Princess Cup Finale Back On, DAMNATION Match Order, Katsumata Ganpro Hitman

August 28, 2020

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TOKYO PRINCESS CUP FINAL”, 29/08/2020
Shinjuku FACE

1. Tokyo Princess Cup – Semi Final: Mizuki Vs Maki Itoh
2. Tokyo Princess Cup – Semi Final: Shoko Nakajima Vs Miyu Yamashita
3. Tokyo Princess Cup – Final: X Vs X

Further PCR tests for the Tokyo Joshi Pro roster and staff have come back negative and the supervised safety period of those people have ended. That means they are going back to holding shows. The Tokyo Princess Cup semi finals will indeed take place on the same show as the grand final. The other undercard matches will be announced on the day of the show.

DDT “DAMNATION ILLEGAL RALLY RETURNS”, 29/08/2020
Shinjuku FACE

1. Reiwa’s Summer Battle!: Nobuhiro Shimatani Vs Chikara
2. 3 Way Match: El Lindaman Vs Antonio Honda Vs Intelligence Sensational Grand Passion Mask #4
3. Soma Takao & T-Hawk Vs Mineo Fujita & Leo Isaka
4. Shuji Ishikawa & Mad Paulie Vs Kazusada Higuchi & Yukio Naya
5. Tetsuya Endo Debut 8th Anniversary Match: Tetsuya Endo vs Ryuichi Sekine
6. Special Single Match: Daisuke Sasaki Vs Tsutomu Oosugi

This is the confirmed match order.

BASARA “BASARA 132 ~BANQUET~”, 08/09/2020
Shin-Kiba 1st RING

1. IRON FIST TAG Titles: Tsutomu Oosugi & Banana Senga (c) Vs Takumi Tsukamoto & Yasu Urano

The one guy Speed Of Sounds don’t want to wrestle is Yasu Urano. He seems to be the wrestler they can’t figure out. Urano & Takumi Tsukamoto like the success they’ve been having in team matches so they decided to go after the IRON FIST TAG Titles.

GANBARE☆WRESTLING “HONJITSU WA SEITEN NARI 2020”, 12/09/2020
Tokyo Itabashi Green Hall

1. Ishii And Katsumata Clash For The First Time In 1 Year And 5 Months! Attach The Soccer Field At Itabashi!: Keisuke Ishii & HARUKAZE Vs Shunma Katsumata & Yuna Manase
2. Fujita Wrestling School Lecturer Confrontation In Ganpro: Shota Vs Minoru Fujita
3. POWER OF DREAM Vs Shawn Capture: Kouki Iwasaki Vs Ikuto Hidaka
4. GWC 6-Man Tag Team Titles: Ken Ohka, Yumehito Imanari & Miss Mongol (c) Vs Katsuzaki Shunosuke, Moehiko Harumisawa & Washi Sakurai
5. Independent World Jr. Heavyweight Title: Asuka (c) Vs Shinichiro Tominaga

Shunma Katsumata wants to stick around in Ganbare☆Wrestling as a hitman for hire. So expect him show up every now and then whenever somebody needs a hand.

BASARA “BASARA 134 ~THE VICISSITUDES OF LIFE~”, 22/09/2020
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Union MAX Title: Fuminori Abe (c) Vs Ryota Nakatsu

Ryota Nakatsu follows up the Heaven Summit ~Itadaki~ victory with challenging Fuminori Abe for the Union MAX Title. This will main event BASARA’s only Korakuen Hall show in 2020 so they want to show the future is bright for the company.


BASARA “BASARA 131 ~BANQUET~” Results

August 26, 2020

BASARA “BASARA 131 ~BANQUET~”, 25/08/2020
Shin-Kiba 1st RING
??? Fans (Withheld)

1. Masato Kamino defeated Tetsuo Usui with a Lariat (11:35).
2. Ryota Nakatsu & Akiyori Takizawa defeated Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi & Yusuke Kubo when Nakatsu pinned Hiroshi with the V Slider (9:26). (Special Referee: Gouma Ryu)
3. Isami Kodaka defeated Leo Isaka with the Modified Samson Clutch (8:15).
4. Hardcore Tag Match: Ryuichi Sekine & Minoru Fujita defeated FUMA & SAGAT when Fujita pinned SAGAT with the Tombstone Piledriver onto a chair (11:03).
5. Takumi Tsukamoto, Takato Nakano & Yasu Urano defeated Tsutomu Oosugi, Banana Senga & Daichi Kazato when Tsukamoto pinned Kazato with the Running Zudon (12:18).
6. Union MAX Title: Fuminori Abe (c) defeated Daiki Shimomura with the Manjigatame (19:10).
*V2 for Fuminori Abe.

Fuminori Abe said he will always think of Daiki Shimomura as his rival after the match. He will never lose to his rival but that is what makes him stronger. Shimomura hasn’t beaten Abe in singles matches yet but when he does he wants it to be for the Union MAX Title. After they shook hands, Nakatsu ran into the ring but tripped over himself. When he steadied himself, he told Abe he wants a MAX Title match at Korakuen Hall on 22nd September. Abe accepted and together they will show the future of BASARA in Korakuen.

