Koroku’s Mini Trial Series, Masada’s Getting No Respect, Arai Approaching IP Title Record

September 13, 2024

DDT “TETSUYA ENDO LOCAL TRIUMPH! DRAMATIC INFINITY 2024 TOUR IN SHIROISHI”, 14/09/2024
Miyagi Shiroishi White Cube

1. Chris Brookes, Takeshi Masada & Ilusion Vs Yukio Naya, Akito & To-y
2. Yuki Iino Vs Yuki Ishida
3. Daisuke Sasaki, KANON & MJ Paul Vs Yuki Ueno, Shunma Katsumata & Kazuma Sumi
4. Jun Akiyama Vs Yuya Koroku
5. Special 6-Man Tag Match: MAO, Gorgeous Matsuno & Keigo Nakamura Vs HARASHIMA, Danshoku Dieno & Kazuki Hirata
6. Shiroishi Specialty Special Single Match: Tetsuya Endo Vs Makoto Oishi

This weekend Yuya Koroku is going through a mini trial series of singles matches on back to back to back days. First up he takes on Jun Akiyama.

The current Right To Challenge Shield holders are Masahiro Takanashi (Blue), To-y (Light Blue) and Akito (White).

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “ARISU ENDO LOCAL TRIUMPH 2024”, 14/09/2024
Fukushima Aizuwakamatsu City Tsurugajo Gymnasium

1. Pom Harajuku Vs Chika Nanase
2. Toga Vs Uta Takami
3. Yuki Aino & Shino Suzuki Vs Yoshiko Hasegawa & Runa Okubo
4. Moka Miyamoto Vs Wakana Uehara
5. Miu Watanabe & HIMAWARI Vs Mizuki & Haru Kazashiro
6. Aja Kong & Raku Vs Rika Tatsumi & Mahiro Kiryu
7. Arisu Endo & Suzume Vs Miyu Yamashita & Kaya Toribami

Kira Summer has fallen ill and won’t be able to wrestle tomorrow. Shino Suzuki moves out of the 3 Way match to take Summer’s place in Match #3.

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

1. Special Single Match: Takeshi Masada Vs Makoro Oishi
2. Kazuki Hirata Vs Kazuma Sumi
3. Tetsuya Endo & Yuki Iino Vs Noriyuki Yoshida & Yuki Ishida
4. Yukio Naya Vs Yuya Koroku
5. Jun Akiyama, Tomoya & Danshoku Dieno Vs Chris Brookes, Akito & Ilusion
6. Special Tag Match: Shinya Aoki & HARASHIMA Vs MAO & Keigo Nakamura
7. KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles: Daisuke Sasaki, KANON & MJ Paul (c) Vs Yuki Ueno, Shunma Katsumata & To-y

Koroku’s second singles match of the weekend is against Yukio Naya.

DDT “DRAMATIC INFINITY 2024 TOUR IN SAPPORO – DAY 2”, 16/09/2024
Hokkaido Sapporo Sun Plaza

1. Daisuke Sasaki & KANON Vs Yuki Ishida & Ilusion
2. Tetsuya Endo, Yuki Iino & Makoto Oishi Vs Tomoya, Akito & Kazuki Hirata
3. Special Tag Match: Jun Akiyama & Noriyuki Yoshida Vs Yuki Ueno & Keigo Nakamura
4. Special Single Match: Shinya Aoki Vs Yuya Koroku
5. Special Single Match: Chris Brookes Vs Danshoku Dieno
6. Special 6-Man Tag Match: MAO, Shunma Katsumata & To-y Vs HARASHIMA, Yukio Naya & Kazuma Sumi

Then on Monday Koroku ends the series by taking on the champ Shinya Aoki himself.

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

1. Masahiro Takanashi, Antonio Honda & Ilusion Vs Toru Owashi, Danshoku Dieno & Keigo Nakamura
2. Yuki Iino & Yuya Koroku Vs Jun Akiyama & Yuki Ishida
3. Special 8-Man Tag Match: Daisuke Sasaki, Ryuichi “Fire” Kawakami, KANON & MJ Paul Vs HARASHIMA, Soma Takao, Yukio Naya & Kazuma Sumi
4. Special Single Match: Akito Vs Kazuki Hirata
5. Special Single Match: Tetsuya Endo Vs To-y
6. Special Single Match: Yuki Iino Vs Makoto Oishi
7. KO-D Tag Team Titles: Chris Brookes & Takeshi Masada (c) Vs MAO & Shunma Katsumata

Poor Takeshi Masada still isn’t getting much respect despite being one half of the KO-D Tag Team Champions. At the contract signing for this title match ShunMao called CDK their rivals instead of SCHADENFREUDE International and Chris Brookes even agreed with that notion. On the bright side Brookes is advising Masada to wrestle the match in their own unique way. That matters to his development just as much as winning or losing.

Makoto Oishi’s farewell tour brings him over to Yuki Ueno for what could be their last singles match together.

If To-y is still holding his Right To Challenge Shield by the time this show happens then Tetsuya Endo has a big chance to win it and set up another shot at Aoki for the KO-D Title. Akito could also possibly risk his Shield in a match against Kazuki Hirata. Meanwhile Masahiro Takanashi is laying low and hiding away in multi-man tag matches where the risk of directly losing a fall is much much lower.

