DDT “JUDGEMENT 2022 ~DDT 25TH ANNIVERSARY~” Preview

March 18, 2022

DDT “JUDGEMENT 2022 ~DDT 25TH ANNIVERSARY~”, 20/03/2022
Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan

0. Dark Match: Tomomitsu Matsunaga, Toui Kojima, Yuki Ishida Vs Yusuke Okada, Yuya Koroku & Ilusion
0. Dark Match – Time Admission Tag Battle Royal: Tomohiko Hashimoto & Seiya Morohashi Vs Soma Takao & Shota Vs Minoru Fujita & MJ Paul Vs Yuji Hino & Yukio Naya Vs Gorgeous Matsuno & Gota Ihashi Vs Andreza Giant Panda & Super Sasadango Machine
1. KO-D 10-Man Tag Team Titles: Toru Owashi, Antonio Honda, Kazuki Hirata & Yoshihiko (c) Vs Poison Sawada JULIE, Takashi Sasaki, GENTARO, MIKAMI & Thanomsak Toba (w/ Naomi Susan)
2. Special Single Match: Saki Akai Vs Maya Yukihi
3. DDT 25th Anniversary Special Single Match – No DQ “I’m Sorry” Match: Sanshiro Takagi Vs Michael Nakazawa
4. Special Tag Match: Isami Kodaka & Yukio Sakaguchi Vs Yuki Ueno & Shunma Katsumata
5. LiLiCo Retirement Match: LiLiCo, Ryohei Odai & Akito (w/ Junretsu) Vs Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno, Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Yumehito “Fantastic” Imanari
6. Jun Akiyama 30th Anniversary Match: Jun Akiyama & Takao Omori Vs Kazusada Higuchi & Hideki Okatani
7. DDT Universal Title – Hardcore 3 Way Match: Daisuke Sasaki (c) Vs Jun Kasai Vs MAO
8. KO-D Tag Team Titles: HARASHIMA & Naomi Yoshimura (c) Vs Chris Brookes & Masahiro Takanashi
9. KO-D Openweight Title – Japan Bakery Marketing Presents: Konosuke Takeshita (c) Vs Tetsuya Endo

Bloody hell this thing lasted 25 years. TWENTY FIVE YEARS! DDT is a company that was put together by a promoter named Shintaro Muto* along with three wrestlers who exited Pro Wrestling Crusaders with him in 1996. Those three wrestlers are known today by the names Sanshiro Takagi, MIKAMI and NOSAWA Rongai. Fast forward to 2022. DDT is now celebrating its silver anniversary and is a key part of the second most powerful wrestling conglomerate in Japan. Its very first show in March 1997, one that was held even before the name Dramatic Dream Team was decided on, was called “JUDGEMENT” because the audience was asked to vote on whether or not the actual launch in May should go ahead. 154 people voted for the launch to proceed and 24 people voted to cancel it. Thank God nobody listened to those 24 people.

There is plenty on show to celebrate the 25th Anniversary. Many figures from the company’s past are flocking into Sumo Hall to join with the present and perhaps future of DDT. Four championships are on the line, career milestones are being acknowledged, grudges will be settled, a retirement will take place and the headline match features the two wrestlers DDT spent the last decade building up to be their star players.

*It is very difficult to find information about Muto online. He was a part of PWC behind the scenes but other than that I don’t know what his background is. There’s an old blog post from 2007 where Takagi jokes about Muto always finding newly opened club venues for DDT to hold shows at. There’s also a picture Takagi tweeted of him from his wedding party in 2009 if you want to see what he actually looked like back then.

0. Dark Match: Tomomitsu Matsunaga, Toui Kojima, Yuki Ishida Vs Yusuke Okada, Yuya Koroku & Ilusion

This one had a last minute change of plans. El Unicorn was supposed to be in this match but tested positive for covid a few days before the show. Tomomitsu Matsunaga is taking his place. He in-ring time for much of the year was as a opening match substitute for anyone who is suddenly out of action. The other DDTeeeen!! wrestler Ilusion has wrestled twice so far this year as the heel representation of the brand. Yusuke Okada also had some covid setbacks that set him back but he has since found his place in the BURNING unit. Yuki Ishida has been a bright spark in the ring so far. He can turn into a little sumo firecracker if he keeps it up.

The fun part of this match is the growing feud between the rookies Toui Kojima and Yuya Koroku. These two have been at each other’s throats in a lot of The 37KAMIINA Vs BURNING matches and Koroku has gotten Kojima’s number every time. At first the losses got to Kojima and made him cry. But he swore the next time he cries it will be from tears of joy when he finally beats Koroku! Even if it happens on the first match of the pre-show, it will still mean the world to him if he pulls it off here.

0. Dark Match – Time Admission Tag Battle Royal: Tomohiko Hashimoto & Seiya Morohashi Vs Soma Takao & Shota Vs Minoru Fujita & MJ Paul Vs Yuji Hino & Yukio Naya Vs Gorgeous Matsuno & Gota Ihashi Vs Andreza Giant Panda & Super Sasadango Machine

Some DDT nostalgia fills up the Dark Match Tag Team Rumble. The Double Bridge team of Tomohiko Hashimoto & Seiya Morohashi returns for this match. Hashimoto was a regular part of DDT shows in the 2000s while Morohashi stuck around the DDT family up until 2016. Soma Takao & Shota have been bouncing around Ganbare☆Pro as ROMANCE DAWN and having fun doing so. Not so fun is the DAMNATION T.A pair of Minoru Fujita & MJ Paul. The big boys Yuji Hino & Yukio Naya are still together despite a lack of success as a team. Gorgeous Matsuno will be there to serenade the fans while Gota Ihashi will hopefully try a fat boy Moonsault. That leaves Super Sasadango Machine joining forces with an old opponent. It’s the return of Andreza Giant Panda! It is the first time Andreza has been in Sumo Hall since Muscle ran there in 2019. Sadly his master Samson Miyamoto passed away during September 2020 but Andreza continues to make sporadic appearances in wrestling shows around the country.

1. KO-D 10-Man Tag Team Titles: Toru Owashi, Antonio Honda, Kazuki Hirata & Yoshihiko (c) Vs Poison Sawada JULIE, Takashi Sasaki, GENTARO, MIKAMI & Thanomsak Toba (w/ Naomi Susan)

More nostalgia will be found in the opener. The rules for the KO-D 10-Man Tag Team Titles are a little muddled up at the moment. It was turned into the KO-D 8-Man Tag Team Titles during the pandemic to reduce spreading covid through the roster. However when it was changed back into a 10-Man Tag Championship, the DDT Variety Team were told to keep defending the belts as a team of four. So the current champions have to take part in 4 Vs 5 Handicap matches until they lose the titles. It’s a tough challenge but the foursome have lasted this long. Toru Owashi spent the year winning a small collection of obscure championships, Antonio Honda keeps finding ways to talk about Gongitsune, Kazuki Hirata is trying to find a new direction but always reverts back to his dancing and Yoshihiko is as dangerous as ever.

A cast of DDT Legends have come to challenge for the title. Poison Sawada JULIE leads the charge with his valet Naomi Susan ready to rattle along to his snake magic. Takashi Sasaki is nowadays known for running FREEDOMS but he was also the fourth wrestler in DDT when it launched. His Aka Rangers tag team partner GENTARO is along for the ride too. MIKAMI is also a DDT original from the very start. If his inspiration Jeff Hardy can still go strong then why can’t he? Plus if MIKAMI is here then you need to get Thanomsak Toba to complete The Suicide Boyz. On behalf of the 2000s message board era of puroresu fans, I apologise for spelling his name Tanomusaku Toba for all these years. It took this long for me to get the Thanomsak Sithbaobay influence.

2. Special Single Match: Saki Akai Vs Maya Yukihi

If you like the free agency/transfer window period in sports then joshi wrestling for the last five months was a blast to follow. Women jumping ship to other promotions, contracts going haywire and promotions turning on their heads meant there was never a dull moment behind the scenes. One of the key figures during this time is Maya Yukihi. For seven years she called Ice Ribbon her home promotion until last December when she was among the wave of talent announcing their intentions to leave the company. Everyone else in the group went on to form Prominence but Yukihi decided to go freelance instead. It makes sense when you see that she already has established roles in OZ Academy along with the Rebel & Enemy faction on the indies. But once she turned freelance, the first place she went to was DDT. Then things got interesting. She hadn’t even worked her first date with DDT yet when Tokyo Sports reported that CyberFight really wanted Yukihi to sign a contract with them.