Takumi Tsukamoto & Yasu Urano are forming a team to challenge Speed Of Sounds for the IRON FIST Tag Titles. Tsukamoto has a good track record teaming with Urano so it’s an opportunity he does not want to miss. They won the UWA World 6-Man Tag Team Titles last year with Takato Nakano. This direction means Nakano gets left out in the cold but Tsukamoto feels it has to happen for him and Urano to win the IRON FIST Titles. Speed Of Sounds admitted they would prefer to face Nakano rather than Urano. The title match will happen on the 8th September Shin-Kiba 1st RING show.


Princess Cup Quarter Finals, King Of DDT Final 4, Sugiura-gun Enters STREET FIGHT CLUB

August 11, 2020

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TOKYO PRINCESS CUP”, 15/08/2020
Tokyo Kanda Myojin Hall

1. Tokyo Princess Cup – Quarter Final 1: Mizuki Vs Yuki Aino
2. Tokyo Princess Cup – Quarter Final 2: Miu Watanabe Vs Maki Itoh
3. Tokyo Princess Cup – Quarter Final 3: Natsumi Maki Vs Shoko Nakajima
4. Tokyo Princess Cup – Quarter Final 4: Miyu Yamashita Vs Hyper Misao

That was a long stretch of tournament shows we just had. There is a couple of days rest for Tokyo Joshi Pro before they hold the Tokyo Princess Cup quarter finals. Last year’s winner Mizuki faces the most recent Princess Title challenger Yuki Aino. The last remaining Up Up Girls member in the competition Miu Watanabe takes on Maki Itoh. Over on the other side of the bracket, Natsumi Maki and Shoko Nakajima promises to be frantic. Finally Miyu Yamashita’s meets the biggest reminder of her Princess Cup curse. Hyper Misao’s upset over Yamashita back in 2016 is what cemented this jinx in the first place. But did Misao use up all her luck knocking out Yuka Sakazaki?

DDT “BON DEMONE, ATASHA KAMISAMADA YO 2020”, 15/08/2020
Tokyo Kanda Myojin Hall

1. HARASHIMA, Konosuke Takeshita & Yukio Naya Vs Chris Brookes, Makoto Oishi & Mizuki Watase
2. It’s Summer! DDT Variety Group Meeting! Fight And Protect Justice!!: Danshoku Dieno & Kazuki Hirata Vs Toru Owashi & Antonio Honda
3. #DAMNHEARTS Vs ALL OUT!: Daisuke Sasaki, T-Hawk & Soma Takao Vs Akito, Shunma Katsumata & Yuki Iino
4. DAMNATION Vs Eruption!: Tetsuya Endo & Mad Paulie Vs Kazusada Higuchi & Yukio Sakaguchi
5. Team Big Old-Timers Vs Young Dramatics: Jun Akiyama & Sanshiro Takagi Vs Keigo Nakamura & Hideki Okatani
6. KO-D Tag Team Titles: Yuki Ueno & Naomi Yoshimura (c) Vs MIKAMI & Tanomusaku Toba

Over in DDT they have a non-tournament show to get through on the same day. Nautilus have to shake off their eliminations and focus on defending the KO-D Tag Team Titles. The undercard has a few previews of next week’s big matches too.

DDT “BLACK OUT PRESENTS KING OF DDT 2020 FINAL!!”, 23/08/2020
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

0. Under Match – 3 Way Tag Match: Toru Owashi & Kazuki Hirata Vs Antonio Honda & Keigo Nakamura Vs Tomomitsu Matsunaga & Yukio Naya
1. King Of DDT 2020 – Semi-Final: Tetsuya Endo Vs Kazusada Higuchi
2. King Of DDT 2020 – Semi-Final: Akito Vs T-Hawk
3. Yukio Sakaguchi & Saki Akai Vs Danshoku Dieno & Seigo Tachibana
4. Jun Akiyama, Makoto Oishi, Mizuki Watase & Hideki Okatani Vs Konosuke Takeshita, Shunma Katsumata, Yuki Iino & Shinya Aoki
5. KING OF DDT 2020 Special 10-Man Tag Match: HARASHIMA, Yuki Ueno, Naomi Yoshimura, Minoru Tanaka & Chris Brookes Vs Daisuke Sasaki, Soma Takao, Mad Paulie, El Lindaman & Nobuhiro Shimatani
6. King Of DDT 2020 – Final: X Vs X

The King Of DDT is down to Tetsuya Endo, Kazusada Higuchi, Akito and T-Hawk. The winner headlines “ULTIMATE PARTY 2020” at Ota Ward Gymnasium in November. Endo has different connections with the rest of the final four. He feuded with Higuchi throughout the DDT TV SHOW series earlier this year. He was beaten in the 1st Round by Akito but was rescued from elimination by winning the Dramatic Chance Battle Royal. And his partnership with T-Hawk is the origin of the DAMNHEARTS business alliance. Akito wants revenge on T-Hawk after he lost to him at “JUDGEMENT 2019” in Sumo Hall last February.