Ryuichi “Fire” Kawakami is not running away from DDT after losing to Naya. He lost clean to Naya when they finally faced each other in a singles match but they will meet again in an 8-Man Tag Match here.

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

1. Runa Okubo Vs Haru Kazashiro
2. Yoshiko Hasegawa, Kaya Toribami & HIMAWARI Vs Kira Summer, Chika Nanase & Uta Takami
3. Kakeru Sekiguchi & Mahiro Kiryu Vs Wakana Uehara & Toga
4. Ram Kaichow Vs Raku
5. Aja Kong, Max The Impaler & Pom Harajuku Vs Rika Tatsumi, Yuki Aino & Shino Suzuki
*Special Referee: Shiori Aoki.
6. Xia Zhao & Mizuki Vs Yuki Kamifuku & VENY
7. Emi Sakura Vs Shoko Nakajima
8. International Princess Title: Yuki Arai (c) Vs Moka Miyamoto
9. Princess Tag Team Titles: Suzume & Arisu Endo (c) Vs Miyu Yamashita & Maki Itoh
10. Princess Of Princess Title: Miu Watanabe (c) Vs Ryo Mizunami

There was a contract signing held today for Yuki Arai and Moka Miyamoto to promote the International Princess Title match. Miyamoto spoke about always valuing the spirit of harmony and how she incorporates Japanese elements into her wrestling. That is how she created the Korokan move during her first attempt to win the IP Title in 2022. So her goal if she becomes the champion is to spread those feelings across the world. Arai would like to see Miyamoto win the title if the champion was somebody else but she will defend it to the death against her. She also wants to start defending the title overseas, especially if it helps SKE48 with their efforts to grow internationally. If Arai beats Miyamoto then she will hold the record for most IP Title defences with 5 wins. She wants to be proud of her title reign and hopes this match will be memorable for reasons more than just her breaking the record.

BASARA “BASARA 257 ~HIEN~”, 24/09/2024
Shin-Kiba 1st RING

1. KUBITO Vs Takeru Inoue
2. Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi & Tsutomu Oosugi Vs Banana Senga & Yuki Kanzaki
3. Ryota Nakatsu & Lil’ Kraken Vs Yumehito Imanari & Mizuki Watase
4. Takumi Tsukamoto, SAGAT & Minoru Fujita Vs Guts Ishijima, Hideyoshi Kamitani & Kuma Arashi
5. UWA World Tag Team Titles: Takato Nakano & Masato Kamino (c) Vs Isami Kodaka & Ryuichi Sekine

The UWA World Tag Team Titles have been used mainly in Big Japan for the past few years and belonged to Michinoku Pro before that. Thanks to Aijin Tag winning the belts this week the championship is now being defended over to BASARA. It didn’t take long for them to find challengers because Isami Kodaka & Ryuichi Sekine quickly decided they wanted a title shot after they saw Takato Nakano & Masato Kamino’s victory.

The “HIEN” branding is bringing in more fresh faces to BASARA. Ganbare☆Pro are sending over Yumehito Imanari & Mizuki Watase as a tag team. There is also a mixture of outside talent being put together as Guts Ishijima, Hideyoshi Kamitani & Kuma Arashi take on the BASARA home team. There’s even a tag match with Speed Of Sounds on opposite sides to freshen up the undercard.

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

1. Tetsuya Endo, Soma Takao & Yuya Koroku Vs Toru Owashi, Kazuki Hirata & To-y
2. Daisuke Sasaki, KANON & MJ Paul Vs Antonio Honda, Yuki Ishida & Ilusion
3. Special Tag Match: Shinya Aoki & HARASHIMA Vs Jun Akiyama & Keigo Nakamura
4. Special Single Match: Danshoku Dieno Vs Makoto Oishi
5. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Yuki Ueno, MAO & Kaisei Takeshi Vs Chris Brookes, Takeshi Masada & Masahiro Takanashi
6. DDT Extreme Title – IPPON Lighttube Tag Team Death Match: Shunma Katsumata (c) & Kazuma Sumi Vs Akito & Yuni
7. DDT Universal Title: Yuki Iino (c) Vs Yukio Naya

DDT got Kaisei Takeshi to sell out a show so a full Korakuen Hall has to watch Danshoku Dieno Vs Makoto Oishi. I kind of have to respect the carniness of it all.


