DDT “NEVER MIND 2022” Results

December 29, 2022

DDT “NEVER MIND 2022”, 29/12/2022
Tokyo Dome City Hall
1,207 Fans – Super No Vacancy

0. Dark Match: Hideki Okatani & Toi Kojima defeated Yuya Koroku & Kazuma Sumi when Okatani pinned Sumi with the Diving Knee Drop (9:32).
0. Dark Match: Minoru Fujita, MJ Paul & KANON defeated Masahiro Takanashi, Soma Takao & Antonio Honda when KANON submitted Honda with the Cobra Twist (9:31).
1. Sanshiro Takagi defeated Takeshi Masada with a Texas Cloverleaf (4:42).
2. HARASHIMA & Yukio Sakaguchi defeated Yuji Hino & Yuki Ishida when HARASHIMA pinned Ishida with the Somato (10:08).
3. Pheromones Vs “Miyako & Ward” Pheromones Subjugation Allied Forces ~ Dissolution & Pet Dogs Contra One Day Experience: Yuki “Sexy” Iino, Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno, Yumehito “Fantastic” Imanari & Koju “Shining Ball” Takeda defeated Akito, Osamu Nishimura, Shinichiro Kawamatsu & Shunma Katsumata when Iino pinned Katsumata with the Badonkadonk (16:20).
*Shunma Katsumata must join Pheromones for one day.
4. Special Single Match: Chihiro Hashimoto defeated Shinya Aoki with the Albright (8:21).
5. Special Tag Match: Saki Akai & Yuki Arai defeated Saori Anou & Riko Kawahata when Akai pinned Kawahata with the Quetzalcoatl (12:40).
6. KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles: Tetsuya Endo, Kotaro Suzuki & Yusuke Okada defeated Naruki Doi, Toru Owashi & Kazuki Hirata (c) when Endo pinned Hirata with the Burning Star Press (12:25).
*Doi-gumi fails in V1. BURNING becomes the 49th KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Champions!
7. DDT Extreme Title – If 45-Year-Old Sasadango Machine’s Weight Loss Fails We Will Have A Normal Rules Match! Special: Jun Akiyama (c) defeated Super Sasadango Machine with the Wrist-Clutch Exploder (2:30).
*V1 for Jun Akiyama.
8. Special Tag Match: Konosuke Takeshita & Yukio Naya defeated Daisuke Sekimoto & RSP when Naya pinned RSP with the Back Drop (17:43).
9. International 4 Way Match: MAO defeated Daisuke Sasaki, Chris Brookes and Cara Noir when MAO pinned Brookes with a Modified Backslide Pin (13:22).
10. KO-D Openweight Title: Kazusada Higuchi (c) defeated Yuki Ueno with the Brain Claw Slam (27:57).
*V5 for Kazusada Higuchi.

The finale of DDT’s 25th year in business took place in Tokyo Dome City Hall. The year also closes out with the KO-D Openweight Title remaining firmly around Kazusada Higuchi’s waist. He successfully defended the belt against Yuki Ueno, the current DDT Universal Champion in a match between arguably the two top wrestlers in the company right now. Ueno’s gameplan was to overwhelm Higuchi with his high flying. Higuchi’s toughness won out with the highlight being him taking a Dropkick to the face and shrugging it off. Ueno kept up the pressure but both the BME missed its target and Higuchi kicked out of the Rolling Guillotine Ace Crusher. The challenger’s last move in his pocket was the WR but Higuchi had ways to block it. His first counter was to grab Ueno in the Brain Claw, then his second counter was using Naomi Yoshimura’s Harai Goshi throw! A Headbutt thrown afterwards left Ueno stunned long enough for Higuchi to hit him with the Brain Claw Slam and win.

Higuchi thanked Ueno after the match and said as champions and tournament winners this year they supported DDT together alongside each other. The two embraced each other and Ueno left the ring. Hisaya Imabayashi told Higuchi it was a fitting match to end DDT in 2022. The GM then asked Higuchi who he wants to defend the KO-D Title against on 29th January? Before Higuchi could answer, Yuji Hino interrupted him! He congratulated Higuchi and said he deserved to win tonight. Hino also thinks Higuchi is the only person who can go head-to-head with him, referring to the 30 minute draw they had in November where they chopped each other non-stop until the time limit expired. Hino normally wouldn’t be interested in becoming the KO-D Champion for a second time but since it is Higuchi’s belt he now wants it! Higuchi accepted the challenge because he too wants to settle who is stronger once and for all.