BAKUHA KOSHIEN “STREET FIGHT CLUB”, 25/08/2020
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Gake no Fuchi Joshi Vs Pocchari Joshi Full Face To Face Battle!: Miyako Matsumoto & Chris Brookes Vs Yuna Manase & Yumehito Imanari
2. Hage Torongezu Vs #STRONGHEARTS!: Jiro Kuroshio & Seigo Tachibana Vs T-Hawk & El Lindaman
3. STREET FIGHT CLUB Special Match ~Royal Traditions Match~: Jun Akiyama Vs Yukio Naya
4. Street Fight 6-Man Tag Match: Atsushi Onita, Yuko Miyamoto & Rocky Kawamura Vs Takashi Sugiura, NOSAWA Rongai & Kaz Hayashi

Atsushi Onita got the toughest competition to fight his crew in the main event. Sugiura-gun from NOAH are entering the STREET FIGHT CLUB! Onita and Takashi Sugiura had a little death match feud half a decade ago that never really went anywhere. Might as well rekindle it because 2020 is weird enough to make it happen. There is also the two unusual joshi offshoots Gake no Fuchi Joshi and Pocchari Joshi getting paired against each other.

BASARA “BASARA 131 ~BANQUET~”, 25/08/2020
Shin-Kiba 1st RING

1. Union MAX Title: Fuminori Abe (c) Vs Daiki Shimomura

In the main event of the last BASARA show, Daiki Shimomura pinned Fuminori Abe to win the 8-Man Tag Team Elimination Match. That grants him a shot at the Union MAX Title. Abe quickly bounced back from that result two days later by winning the BJW Tag Team Titles with Takuya Nomura so he is now a double champion.

DDT “DAMNATION ILLEGAL RALLY RETURNS”, 29/08/2020
Shinjuku FACE

1. Shuji Ishikawa & Mad Paulie Vs Kazusada Higuchi & Yukio Naya
2. Tetsuya Endo Debut 8th Anniversary Match: Tetsuya Endo vs Ryuichi Sekine
3. Special Single Match: Daisuke Sasaki Vs Tsutomu Oosugi

The DAMNATION produce show that was meant to happen back in June is now happening at the end of August. Shuji Ishikawa comes back for the occasion.

DDT “TAISHO DRAMATIC ROMANTAN 2020”, 05/09/2020
Osaka Azalea Taisho Hall

1. Taisho Ward Specialty! Jun To Ai Special Tag Match: Chris Brookes & Maku Donaruto Vs Sanshiro Takagi & Danshoku Dieno
2. Junretsu Vs ALL OUT!: Jun Akiyama & Makoto Oishi Vs Konosuke Takeshita & Shunma Katsumata

Junretsu and ALL OUT are back to fighting each other. Jun Akiyama is only scheduled to wrestle on four DDT shows in September. This is the first date. He will also be on the two Korakuen Hall shows as well as an event in Nagoya.

Chris Brookes & Maku Donaruto now get the chance to be more friendly towards each other.


BASARA “BASARA 129 ~BANQUET~” Results

July 14, 2020

BASARA “BASARA 129 ~BANQUET~”, 14/07/2020
Shin-Kiba 1st RING
135 Fans – Super No Vacancy Full House

1. Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi & SAGAT defeated Masato Kamino & Tetsuo Usui when SAGAT pinned Usui after the Space SAGAT Torpedo II (10:37).
2. FUMA & Yusuke Kubo defeated Daichi Kazato & Leo Isaka when FUMA submitted Kazato with a Stretch Muffler (9:30).
3. 3 Way Tag Match: Takumi Tsukamoto & Yasu Urano defeated Ryuichi Sekine & Minoru Fujita and Ryota Nakatsu & Akiyori Takizawa when Tsukamoto pinned Takizawa with the Zudon (10:14).
4. Daiki Shimomura defeated Takato Nakano with the Swanton Bomb (10:40).
5. IRON FIST Tag Titles – Turnabout Pro Wrestling Trial: Tsutomu Oosugi & Banana Senga (c) defeated Gouma Ryu & Ryuji Ito when Oosugi pinned Ryu with a Jackknife Pin (16:23). (Defendent: Ryuichi Sekine)
*V4 for Speed Of Sounds.
6. Union MAX Title: Fuminori Abe (c) Vs Isami Kodaka ended in a Time Limit Draw (30:00).
*V1 for Fuminori Abe.

Daiki Shimomura challenged Fuminori Abe for the Union MAX Title backstage after the show.


News Comes As Restrictions Get Lifted

May 26, 2020

I hope everybody out there is feeling well and finding ways to cope with the sad news about Hana Kimura. Dylan from the Eastern Lariat podcast tweeted a magazine photo of the time when an 8 year old Kimura won the Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title, which I think was her only connection to DDT. There would have been a working relationship between her and Sanshiro Takagi in WRESTLE-1 as well back when Takagi was part of its management.

There’s a quick story I want to tell. When I last went to Tokyo in 2016 I got to see a Sendai Girls show with a group of friends in Korakuen (the 8th April one). Kyoko Kimura was wrestling in the opener and Hana was there as her ringside attendant. This was only a few weeks after her pro debut and it was her only role on the show. I didn’t think anything of it at the time. The next day I spoke to an American expat and talked about the show. Before I even finished a sentence he cut me off and asked “Was Kyoko Kimura’s daughter there? She is going to be a star!”