DDT “NO SPOILERS X BEER GARDEN PRO WRESTLING IN UENO” Results

September 10, 2024

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

1. Makoto Oishi, Yukio Naya & Yuki Ishida (w/ Furitsuke Kamen) defeated Masahiro Takanashi, Akito & Ilusion when Oishi submitted Ilusion with a Texas Cloverleaf (6:10).
2. 5 Vs 1 Handicap Match: Tetsuya Endo defeated Poison Sawada JULIE, Yuki Anaconda, Mamushi Yuni, Hebi Koroku & Ero Mamushi Kazuma when Endo pinned JULIE with the Burning Star Press (7:34).
3. DRAGONGATE Rules: Daisuke Sasaki, KANON & MJ Paul Vs Pero Pero Oyakata, Toru Owashi From 20 Years Ago & Kazuki Hirata At The Time Of His Debut ended in a No Contest (9:18).
4. Special 4 Way Match: Mikan Cassidy (MAO) defeated Sergeant Chris (Chris Brookes), OBAKSHIMA (HARASHIMA) and K5000 (Keigo Nakamura) when Cassidy pinned K5000 (13:26).
5. Special Single Match: Yoshihiko defeated Takeshi Masada by Referee Stoppage when Yoshihiko tried to drown Masada (9:58).
6. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title – Sauna Manners Death Match ~ The 37KAMIINA Vs Shin The 37KAMIINA!: Yuki Ueno, Shunma Katsumata & To-y defeated Sauna Oyakata (Danshoku Dieno) (c), Keizo Matsuda & Takayuki Ueki when To-y pinned Oyakata with a Frankensteiner (13:27).
*To-y becomes the 1,668th champion. To-y wins Danshoku Dieno’s Right To Challenge Anytime, Anywhere Shield.
-. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title: Danshoku Dieno defeated To-y (c) with a School Boy (7:23 pm).
*Danshoku Dieno becomes the 1,669th champion.
-. Bonus Track: Danshoku Dieno Vs Makoto Oishi ended in a Time Limit Draw (4:07).

For the second time this year DDT held a show where they encouraged fans in attendance not to spoil anything that happened on it until the following day. DDT themselves only posted about the pre-show contract signing along with censored hints about the crazy things that happened during the matches. Since this was also a Beer Garden show that meant fans were also getting more creative matches than usual.

For example in the main event a sauna tent was pitched next to the ring and any wrestler caught breaking the rules or ignoring sauna etiquette were sent into the tent as punishment. Danshoku Dieno took part in the match as a “sauna master” of an imposter group called Shin The 37KAMIINA. Their goal was to beat and replace the original unit. One by one a different wrestler was sent to the tent for breaking etiquette. To-y broke the rule of attacking an opponent on the ropes, Dieno was punished for being lewd, Takayuki Ueki was sent to the tent for threatening his opponents with a gun and Yuki Ueno got in trouble for telling Yukinori Matsui to shut up. Eventually everyone was sent to the tent and remained there until To-y ran out accusing Dieno of harrassing him in there. The match continued in the ring where Shunma Katsumata and Keizo Matsuda tried to attack each other using heatwaves until they both fainted. To-y ended up scoring an upset pin on Dieno by giving him a Frankensteiner. As a result he won both the Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title as well as Dieno’s Right To Challenge Shield!

Dieno immediately won back the title when he rolled up To-y during his victory speech but the Shield remains with To-y. Makoto Oishi then approached Dieno and asked him for an impromptu singles match right now! Time was short so Hisaya Imabayashi could only let it go ahead if the match had a time limit of 4 minutes and 7 seconds. Everyone agreed and began the match. Dieno and Oishi quickly fought amongst the crowd while the rest of the roster danced and partied around them before joining in the fight. Back in the ring Oishi gave Dieno the Lip Lock but time ran out before he could pin him. Oishi then asked to have another match with Dieno. Imabayashi decided it will happen at Korakuen Hall on 29th September.

Yoshihiko defeated Takeshi Masada in a wild match that at one point had both of them fighting each other on top of a nearby van. The match ended with Yoshihiko trying to drown Masada by pressing his head down into a bucket of water. Matsui called off the match in Yoshihiko’s favour when Masada stopped responding.

Each of the wrestlers in the 4 Way Match took on different gimmicks from their usual selves. MAO came out as an Orange Cassidy tribute called Mikan Cassidy, Chris Brookes turned into a police sergeant, HARASHIMA transformed into OBAKSHIMA the horror monster and Keigo Nakamura became a K5000 robot impervious to almost every attack. Sgt. Brookes shooting him with a gun had no effect. What did cause him harm was MAO squirting K5000 with a water gun. Sgt. Brookes sprayed both OBAKSHIMA and K5000 with a fire extinguisher and then snapped a long rubber strap into them. Mikan then lazily laid on top of K5000 for the pinfall.

A retro themed match was held under DRAGONGATE rules because Toru Owashi was acting like the troublesome heel he was back in 2004. Kazuki Hirata also showed up dressed in his debut gear and acting like a rookie all over again. Antonio Honda filled completed the bizarre trio by appearing as his Hulk Hogan tribute gimmick called Pero Pero Oyakata. Their match against a confused DAMNATION T.A turned into a brawl around the venue. KANON didn’t understand why Hirata wasn’t dancing and tried to tempt him with the Hirata GO! glasses. Things went out of hand when Honda stripped down to his underwear and tried to give everyone the Pedigree. When he tried to do it on Matsui, the referee called off the match.

A planned 6-Man Tag Match was turned into a 5 Vs 1 Handicap Match when Poison Sawada JULIE brainwashed Tetsuya Endo’s partners with Snake Magic! JULIE also did it to his own partners so Endo had to fight a snake army all by himself. Endo got his hands on the antidote during the match and soon cured Yuki Iino, Yuya Koroku and Kazuma Sumi. They all spat Poison Mist at JULIE, rendering him helpless so Endo could pin him with the Burning Star Press. Yuni was still brainwashed after the match but Endo got him to take the antidote and return to normal.