When Yukihi did have her first match in DDT, she stood across the ring from Saki Akai. Their interactions were respectful during the match and polite afterwards but Yukihi couldn’t help but think Akai was a little bit jealous now she was sharing her DDT spotlight with another woman. As the two continued wrestling each other Yukihi revealed that eight years ago she approached DDT wanting to become a pro wrestler but was turned down. Around that same time period she found out Akai debuted for DDT and essential ended up getting the career she wanted. The positive side to this story is Yukihi found another path to becoming a pro wrestler and it is one she is proud of. Now she wanted to prove that her style of joshi wrestling is better than Akai’s style! A women’s match with a story as powerful as this deserves to take place on an event as important as DDT’s 25th Anniversary so Takagi decided to put it right here in Sumo Hall!

Ever since the match was announced, the tag matches between Akai and Yukihi have become more heated as one would accuse the other of being jealous. Akai would blatantly pin Yukihi with her Rookie Award finisher to rub in the fact she won that category in the Tokyo Sports Awards. Yukihi got her own back by making Akai submit in a later match, figuring out that using her arsenal of moves that nobody from DDT have seen before will be the key to victory. Akai wants to prove that she made it to where she is today through hard work and that she is capable of carrying DDT on her back. But she also can’t help but dig deeper into the insults. She recently gave Yukihi a bouquet of yellow roses because yellow roses represent jealousy. Yukihi promised to give them back to Akai when she beats her!

3. DDT 25th Anniversary Special Single Match – No DQ “I’m Sorry” Match: Sanshiro Takagi Vs Michael Nakazawa

Apologizing to your boss for doing something wrong is a humbling experience that can bruise your ego. However when the tables are turned and your boss apologizes to you it can lift your spirits a lot. So I can kind of relate to what Michael Nakazawa is going through. His first couple of years in DDT were alright but the cracks in his working relationship with Sanshiro Takagi first began in 2008. Nakazawa’s contract with DDT wasn’t renewed despite his intentions to stay with the company. He fought and clawed his way back into DDT later that year but the same situation repeated a year later. Takagi just wanted to get rid of him but somehow Nakazawa would always find a way to get back in! So Takagi decided to do whatever he could think of to embarrass Nakazawa on shows event though he had support from wrestlers like Kota Ibushi and Kenny Omega. Poor Nakazawa had fireworks shot at him, was beaten around like a crash test dummy, got into mismatches against the likes of Minoru Suzuki and even took part in the first Anal Explosion opening ceremony when DDT held their Ryogoku debut. It’s now wonder he held a grudge with Takagi for all these years.

So when Nakazawa was picked up by AEW to work in America it looked like a massive reward for all the crap Nakazawa had to eat in DDT. Finally he was going to be a big star around the world. Unfortunately the matches he has on AEW Dark all reach a level low enough to make Excalibur and Taz consider retirement from broadcasting. However wrestling overseas always makes a wrestler improve no matter who they are and Nakazawa is ready to unload on his old boss. His finishing move the Ultimate Venom Arm has been upgraded to include the AEW initials in the name. Earlier this week he beat Takagi in an impromptu Falls Count Anywhere match held outside of a bookstore. The taste of victory was sweet but not enough. Nakazawa needs something more and that is for Takagi to apologize to him for everything he put him through in his life. Their match at Sumo Hall is No Holds Barred and can take place anywhere inside or out of the building. The only way to win is to make your opponent say “I’m Sorry!” on the microphone. What will it take for either of them to finally admit they were wrong?

4. Special Tag Match: Isami Kodaka & Yukio Sakaguchi Vs Yuki Ueno & Shunma Katsumata

A good mix of wrestlers here. Isami Kodaka was never really a proper member of the DDT roster. He came in through Union Pro and took the indies path that led him to forming BASARA. His absolute peak in DDT was around that time period when he also beat Yukio Sakaguchi to become the company’s top champion. That was seven years ago so there should be no problem with the two teaming together this weekend. But if there is some tension between the two then maybe a visit to the sauna will calm them down.

That’s where The 37KAMIINA come in. Shunma Katsumata’s love for the sauna is so strong he now runs a hut in Tateyama, Chiba called Sea Sauna Shack. In the ring he shows a more violent side that somehow matches his joyful behavior. Maybe it’s the Lego weapons that keeps him from never losing his temper. Yuki Ueno however is making big strides up the ladder, reaching the D-Ou Grand Prix final at the end of last year. It is only a matter of time before he reaches the top of the DDT mountain. Only problem is right now he is stuck in the shadow of his high school classmate. But we’ll eventually cross that bridge when we get to it. Not that it will be anytime soon.

5. LiLiCo Retirement Match: LiLiCo, Ryohei Odai & Akito (w/ Junretsu) Vs Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno, Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Yumehito “Fantastic” Imanari

DDT has held many matches involving celebrities before and LiLiCo is the one who stood out the most. The half Swedish, half Japanese TV personality wrestled several times for DDT between 2014 and 2017. During her time here she won the DDT Extreme Title, the Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title and the KO-D 10-Man Tag Titles. She hasn’t wrestled since then but a knee injury suffered two years ago made her want to have one more match so she could have a proper pro wrestling retirement. To make this match even more special, LiLiCo asked for many handsome men to be involved. DDT made it so by including Akito and also her husband Ryohei Odai to be on her team. Odai is an actor who has starred in Kamen Rider shows and was also a part of the pop band Junretsu (whose name inspired the identical sounding DDT unit). Despite that pedigree he does not have the physical tools needed to wrestle. Even running the ropes gives him a bad back ache. When asked for an opponent, LiLiCo suggested one of them be Danshoku Dieno because they had a risky rivalry together. She may end up regretting that because… *sighs* well let’s just get straight into it with Pheromones.

For the last year DDT has been surrounded by Pheromones. Dieno, Yuki Iino & Yumehito Imanari became obsessed over their lusty attitudes and succumbed to their lewd behaviour. Dieno became “Dandy”, Iino became “Sexy” and Imanari became “Fantastic”. They don’t care about winning or losing often. Instead they want to do what they want without any limitation or censorship. Unfortunately their actions often go beyond the line of good taste and decency so many of their matches end before the finish so DDT doesn’t get kicked off Samurai! TV or banned from Youtube. The GM Hisaya Imabayashi often tries to stop them just to end up getting “publicly executed” by Pheromones for getting in their way. You’d be surprised how many ways Dieno and his mates can come up with giving their opponents the Stinkface. Just when I think I’ve seen them all, poof, there’s a new angle one person’s face can be shoved into another person’s backside. It’s kind of impressive actually.

So that is what LiLiCo and her handsome men have to deal with. She’s up for the challenge and is threatening to cut off Dieno’s you know what if she has to. Akito has this match to worry about alongside his CyberFight VP duties. And Odai still needs to learn how he can fight in the ring when he gets blisters just from pointing at stuff. As retirement matches go it’s not quite on the level of Genichiro Tenryu but I think it can get close enough.

6. Jun Akiyama 30th Anniversary Match: Jun Akiyama & Takao Omori Vs Kazusada Higuchi & Hideki Okatani

There’s an alternate timeline where Jun Akiyama was able to travel in America in 2020 and coach at the WWE Performance Center. What a gift DDT would have missed out on if that went ahead as planned. Instead he was offered a guest coaching spot in, slowly made the transition over from All Japan to join the company full time and the rest is history. And that history is important because Akiyama is celebrating 30 years in pro wrestling this year. All Japan gave permission for Takao Omori to come on over and bring back the Burning Wild tag team for one night only. However their opponents are not in the mood to wish them well for their accomplishment.