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

1. Jun Akiyama Vs Hideki Okatani
2. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title: Danshoku Dieno (c) Vs Antonio Honda
3. DAMNATION VS ALL OUT!: Daisuke Sasaki & Soma Takao Vs Shunma Katsumata & Yuki Iino
4. Yoshihiko & Akihiro Vs Konosuke Takeshita & Akito
5. #DAMNHEARTS Vs DISASTER BOX!: Tetsuya Endo, T-Hawk & El Lindaman Vs HARASHIMA, Yuki Ueno & Naomi Yoshimura

Figures from past and present are returning as Japan opens up again. The #STRONGHEARTS pair of T-Hawk & El Lindaman rejoin Tetsuya Endo to protect him from losing before his big title match. Yuki Ueno has spent all of this time during the pandemic looking after the Dropkick Bar. He gets to wrestle again for the first time in almost two months.

The second battle doll Akihiro came back in Yoshihiko’s time of need to defeat ALL OUT. The feud isn’t over yet when revenge is on offer.

Third time’s the charm for Danshoku Dieno Vs Antonio Honda.

Two thirds of the next DDT UNIVERSAL Title match face off in tag action.

Hideki Okatani showed his stuff by fighting Seigo Tachibana to a time limit draw in the match that took place after the last episode ended. Jun Akiyama should have lots to teach him.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW PPV SHOW ~ZENRYOKU YELL~”, 31/05/2020
OPENREC.tv

1. Hikari Noa Vs Sena Shiori
2. Hyper Misao Vs Mahiro Kiryu
3. Yuka Sakazaki & Mizuki Vs Shoko Nakajima & Suzume

The main event is confirmed to be The Magical Sugar Rabbits against Shoko Nakajima & Suzume.

GANBARE☆WRESTLING “HIMITSU 2020”, 03/06/2020
???

1. 4 Vs 4 Survival Tag Match: Keisuke Ishii, Yumehito Imanari, Shinichiro Tominaga & Kouki Iwasaki Vs Shuichiro Katsumura, Shota, Washi Sakurai & X

At last Ganbare☆Wrestling gets to have a go at an empty arena match. Here’s a neat concept for the match. We have two teams with 4 wrestlers each. When the match begins two wrestlers from each side are selected to wrestle a tag team match. When a wrestler is defeated by normal means they are replaced by a new teammate and the tag match continues. To win the match, a team must eliminate three of their opponents.

As you can see, one team has a mystery wrestler advertised. I’m surprised to see Ken Ohka or Moeka Haruhi aren’t involved. Haruhi being there would have meant all members of THE HALFEE were in the match on the same side. This is the only match of the show too.

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

1. Soma Takao & Mad Paulie Vs Keigo Nakamura & Hideki Okatani
2. Keisuke Ishii & HARUKAZE Vs Hiroshi Yamato & Saori Anou
3. DDT Yuru-chara No. 1 Battle In Niigata: Super Sasadango Machine Vs Pokotan
4. DDT UNIVERSAL Title – Hardcore 3 Way Match: Daisuke Sasaki (c) Vs Isami Kodaka Vs Shunma Katsumata

The new plan for “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2020” is to hold it under the DDT TV SHOW format across two days. It’s not the mega show it is going to be but under the current circumstances it keeps DDT chugging along as light appears at the end of the tunnel.

Daisuke Sasaki wanted his next title defence to be easy and violent. That is why he nominated Shunma Katsumata to be his next challenger. The twist is the sudden appearance of Isami Kodaka getting involved. Kodaka heard about DDT’s new UNIVERSAL Title and wanted to add it to his ever growing list of accomplishments.

I bet the DDT roster are happy to see Saori Anou again.

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

1. Tokyo Joshi Pro 6-Woman Tag Match: Yuka Sakazaki, Miyu Yamashita & Shoko Nakajima Vs Rika Tatsumi, Nodoka Tenma & Yuki Aino
2. Yukio Sakaguchi & Saki Akai Vs Chris Brookes & Maki Itoh
3. Super Sasadango Machine Remote Produce Match: Toru Owashi Vs Antonio Honda
4. DDT Extreme Title – Celebration! Release Restriction Rules: Shinya Aoki (c) Vs Yukio Naya
5. KO-D Openweight Title: Masato Tanaka (c) Vs Tetsuya Endo

Endo is so close to his final goal. He tripped up once before but reclaimed the KO-D Challenger Sword and just has to avoid a direct defeat one more time. Once he does that, Masato Tanaka will be there waiting for him with the KO-D Openweight Title held tightly in his grip.

The state of emergency in Tokyo has been lifted and the restrictions across Japan are easing off. Shinya Aoki will use the uplifting news as inspiration for his next DDT Extreme Title defence. Yukio Naya is stepping up as the challenger.

This show is taking place on Nodoka Tenma’s birthday! She is happy to spend the day fighting against the three strongest wrestlers in Tokyo Joshi Pro. Her team with Yuki Aino & Rika Tatsumi is called Bakuretsu Dragon.

BASARA “BASARA 129 ~BANQUET~”, 14/07/2020
Shin-Kiba 1st RING

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

BASARA are playing it safe and have cancelled their last remaining show in June. Instead their first show back will be in July at Shin-Kiba 1st RING. Normally this is the Banquet all you can drink show but that system will be suspended and the seating rearranged to accommodate social distancing. For now they are numbering the show #129. The last BASARA show that took place was #126 (I’m amazed I’ve been able to keep track of the chapter numbers for so long). If that sticks then it means #127 & #128 are forever lost to the cancellations.