The masked dancing master Furitsuke Kamen choreographed a special entrance for Makoto Oishi but Akito interrupted it halfway through. He, Masahiro Takanashi & Ilusion would only let them do it if Oishi’s team could beat them. With some help from Yukio Naya, Yuki Ishida and Kamen himself Oishi was able to beat Ilusion by submission and everyone did the dance together.

The contract signing before the show was for the upcoming KO-D Tag Team Titles match. ShunMao held the titles last year but had to vacate them when Katsumata got injured. When he recovered, MAO wanted to hold off on challenging for the titles again so it could be used as a trump card. He decided to use that trump card after Ueno lost the KO-D Openweight Title so The 37KAMIINA could quickly recover their momentum. MAO considers CDK to be their true rivals, not SCHADENFREUDE International. Brookes understands his opinion and even agrees with it. He admits he & Masada struggled to beat Ueno & To-y over the weekend. But he wants his team to wrestle using their own style unique to DDT no matter if they win or lose. Masada said he wants to defend the titles even if it means he has to crawl onto the next step. ShunMao thinks he still hasn’t evolved enough yet though.

At the end of the show Oishi told everyone he wants a new version of NωA to continue without him. He asked Shunma Katsumata, Yuni & Sumi to form Shin NωA. Yuni & Sumi were both excited by the idea but Katsumata was hesitant to do it. He eventually agreed when Yuni & Sumi told him they both would like to become idols. The three of them sang one of the songs together to close out the show.


DDT “TAKESHI MASADA LOCAL TRIUMPH! DRAMATIC INFINITY 2024 TOUR IN OSAKA” Results

September 7, 2024

DDT “TAKESHI MASADA LOCAL TRIUMPH! DRAMATIC INFINITY 2024 TOUR IN OSAKA”, 07/09/2024
Osaka Sun Square Sports Center Sakai
253 Fans – No Vacancy

1. HARASHIMA & Akito defeated Yukio Naya & Yuki Ishida when HARASHIMA pinned Ishida with the Somato (7:57).
2. Danshoku Dieno, Kazuki Hirata & Kazuma Sumi defeated Toru Owashi, Keigo Nakamura & Ilusion when Dieno submitted Owashi because Dieno’s anus smelled too bad (9:13).
*Danshoku Dieno wins Toru Owashi’s Right To Challenge Anytime, Anywhere Shield.
3. DAMNATION T.A Vs BURNING!: Tetsuya Endo & Yuya Koroku defeated Daisuke Sasaki & MJ Paul when Endo pinned Paul with the Burning Star Press (13:22).
4. Special Single Match: Jun Akiyama defeated Makoto Oishi with the Wrist-Clutch Exploder (12:44).
5. Special Tag Match: MAO & Shunma Katsumata defeated Fuminori Abe & Antonio Honda when Katsumata pinned Honda with the Totonou Splash (14:43).
6. Fight For The Right To Challenge Anytime, Anywhere Shield: Yuki Iino defeated KANON with the Spear (14:23).
*Yuki Iino wins KANON’s Right To Challenge Anytime, Anywhere Shield.
7. Osaka Specialty Special Tag Match: Chris Brookes & Takeshi Masada defeated Yuki Ueno & To-y when Masada pinned To-y with the Masada No Chikara KOBU Mukimuki (21:05).

On the day before the fated showdown in Nagoya there were some extra drama made in Osaka today. The show was dedicated to Takeshi Masada’s homecoming but he was left out of some of the signature SCHADENFREUDE International spots during the main event. Since his mother was in the audience, Masada was upset he didn’t get to look his best in front of her and considered walking out of the match. However he returned to the ring when the fans chanted his name and even scored the winning pinfall.

Two Right To Challenge Shields changed hands today. The black shield now belongs to Yuki Iino after he beat KANON fair and square. KANON bent the rules by throwing Yuya Koroku into Iino’s way at ringside and then grabbed a chair to hit his opponent with. In the ring Iino used a rope break to get out of the Cobra Twist and then hit the Spear to pin KANON. The two will be facing each other again in a 6-Man Tag Match. KANON swears he will get revenge and win back the Shield from Iino, otherwise his plan with the Shield will have completely fallen apart!

There was a gross moment in Match #5 when MAO caused Fuminori Abe to vomit a little bit after giving him a Thrust Kick to the stomach. After the match MAO told Abe not to vomit again while Abe tried to act like it was nothing to be embarrassed about. In fact, Abe thinks he did something amazing and promised to eat a bowl of katsudon before tomorrow’s DDT Universal Title match so his vomit will be even filthier! Backstage MAO said he understands the strength of a person who has just been humiliated so he knows he is in for a fight to defend his title tomorrow.

In what could be the last time Jun Akiyama and Makoto Oishi face each other one on one, Akiyama made sure to use the upgraded version of his finisher to win. He said he wanted to use the Exploder Suplex that hurts more than usual just for the ocassion. Oishi hopes there will be another chance for them to have a singles match again in the future. If it does happen, he’ll promise to break Akiyama’s knee with the Fujiyama Knee Lock this time. Akiyama said that won’t work because he’ll just beat Oishi in under five minutes.

Tetsuya Endo is feeling confident heading into tomorrow’s KO-D Openweight Title Match. He got the win for BURNING in a tag bout today. Now all there is left to do is face Shinya Aoki, overcome his own weaknesses and beat him to become the KO-D Champion for a fourth time.