When Hino left, Higuchi gave a speech to the fans thanking them for their support. He does not know what to expect in 2023 because this year he surpassed everyone in DDT. However he promised DDT will continue to push forward with their hearts. The show ended with Higuchi meeting up with everybody backstage, Yoshimura included and they all got together for a group farewell to the audience.

The International 4 Way Match turned TDC Hall into a glorious venue for the return of Cara Noir. Not all of the welcomes was warm for him though. Daisuke Sasaki Headbutted him during the start of match handshake. MAO also took his entrance cloak and then impersonated him. Noir Headbutted MAO in response. The match continued to be chaotic as all four wrestlers fought each other, made alliances, switched those alliances and did whatever they could to win. It ended up with Chris Brookes dropping Sasaki with a Tombstone Piledriver. After Sasaki kicked out, MAO suddenly caught Brookes in a Backslide Pin on top of Sasaki for leverage to get the win out of nowhere. The result represents MAO’s 2022. He said 2020 was a bad year, 2021 he stayed patient and this year he blossomed. Sasaki was pissed at the result and complained about not trusting anybody whethere they are British or Japanese. CDK were suprised by how MAO won the match. That was a CDK-like move and Masahiro Takanashi admits he never thought MAO could pull off something like that. Today’s result is a lesson they learned before the KO-D Tag Team Titles match on 3rd January. Noir did not leave any comment.

Yukio Naya is another wrestler who gets to end his year on a good note. He was the one standing tall in an all heavyweight tag team match. The focus for a lot of the match though was on Konosuke Takeshita clashing with Daisuke Sekimoto. Not even Naya & RSP trying to pull them away for German Suplexes could stop them. Takeshita and Sekimoto ended up German Suplexing both of them for getting in their way! They then traded German Suplexes to each other, leaving each other too beaten to continue fighting. So the match came down to Naya and RSP against each other. Naya pulled off a big move by hitting an Avalanche Choke Slam before pinning him for the three count. Takeshita admitted that the match was the first time in a long time he had an out of body experience. He’s been fighting strong wrestlers in America but nothing compares to the strength of Sekimoto! He also wondered if everyone in DDT has become harder hitters since he was gone. Naya confirmed so and Takeshita said that’s a good thing. He also said he wants a singles match against Sekimoto and he does not care if it is in DDT or Big Japan. He warns that if neither of them do it then it might end up happening in America. Naya then told Takeshita he wants a singles match against him some day and to keep an eye on him throughout 2023.

The match stipulation for the DDT Extreme Title bout hung on the weight of Super Sasadango Machine. He’s been losing weight and was given a target by Jun Akiyama to drop down below 110kg. If Sasadango met the goal he would choose the match stipulation. Unfortunately he could only get down to 119.6kg (116.9kg without the costume) so it was going to be a traditional PWF rules wrestling bout instead. However Sasadango had a trick up his sleeve. When he signed the contract for the match his signature was written as “1/12 Super Sasadango Machine” referring to a 1/12 scale plastic toy model of himself that he possesses. That means only his plastic figure had to be under 110kg, not him! The model passed the weighing test (it’s only 59g) and Sasadango decided the Extreme Title will be contested in a “TonTon Pro Wrestling” match between Sasadango’s model and an acrylic stand of Jun Akiyama!

Before the match began, Sasadango held his latest PowerPoint Presentation. He has spent years developing his plastic model and is proud of the result. While he is happy to have dropped loads of weight for this match, his current physique now renders his model obsolete when it’s supposed to be the strongest plastic model on the market! He also claimed Akiyama’s demands for Sasadango to update his progress regularly on social media was against CyberAgent employee policy. When he was done it was time for the title match. TonTon wrestling games involve each player placing their model on the game board and tapping the board with their fingers to make them move. Whoever falls over first loses. Here one model needs to fall on top of the other and pin it for three seconds for the player to be declared the winner. The game began and not much happened. Sasadango complained about Akiyama’s acrylic stand had an unfair advantage because it has a flat base preventing it from tipping over. Akiyama agreed to find a replacement and took out his NOAH action figure customized by a fan to look up to date (i.e. bald). The game continued and both models fell over. Yukinori Matsui asked the audience who they thought won and when they sounded more in favour of Akiyama, he grabbed Sasadango’s model and snapped it in half! Sasadango quickly agreed to do a normal wrestling match instead.