The two title matches that were originally going to take place in April are now finally going to happen in July. Fuminori Abe must be chomping at the bit to prove his worth as Union MAX Champion by now.


Everything Is Getting Cancelled Because Of COVID-19

April 7, 2020

The Japanese government declared a state of emergency over several parts of the country. The DDT Group has cancelled the following shows over the next three months either because it’s impossible to run them under the current circumstances and the venues in the later months have now become unavailable for similar reasons. Not every single show has been cancelled but when you look at the news it’s only a matter of time before the remaining events during this period get called off. “MAX BUMP 2020” is still taking place on 12th April and will be the first episode of a new weekly series on DDT UNIVERSE to make up for the cancelled shows.

April

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “SPRING TOUR ’20 ~HEART & BODY~”, 25/04/2020
Tokyo Itabashi Green Hall

DDT “ROAD TO PETER PAN 2020 ~DRAMATIC DREAM TOKYO DAIBUTSU~”, 25/04/2020
Tokyo Itabashi Green Hall

YAROZ “YAROZ, EMBRACE AMBITION! 2020”, 26/04/2020
Tokyo Itabashi Green Hall 1F Hall

BOYZ “BE AMBITIOUS! 2020”, 26/04/2020
Tokyo Itabashi Green Hall 2F Hall

GANBARE☆WRESTLING “DARK WATER 2020”, 26/04/2020
Tokyo Itabashi Green Hall 1F Hall

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “GO GIRL – WOMEN ONLY FREE SHOW”, 26/04/2020
Tokyo Itabashi Green Hall 2F Hall

DDT “ROAD TO PETER PAN 2020 ~DRAMATIC DREAM TATARAODORI~”, 29/04/2020
Saitama Industrial Technology Center Multipurpose Hall

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May

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “YES! WONDERLAND 2020 ~WE ARE STILL IN THE MIDDLE OF A DREAM~”, 03/05/2020
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

DDT “ROAD TO PETER PAN 2020”, 03/05/2020
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

DDT “ROAD TO PETER PAN 2020 ~DRAMATIC DREAM TAMAKONNYAKU~”, 04/05/2020
Yamagata Big Wing

GANBARE☆WRESTLING “GOLD EXPERIENCE 2020”, 04/05/2020
Tokyo Itabashi Green Hall

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “SPRING TOUR ’20 ~HEART & BODY~”, 05/05/2020
Kitazawa Town Hall

DDT “ROAD TO PETER PAN 2020 ~DRAMATIC DREAM TSUGARUSHAMISEN~”, 05/05/2020
Aomori Hamanasu Hall

DDT “ROAD TO PETER PAN 2020 ~DRAMATIC DREAM TETSUBIN~”, 06/05/2020
Iwate Education Hall Multipurpose Hall

DDT “ROAD TO PETER PAN 2020 ~DRAMATIC DREAM TASOGARE~”, 09/05/2020
Yokohama Radiant Hall

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “SPRING TOUR ’20 ~HEART & BODY~”, 10/05/2020
Osaka City Minato City Citizen Center

DDT “ROAD TO PETER PAN 2020 ~DRAMATIC DREAM TENPOZAN~”, 10/05/2020
Osaka City Minato City Citizen Center

DDT “ROAD TO PETER PAN 2020 ~DRAMATIC DREAM TOROHOKE~”, 16/05/2020
Hokkaido Hakodate Wholesale Center Distribution Hall

DDT “ROAD TO PETER PAN 2020 ~DRAMATIC DREAM TOKEDAI~ A BELL THAT RINGS AT NOON”, 17/05/2020
Sapporo International House Lilac Hall

DDT “ROAD TO PETER PAN 2020 ~DRAMATIC DREAM TOKEDAI~ A BELL THAT RINGS IN THE EVENING~”, 17/05/2020
Sapporo International House Lilac Hall

DDT “ROAD TO PETER PAN 2020 ~DRAMATIC DREAM TAREKATSUDON~”, 24/05/2020
Nishi Niigata City Hall

DDT “ROAD TO PETER PAN 2020 ~DRAMATIC DREAM TOKASAN~”, 31/05/2020
Hiroshima Marina Hop

DDT “GANBARE☆ONITA OHKA☆PRO WRESTLING ~HIROSHIMA DEATH FIGHT~”, 31/05/2020
Hiroshima Marina Hop

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June

DDT “DRAMATIC STREET STARRY CORNER 2020”, 13/06/2020
Tottori Hokueicho Hojo B & G Marine Center

DDT “SAKI AKAI LOCAL TRIUMPH! DRAMATIC KYOTO LOVE 2020”, 20/06/2020
Kyoto KBS HALL

DDT “DRAMATIC OYAYUZURI NO MUTEPPO 2020!”, 21/06/2020
Matsuyama Sogo Community Center Exhibition Hall

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July

DDT “???”, 04/07/2020
Kochi Sunpia Chres

DDT “WRESTLING TONKOTSU 2020”, 05/07/2020
Fukuoka Nishitetsu Hall

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Over in BASARA all of their remaining shows for April have been postponed or cancelled entirely. This includes FUMA FEST and the Banquet shows. They announced the next Union MAX Title and IRON FIST Tag Title defences will take place on the 26th May Shin-Kiba 1st RING show. DDT’s restaurant businesses have also been closed and the DDT head office switched to a work at home situation.