There were complaints from the wrestlers in the opening match about a bad smell coming from Danshoku Dieno. He had eaten gyoza filled with extra garlic before the show and everyone else had to deal with his, um, side effects. Toru Owashi got the worst of it by getting his face shoved into Dieno’s Hell Gate. The smell was so bad he had to give up! Dieno won Owashi’s Right To Challenge Shield but he is conflicted over it. His goal to remain as the Iron Man Heavymetalweight Champion for one year has now gotten more difficult because the Shield makes him even more of a target than before! Plus if he does cash in the title shot and loses, he will lose the Iron Man Title too.


DDT “MEET & GREET & FIGHT SEPTEMBER” Results

September 4, 2024

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

1. Keigo Nakamura & Yuya Koroku defeated To-y & Kazuma Sumi when Koroku pinned Sumi with a Moonsault Press (7:51).
2. Special Single Match: Yuki Iino defeated Kazuki Hirata by Referee Stoppage with a Bearhug (6:53).
3. 3 Way Match: Takeshi Masada defeated Yuni and Ilusion when Masada pinned Ilusion with the Masada No Chikara KOBU Mukimuki (9:29).
4. Special Single Match: Shinya Aoki defeated Makoto Oishi with a Crucifix Pin (7:38).

The second “MEET & GREET & FIGHT” show was built around NωA reuniting for one night only to perform all of their songs. Then in the main event Makoto Oishi took on Shinya Aoki as one of his last big singles matches in DDT before he goes freelance next month. Oishi took the match so seriously he entered wearing plain trunks with his knees taped up and wrestled barefoot. Tetsuya Endo watched the match nearby but kept his distance the entire time. Oishi and Aoki spent most of the match grappling and targeting each other’s legs with submission holds. Aoki ended up countering the Jikiden Tornado Clutch into a Crucifix Pin to win with a three count. Aoki told Oishi after the match he loves him as much as he loves DDT. He encouraged Oishi as well as future opponents to bring all of their regrets and hardships into the ring and he will take them on with all of his might. Backstage Oishi said he wants to rise up to Aoki’s level so they can have another rematch some day. He will be taking on Endo next in two weeks time and hopes Endo got something out of watching today’s match, even if it’s just a little bit.

Even though Takeshi Masada and Ilusion are not part of the same unit, that didn’t stop them from fighting each other in the 3 Way Match with Yuni. There was still moments when they worked together against Yuni and even brought in Chris Brookes to triple team the poor kid. Miscommunication caused the teamwork to break down and turn the 3 Way back into every man for himself. Masada ended up getting the better of Ilusion and even pinned him with his finisher to win the match.

Kazuki Hirata had a request for the fans during his match with Yuki Iino. He asked them not to shout “Yeah!” when Iino does the Burning Elbow but instead sing it whenever Hirata tried the move. Iino was left confused whenever his “I am BURNING!” catchphrases got no reaction and got even more confused when Hirata got the “Yeah!” responses for his moves. Hirata annoyed him even more by inviting Yuki Ishida, HARASHIMA and Hisaya Imabayashi to all shout “BURNING!” and get the fans to shout “Yeah!” in response to them while still ignoring Iino. The breaking point came when the biggest “Yeah!” was made for Hirata doing the Burning Elbow. Iino lost his temper, smashed Hirata with a Lariat and squeezed him in a Bearhug until the referee stopped the match for Hirata’s safety. Iino wouldn’t let go of the hold so Imabayashi urged the fans to start chanting “Yeah!” at him again. They did so and Iino was so happy he kept chanting “BURNING!” over and over just so he could continue getting the “Yeah!” cheers he missed so much.

Everyone in the opening match spent part of the bout chasing each other around ringside with plastic bats and Pico Pico hammers.

The show began with the contract signing between Aoki and Endo for this Sunday’s KO-D Openweight Title match in Nagoya. Endo admitted he was angry from hearing Aoki’s recent comments about him but then realised the fact he feels this way means he is still alive. Endo also said out loud the biggest accomplishment in his career he now needs to achieve is get revenge on Katsuhiko Nakajima for what he did to him two years ago. But he also has to fight someone like Aoki more. He can pour all of his anger and frustration into fighting Aoki and put his life on the line in this match. Aoki is encouraging Endo to bring all of his emotions into this match so he can crush them. He also believes there is no longer a need to talk about Nakajima because this match is now about Endo overcoming his obstacles and Aoki fighting against him in their own battle.

NωA’s musical performances happened at the start and end of the show. When they finished their final song for the last time, Oishi joked that MAO & Shunma Katsumata really became the best wrestlers thanks to him putting them through this stupid idea.


Fight For The Right To Challenge, SOG Title Match Rescheduled, Summer’s Sister Is A Fortune

September 3, 2024

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

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

A public contract signing for the KO-D Openweight Title match between Shinya Aoki and Tetsuya Endo will be held on this show. DDT is leaning more into the two men’s connections to Katsuhiko Nakajima as part of the marketing for the match.

The members of NωA have promised to perform all of their songs during the show for their final live perfomance together.

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

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

It’s been confirmed that the Black Right To Challenge Shield held by KANON will be on the line when he takes on Yuki Iino.