Eruption added a new member this year and it is somebody Akiyama knows well. The young wrestler Hideki Okatani learned from him as part of the Junretsu stable but now he is on a new path to become the Red Fighting Spirit. Kazusada Higuchi tested the kid before accepting him into Eruption and now the unit has renewed energy flowing through it. The two of them would love nothing more than to beat Akiyama and surpass him. When Omori heard about the disrespect coming from his opponents he threatened to crush them in the ring! What was meant to be an honorable tag team match may turn into a war between generations!

7. DDT Universal Title – Hardcore 3 Way Match: Daisuke Sasaki (c) Vs Jun Kasai Vs MAO

There’s a bunch of stories going on in this match but you can ignore the MAO stuff. That’s what the other two are doing. MAO pinned Daisuke Sasaki during the Ultimate Tag League and demanded a shot at his DDT Universal Title. Sasaki refused and continued doing so when MAO kept demanding the match. Then Jun Kasai returned to DDT wanting Sasaki to do a rematch of their Hardcore war at Saitama Super Arena five years ago. Sasaki is the only wrestler in DDT that excites Kasai because he couldn’t beat him back then. Sasaki agreed to the rematch but still had MAO following him claiming to have the next title shot. The solution was to do a 3 Way Hardcore match. That way Sasaki gets to fight Kasai again and MAO will finally leave him alone. The latter hasn’t happened yet, MAO still follows him around trying to get his attention. Sasaki had to go deep into the Nerima mountains for special training to finally escape from him. Even then MAO eventually figured out there are no mountains in Nerima.

The situation going into this match is Sasaki and Kasai are only focused on each other. Kasai’s goal is to maim and embarrass Sasaki. Taking the Universal Title from him will naturally happen as part of the process. The champion wants to make Kasai vomit blood and cry in despair that he will never beat Sasaki. MAO would just like his opponents to notice him for once.

8. KO-D Tag Team Titles: HARASHIMA & Naomi Yoshimura (c) Vs Chris Brookes & Masahiro Takanashi

HARASHIMA & Naomi Yoshimura pulled off an unusual gambit for this year’s Ultimate Tag League. They were the reigning KO-D Tag Team Champions but decided to vacate the belts before the tournament so they would be rewarded to the League winners. Their logic was by entering the League without the championship, they were on an even playing field to everyone else. Therefore winning the tournament will be undeniable proof that DISASTER BOX is the strongest tag team in DDT. Their plan worked and their pay off was having the KO-D Tag Titles returned to them. Things may have turned out different though because the Tag League was pretty much cursed from the get go.

Learn this lesson. Never run a round robin tournament during a pandemic. The Tag League this year was riddled with forfeits because wrestlers kept catching covid or had to stay home because they were close contacts. CDK only wrestled two matches and won both of them but had to forfeit the rest of their matches because Chris Brookes & Masahiro Takanashi both had separate positive cases. They had no chance of reaching the finals despite winning matches when they were able to compete. Plus one of those wins was against DISASTER BOX!

The champions did not forget about that. Their only loss in the Tag League was against CDK in the group stage so minutes after the final was over and they received their prizes, the call out was made. DISASTER BOX wanted the rematch and would put the KO-D Tag Titles on the line! CDK accepted the challenge, believing the belts should belong to them anyway. They’ve been using every trick in their book to get the upper hand in recent matches and they also won the Asia Dream Tag Team Titles in ChocoPro. Meanwhile HARASHIMA has his trusty old Somato while Yoshimura now has a new F5 style finisher called the Osaka Dream. It is the strongest tag team in DDT taking on the most dramatic and dreamiest tag team!

9. KO-D Openweight Title – Japan Bakery Marketing Presents: Konosuke Takeshita (c) Vs Tetsuya Endo

The main event of the 25th Anniversary show cannot fit in all 25 years of DDT’s history into one match but it will complete the decade long story of Konosuke Takeshita and Tetsuya Endo. Last year was the most impressive yet from Takeshita. He overcame a bad period of results by going overseas to AEW and coming back as a complete pro wrestler who was finally comfortable in his own skin. He regained the KO-D Openweight Title and has swept through everyone who stood in his way. All that is left to challenge him is an opponent who probably knows him more than anyone else.

Endo needed to find a new direction and control his own fate after the original DAMNATION was forced to split up. He was happy being the right hand man back then but the time had come for him to have a new unit he could call his own. He had some wise men guiding him along the process. Kenta Kobashi had been supporting Endo and decided to pair him with Jun Akiyama to start off. Endo then decided to add in Yusuke Okada and Yuya Koroku to complete the group. All that was needed was a name. Endo took inspiration from his two mentors and revived the name BURNING with their permission. A name with that much history would motivate Endo to work his hardest to live up to it. Everything was set up and Endo now only needs one last piece to complete the puzzle. The KO-D Openweight Title. When Takeshita asked for a challenger to face him for DDT’s 25th Anniversary, Endo came out and said he was the only one who can face him at Sumo Hall.

It was said before that this is not a rivalry because rivals are meant to motivate each other to do their best. These two are enemies. The proof can be seen from the last four months of DDT shows where The 37KAMIINA Vs BURNING has dominated the main events and upper parts of the cards. Endo has upgraded the Shooting Star Press. First he changed the name to the Burning Star Press and now it is The Best Burning Star Press In The Universe. It is a move Endo was able to pin Takeshita with in response to Takeshita submitting him with the Plus Ultra a few days earlier. It has been a tight conflict and the only thing for certain is whoever wins will lead DDT into its 26th year and beyond!

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Video – Katsumura/Okada/Imanari Vs Ishii/Toba/Tyson Maeguchi

February 16, 2022

GANBARE☆PRO “FALLING DOWN 2022”, 05/02/2022
Yokohama Radiant Hall
138 Fans – Super No Vacancy

Ganpro Yokohama First Landing Commemorative Match ~Team Reversal Gym Yokohama Grand Slam Vs Wrestle Drunkers~: Shuichiro Katsumura, Tsuyoshi Okada & Yumehito Imanari Vs Keisuke Ishii, Tanomusaku Toba & Tyson Maeguchi

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Yamashita Vs Kobashi, Positive Chain Matches, DDT’s Past Returns For 25th Anniversary

January 31, 2022

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TOKYO JOSHI 2022 WINTER ~YOKOHAMA PERFORMANCE~”, 05/02/2022
Yokohama Radiant Hall

1. Miyu Yamashita Vs Marika Kobashi

One more homecoming for Marika Kobashi before she graduates from Tokyo Joshi Pro in April. She gets the biggest challenge possible, a singles match against Miyu Yamashita!

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “POSITIVE CHAIN ’22”, 11/02/2022
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Moka Miyamoto Vs Arisu Endo
2. Hyper Misao, Nao Kakuta & Mahiro Kiryu Vs Asuka, Haruna Neko & Kaya Toribami
3. Suzume Vs Yuki Arai
4. Sakisama & Mei Saint-Michel Vs Raku & Pom Harajuku
5. Miyu Yamashita, Hikari Noa & Marika Kobashi Vs Shoko Nakajima, Yuka Sakazaki & Mizuki
6. International Princess Title: Maki Itoh (c) Vs Yuki Kamifuku
7. 2nd “Futari wa Princess” Max Heart Tournament – Final: Rika Tatsumi & Miu Watanabe Vs Nodoka Tenma & Yuki Aino

The two strongest teams in TJPW right now seem to be Daydream and The Bakuretsu Sisters. They both reached the Max Heart Tournament final and the time is coming to see which side is better. There have been two previous matches between the teams and the Princess Tag Team Titles were on the line both times. Daydream won the first one and the Sisters won the second time. This will be the definitive rubber match given how Nodoka Tenma’s wrestling career is nearing its end. Yuki Aino thinks this match is their destiny. She still wants to wrestle with her sister which she thinks is one of the reasons why they were so successful in this tournament. However Miu Watanabe believes Daydream is now at their strongest. Rika Tatsumi is looking ahead to the winners most likely getting the next Princess Tag Titles shot against The Magical Sugar Rabbits.