Anything else to talk about? Well there was a tweet from Sanshiro Takagi suggesting DDT UNIVERSE might get renamed because the service now features pro wrestling videos from other companies like Pro Wrestling NOAH and Gatoh Move. So at least we have that service getting an upgrade to look forward to. Not like there’s much else at the moment. Maybe a Tiger King and Muscle binge watch marathon back to back but that sounds like a dangerous mix. Dunno what else. Fantasy book HARASHIMA in a Firefly Funhouse match?


New No People Shows In April

March 31, 2020

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


BASARA “BASARA 125 ~BANQUET~” Results

March 24, 2020

BASARA “BASARA 125 ~BANQUET~”, 24/03/2020
Shin-Kiba 1st RING
259 Fans – No Vacancy

1. Akiyori Takizawa defeated Tetsuo Usui with the Sleng Teng (7:28).
2. Ryuichi Sekine, Minoru Fujita & Gouma Ryu defeated Yusuke Kubo, Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi & SAGAT when Ryu pinned SAGAT with a Cradle (8:17).
3. FUMA & Antonio Honda defeated Yasu Urano & Masato Kamino when FUMA pinned Kamino with the Heavy Metal Anthem (11:07).
4. Tsutomu Oosugi, Banana Senga & Daichi Kazato defeated Takumi Tsukamoto, Takato Nakano & Leo Isaka when Oosugi pinned Nakano after the Pictures At An Exhibition (9:06).
5. IRON FIST Next Challengers Decision Battle: Ryota Nakatsu & Naoki Tanizaki defeated Isami Kodaka & Daiki Shimomura when Tanizaki submitted Shimomura with a Crosss Facelock (12:18).
6. Union MAX Title: Fuminori Abe defeated Masahiro Takanashi (c) by Referee Stoppage (1:57).
*Masahiro Takanashi fails in V4. Fuminori Abe becomes the 14th Union MAX Champion!

Masahiro Takanashi injured his ankle two minutes into the main event and the match had to be stopped. He fractured his fibula and tibia while he was grappling with Fuminori Abe on the ring mat. Abe was awarded the Union MAX Title and Takanashi tried to encourage him by saying he deserved it. Abe promised to remain the MAX Champion until Takanashi recovers so they can have a rematch for the belt.

Sparky faces Speed Of Sounds for the IRON FIST Tag Titles on 28th March.

Antonio Honda was invited to wrestle at “FUMA FEST VOL.4” on 11th April.


Spring Is Blooming But Everything Will Probably Get Cancelled Anyway

March 23, 2020

Who knows how much of this will stick in the next few days. I’m writing this while hearing the Olympics are likely to get postponed until next year. If that’s going down then no way does the pro wrestling schedule in Japan for the rest of the year remain unscathed.

BASARA “BASARA 125 ~BANQUET~”, 24/03/2020
Shin-Kiba 1st RING

1. Tetsuo Usui Vs Akiyori Takizawa
2. Ryuichi Sekine, Minoru Fujita & Gouma Ryu Vs Yusuke Kubo, Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi & SAGAT
3. FUMA & Antonio Honda Vs Yasu Urano & Masato Kamino
4. Tsutomu Oosugi, Banana Senga & Daichi Kazato Vs Takumi Tsukamoto, Takato Nakano & Leo Isaka
5. IRON FIST Next Challengers Decision Battle: Isami Kodaka & Daiki Shimomura Vs Ryota Nakatsu & Naoki Tanizaki
6. Union MAX Title: Masahiro Takanashi (c) Vs Fuminori Abe

Spring is beginning to bloom which means BASARA’s schedule is ramping up. If nothing gets cancelled then there will be 3 or 4 BASARA shows a month happening up to July.

BASARA “BASARA 126 ~OSAKA CAMP SPRING TAISHO~”, 28/03/2020
Osaka Azalea Taisho Hall

1. Takato Nakano Vs Jun Masaoka
2. 3 Way Match: Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi Vs Gouma Ryu Vs Daichi Kazato
3. Losers Of 24/3 Challenger Tag Match Vs Fuminori Abe & Tetsuo Usui
4. Takumi Tsukamoto, Yasu Urano & Masato Kamino Vs FUMA, Yusuke Kubo & SAGAT
5. Ryuichi Sekine Vs Minoru Fujita
6. IRON FIST Tag Titles: Tsutomu Oosugi & Banana Senga (c) Vs Winners Of 24/3 Challenger Tag Match

The No. 1 Contenders for the IRON FIST Tag Titles won’t have to wait long for the title match.