The match re-started and Sasadango saw his only chance. He countered the Exploder Suplex into the Vertical Drop Lehmann Shock but only got a nearfall. Akiyama hit him in the face with Knee Strikes, including one with his kneepad pulled down. He threw an Exploder Suplex and then just for good measure used the Wrist-Clutch Exploder as the finish. After the match Imabayashi informed Akiyama the next Extreme Title defence will be in Yokohama on 21st January. Akiyama called for someone to come down and challenge him. Antonio Honda was already in the ring trying to get Sasadango out. He suddenly stumbled in front of Akiyama, making the champion think he is the next challenger! Imabayashi confirmed Honda will get the title shot on 21st January whether he wants to do it or not.

This past week Naruki Doi & Toru Owashi had the chance to hold trios championships in both Dragongate and DDT at the same time. It did not turn out that way and instead they don’t have any championships at all! Today they along with Kazuki Hirata lost the KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles to BURNING. Hirata’s insistance to get tagged in may be what cost them the belts because it was Hirata who dropped the fall to Tetsuya Endo. After the match Pheromones entered the ring demanding a title shot against BURNING. Danshoku Dieno said there is no more threat of them splitting up so 2023 will be spent taking championships starting with the 6-Man Tag Titles. Endo accepted and told Kotaro Suzuki that when you come here to DDT this path is unavoidable. He promised that he, Suzuki & Yusuke Okada will show Pheromones what sexy really looks like! The title match will happen on 29th January.

Reiwa AA Cannon were victorious against the visiting team of Saori Anou & Riko Kawahata in a close match. Saki Akai was in trouble when she took Double Jumping High Kicks from her opponents. Anou threw her over with a German Suplex and Kawahawa went for the Moonsault. Akai moved out of the way and Yuki Arai came in reverse the momentum. She took out Anou with the Full Nelson Buster followed by the Finally. Then Akai & Arai hit Kawahata with the Double Rookie Award. With no one there to save her, Kawahata was pinned by Akai with the Quetzalcoatl. Backstage Anou admitted she underestimated Arai. She thought she was just a cute face and found out the weight of her attacks were way more heavier than she expected. As for her opinion of Akai, Anou likes wrestling her and would come back to DDT to do more matches like this. Anou also wants Arai to know that her name also starts with A so if she ever gets tired of teaming with Akai, give her a call.

There was a message sent loud and clear by Chihiro Hashimoto today. She is physically and mentally as good as anyone in the world. Shinya Aoki however is not good enough. Those were the comments she made after beating Aoki clean, countering his Cross Armbreaker into a Doctor Bomb and then pinning him with the Albright. Even though she won she is still feeling frustration in a way she hasn’t felt since fighting Meiko Satomura. Aoki can’t figure out why he lost, particularly how Hashimoto was able to use a Power Bomb to counter his submission hold.

As mentioned earlier, Pheromones did not disband today. They won their high stakes match against Akito’s subjugation squad. It was the one time the politicians Osamu Nishimura & Shinichiro Kawamatsu did not want their constituents to watch them wrestle because they were left embarrassed by their opponents. Kawamatsu tried to shout down Yuki Iino by telling him he isn’t sexy at all. It didn’t work and Pheromones got to do their thing, knocking out members of Akito’s team one by one with their perverted moveset while Yumehito Imanari filmed the whole thing. The match ended with Iino pinning Shunma Katsumata meaning Katsumata has to spend 24 hours with Pheromones. “Chunma” is now going to be their pet dog! He reluctantly played along by barking into the microphone while on his hands and knees. Dieno then revealed that “Chunma” isn’t going to be with Pheromones for 24 hours. He’s going to be with them for a whole month! Akito tried to cheer up the others by saying every fight has sacrifices and Katsumata’s sacrifice will not be in vain. Today is just a bad dream that everyone can pretend never happened.