When Yuki Kamifuku pinned Maki Itoh earlier in the tournament, Itoh kept her temper knowing that Kamifuku would become a potential challenger for the International Princess Title. Her instinct was proven correct and Kamifuku gets the title shot at Korakuen Hall. Itoh wants her current reign to surpass Kamifuku’s time with the belt so whatever feelings Kamifuku shows in the match, Itoh will give it back 100 times more. Kamifuku feels motivated after teaming with Asuka and thinks it will be a bad look for their friendship if she has nothing to show from working so hard. If she becomes champion again she wants to expand the Wrestle Universe audience across Asia, because America and Europe are already being catered to. Harsh words were also given when Kamifuku called herself the coolest in the world. Itoh said “Piss off you piece of shit” in response.

Two classmates born in 1998 will face off when Suzume takes on Yuki Arai in a first time singles match. Suzume has two years of extra experience in the ring but Arai is coming off of a super rookie year that’s been covered by the Japanese wrestling press across the board. While Suzume knows how popular Arai is, she remembers getting many votes herself to qualify for the IP Title No. 1 Contender Battle Royal last December (Suzume even beat Arai 210 votes to 199). Who gets attention doesn’t bother her, she just wants to win against Arai in a match between two TJPW wrestlers.

DDT “JUDGEMENT 2022 ~DDT 25TH ANNIVERSARY~”, 20/03/2022
Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan

1. LiLiCo Retirement Match: LiLiCo Vs X
2. KO-D 10-Man Tag Team Titles: Toru Owashi, Antonio Honda, Kazuki Hirata & Yoshihiko (c) Vs Poison Sawada JULIE, Takashi Sasaki, GENTARO, MIKAMI & Tanomusaku Toba (w/ Naomi Susan)
3. DDT 25th Anniversary Special Single Match: Sanshiro Takagi Vs Michael Nakazawa
4. Special Single Match: Saki Akai Vs Maya Yukihi
5. KO-D Openweight Title: Konosuke Takeshita (c) Vs Tetsuya Endo

Wrestlers from DDT’s past will come to Sumo Hall to celebrate the company’s 25th Anniversary. The rumored AEW name turned out to be Michael Nakazawa and he blatantly tried to make people think it would be Kenny Omega to get more attention. His long rivalry with Sanshiro Takagi gets revived for the big occasion.

The DDT Legend Army consists of DDT’s big players from the 2000s era of the company. Poison Sawada JULIE and his paranormal powers made him a force to be reckoned with in his prime. Takashi Sasaki is still going today, flying the flag for FREEDOMS over the last 12 years. His Aka Rangers tag partner GENTARO was a DDT mainstay from 2001-2003. The Suicide Boyz of MIKAMI & Tanomusaku Toba were the focal point of DDT’s tag division throughout the decade both together and in separate teams. Tying up the challenging team is Naomi Susan at ringside. She played a major role for DDT behind the scenes as the liaison for foreign wrestlers and was also the manager for Union Pro Wrestling.

Celebrity and former multiple DDT title holder LiLiCo wants to wrestle one more match before she calls time on her pro wrestling career. 2018 was the last time she wrestled in DDT and it will really make it worth her while if they can find her some handsome opponents for her farewell.

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DDT “SWEET DREAMS! 2022 ~ULTIMATE TAG LEAGUE 2022 OPENING ROUND~” Results

January 30, 2022

DDT “SWEET DREAMS! 2022 ~ULTIMATE TAG LEAGUE 2022 OPENING ROUND~”, 30/01/2022
Tokyo Korakuen Hall
516 Fans – No Vacancy

0. Dark Match – 3 Vs 2 Handicap Match: Antonio Honda & Yusuke Okada defeated Toru Owashi, Tomomitsu Matsunaga & Yuki Ishida when Okada pinned Ishida with the Sudden Death (6:46).
1. Kazusada Higuchi, Yukio Sakaguchi, Saki Akai & Hideki Okatani defeated Akito, Soma Takao, Toui Kojima & Yuya Koroku when Okatani pinned Kojima with the Diving Knee Drop (10:32).
2. Ultimate Tag League 2022 – B Block: Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Yumehito “Fantastic” Imanari (2) defeated Shunma Katsumata & MAO (0) when Imanari pinned MAO with the Pheromone Clutch (9:35).
3. Ultimate Tag League 2022 – A Block: Konosuke Takeshita & Yuki Ueno (2) defeated Shuji Kondo & Kazuki Hirata (0) when Ueno pinned Hirata with the BME (14:10).
4. Ultimate Tag League 2022 – A Block: Tetsuya Endo & Jun Akiyama (2) defeated Yuji Hino & Yukio Naya (0) when Endo pinned Naya with the Shooting Star Press (14:40).
5. Ultimate Tag League 2022 – B Block: Chris Brookes & Masahiro Takanashi (2) defeated HARASHIMA & Naomi Yoshimura (0) when Takanashi pinned HARASHIMA with a Pedal-Style Uwabami (19:13).
6. DDT Universal Title: Daisuke Sasaki (c) defeated Minoru Fujita with La Mistica Crossface Lock (19:27).
*V4 for Daisuke Sasaki.

A Block

1. Tetsuya Endo & Jun Akiyama (2)
-. Konosuke Takeshita & Yuki Ueno (2)
3. Kazusada Higuchi & Hideki Okatani (0)
-. Shuji Kondo & Kazuki Hirata (0)
-. Yuji Hino & Yukio Naya (0)

B Block

1. Chris Brookes & Masahiro Takanashi (2)
-. Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Yumehito “Fantastic” Imanari (2)
3. Daisuke Sasaki & MJ Paul (0)
-. Shunma Katsumata & MAO (0)
-. HARASHIMA & Naomi Yoshimura (0)

The main event saw two rule-breakers try to be dirtier than the other in the ring. Daisuke Sasaki called upon MJ Paul to get in and help him but Fujita had backup from his friends from ChocoPro. Sasaki hit a Low Blow on Fujita and also a chairshot but Fujita got even with a supposedly inadvertent Low Blow to Sasaki as he fell to the canvas. Fujita did an Avalanche SAYONARA Tombstone but Sasaki kicked out at two. The champion then overcame Fujita’s Cradles and trapped him in La Mistica Crossface Lock for the submission win.

In a surprising moment after the match, Fujita went to shake Sasaki’s hand despite protests from the ChocoPro wrestlers. Fujita then offered to shake Baaliyan Akki’s hand but instead kicked him low and gave him an Implant DDT. Fujita told his friends their kindness will make them lose at the most crucial moments and they should wake up! If they don’t win then there is no justice. Fujita was about to leave when Sasaki called him over and asked him to join DAMNATION T.A. Fujita accepted and said he will give all of him to the unit. They then attacked the ChocoPro wrestlers and Sasaki told them to go back to Ichigaya. The show ended with Sasaki saying finally DAMNATION T.A is ready to bring destruction and chaos to DDT!

The bulk of the show was dedicated to the opening matches of the Ultimate Tag League 2022. The big match saw CDK scoring an upset win over DISASATER BOX, causing an immediate dent to the former KO-D Tag Team Champions plan to regain the belts. Some clever maneuvers from Chris Brookes & Masahiro Takanashi included putting the ref on top of HARASHIMA and flipping them over into an unintentional Takatonic. When that misfired, HARASHIMA used Naomi Yoshimura as a stepping stone to hit a Flying Double Knee to Takanashi. Brookes was wiped out with the Somato but Takanashi caught HARASHIMA in a roll up to snatch the win out of nowhere. Brookes called DISASTER BOX their strongest opponents in the group, everybody else is all B teams.

BURNING started their campaign with a good win against the heavyweight duo of Yuji Hino & Yukio Naya. Near the end Jun Akiyama threw his Exploder Suplexes but Hino fired his own back at him. Naya’s big move on Tetsuya Endo was an Avalanche Brainbuster but Akiyama caught him with a Running Knee to the face and then another Exploder. Endo dropped him with the Swivel Torture Rack Bomb and picked up the win with the Shooting Star Press. Akiyama thinks Naya is beginning to develop into a better wrestler but BURNING was not going to lose to anyone today. Hino encouraged Naya to explode even more at their next match.