Ryuichi Sekine Vs Minoru Fujita looks like a de facto No. 1 Contender’s match for the Union MAX Title. Don’t know why else two Sento Minzoku wrestlers would face off against each other. Then again I’ve been struggling to follow BASARA ever since the split so I have to be missing the context for it.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “SPRING TOUR ’20 ~HEART & BODY~”, 28/03/2020
Shin-Kiba 1st RING

1. Haruna Neko Vs Mirai Maiumi
2. Yuna Manase Vs Sena Shiori
3. Natsumi Maki & Hikari Noa Vs Mina Shirakawa & Suzume
4. Shoko Nakajima & Nodoka Tenma Vs Yuki Kamifuku & Mahiro Kiryu
5. Yuka Sakazaki Vs Pom Harajuku
6. Princess Of Princess Title Next Challenger Decision 4 Way Match: Miyu Yamashita Vs Mizuki Vs Hyper Misao Vs Yuki Aino
7. Princess Tag Team Titles: Rika Tatsumi & Miu Watanabe (c) Vs Maki Itoh & Raku

The Tampa show next month being cancelled means Yuka Sakazaki Vs Su Yung can no longer go ahead. That means there is currently no No. 1 Contender for the Princess Of Princess Title. To keep Sakazaki from feeling lonely on top for much longer, a 4 Way Match will be held this week to determine her next challenger. The options are the previous champ Miyu Yamashita, Sakazaki’s regular tag partner Mizuki, superhero trickster Hyper Misao and breaking out of the pack Yuki Aino.

DDT “PROTECT THE ELDERLY FROM THE NEW CORONAVIRUS! KYOU CLINIC PRO WRESTLING”, 30/03/2020
Saitama Medical Corporation Anzukai Kyou Clinic

1. Falls Count Anywhere 6-Man Tag Match: Konosuke Takeshita, Shunma Katsumata & Gorgeous Matsuno Vs Shinya Aoki, Makoto Oishi & Gabai Ji-chan

Probably crossing the line at this point but let’s keep going and see what happens. DDT is doing a Falls Count Anywhere Match inside a medical clinic. Gorgeous Matsuno and Gabai Ji-chan will be there too for added refuge in audacity. The match will broadcast live on DDT’s Youtube channel.

DDT “ROAD TO PETER PAN 2020 ~DRAMATIC DREAM TAKESHI~”, 02/04/2020
Tokyo Hanayashiki Asakusa Flower Theater

1. Jordan Heatley Debut Match: Antonio Honda Vs Jordan Heatley
2. 3 Way Tag Match: MAO & Mike Bailey Vs Akito & Shunma Katsumata Vs Danshoku Dieno & Mizuki Watase
3. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title – Time Difference Battle Royal: Toru Owashi (c) Vs Masahiro Takanashi Vs Makoto Oishi Vs Hiroshi Yamato Vs Yuki Iino Vs Yukio Naya Vs Keigo Nakamura Vs Hideki Okatani
4. Saki Akai “Okibariyasu” 7 Match Series – 5th Match: Syuri Vs Saki Akai
5. Special 3 Way Match For The People Who Count Not Go To The United States: Konosuke Takeshita Vs Chris Brookes Vs Yuki Ueno
6. DISASTER BOX Vs DAMNATION!: HARASHIMA, Naomichi Marufuji, Naomi Yoshimura & Kazuki Hirata Vs Daisuke Sasaki, Tetsuya Endo, Soma Takao & Mad Paulie
7. Revengers Vs Eruption!: Masato Tanaka & Takuya Sugawara Vs Yukio Sakaguchi & Kazusada Higuchi

Yukio Sakaguchi has stepped up to challenge Masato Tanaka for the KO-D Openweight Title. It’s only been around three months since Eruption was formed and they are already making their move to take over DDT! Tanaka is bringing in Takuya Sugawara to even the numbers a little.

Konosuke Takeshita, Chris Brookes and Yuki Ueno were going to be in Tampa along with the Tokyo Joshi Pro crew but that’s not happening now. The three of them will instead wrestle each other back in Japan. Show them what America will miss lads.

The 5th Match in the Okibariyasu series is going to be kick heavy. Saki Akai faces the freelancer Syuri.

DDT “ROAD TO PETER PAN 2020 ~DRAMATIC DREAM TOCHIOTOME~”, 04/04/2020
Oyama City Cultural Center Small Hall

1. Mike Bailey Vs Jordan Heatley
2. Akito, Yuki Iino & Mizuki Watase Vs MAO, Yukio Naya & Keigo Nakamura
3. Chris Brookes & Masahiro Takanashi Vs Shunma Katsumata & Hiroshi Yamato
4. Soma Takao & Mad Paulie Vs Yukio Sakaguchi & Kazusada Higuchi
5. Variety Groups Proud Of DDT Gather In Oyama! Inevitable Laughter! Show Me, Comical Soul!: Danshoku Dieno & Makoto Oishi Vs Toru Owashi & Kazuki Hirata
6. Oyama Specialty! Good Luck Town Special 3 Way Match: Daisuke Sasaki Vs Antonio Honda Vs Konosuke Takeshita
7. KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles: Tetsuya Endo, T-Hawk & El Lindaman (c) Vs HARASHIMA, Yuki Ueno & Naomi Yoshimura

The Business Alliance is now called #DAMNHEARTS. I liked #STRONGDAMHEARNATION better.