There’s something to this tag team pairing of HARASHIMA & Yukio Sakaguchi. They won against Hino & Yuki Ishida to show that it’s not just the young wrestlers who are doing their best. Sakaguchi said he was happy to team with HARASHIMA and win on his last show of 2022. HARASHIMA thinks 2023 is going to be tough but his generation are going to make things exciting too.

Sanshiro Takagi dashed Takeshi Masada’s dreams of going to Hollywood next year but there may still be hope yet for the youngster. Takagi’s dodgy shoulder had healed and he was able to show it by doing an Avalanche Double Arm Suplex. When he applied a Crab Hold, Masada reached the ropes so Takagi kicked at his legs before putting on a Texas Cloverleaf to win. After the match Takagi called in all of the young DDT wrestlers to enter the ring. He thinks it is unfair that Masada was the only rookie given the chance to win a spot for DDT’s shows in America next year. So Takagi has created the D GENERATIONS CUP! It will be a league for DDT’s rookies to compete in and the winner goes to the Hollywood show in March!

There were two matches on the pre-show. DAMNATION T.A defeated Takanashi, Soma Takao & Honda in one of them. KANON got the win by making Honda submit to the Cobra Twist.

The other pre-show match featured the younger wrestlers. Toi Kojima wiped out Yuya Koroku with a Diving Body Attack out of the ring. Hideki Okatani then pinned Kazuma Sumi with the Diving Knee Drop.

The long awaited Anal Explosion opening ceremony hosted by LiLiCo was almost ruined by the appearance of Danshoku Dieno. He was chosen to detonate the explosive placed inside LiLiCo and she refused to let that responsibility be given to one of her enemies. The problem was solved when her husband Ryohei Odai unexpectedly showed up. He was supposed to be at rehearsals for the NHK New Year’s Eve show but found out at the last minute it was pushed back to tomorrow. He made it to TDC Hall as fast as he could so he would be the one to set off the love of his life’s Anal Explosion. He also suggested that next year when he has more free time he could perform one himself because that’s how important the bond between a husband and wife is to him. Dieno was moved to tears and allowed Odai to ignite the bomb. It went off without a hitch. LiLiCo was still alive afterwards and said her love for Odai has deepened. She also wants to make a pro wrestling comeback next year if her anus has healed. Unfortunately the doctor on site informed her that her anus is currently in serious condition (Odai said that part of LiLiCo’s body now “looks like a black hole”). Will LiLiCo ever return to wrestling in one piece?

Keigo Nakamura announced he has fully recovered from his knee injury and will return to the ring on 13th January. His last match was in November 2021.


GANBARE☆PRO “GIRI GIRI CHOP! 2022” Results

December 27, 2022

GANBARE☆PRO “GIRI GIRI CHOP! 2022”, 27/12/2022
Tokyo Korakuen Hall
422 Fans

1. Munetatsu Nakamura Debut Match: Shinichiro Tominaga defeated Munetatsu Nakamura with a Crab Hold (8:33).
2. GanJo x TJPW Special Tag Match: Yuki Kamifuku & YuuRI defeated Suzume & Yoshiko Hasegawa when Kamifuku pinned Hasegawa with the Famouser (11:15).
3. GanPro Vs Pheromones: Ken Ohka & Yumehito Imanari Vs Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno ended in a No Contest (12:14).
4. GanJo Vs Ice Ribbon: Yuna Manase, Moeka Haruhi & HARUKAZE defeated Nao Ishikawa, Yuki Mashiro & Kaho Matsushita when Manase pinned Ishikawa with the Short-Range Lariat (13:45).
5. Shota Triumphant Return Match: Shuichiro Katsumura & Shota defeated Soma Takao & Shigehiro Irie when Shota pinned Takao with the Frog Splash (13:02).
6. Kouki Iwasaki Ganbare☆Pro Wrestling Last Match: Keisuke Ishii defeated Kouki Iwasaki with the Kneel Kick (11:12).
7. Spirit Of Ganbare World Openweight Title: Mizuki Watase defeated Hartley Jackson (c) with an Elbow Butt (17:20).
*Hartley Jackson fails in V3. Mizuki Watase becomes the 4th Spirit Of Ganbare Champion!