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

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

Last week Ilusion was finally accepted into SCHADENFREUDE International. It has caused Match #1 here to be swapped around. The unit’s newest member is now teaming with Takeshi Masada against Keigo Nakamura & Yuki Ishida. This match also begins Ishida’s full time return to DDT.

DDT “ROJO PRO WRESTLING IN NARAHA TOWN ~J VILLAGE~”, 21/09/2024
J Village, Naraha Town, Fukushima

1. Falls Count Anywhere 10-Man Tag Match: Yuki Ueno, MAO, Shunma Katsumata, To-y & Yuki Ishida Vs Chris Brookes, Danshoku Dieno, Yukio Naya, Keigo Nakamura & Kazuma Sumi

DDT’s crew are going to cause some chaos over in To-y’s neck of the woods. He is still serving as an unofficial ambassador for Naraha Town in order to pay off the trillion yen debt he owes to the area. At least the rest of The 37KAMIINA are helping him out along with Ishida for a big Falls Count Anywhere match.

GANBARE☆PRO “KATTENI-SHIYAGARE 2024”, 23/09/2024
Yokohama Radiant Hall

1. Munetatsu Nakamura & Shota Kawakami Vs Jun Masaoka & Gaia Hox
2. PSYCHO, Rekka & HARUKAZE Vs London Machine, Choun-Shiryu & Tsukina Umino
3. Yuna Manase & YuuRI Vs Moeka Haruhi & Maya Yukihi
4. Hartley Jackson Vs Yumehito Imanari
5. Ken Ohka, Shuichiro Katsumura & Mizuki Watase Vs Tyson Maeguchi, Thanomsak Toba & Kouki Iwasaki
6. Spirit Of Ganbare World Openweight Title: Keisuke Ishii (c) Vs Takuya Wada

The postponed Spirit Of Ganbare World Title match has been rescheduled for 23rd September in Yokohama. That is the only surviving match from the show that was cancelled last month. Everything else on this card are new matches.

Tsukina Umino is from Ice Ribbon. She recently fought and lost to YuuRI in a match for the ICExInfinity Title. One of her teammates is London Machine, a masked gimmick that has mostly appeared in ChocoPro. I think in one of his first appearances it was Seiya Morohashi under the mask but I don’t know if it’s been him every time.

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

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

DDT’s next Korakuen Hall show has sold out thanks to Kaisei Takeshi.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “GARAFES ~ SPRING IDOL LUNCH MEETING”, 12/10/2024
Tokyo GOTANDA G6/G7

This October will be the next time when The Up Up Girls (Pro Wrestling) performs at a Garafes show. Pom Harajuku and Wakana Uehara will be there alongside them to take part in one or two wrestling matches held on top of a mat placed on the stage.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW LIVE TOUR 2024 AUTUMN”, 13/10/2024
Saitama Kasukabe Fureai Cube

Kira Summer’s sister Miki Fortune is coming over to Tokyo Joshi Pro for a match! She has been wrestling since 2009 and is active in the Australian scene. Earlier this year she travelled to Japan and spent a little bit of time wrestling in Ice Ribbon. Now her next visit to the country is to check out first hand what her sister’s been up to in TJPW.


DDT “FIGHTING BEER GARDEN 2024 IN SHINJUKU – DAY 2” Results

August 30, 2024

DDT “FIGHTING BEER GARDEN 2024 IN SHINJUKU – DAY 2”, 30/08/2024
Shinjuku FACE
419 Fans – Super No Vacancy

1. Toru Owashi & Yuki Ishida defeated Yuni & Keigo Nakamura when Owashi pinned Nakamura with La Magistral Cradle (8:05).
*Toru Owashi wins Keigo Nakamura’s Right To Challenge Anytime, Anywhere Shield.
2. Rock ‘N’ Roll 4 Way Death Match: A.YAZAWA defeated Akito, To-y and Kazuma Sumi when YAZAWA pinned Sumi with a Japanese Leg Lock Clutch (12:23).
3. 4 Vs 3 Handicap Match: Daisuke Sasaki, KANON, MJ Paul & Mataro Suzuki defeated Masahiro Takanashi, Soma Takao & Yuya Koroku when KANON pinned Koroku with the Ground Cobra Twist (8:12).
4. The Long Awaited New Series By Hisaya Imabayashi! Kaidan Shin Numabukuro Deathmatch 2: Shunma Katsumata & Jun Akiyama Vs Danshoku Dieno & Makoto Oishi ended in a No Contest (7:50).
5. Special Single Match: Chris Brookes defeated Ilusion with the Praying Mantis Bomb (13:53).
6. Beer Garden Specialty Customer Lottery 8-Man Tag Match: Tetsuya Endo, Yuki Ueno, Yuki Iino & Takeshi Masada defeated MAO, HARASHIMA, Kazuki Hirata & Yukio Naya when Endo pinned Hirata with the Burning Star Press (21:34).

The fan lottery determined the teams for the main event but nobody was told everyone was going to be switching gimmicks too! On one team Tetsuya Endo dressed as HARASHIMA, Yuki Ueno dressed as Takeshi Masada, Yuki Iino dressed as Endo and Masada was dressed as Kazuki Hirata. On the other team MAO was dressed as Yukio Naya, HARASHIMA was dressed as Ueno, Hirata was dressed as Iino and Naya was dressed as MAO. By taking on each other’s costumes they also copied the entrances and attempted to copy the movesets to mixed results. Some got offended at how bad the impersonation of themselves were which caused some more confusion. In the end, Endo channeled HARASHIMA’s Somato and used the move on Hirata before pinning him with the Burning Star Press.