It was a mixed start for the two teams representing The 37KAMIINA. The Osaka duo of Konosuke Takeshita & Yuki Ueno won their match against the odd couple of Shuji Kondo & Kazuki Hirata. There were times when Hirata was reminded not to start dancing because Kondo wants him to get serious. When they were put in Double Crab Holds, Kondo had to physically stop Hirata from tapping out by grabbing his arm before he could tap out. Kondo got his chance to square up against Takeshita but the match came down to Ueno and Hirata. Ueno blocked the Mad Splash and pinned Hirata with the Best Moonsault Ever. Takeshita admitted to being 1% afraid his team would lose the match. He is also interested in wrestling Kondo again. He thinks it would be fun if The 37KAMIINA goes over to the place where Kondo regularly wrestles and fight him there.

Things did not go as well for Shunma Katsumata & MAO when they took on Pheromones. They surprised their opponents with immediate Dropkicks and dives for an attempted quick win. But Yuki Iino & Yumehito Imanari got their chance to do Pheromone things. MAO got a face full of Iino’s backside while Imanari rolled up Katsumata in the Pheromone Clutch to steal the win. Imanari said that even when Danshoku Dieno isn’t here, they are still Pheromones! He didn’t think they could win but the inherited Dandy spirit of Dieno helped them push through with their goal to explore the true DDT essence of DDT.

Now Eruption is complete. A fresh start for Hideki Okatani means a fresh look too. Elsewhere in that generation, Yuya Koroku & Toui Kojima had a tense moment tagging each other in. Akito & Soma Takao tried working together to take out Kazusada Higuchi but Yukio Sakaguchi & Saki Akai were there to even the odds. Eruption all got together to pick apart the opposing team and Okatani used a Diving Knee Drop to pin Kojima. Afterwards backstage, Okatani said he will absolutely beat Akiyama when Eruption has their first Tag League match on 5th February.

Sanshiro Takagi was pulled from the show due to a fever. There was no replacement for him so the dark match was turned into a Handicap Match. The trio of Toru Owashi, Tomomitsu Matsunaga & Yuki Ishida were all unified by their sumo backgrounds. However Yusuke Okada avoided their Sumo Illusion triple team and Antonio Honda launched a Bionic Elbow counter attack. Okada ended up pinning Ishida with the Sudden Death.

A string of announcements were made for DDT’s 25th Anniversary show at Sumo Hall on 20th March. LiLiCo announced she be retiring from pro wrestling. She has knee problems that prevent her from wrestling but would like to have one more match. Hisaya Imabayashi decided she will get a retirement match at Sumo Hall. LiLiCo requested her match to be against men, handsome ones in particular.

Several wrestlers from DDT’s past are being gathered together by Poison Sawada JULIE to challenge for the KO-D 10-Man Tag Team Titles at Sumo Hall. JULIE will lead the DDT Legend Army consisting of himself, Takashi Sasaki, GENTARO, MIKAMI & Tanomusaku Toba with Naomi Susan also in their corner.

A wrestler from AEW was heavily teased to be announced for Sumo Hall so there was a lot of excitement when a video was sent to DDT. It turned out to be from Michael Nakazawa. He wants to challenge Sanshiro Takagi to a Special Singles Match to celebrate the 25th Anniversary.

Two more big arena shows were added to the 2022 schedule. “MEGA MAX BUMP 2022” will be held at the Yokohama Budokan on 1st May. “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2022” is happened at Ota Ward Gymnasium on 20th August.

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Suzuki Joins Itoh Respect Army? Prominence Arrives, RENEGADES Revival

December 20, 2021

DDT “NEVER MIND 2021 IN YOYOGI”, 26/12/2021
Yoyogi National Stadium 2nd Gymnasium

0. Dark Match: Toru Owashi & Yukio Naya Vs Antonio Honda & Hideki Okatani
0. Dark Match: Sanshiro Takagi Vs Maku Donaruto
0. Dark Match – DDTeeeen!! Special Single Match: Ilusion Vs Vent Vert Jack
1. Soma Takao & Shota Vs Akito & Yuki Ishida
2. Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno, Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Yumehito “Fantastic” Imanari Vs Shinya Aoki, Yumiko Hotta & Super Sasadango Machine
3. Special Single Match: Shuji Kondo Vs Kazuki Hirata
4. BURNING Vs The 37KAMIINA!: Tetsuya Endo, Jun Akiyama, Yusuke Okada & Yuya Koroku Vs Shunma Katsumata, Yuki Ueno, MAO & Toui Kojima
5. Special 6-Man Tag Match – Yukio Sakaguchi Return Match: Yukio Sakaguchi, Kazusada Higuchi & Saki Akai Vs Minoru Suzuki, Chris Brookes & Maki Itoh
6. KO-D Tag Team Titles: HARASHIMA & Naomi Yoshimura Vs Yuji Hino & Bodyguard
7. DDT Universal Title: Daisuke Sasaki (c) Vs Masahiro Takanashi
8. KO-D Openweight Title: Konosuke Takeshita (c) Vs Yuji Okabayashi

Earlier today Chris Brookes & Maki Itoh went to visit Minoru Suzuki at his clothing store Piledriver in Harajuku. Their intention was to initiate Suzuki as the newest member of The Itoh Respect Army before their match against Eruption. Despite Suzuki’s intimidating presence, the two introduced themselves to him and explained what was going on. Suzuki told them if they spent 10,000 yen in his shop then he would become friends with them. He gave advice to Itoh, telling her not to compare herself to others. He also said he will target Yukio Sakaguchi because he has known him since junior high. Brookes volunteered to fight Saki Akai because they are both tall and slim wrestlers who have good chemistry together in the ring. That leaves Itoh to deal with Kazusada Higuchi. Brookes told Itoh they both have iron heads so it will be an even fight. Itoh welcomed Suzuki into the Itoh Respect Army after making Brookes pay for their items. However Suzuki denies joining the unit because he is still Suzuki-gun.

GAKE NO FUCHI JOSHI PRO “CLOCKWORK GAKE NO FUCHI 2022 ~GAKE NO FUCHI VS PROMINENCE~”, 04/01/2021
Shinjuku FACE

1. Hardcore Match: Chris Brookes Vs Suzu Suzuki

Two years ago Gake No Fuchi Joshi held an unforgettable Ittenyon show where Brookes and Miyako Matsumoto had a nightmare of a Falls Count Anywhere Match. Matsumoto urgently decided to hold a show on 4th January again but this time it’s to welcome one of the newest joshi units onto the scene. A few weeks ago several wrestlers from Ice Ribbon announced their intentions to go leave the company and become a freelance death match unit called Prominence. One of the key members of this new unit is Suzu Suzuki who was built up by Ice Ribbon to be their young prodigy with a love for death match wrestling. A Hardcore Match against Brookes is exactly what she is looking for after taking her career in a new direction.

The other members of Prominence will also be on the show for other matches. The members are Risa Sera, Mochi Miyagi and Akane Fujita. Gake No Fuchi in the past hasn’t held more than two matches in a single show so I expect it to be a tag match with Matsumoto also involved. As you will see below the Prominence wrestlers have no problem with wrestling each other.

DDT “DDTEEEEN!!”, 05/01/2022
Tokyo Itabashi Green Hall

1. Raimu Imai & Toui Kojima Vs Yuya Koroku & Yuki Ishida
2. Daichi Sato Vs Yuki Ueno
3. Hardcore Match: Suzu Suzuki & Hideki Okatani Vs Akane Fujita & Shunma Katsumata
4. Ilusion & Tetsuya Endo Vs Vent Vert Jack & Naomi Yoshimura
5. El Unicorn Vs You-sei☆Estrella

The main event between El Unicorn and You-sei☆Estrella promises to be a high flying battle.

If there is any unsettled business between Ilusion and Vent Vert Jack from Yoyogi then Tetsuya Endo and Naomi Yoshimura will help clear things up between them.

Prominence is also showing up on the next DDTeeeen!! show with Suzuki and Fujita taking part in a Hardcore Match. Suzuki will team with Hideki Okatani who recently took part in his first Hardcore Match thanks to Shunma Katsumata. Only makes sense for Katsumata to drag him into another here.

The other teenage wrestlers Daichi Sato and Raimu Imai are back for more.

