaki defeated Chris Brookes (c) with the Crossover Facelock (20:35).
*Chris Brookes fails in V1. Daisuke Sasaki becomes the 2nd DDT UNIVERSAL Champion!
7. KO-D Openweight Title: Masato Tanaka (c) defeated Konosuke Takeshita with the Rolling Elbow (22:56).
*V2 for Masato Tanaka.

Heck if I know if it was a good idea to do this but DDT’s monthly Korakuen Hall show went ahead today in front of an audience. The main event to celebrate DDT’s 23rd anniversary saw the face of the company attempt to regain the KO-D Openweight Title. The champion Masato Tanaka used chairs to great effect, using them to attack Konosuke Takeshita’s knees as well as hit a direct chairshot to the head. A Splash from the top rope through a table outside also caused great damage to Takeshita. However Takeshita used the chair against Tanaka by Corner To Corner Dropkicking it into his face. Takeshita hit an Avalanche Air Raid Crash but Tanaka kicked out of the pin. The Fable was countered into a Power Bomb. Tanaka kept using Elbow Strikes to cut off Takeshita’a offence. He would hit short range Sliding D’s but Takeshita would find a way to prevent Tanaka from hitting the move at full force. Takeshita threw his own Elbow Strikes but Tanaka stood tall at the end when he pulled off his elbow pad and struck Takeshita raw with an unprotected Rolling Elbow. There was no kicking out after that.

Tanaka said he was so happy to fight Takeshita today because of the struggle he gave him. When Takeshita left ringside, Yuki Iino approached the ring threatening to cash in his Right To Challenge Gauntlet. However it was only a threat and he left without doing anything. Tanaka had an opportunity to choose his next challenger again but he wasn’t sure who to pick. Suddenly, Yukio Sakaguchi sprung into the ring! He wants the next title shot in April. The match was accepted with Tanaka standing on the middle rope so he could look down on Sakaguchi. The final words went to Sakaguchi. In April will win the KO-D Title and Kazusada Higuchi will win the Saitama Super Arena Sword. That will mean when June comes around, the main event of Saitama Super Arena will be occupied entirely by Eruption! Sakaguchi then thanked the fans for coming out today. He works a regular job along with his pro wrestling career so he is grateful that the fans continue to support DDT. In return everybody in DDT is encouraged to do their best.

Easy come, easy go. The first DDT UNIVERSAL Champion loses the belt in his first defence. An out of ring brawl made up the early part of the match with Chris Brookes attempting to put Daisuke Sasaki through some chairs with the Praying Mantis Bomb. Instead Sasaki dropped both Brookes and himself into the row of chairs with a Russian Leg Sweep. Sasaki also hit a Diving Elbow Drop from the ring corner to a seated Brookes outside the ring. DAMNATION interfered once Brookes regained some ground. Sasaki intentionally used Brookes to take out Daisuke Kiso. Tetsuya Endo’s Overhead Kick hit Sasaki by mistake and Brookes hit the Praying Mantis Bomb. Kiso counted the pin until Mad Paulie pulled him out of the ring. Brookes wiped out DAMNATION with a dive then made Sasaki submit to the Octopus Hold but there was no referee to call the match. Nobuhiro Shimatani came in to attack Brookes with the DAMNATION signboard but Masahiro Takanashi came out to get rid of him. Kiso got back up to count some nearfalls like Sasaki’s Diving Elbow and Brookes’ Tombstone Piledriver. Brookes went for the Praying Mantis Bomb once more but Sasaki countered it into the Cross Facelock. He then switched it into the Crossover Facelock to make Brookes submit.

Sasaki’s first words as the new champion was “Old dog never die!” He said all beer from the UK is soft with no carbonation so he will not take on any challengers from Britain anymore. Antonio Honda entered the ring to challenge Sasaki but he tripped over the ropes. He got back up and said Sasaki has a filthy heart. Sasaki began to meditate to fix that problem but Honda told him to get back up. Honda challenged Sasaki to a title match but he was turned down.

As briefly mentioned earlier, Eruption has the main event of “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2020” in their sights. Sakaguchi is going straight after the KO-D Title while Higuchi is now targeting Endo for the SSA Sword. Higuchi threw Endo for a loop by using a Package Power Bomb but it was Sakaguchi who won the match by pinning Shimatani. T-Hawk was earlier taken out with a Higuchi Lariat so it was a rough match for the Business Alliance.