DDT “ROAD TO PETER PAN 2020 ~DRAMATIC DREAM TSUKENAPORITAN~”, 05/04/2020
Shizuoka Fuji-san Messe

1. Antonio Honda & Yuki Iino Vs Naomi Yoshimura & Jordan Heatley
2. Chris Brookes & MAO Vs Mizuki Watase & Keigo Nakamura
3. Soma Takao & El Lindaman Vs Danshoku Dieno & Yukio Naya
4. Yuki Ueno Vs Mike Bailey
5. DISASTER BOX Vs ALL OUT!: HARASHIMA, Toru Owashi & Kazuki Hirata Vs Konosuke Takeshita, Akito & Shunma Katsumata
6. DAMNATION Vs Eruption!: Daisuke Sasaki, Tetsuya Endo & Mad Paulie Vs Yukio Sakaguchi, Kazusada Higuchi & Saki Akai
7. DDT Extreme Title: Shinya Aoki (c) Vs Makoto Oishi

Shizuoka gets two hometown boys in a title match. Shinya Aoki nominated Makoto Oishi to be his opponent for the DDT Extreme Title.

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

1. Special Single Match ~Beauty And Hentai~: Asuka Vs Shinichiro Tominaga
2. Hataage 6th Anniversary Match ~New And Old Ganpro Vs Tomodachi-gun~: Ken Ohka & Keisuke Ishii Vs Minoru Fujita & Hagane Shinno

Who has the more beautiful Moonsault, Asuka or Shinichiro Tominaga? Who has the more perverted Moonsault? Does that even make sense? Either way, the answer for that one is Tominaga. I still haven’t gotten over the time he compared himself to XVideos in a promo.

DDT “MAX BUMP 2020”, 12/04/2020
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

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

With Sakaguchi going after the KO-D Title, Kazusada Higuchi has made it his mission to win the Saitama Super Arena Sword from Tetsuya Endo. If Sakaguchi and Higuchi both get their way then “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2020” will have an all Eruption main event!

DDT “ROAD TO PETER PAN 2020 ~DRAMATIC DREAM TAISHO~”, 18/04/2020
Osaka Azalea Taisho Hall

1. Yuni Kid Wrestler Graduation Match: Yuni Vs Kazuki Hirata
2. Osaka Special Single Match: Chris Brookes Vs Maku Donaruto
3. DISASTER BOX Vs ALL OUT!: HARASHIMA, Yuki Ueno & Naomi Yoshimura Vs Konosuke Takeshita, Shunma Katsumata & Yuki Iino

You’re not escaping from Maku Donaruto, Brookes! Not now, not ever!

DDT “ROAD TO PETER PAN 2020 ~DRAMATIC DREAM TONKOTSU~”, 19/04/2020
Fukuoka Nishitetsu Hall

1. Fukuoka Specialty! No. 1 In The UK And Japan Gentleman Wrestler Decision Battle: Chris Brookes Vs Kazuki Hirata
2. Fukuoka Specialty! DDT Sauna Club No. 1 Tag Decision Match: Konosuke Takeshita & Yuki Ueno Vs MAO & Shunma Katsumata
3. DDT UNIVERSAL Title: Daisuke Sasaki (c) Vs Antonio Honda

It took a few tries and asking the right person but Antonio Honda is getting his DDT UNIVERSAL Title match. Maybe tranquility is the right path for him and Daisuke Sasaki… Pfft! Yeah right, what wrestler ever made it big thanks to tranquility?

DDT “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2020”, 07/06/2020
Saitama Super Arena

1. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title – Time Difference Battle Royal: Toru Owashi (c) Vs Michiaki Nakano Vs X
2. Special Tag Match ~ HarashiMarufuji Vs CimaSoma!: HARASHIMA & Naomichi Marufuji Vs CIMA & Soma Takao
3. KO-D Openweight Title: Masato Tanaka (c) Vs Holder Of The Saitama Super Arena Sword

So right now the SSA main event is Tanaka Vs Endo. But there are still title matches to come and Right To Challenge Gauntlets still in play that can completely change the course of the KO-D Title scene over the next two months. Also the Coronavirus cancelling everything but let’s not think about that.


BASARA “BASARA 122 ~BANQUET~” Results

February 18, 2020

BASARA “BASARA 122 ~BANQUET~”, 18/02/2020
Shin-Kiba 1st RING
264 Fans – No Vacancy

1. Yasu Urano & Daichi Kazato defeated Takato Nakano & Masato Kamino when Urano pinned Nakano with the Rock Drop (6:34).
2. Handicap Match: Takumi Tsukamoto defeated Gouma Ryu & Tetsuo Usui when Tsukamoto submitted Ryu with a Crab Hold (7:55).
3. Fuminori Abe defeated Daiki Shimomura with the Arm Trapped Manjigatame (10:16).
4. Ryota Nakatsu, Naoki Tanizaki & Akiyori Takizawa defeated FUMA, Yusuke Kubo & SAGAT when Tanizaki pinned Kubo with the Implant Bomb (13:17).
5. IRON FIST TAG Titles: Tsutomu Oosugi & Banana Senga (c) defeated Isami Kodaka & Ryuichi Sekine when Senga pinned Sekine with a Let’s Combine Cutback (13:12).
*V2 for Speed Of Sounds.
6. Union MAX Title: Masahiro Takanashi (c) defeated Minoru Fujita with the Takatonic (20:25).
*V3 for Masahiro Takanashi.

After the main event Fuminori Abe challenged Masahiro Takanashi to a Union MAX Title match. Takanashi accepted and the match will take place on 24th March.

A BASARA owned bar will open in Yotsuya Sanchome, Tokyo this March. The bar is called Clutch and Ryota Nakatsu will be the manager.