GANBARE☆PRO “MOEKA HARUHI PRODUCE ~PARADISE AFTER THE RAIN 2022~”, 08/01/2022
Kitazawa Town Hall

1. Rain And Bumblebees: Shuichiro Katsumura Vs Thanomusaku Toba Vs Fuminori Abe
2. Rain And Then Downpour: Ken Ohka & Miyako Matsumoto Vs Nobuhiro Shimatani & HARUKAZE
3. After The Rain, Gokigen: Kaori Yoneyama Vs YuuRI
4. I Like The Rain: Moeka Haruhi, Makoto & Cherry Vs Yuna Manase, Rina Yamashita & Tsubasa Kuragaki

The final match added to Moeka Haruhi’s produce show is a heavy striking 3 Way between Shuichiro Katsumura, Tanomusaku Toba and Fuminori Abe.

GANBARE☆PRO “TROPIC THUNDER 2022”, 10/01/2022
Tokyo Itabashi Green Hall

1. Hatsuyume Special Tag Match 2nd Round: Yuna Manase & YuuRI Vs SAKI & Hikari Shimizu
2. RENEGADES Are Back! New Year Special Tag Team Match: Shigehiro Irie & Mizuki Watase Vs Yumehito Imanari & Baliyan Akki
3. Ganpro New Year Battle 2022 2nd Round: Shuichiro Katsumura, Taison Maeguchi & Moeka Haruhi Vs Shota, Nobuhiro Shimatani & HARUKAZE
4. New Year Special Single Match 2nd Round: Soma Takao Vs Shinichiro Tominaga
5. Ganpro Vs Takaiwa Army Full Scale Battle 2nd Round: Keisuke Ishii & Kouki Iwasaki Vs 5th Black Tiger & Kenya Maeda
6. Spirit Of Ganbare World Openweight Title: Tatsuhito Takaiwa (c) Vs Ken Ohka

Now that Mizuki Watase has gotten his feet wet in Ganbare☆Pro he is getting straight to business. He is reviving RENEGADES with Shigehiro Irie! The tag team was originally a unit led by Irie during his 2018 main event run in DDT. However most of the unit was made up of foreign wrestlers so for now RENEGADES is coming back as just a tag team. Watase said he will DM the other members and ask them to come back once the pandemic is over. There is one question I have to ask. Does this mean Watase will wrestle in a suit again?

The Ganbare☆Joshi division is open to work with Color’s and that relationship continues here. Yuna Manase is looking for more joshi to appear on GanJo shows. YuuRI also just learned a harsh lesson being in the ring with SAKI.

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Princess Cup Final 4, Baba Style The Correct Style? Akai Vs Manase, BASARA League

August 2, 2021

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “THE SKY IS THE LIMIT 2021”, 07/08/2021
Nagoya Civic Gymnasium 3rd Stadium

1. Miyu Yamashita & Yuki Arai Vs Yuki Aino & Moka Miyamoto

Yuki Arai’s first match in Nagoya is a big enough deal to main event the show because Nagoya is the home of SKE48. She will team with her mentor Miyu Yamashita against Yuki Aino & Moka Miyamoto. Another SKE48 member Shiori Aoki will be on commentary for the match.

Maki Itoh suffered a fractured left cheekbone in her Tokyo Princess Cup Quarter Final match. It will take two to four weeks for it to heal but she will definitely wrestle on 14th August. She will miss this Saturday’s show though.

DDT “SUMMER VACATION 2021 TOUR IN IWATE”, 09/08/2021
Iwate Education Center Multipurpose Hall (Morioka City)

1. Toru Owashi Vs Yuya Koroku
2. 3 Way Matches: Chris Brookes Vs Antonio Honda Vs Saki Akai
3. HARASHIMA, Naomi Yoshimura & Kazuki Hirata Vs Kazusada Higuchi, Danshoku Dieno & Akito
4. Soma Takao & Yuji Hino Vs Yukio Sakaguchi & Yukio Naya
5. The 37KAMIINA Vs DAMNATION!: Yuki Ueno & MAO Vs Tetsuya Endo & Mad Paulie
6. Morioka Specialty Special 6-Man Tag Match: Jun Akiyama, Yusuke Okada & Hideki Okatani Vs Konosuke Takeshita, Shunma Katsumata & Keigo Nakamura

Daisuke Sasaki is currently absent from shows after coming into close contact with a person who has the Coronavirus. Most of the matches on this show have been changed. Sasaki is expected to be cleared in time for DDT’s return to Korakuen Hall on 15th August.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “AMEBA PRESENTS 8TH TOKYO PRINCESS CUP”, 14/08/2021
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Mirai Maiumi & Moka Miyamoto Vs Suzume & Arisu Endo
2. Hyper Misao, Nodoka Tenma, Yuki Aino & Raku Vs Nao Kakuta, Haruna Neko, Mahiro Kiryu & Kaya Toribami
3. Yuki Arai “Midsummer Trials” Single 1st Match: Yuki Kamifuku Vs Yuki Arai
4. Special 6-Woman Tag Match: Sakisama, Mei Saint-Michel & Yukio Saint Laurent Vs Rika Tatsumi, Pom Harajuku & Antonio Honda
5. Yuka Sakazaki AEW Triumphant Return Match: Miyu Yamashita & Marika Kobashi Vs Yuka Sakazaki & Hikari Noa
6. Tokyo Princess Cup – Semi Final: Shoko Nakajima Vs Shoko Nakajima
7. Tokyo Princess Cup – Semi Final: Mizuki Vs Maki Itoh

The semi final draw was held and the matchups are confirmed. Itoh is confident she will be fully healed in time to face Mizuki in the main event. Overcoming the pain is what makes Itoh stronger and this is the opponents she wants more than anyone else. Mizuki is aiming for the three-peat and has never lost to Itoh before. Winning this match will give her the confidence she needs to win the final 24 hours later. Miu Watanabe is now four years into her pro wrestling career and has fallen in love with it. She also revealed the idol she looks up to most is Mayu Watanabe from AKB48. Her opponent Shoko Nakajima reaches the final four once again but she isn’t taking it for granted. Tokyo Joshi Pro has grown so much over the years that it motivates her to be the best again.

Yuka Sakazaki has her first match back in Japan since coming home from the latest AEW tour.

A few other return appearances brings the Rika Tatsumi Vs NEO Biishiki-gun feud back to life. Yukio Saint Laurent and Antonio Honda get involved again. The only difference is instead of a zombie we get Pom Harajuku.

GANBARE☆PRO “GANBARE☆JOSHI PRO WRESTLING ~YOUTH FRENZY 2021~”, 14/08/2021
Tokyo Oji BASEMENT MON☆STAR

1. Gatoh Move Pro Wrestling Offer Match: Yuna Mizumori Vs Chie Koishikawa
2. Ganbare☆Pro Wrestling Offer Match: Shota & Shinichiro Tominaga Vs Keisuke Ishii & Yumehito Imanari
3. This Time, A Special Tag Match To Celebrate Katsumura & Haruhi’s Tournament Victory: Shuichiro Katsumura & Moeka Haruhi Vs Tanomusaku Toba & Miyako Matsumoto
4. Ganjo Special Tag Match: Yuna Manase & HARUKAZE Vs Yuu Yamagata & Makoto

The next Ganbare☆Joshi show sees Yuna Manase & HARUKAZE go through another attempt to beat Yuu Yamagata. This time Makoto is coming in to be Yamagata’s tag partner.

The Mixed Tag Match that was promised to Shuichiro Katsumura & Moeka Haruhi will take place here. Their match with Tanomusaku Toba & Miyako Matsumoto was cancelled last time when Haruhi had to go into self isolation over a close contact scare.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “AMEBA PRESENTS 8TH TOKYO PRINCESS CUP FINAL”, 15/08/2021
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Yuki Arai “Midsummer Trials” Single 2nd Match: Rika Tatsumi Vs Yuki Arai
2. Tokyo Princess Cup – Final: X Vs X

For the first time since November, Aja Kong will be on the show.