When the match ended, El Lindaman promoted the KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles match he, Endo & T-Hawk will be a part of in two days time. ALL OUT interrupted the Business Alliance because Royce Chambers had something to say. He will be going back to Australia tomorrow so he is using his Right To Challenge Gauntlet to win the SSA Sword right now! Chambers went for the kill by using his own high flying moves to counter Endo’s. They both used Canadian Destroyers on each other but Endo took it one step further by doing a Double Arm Canadian Destroyer. Chambers kicked out of the pin after that but was down and out when Endo hit the Shooting Star Press. Endo got on the mic and said as long as he is in the ring, nobody else will get the chance to be at the top! He told Chambers to study more Japanese if he ever comes back. He then joked about wrestling in saunas before warning ALL OUT that the Business Alliance will win the KO-D 6-Man Tag Titles! Whoever comes out as the KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Champions after 22nd March will defend the belts against DISASTER BOX on 4th April.

Naomichi Marufuji was back to team with DISASTER BOX and his partnership with HARASHIMA in particular had not lost a step. When Yuki Ueno dove out of the ring onto Iino & Chambers, it left HARASHIMA & Marufuji alone with Akito. Together they hit a Double Thrust Kick, Marufuji did the Shiranui and HARASHIMA won with the Somato.

After the match, HARASHIMA thanked Marufuji for reforming HarashiMarufuji after a long time apart. They brought up the idea of tagging together at “WRESTLE PETER PAN”. That caused CIMA & Soma Takao to come out. CIMA made fun of the HarashiMarufuji team name. It isn’t an easy name to say. CimaSoma is easy to say which means it is a better name. CIMA could have confronted Marufuji back on the 3rd January DDT show but he was occupied with Business Alliance stuff. In the end CimaSoma challenged HarashiMarufuji to a match at “WRESTLE PETER PAN”. Marufuji isn’t interested in fighting Takao but he can’t turn down the chance to wrestle CIMA for the first time since their Budokan tag match in NOAH way back in 2007!

A Mad Splash from CIMA followed by a Mad Splash from Takao gave the Business Alliance the victory in the 8-Man Tag Match. The bout was Shinya Aoki’s first 8-Man Tag Match and also the return of Mike Bailey to DDT. Aoki found out after the match that his next DDT Extreme Title defence is on 5th April. An opponent has not been decided yet but he would like to face Makoto Oishi in a matchup between Sambo and Judo. Meanwhile The Moonlight Express want to win the KO-D Tag Team Titles so they can claim the shiny new championship belts.

The Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title lineage was fractured into multiple co-champions during the Battle Royal. Before the match even begun, Takanashi pinned Toru Owashi during his entrance to win the belt. Everyone chased Takanashi into the ring so the Rumble style entries were thrown out and a regular Battle Royal began. Owashi & Hiroshi Yamato pinned Takanashi at the same time to they became co-champions. The two of them were then all pinned by Danshoku Dieno, Yukio Naya, Antonio Honda & Mizuki Watase at the same time creating 4 co-champions! Kazuki Hirata had to eliminated each of the 4 co-champions to unify the title back into one whole piece. All of that hard work was taken away when Owashi pinned Hirata after the match to become the champion again.

The debuting Hideki Okatani was pinned in his first match as expected. He was mostly on the defensive against Naomi Yoshimura and also Keigo Nakamura. He was able to do a Northern Lights Suplex after Shunma Katsumata softened Yoshimura up. But a Lariat put Okatani down for the three count. Just like Nakamura, Okatani’s goal is to beat a senior wrestler as soon as possible.

The trainee Jordan Heatley faced Higuchi in the pre-show exhibition match. Heatley tried to put on a Tazzmission but Higuchi instead submitted him with the Canadian Backbreaker. Heatley will make his official debut against Honda on 2nd April.

Yoshiaki Yatsu appeared to introduce the show and also promote his return match at “WRESTLE PETER PAN”.

The 5th opponent in Saki Akai’s “Okibariyasu” trial is Syuri. Akai knows Syuri is a powerful kicker so she is looking forward to comparing them with her own kicks. Their match is on 2nd April.

DDT is holding a Falls Count Anywhere Match inside the Saitama Anzukai Clinic to protect the elderly from the COVID-19. The match on 30th March will be Konosuke Takeshita, Shunma Katsumata & Gorgeous Matsuno Vs Shinya Aoki, Makoto Oishi & Gabai Ji-chan.