There is a new Spirit Of Ganbare Champion and it is Mizuki Watase! The shock result caps off a rollercoaster year for Watase. He had left DDT for Ganbare☆Pro last December and now 12 months later has become their champion, dethroning the seemingly unstoppable Hartley Jackson. The match was hot from the get go with Watase jumping Jackson in the ring and hitting a Topé outside. Jackson fought back using apron moves and Lariats. Watase fired himself up by using Shinjiro Otani style Facewashes in the corner before hitting a Missile Dropkick to the outside of the ring. Jackson’s size advantage came into play when Watase couldn’t use any lifting style moves and things looked to be over when he hit the Jumping Piledriver. However not only did Watase kick out at two but he gathered the strength to give Jackson a Brainbuster. Watase then rained down Elbow Butt after Elbow Butt to the champion. Jackson hit a second Piledriver only for Watase to shake it off and hit even more Elbow Butts, going for the pin after every strike until he finally got the three count.

Jackson handed the title over to Watase after the match and embraced him. In return Watase told him that he is now part of the Ganpro family. Jackson said Watase is now number one. He also said he has a dream he wants to achieve. His days here at Ganpro was fun but now its time to say goodbye. Jackson left the ring only for other Ganpro wrestlers to surround him and get him back into the ring. Jackson then said he was only kidding and he is part of the Ganbare Family forever! Watase told the fans he hopes everyone in Ganpro gave them even a little bit of energy, courage, hopes and dreams today. He thinks people who chase their dreams are wonderful and should never give them up. He got everyone in Korakuen Hall to stand up and together they all said “We are Ganbare☆Pro Wrestling!” to close out the show. He also got a congratulations from Shigehiro Irie while they were leaving ringside. Backstage Watase threw out a few names for potential title defences. He lost to Tyson Maeguchi and Ken Ohka in singles matches earlier this year. He even said he could defend it against a foreigner or a director from some research institute for all he cares.

One person who definitely is saying their goodbyes to Ganpro today is Kouki Iwasaki. His final match as a contracted member of their roster was a defeat to Keisuke Ishii, losing to the Kneel Kick. After the match Iwasaki told everyone that Ganpro isn’t just about crying and screaming. He is going out into the wrestling world to make himself even bigger and he thinks Ganpro will also grow without him. Maybe someday he will return to Ganpro too! He also told Ishii not to be satisfied with his current position in the company. He should be aiming for the Spirit Of Ganbare Title! Backstage Ishii said he was able to win today because of his willpower. His confidence is growing and he wants the Ganpro fans to have higher expectations for him next year.

Shota returned from America and landed with a statement win over his tag team partner. He pinned Soma Takao with the Frog Splash and said afterwards he wants to focus on being a singles wrestler for the time being. It will be a little while before the dawn of adventure comes again for ROMANCE DAWN. Shota is proud of what he achieved over the last four months in America and he is looking forward to everyone’s reactions to his return. He admits to hitting the wall while he was in America and decided he needs to raise his value back in Japan. So now his goal is to wrap a championship around his waist. Shuichiro Katsumura said he had two big matches in Ganpro this year. Lately he’s been feeling frustrated but seeing Shota again made him feel better and look forward to next year. Takao was disappointed with the loss because according to him it’s the first time he lost to Shota since he was 18 years old. He won’t lose to him in a singles match though. However those thoughts will go away and he hopes the ROMANCE DAWN tag team will resume eventually.

The Ganbare☆Joshi division had a good day at Ice Ribbon’s expense (possibly in more ways than one given the news below). In a 6-Woman Tag Match Yuna Manase scored the pinfall for her team after nailing Nao Ishikawa with a Lariat. Moeka Haruhi thought the Ice Ribbon team were the perfect opponents for her today. For example she was able to learn from Yuki Mashiro in the ring even though Mashiro will be retiring from pro wrestling in a few days time. HARUKAZE was happy to win her last Ganpro match of the year and thinks it gives her momentum for 2023. Manase has spent time in Ice Ribbon this year and thinks everybody over their are very Ganpro at heart. Kaho Matsushita said she wants to fight against the three GanJo wrestlers again and would like to see them come over to Ice Ribbon.