DDT “SUMMER VACATION 2021”, 15/08/2021
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Mizuki Watase Return Match: Mizuki Watase Vs Hideki Okatani
2. HARASHIMA, Toru Owashi, Naomi Yoshimura & Kazuki Hirata Vs Chris Brookes, Danshoku Dieno, Antonio Honda & Keigo Nakamura
3. Tetsuya Endo, Soma Takao & Yuji Hino Vs Kazusada Higuchi, Yukio Sakaguchi & Yuya Koroku
4. Yuki Ueno & Akito Vs Daisuke Sasaki & Mad Paulie
5. Kininashi Wanaru ~The Universe In My Head~ Match: Yuki Iino & Yukio Naya Vs Sanshiro Takagi & Shiro Koshinaka
6. DDT Extreme Title – Hardcore Judo Match: Shinya Aoki (c) Vs MAO
7. KO-D Tag Team Titles: Konosuke Takeshita & Shunma Katsumata (c) Vs Jun Akiyama & Yusuke Okada

In a press conference today the participants of both title matches got to speak. The KO-D Tag Team Titles match will be Yusuke Okada’s first championship shot in DDT since he signed with the company. Jun Akiyama is looking forward to teaming with his student and trusts him enough to let him do his stuff. Shunma Katsumata is determined not to lose the titles in his first defence. He also wants to pin Akiyama again like he did at the Ultimate Tag League. His partner Konosuke Takeshita said he will focus on Akiyama because he can rely on Katsumata to win the match if it comes down to him. The match serves as a clash of different wrestling styles and philosophies. Takeshita says there is no correct answer for pro wrestling that applies to everybody. Akiyama disagrees because he thinks the Giant Baba style that he learned has all of the right answers. Baba’s way is the correct way and the proof is in Akiyama being the current KO-D Openweight Champion.

The Olympic atmosphere in Japan has inspired Shinya Aoki to defend the DDT Extreme Title against MAO in a Hardcore Judo match. Aoki and MAO aren’t sure themselves what the rules are in a Hardcore Judo match but they are excited to do it.

GANBARE☆PRO “ERASER HEAD 2021”, 28/08/2021
Tokyo Itabashi Green Hall

1. Ganpro Special Single Match: Shigehiro Irie Vs Takahiro Katori
2. Ganjo Special Tag Match: Yuna Manase & Asuka Vs Moeka Haruhi & HARUKAZE
3. Special Tag Match That Leaves No Stone Unturned: Yasu Urano & Shota Vs Hagane Shinno & Shinichiro Tominaga
4. Ganpro Special 6-Man Tag Match: Shinjiro Otani, Yumehito Imanari & Nobuhiro Shimatani Vs Keisuke Ishii, Kouki Iwasaki & Rekka
5. Ken Ohka Pre-Debut 20th Anniversary Special Tag Match: Ken Ohka & Seiya Morohashi Vs Shuichiro Katsumura & Shu Sakurai

A second match is added to Ken Ohka’s 20th Anniversary celebration. Seiya Morohashi comes in representing Ohka’s days in Union Pro.

BASARA “BASARA 166 ~GLITTER~”, 31/08/2021
Shin-Kiba 1st RING

1. Union MAX Title: Takumi Tsukamoto (c) Vs Minoru Fujita

The Union MAX Title match that was meant to happen at the end of July has been pushed back a month. Takumi Tsukamoto no longer has the BJW Death Match Title. Meanwhile Minoru Fujita still has his prize money just waiting to be spent once he becomes champion.

MUSCLE “HIRAGANA MUSCLE 5 TOKYO PERFORMANCE ~NO MORE SPECIAL MOVES ANYMORE~”, 01/09/2021
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

Voice actor Tetsu Inada will be involved with the Hiragana Muscle shows in September. His work includes shows from the Gundam and Super Robot Wars series. He also voiced MAO in the Kemono Michi anime DDT was involved with back in 2019. That’s not all. He has also been the voice in DDT’s opening videos for the last year.

DDT “TENJIN WARS 2021”, 12/09/2021
Fukuoka Nishitetsu Hall

1. Special Single Match ~ DDT Vs Ganbare☆Joshi Pro Wrestling: Saki Akai Vs Yuna Manase

It is a match Yuna Manase originally wanted at “CYBERFIGHT FESTIVAL 2021” but it never came to be. She wants a singles match against Saki Akai so much she crashed a DDT show to demand it. Akai doesn’t have any strong feelings about her opponent. She remembers the year she debuted people online were hoping the two of them would team together but other than that they are from completely different parts of the wrestling scene. Akai recently wrestled in Ganpro and felt everyone there has passion but it went away very quickly. If Manase’s fire is red then Akai’s fire is blue and that is much more hotter.

BASARA “BASARA 172 ~FUDO FUKUTSU~”, 24/10/2021
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. IRON FIST Tag Titles: Fuminori Abe & Takuya Nomura (c) Vs X & X
2. Union MAX Title: Takumi Tsukamoto (c) Vs X

A round robin tournament will be held in BASARA over the next two months to determine who will challenge for the MAX Title at Korakuen Hall. A fan vote will be held to determine the five entrants. The choices fans can vote for are Isami Kodaka, FUMA, Yusuke Kubo, Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi, Daichi Kazato, SAGAT, Ryota Nakatsu, Daiki Shimomura, Takato Nakano and Masato Kamino.

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GANBARE☆PRO “LOST HIGHWAY 2021” Results

July 11, 2021

GANBARE☆PRO “LOST HIGHWAY 2021”, 11/07/2021
Tokyo Itabashi Green Hall
102 Fans

1. Ganpro’s Three Major Singles Match: Keisuke Ishii defeated Takahiro Katori with the Double Arm Neck Lock (7:34).
2. Ken Ohka, Shinichiro Tominaga & HARUKAZE defeated Yuna Manase, Shu Sakurai & SAGAT when Ohka pinned Sakurai with the Flame Spear (13:32).
3. Ganpro’s Three Major Singles Match: Shigehiro Irie defeated Shota with a Samson Clutch Rollback (14:58).
4. Miyako Close Call! Special 3 Way Match: Miyako Matsumoto defeated Shuichiro Katsumura and Tanomusaku Toba when Matsumoto double pinned Katsumura and Toba (7:35).
5. Ganpro’s Three Major Singles Match: Kouki Iwasaki defeated Yumehito Imanari with the Back Drop Hold (17:24).

The main event was given to Yumehito Imanari and Kouki Iwasaki in a battle of different wrestling philosophies. Iwasaki called Imanari a one of a kind character he really envies. But there are always some things in pro wrestling that should never be forgotten. Iwasaki thinks strength and technique should be most important and wrestlers who only imitate others cannot make it to the top of Ganbare☆Pro. With that said, Iwasaki told Imanari if he fights like he did today, it will resonate with him more. The two hugged and Iwasaki said he wants another brotherly fight against Imanari in the future.

Moeka Haruhi had to be pulled off the show in short notice because she found out she was recently in close contact with someone who has Covid-19. The mixed tag match was turned into a 3 Way. Miyako Matsumoto stole the win when Shuichiro Katsumura and Tanomusaku Toba knocked each other down and she jumped on top of both of them for the double pin. Afterwards Katsumura told Ganpro to get a real team of opponents as a reward next time. Also now that Shu Sakurai is back, THE HALFEE want to fight for championships again.

At the end of the show, Ken Ohka said he wants to do a special match somewhere for his upcoming 20th anniversary in wrestling.

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Inspiration Tomorrow, Astronauts 2nd Chance, Ganpro Beer Garden

June 30, 2021

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW INSPIRATION”, 01/07/2021
Shin-Kiba 1st RING

1. Moka Miyamoto Vs Arisu Endo
2. Yuka Sakazaki Vs Suzume
3. UWF Rules: Miyu Yamashita Vs Mirai Maiumi

The UWF Rules being used is a 20 minute time limit that can end by Knockout, Submission, Referee Stoppage or a 5 Point TKO. Points are lost by knock downs and rope breaks. Wrestlers cannot be attacked during the knockdown count. Headbutts, elbow strikes, closed fist punches to the face and hitting below the belt are all prohibited. Wrestlers will be given two warnings for breaking those rules and will be disqualified if it’s done a third time.

This is Yuka Sakazaki’s final match in Japan before her excursion to AEW next month.

Moka Miyamoto and Arisu Endo are both fighting for their first singles victory.