Saitama Super Arena Tomorrow! Matsumoto Learns Ramen, TJPW In Tampa Card, Ganpro 6th Anniversary Match

March 10, 2020

DDT “DDT LIVE! MAJI MANJI ROAD WRESTLING IN SAITAMA SUPER ARENA”, 11/03/2020
Saitama Super Arena

1. Rojo Current Blast Death Match: Atsushi Onita Vs X
2. DDT Extreme Title: HARASHIMA (c) Vs Shinya Aoki

A few things about this show. It is being held at Saitama Super Arena empty arena style. This was the plan before the Coronavirus situation appeared. The DDT Extreme Title bout will not be the only match happening. Atsushi Onita will be there expecting to have a Current Blast Death Match of some sort. Oh and now Danshoku Dieno is angry that he was booked without being told so he is forming a locker room coup to wage war against Sanshiro Takagi.

GAKE NO FUCHI JOSHI PRO “GAKEPPUCHI SNOW WHITE 2020”, 12/03/2020
Saitama Wrestle Arena

1. Miyako Matsumoto (w/ Ippanjin Munenori Sawa) Vs Chikara (w/ Mao)

Miyako Matsumoto spent yesterday undergoing special ramen training in Shibuya. It was Munenori Sawa’s idea because cooks put their soul into their food just like how wrestlers put their soul into their performance. If Matsumoto can create delicious ramen then the Gake no Fuchi Joshi show this week will surely succeed! After a four hour training course, Matsumoto created her ramen dish and was gifted a 500 yen coin by the chef. Sawa called it a great first step that shows how Gake no Fuchi Joshi can become more and more valuable.

DDT “NASUKOGEN NATURE SCHOOL PRO WRESTLING AGAIN!”, 21/03/2020
Tochigi Nasumachi Outdoor Training Center

1. Falls Count Anywhere 4 Way Rag Match: HARASHIMA & Naomi Yoshimura Vs Tetsuya Endo & Soma Takao Vs Shunma Katsumata & Yuki Iino Vs MAO & Keigo Nakamura

The next outdoor wrestling show DDT is doing will be at the Nasumachi Outdoor Training Center. The match is going ahead but will not allow an audience to follow them.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW IS COMING TO AMERICA WITH DDT”, 03/04/2020
The Ritz Ybor City, Tampa, Florida

1. Nodoka Tenma & Yuki Aino Vs Hyper Misao & Raku
2. 3 Way Match: Mizuki Vs Natsumi Maki Vs Yuki Kamifuku
3. Rika Tatsumi & Miu Watanabe Vs Miyu Yamashita & Hikari Noa
4. Special Single Match: Maki Itoh Vs Priscilla Kelly
5. DDT Pro Wrestling Offer Match: Konosuke Takeshita Vs Yuki Ueno
6. International Princess Title: Thunder Rosa (c) Vs Shoko Nakajima
7. Princess Of Princess Title: Yuka Sakazaki (c) Vs Su Yung

The postponed International Princess Title match between Thunder Rosa and Shoko Nakajima has been moved to Tampa, Maki Itoh gets a big match against Priscilla Kelly and the undercard gets filled up.

DDT “DAMNATION ILLEGAL RALLY RETURNS”, 07/04/2020
Shinjuku FACE

1. Shuji Ishikawa, Mad Paulie & Nobuhiro Shimatani Vs Chris Brookes, Masahiro Takanashi & Gouma Ryu
2. CIMA & Soma Takao Vs T-Hawk & Shigehiro Irie
3. Tetsuya Endo’s 8th Anniversary Match: Tetsuya Endo Vs Ryuichi Sekine

The team of CIMA & Soma Takao lives on. Next up for them is the #STRONGHEARTS pairing of T-Hawk & Shigehiro Irie. Meanwhile it wouldn’t be a DAMNATION show without Shuji Ishikawa!

GANBARE☆WRESTLING “HIEROPHANT GREEN 2020”, 11/04/2020
Tokyo Itabashi Green Hall

1. Hataage 6th Anniversary Match ~New And Old Ganpro Vs Tomodachi-gun~: Ken Ohka & Keisuke Ishii Vs Minoru Fujita & Hagane Shinno

The match name is sort of misleading. Originally Ganbare☆Wrestling began in 2013 and regularly ran shows for the year. It then took a break in the first few months of 2014 to relaunch as a “major sports league” in April of that year. So this match is the 6th Anniversary of the relaunch.

Ganpro celebrates its anniversary with a return to the promotion’s deepest feud. Minoru Fujita and the Tomodachi-gun unit were a thorn in Ken Ohka’s side from 2015 to 2016. Now Fujita has revived it for the special occasion with one of the original members Hagane Shinno (he was wrestling under the name Madoka back then). Keisuke Ishii gets to find out for himself what this unit was like to fight.