The Ganpro Vs Pheromones match went in a very weird direction. Early in the show a video played showing Yumehito Imanari being attacked backstage. The assailant was then revealed to be… Yumehito “Fantastic” Imanari? More confusion was shown when Ken Ohka walked to the ring on his own and Imanari appeared entered with the Pheromones team. Ohka preceeded to fight with a 3-on-1 disadvantage, taking the worst that Yuki Iino & Danshoku Dieno could throw at them while Imanari cut off any hope Ohka had of turning things around. Ohka finally found a way to snap Imanari back to normal and bring the fight back to even numbers. However the ensuing melee ended up with Shuichi Nishinaga getting caught in the crossfire so many times that the match had to be called off without a winner. Ohka and Iino kept on fighting for a little bit after the bell. When things calmed down, a video was shown of Imanari meeting with his “Fantastic” backstage. They both suggested they should have a singles match together someday (Imanari also described “Fantastic” as somebody “pretending to be Yoshiaki Fujiwara“).

The other women’s match on the show mixed wrestlers from Ganjo with Tokyo Joshi Pro into two teams. YuuRI teamed with Yuki Kamifuku while Yoshiko Hasegawa was partnered with Suzume. While in the build up Kamifuku looked to be annoyed to be paired with YuuRI, in the ring they gelled together as a team just as much as their opponents did. Kamifuku picked up the win by pinning Hasegawa with the Famouser. YuuRI is happy with the result but wanted to win the match by herself to impress Kamifuku and make her unrequitedl love for her come true. Kamifuku admits YuuRI has a cute face, the only thing is she has no real class. That’s why YuuRI wasn’t the one who won the match today. The explanation left YuuRI feeling confused. Kamifuku will think about teaming with her again but only if YuuRI can stop Ken Ohka from posting his creepy morning selfies.

The debut of Munetatsu Nakamura kicked off the show. He was put in the ring against Shinichiro Tominaga and impressed the fans by using a Locomotive Front Chancery Suplex for a nearfall. However Tominaga caught one of his Dropkicks and turned it into a Crab Hold, forcing the rookie to submit. Nakamura has a background in both amateur wrestling and judo. He says he wants to be a pro wrestler who makes the best out of both of those fighting styles. Tominaga liked what he sees and is trying to process why he was chosen to be Nakamura’s first opponent. That role can be a huge gift for a debuting pro wrestler. Tominaga’s first opponent was El Generico for example and that opportunity is something he could never repay even if it takes him the rest of his life. He admits he is nowhere near the global superstar that guy is now but Tominaga hopes Nakamura will grow so both of them can someday carry Ganpro on their backs.

There were some big news announcements at the beginning of the show. The first was the introduction of Michiyoshi Mishima, the newest adviser for Ganpro. Mishima was previously a staff member for Ice Ribbon and had a hand in helping DDT book Budokan Hall back in 2012. He has been a fan of Ganpro going back to the first year of the promotion’s existence, before they were even running full fledged shows. He has a deep knowledge of joshi wrestling so his first call to action involves rebooting Ganbare☆Joshi. He announced that next year Ganjo will hold a show by themselves with no male wrestlers involved in any of the matches.

The next announcement was a new tournament beginning on 5th January called the Young Ganbare Cup. It will be a league format built around encouraging the growth of younger wrestlers. Imanari asked to be one of the first entrants. Ohka was reluctant to agree but Mishima accepted his request. Nakamura will also be taking part with more participants to be revealed soon.

Last but not least, “WRESTLE SEKIGAHARA II” will take place in Ota Ward Gymnasium on 9th July! It will be he second year in a row Ganpro will be running in the venue.