BASARA “BASARA 162 ~HOSHIAI NO SORA~”, 07/07/2021
Shinjuku FACE

1. Takato Nakano Vs Kosuke Sato
2. Jacket Match: Ryota Nakatsu & Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi Vs Tsutomu Oosugi & Banana Senga (Special Referee: Gouma)
3. Takumi Tsukamoto, Yasu Urano & Masato Kamino Vs FUMA, Yusuke Kubo & Daichi Kazato
4. IRON FIST Tag Titles: Isami Kodaka & Daiki Shimomura (c) Vs Fuminori Abe & Takuya Nomura
5. ReOStaff Presents Heaven Summit ~Itadaki~ – Final: SAGAT Vs Minoru Fujita

The IRON FIST Tag Titles will be on the line with Astronauts getting their second shot at becoming the champions. They previously fought for the titles at the end of 2019.

Takato Nakano and Kosuke Sato are building up a small grudge between each other from yesterday’s show. It gets settled here.

GANBARE☆PRO “LOST HIGHWAY 2021”, 11/07/2021
Tokyo Itabashi Green Hall

1. Ken Ohka, Shinichiro Tominaga & HARUKAZE Vs Yuna Manase, Shu Sakurai & SAGAT
2. Ganpro’s Three Major Singles Match: Keisuke Ishii Vs Takahiro Katori
3. Ganpro’s Three Major Singles Match: Shota Vs Shigehiro Irie
4. Ganpro’s Three Major Singles Match: Yumehito Imanati Vs Kouki Iwasaki
5. Special Tag Match To Celebrate Katsumura & Haruhi’s Tournament Victory: Shuichiro Katsumura & Moeka Haruhi Vs Tanomusaku Toba & Miyako Matsumoto

After all the rumours and teases, the special opponents for Shuichiro Katsumura & Moeka Haruhi for winning the Mixed Tag Tournament are… Tanomusaku Toba & Miyako Matsumoto? That’s it? Something’s not right here.

Takahiro Katori is a freelancer originally from Tochigi’s EAGLE Pro Wrestling.

DDT “SUMMER VACATION 2021 TOUR IN SHIROISHI”, 18/07/2021
Miyagi Shiroishi White Cube

1. KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles: Tetsuya Endo, Soma Takao & Yuji Hino (c) Vs Yuki Ueno, Shunma Katsumata & MAO

Is it really a good idea to rain on somebody’s homecoming parade? The 37KAMIINA demanded to be DAMNATION’s opponents in Tetsuya Endo’s hometown!

GANBARE☆PRO “MEAN STREET 2021 ~BEER GARDEN-LIKE GANBARE☆PRO WRESTLING~”, 01/08/2021
Shinjuku FACE

1. Beer Garden Specialty! Yumehito Imanari Produce Match “Pocchari Joshi 2.5” ~1st BEST OF THE SUPER Pocchari Decision Match~: Yuna Manase Vs Yuna Mizumori (Special Refeere: Nikkan Lee)
2. Beer Garden Specialty! Keisuke Ishii Produce Match “The Return Of Lariat Pro Wrestling 2021”: Keisuke Ishii, Shinichiro Tominaga & Moeka Haruhi Vs Onryo, Shota & HARUKAZE

DDT isn’t the only place running a Beer Garden show this year. Ganbare☆Pro is joining in on the fun with some Lariat Pro and Pocchari Joshi on the side.

Takahiro Katori will be on the show.

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Video – Tanomusaku Toba Vs Miyako Matsumoto Martial Arts Match

June 23, 2021

GANBARE☆PRO “GANBARE☆JOSHI PRO WRESTLING ~I’LL BE LIKE A FLOWER BLOOMING ON THE MOON 2021~”, 19/06/2021
Tokyo Narimasu Act Hall
102 Fans

Virtual Tenshin Nasukawa! ~ Special Rules: Tanomusaku Toba Vs Miyako Matsumoto

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Posted by JamieOD

GANBARE☆JOSHI “I’LL BE LIKE A FLOWER BLOOMING ON THE MOON 2021” Results

June 19, 2021

GANBARE☆JOSHI “I’LL BE LIKE A FLOWER BLOOMING ON THE MOON 2021”, 19/06/2021
Tokyo Narimasu Act Hall
102 Fans

1. Gatoh Move Pro Wrestling Offer Match: Sayaka Obihiro defeated Yuna Mizumori with the Birth (10:17).
2. Ganbare☆Pro Wrestling Offer Match: Keisuke Ishii & Kouki Iwasaki defeated Shuichiro Katsumura & Yumehito Imanari when Iwasaki pinned Imanari with a Ground Cobra Twist (12:14).
3. Virtual Tenshin Nasukawa! ~ Special Rules: Tanomusaku Toba defeated Miyako Matsumoto by TKO with Repeated Punches (R3 1:30).
4. Team MAKAI Vs 2AW Full Scale Battle: Shiori Asahi & Ayame Sasamura defeated Shota & Asuka when Asahi pinned Shota with a Cradle (12:26).
5. Ganjo Special Tag Match: Yuu Yamagata & Moeka Haruhi defeated Yuna Manase & HARUKAZE when Haruhi pinned Manase with the Diving Foot Stomp (13:51).

It took a lot of effort from Yuna Manase to convince Yuu Yamagata into coming back for another Ganbare☆Joshi show. She had to disguise herself as an UberEats driver just to see her in person again. So Manase & HARUKAZE could not waste their opportunity to prove Yamagata wrong today. In the early going, HARUKAZE was facing off with Yamagata with attempts to submit her only for Moeka Haruhi to break up the holds. Manase’s time to shine was in the latter half but Yamagata fought back. She avoided the Suzuki Dynamic and hit two Somatos before tagging out. Haruhi hesitated taking advantage of her friends but went ahead and pinned Manase with the Diving Foot Stomp.

After the match, Yamagata asked Manase where was all of the bravado she had when she pulled off the UberEats stunt at her home a few weeks ago? Yamagata spoke about how embarrassed she was having to explain to her neighbors what was going on. She told Manase never to annoy her like that ever again. HARUKAZE though is fine in her book. She’s not improving because she hangs out with Manase but if she ever decides to join Yamagata’s side, she will start to improve. That was all Yamagata wanted to say so she left the ring when she finished. Manase shouted to Yamagata over being embarrassed. She’s done a lot of things she is ashamed of but she still wants to win in the ring. Manase and Haruhi agreed they will never give up and they encouraged HARUKAZE to stick with Ganjo. Ken Ohka agreed and gave a speech about having to live no matter how hard things get. The Ganjo wrestlers lost today but they can win the next time and laugh about it.

Asuka and Ayame Sasamura are on good terms in and out of the ring so they were apologetic to each other whenever it looked like one hurt the other. Shota had no such problems with causing harm to Sasamura, fighting dirty to get the upper hand. Asuka missed a Spin Kick to Shiori Asahi, hitting her partner by mistake. She regained control by hitting Asahi with a Kneel Kick and instructed Shota to pin him. But Asahi Cradled Shota out of nowhere to steal the victory.

The match between Tanomusaku Toba and Miyako Matsumoto was going to consist of three five minute rounds with different rules every round. Round 1 was Kickboxing Rules. Matsumoto’s plan was to imitate Toba’s fighting style but Toba pummeled her until she was saved by the bell. Round 2 was MMA Rules so Miyamoto went for a takedown but Toba easily escaped her ground game. Matsumoto got a big moment by kicking Toba below the belt and went wild until the round ended. Round 3 was Pro Wrestling rules which evened the playing field a little bit. Matsumoto got nearfalls with the Miyako Clutch and Shining Wizard. Toba ended her momentum with a Straight Right then rushed into the corner with more punches until the referee called for the TKO.

The Ganbare☆Pro Offer Match went off the rails after the finish. Kouki Iwasaki skillfully pinned Yumehito Imanari but Imanari attacked him with a Lariat afterwards. Keisuke Ishii ran in hitting Imanari with a Knee Strike but Imanari rebounded with another Lariat. Then as he was leaving ringside he got into a fight with his own tag partner Shuichiro Katsumura.

Yuna Mizumori tried using an autographed photo of Ken Ohka as a foreign object against Sayaka Obihiro.

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