After being rejected several times, Ilusion was given one golden chance to convince Chris Brookes directly that he genuinely wants to join SCHADENFREUDE International. Brookes put him through the wringer to prove it, going as far as to pull Ilusion’s mask apart. The youngster got a replacement mask but that to would get torn open. The match reached a point where it was clear Ilusion would not win but he kept fighting until Brookes pinned him with the Praying Mantis Bomb. After the match Antonio Honda told Ilusion he lost, but he lost the right way. Everyone who is in SCHADENFREUDE belong there not because they are strong but because they have messed up their own lives. Brookes then told Ilusion he deserves to join the group and welcomed him in! Ilusion said he will learn from the other members from this point onwards so he can get strong and become the centre of DDT!

Something completely unforeseen happened in the Shin Numabukuro Deathmatch. Jun Akiyama won it before Hisaya Imabayashi could even have a chance to begin telling his ghost story! The room went dark and Akiyama found himself travelling back in time to his entrance for the match. He won the match with a School Boy a second time only to time travel back to the beginning again. He soon realised this will keep happening until he wins the match in under three minutes using something other than a Roll Up! Time looped again and at the three minute mark Imabayashi told his ghost story, making everyone faint from shock one by one. But when he went to Akiyama it was blocked. Akiyama physically forced Imabayashi to point at himself causing Imabayashi to die from fright! The room went dark again and Akiyama travelled back to his ring entrance once more, doomed to relive this match over and over forever…

The last time DAMNATION T.A swapped out Daisuke Sasaki for Mataro Suzuki worked out well so they brought the video team member back and declared him their new leader! It was all a trick so Sasaki could enter the match halfway through and give his team the 4-on-3 numbers advantage to win.

It was explained that Honda could not wrestle today because he was suffering from love sickness so A.YAZAWA took his place in the Rock ‘N’ Roll Death Match. There was rock music to make the participants dance, drinking music to make them drink beer and even romantic music to get everyone in the mood.

The Light Blue Right To Challenge Shield now belongs to Toru Owashi after he pinned Keigo Nakamura to win the opening match.

At the start of the show Yuki Ishida announced he has left his gig at the sumo agency in Osaka he joined a few months ago to return home to Tokyo. He will now become a full time wrestler for DDT again but decided to leave behind his “Dosukoi” personality. He tried to wrestle his match without it but was told by Owashi that without Dosukoi he has nothing. Ishida ignored the advice and completed the match. However at the end of the show voice actor Tetsu Inada gave him a spirited talk and Ishida admitted he wants to wrestle using Dosukoi spirit after all! Everyone welcomed him back after hearing that revelation.


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

August 27, 2024

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


DDT “MEMORIES OF SUMMER VACATION 2024” Results

August 25, 2024

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

August 15, 2024

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


TJPW’s Busy Weekend, Aoki Angry At DDT, Wedding Matches

August 14, 2024

DDT “FIGHTING BEER GARDEN 2024 IN SHINJUKU – DAY 1”, 15/08/2024
Shinjuku FACE

1. Daisuke Sasaki, KANON & MJ Paul Vs Toru Owashi, To-y & Keigo Nakamura
2. Blindfold Hidden Breast 4 Way Match: Chris Brookes Vs Antonio Honda Vs Super Sasadango Machine Vs Kazuma Sumi
3. International Special Single Match: Danhausen Vs Kazuki Hirata
4. Special 3 Way 6-Man Tag Match: Yuki Ueno, MAO & Shunma Katsumata Vs Tetsuya Endo, Yuki Iino & Yuya Koroku Vs Jun Akiyama, Makoto Oishi & Yukio Naya
5. Drunk Match: HARASHIMA Vs Masahiro Takanashi
6. International Special Tag Match: Danshoku Dieno & Effy Vs Joey Janela & Takeshi Masada

After Danshoku Dieno and Effy bonded so well during their match at the DDT/GCW show, the two now want to team up rather than fight each other again. The 4 Way Match they are meant to be part of tomorrow will now be a tag match. Joey Janela & Takeshi Masada will now make up the other team.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW SHOKO NAKAJIMA VERSION3 ~NIIGATA HOMECOMING EVENT~”, 18/08/2024
Niigata Dúo CEREZO

1. Moka Miyamoto Vs Kira Summer
2. Arisu Endo Vs Chika Nanase
3. Mizuki & Uta Takami Vs Raku & Pom Harajuku
4. Yuki Aino, Runa Okubo & Haru Kazashiro Vs Yuki Kamifuku, Mahiro Kiryu & Kaya Toribami
5. Rika Tatsumi, Toga & Shino Suzuki Vs Zara Zakher, Wakana Uehara & HIMAWARI
6. Miyu Yamashita & Shoko Nakajima 11th Anniversary Special Tag Match: Miu Watanabe & Suzume Vs Miyu Yamashita & Shoko Nakajima

The reason why Zara Zakher, Wakana Uehara & HIMAWARI are on the same team is because they all had their professional debut matches in January 2023. HIMAWARI actually debuted in Actwres girl’Z a few months earlier but that company doesn’t like to call themselves pro wrestling and everyone over there likes to keep that kayfabe going. Meanwhile in another match Yuki Aino teams with the young duo that are nicknamed HaruRuna.

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

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

A very busy weekend is coming up for Tokyo Joshi Pro later this month. It starts off in Japan for the Tokyo Princess Cup semi finals.

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

1. HIMAWARI Vs Mahiro Kiryu
2. Session Moth Martina Vs Raku
3. Aja Kong & Max The Impaler Vs Safire Reed & Zizi
4. EVE Title: Nina Samuels (c) Vs Miyu Yamashita

Then over in England several TJPW wrestlers are representing the company at a co-promoted show with EVE. HIMAWARI and Mahiro Kiryu will face each other in an all TJPW match. Session Moth Martina and Raku get to meet for drinks again and have a rematch of their “GCW VS TJPW” bout from back in April. Just don’t tell Raku about the DART, Martina. It will only traumatize her.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TOKYO PRINCESS CUP”, 25/08/2024
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Shoko Nakajima Vs Yoshiko Hasegawa
2. Mizuki & Haru Kazashiro Vs Mei Suruga & Uta Takami
3. Tokyo Princess Cup – Final: X Vs X

When that is done it’s back to Japan for the Princess Cup final. It all comes down to Yuki Aino, Yuki Arai, Ryo Mizunami and Zara Zakher.

When Mei Suruga and Uta Takami had their match last month they got along like sisters. Suggestions that they team up together as The Super Cute Sisters were made and you don’t have to wait long to see it happen.

Yoshiko Hasegawa returns to TJPW for a match against Shoko Nakajima.

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

1. 3 Way Match: Toru Owashi Vs Antonio Honda Vs Kazuki Hirata
2. Chris Brookes, Masahiro Takanashi & Takeshi Masada Vs Makoto Oishi, Yuni & Ilusion
3. MAO, Shunma Katsumata & To-y Vs Jun Akiyama, Tomomitsu Matsunaga & Keigo Nakamura
4. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Daisuke Sasaki, Ryuichi “Fire” Kawakami & KANON Vs HARASHIMA, Yukio Naya & Kazuma Sumi
5. Soma Takao 15th Anniversary ~ Special Single Match: Soma Takao Vs Keisuke Ishii
6. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Kota Ibushi, Danshoku Dieno & Akito Vs Tetsuya Endo, Yuki Iino & Yuya Koroku
7. KO-D Openweight Title: Yuki Ueno (c) Vs Shinya Aoki

Today Tokyo Sports reported on a training session Shinya Aoki held with El Lindaman from GLEAT. Aoki lost his temper during the interview because he isn’t happy about DDT booking Kota Ibushi’s return to the company on the undercard. He believes that is a clear sign from Sanshiro Takagi that the main event is too weak of a draw by itself. Aoki is also annoyed that Yuki Ueno doesn’t seem to be angry about it like he is. Another comment Aoki made is his plan to have a unification match if he becomes the KO-D Openweight Champion. He wants to unify the title with GLEAT’s UWF World Title. Lindaman will be one of the upcoming challengers for the title that is currently held by Katsuhiko Nakajima. Aoki even offered to be in Lindaman’s corner when the title match happens but Lindaman politely declined because Aoki hanging around over there will only cause trouble.

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

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

Random fans in the audience will take part in a lottery to determine who teams with who in the main event 8-Man Tag Match.

The terrifying ghost stories Hisaya Imabayashi likes to tell are coming back to the Beer Garden show. What tales of terror will he come up with this time?

DDT “WEDDING VENUE PRO WRESTLING SUMMER FESTIVAL IN SENTIR LA SAISON GIFU”, 31/08/2024
Gifu Sentir la Saison

1. Daisuke Sasaki & KANON Vs Soma Takao & Ilusion
2. 3 Way Match: Kazuki Hirata Vs Yuki Iino Vs To-y
3. Jun Akiyama & Yukio Naya Vs Tetsuya Endo & Keigo Nakamura
4. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Yuki Ueno, MAO & Shunma Katsumata Vs Takeshi Masada, Yuya Koroku & Kazuma Sumi

I wonder if the four matches can count towards the marriage traditions of including something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue? I’d look into it myself but calling Jun Akiyama old will already set me off on the wrong foot. Can’t even include the blue Right To Challenge Shield because HARASHIMA has that and he’s wrestling on the later show.

DDT “WEDDING ROJO PRO WRESTLING”, 31/08/2024
Gifu Sentir la Saison

1. Falls Count Anywhere Match: HARASHIMA & Akito Vs Danshoku Dieno & Makoto Oishi

It will be up to HARASHIMA & Akito to keepDieno & Makoto Oishi under control while they all wrestle each other at a wedding.

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

1. Special Single Match: Ryuichi “Fire” Kawakami Vs Yukio Naya
2. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Kota Ibushi, Shuji Ishikawa & Danshoku Dieno Vs HARASHIMA, Yasu Urano & Michael Nakazawa

Ibushi’s return to DDT continues into September where he and HARASHIMA will be in the same match for the first time since 2015! In fact a bunch of Ibushi’s buddies from his DDT days will be around. Shuji Ishikawa, Dieno, Yasu Urano and Michael Nakazawa are part of the match too.