DDT “DANSHOKU DIENO 20TH ANNIVERSARY BOOK PUBLICATION COMMEMORATION” Results

December 21, 2022

DDT “DANSHOKU DIENO 20TH ANNIVERSARY BOOK PUBLICATION COMMEMORATION”, 21/12/2022
Tokyo Korakuen Hall
537 Fans

0. Dark Match – Karma Handicap Match: Akito, Toru Owashi, Kazuki Hirata, Antonio Honda & Hiroshi Yamato defeated Sanshiro Takagi when Hirata pinned Takagi with the Miracle One Shot Cradle (5:43).
*Sanshiro Takagi must purchase 47 copies of “The Eccentric’s Ambition: What I Learnt From Fighting The Invisible Man On How To Increase My Value” with his own money.
1. DDT Wrestlers With Short Career Experience Are Called Young Drama: Anarko Montaña & Hideki Okatani defeated Takeshi Masada & Kazuma Sumi when Montaña pinned Sumi with the Shooting Star Press (9:27).
2. Untitled Staggered Entrance Rumble: Saki Akai defeated Makoto Oishi & Yusuke Okada by Double Ring Out (8:09).
Order Of Elimination: Yukio Sakaguchi & Yasu Urano, HARASHIMA, Koju “Shining Ball” Takeda, Yuya Koroku, Yusuke Okada, Makoto Oishi & Yusuke Okada (8:09).
*Saki Akai is declared the 2022 King Of Pantyhose.
3. In The Present 6-Man Tag Match: Chris Brookes, Masahiro Takanashi & Ken Ohka defeated Yuki Ueno, MAO & Toi Kojima when Takanashi pinned MAO after the Hair Of The Dog (12:20).
4. Novelty Single Match: Naruki Doi defeated Shunma Katsumata with the Bakatare Sliding Kick (11:48).
5. DDT Tradition 6-Man Tag Match: Tesuya Endo, Jun Akiyama & DJ Nira defeated Kazusada Higuchi, Yuki Ishida & Thanomsak Toba whne Endo pinned Ishida with the Swivel Torture Rack Bomb (11:12).
6. Selfishly For The 2nd Time In 20 Years, A Single Match That Danshoku Dieno Just Wants To See: Yuki “Sexy” Iino defeated Yumehito “Fantastic” Imanari with the Badonkadonk (16:43).
7. Selfishly For The 1st Time In 20 Years, Danshoku Dieno’s Self-Satisfaction Match: Haku defeated Danshoku Dieno and Muscle Sakai when Haku pinned both Dieno and Sakai (16:08).

In January 2002 a pro wrestler by the name of Danshoku Dieno emerged from the college club scene and took the pro wrestling world by storm. Quickly finding a home in DDT, Dieno shocked audiences with his gimmick as a hyper gay wrestler but gradually built up a rapport with fans alongside a long list of in-ring achievements as the years went by. Now 20 years into his career he has written a book about how he sees the world through the eyes of pro wrestling. The book is titled “The Eccentric’s Ambition: What I Learnt From Fighting The Invisible Man On How To Increase My Value”. Today’s show at Korakuen Hall was the launch event for his book and everyone who attended received a copy as part of their ticket purchase (the ticket prices were adjusted for this reason, he wasn’t giving out the books for free).

Dieno was given full match making power for the show. So he came up with a card of matches that he would personally enjoy as a fan. He also wanted to have a match against one of his closest friends in the business Muscle Sakai in the main event. Sakai took the time before the match to hold a PowerPoint presentation explaining the line that seperates himself from Super Sasadango Machine. He made the speech because last week he received a message from a fan who told him he is more famous for his talking than his wrestling. Sakai also revealed he’s been reading other self-help books to figure out how to beat Dieno today.

In the match itself Sakai focused on using the Headlock. One of the books had a piece of advice saying you should always train the skills you already have. Dieno’s book also explains how low difficulty wrestling moves can determine who will win the match. The Headlock is always the first move a wrestler is taught and Sakai worked out if he uses it long enough he could destroy Dieno’s skull and win. They spent so much of the match doing Headlocks that they started doing other stuff to pass the time, like listen to music or eat chocolate. It got so intense they ended up creating visions of their thoughts for the audience to see. Together they reminisced about MUSCLE, Sakai’s original retirement match and how this was the last time they were wrestling each other in front of Hisaya Imabayashi.

Imabayashi entered the ring to break up the Headlock fest and was given a Brainbuster from Dieno for his troubles. The match heated up with Sakai kicking out of the Homo Ye at one and Dieno being given the Vertical Drop Lehmann Shock. Dieno was sure to be beaten until he had a vision of his pet dog Haku flash across the screen. Haku is a rescue dog that Dieno adopted in September and has been the love of his life ever since. Along with the vision came a message that read “Don’t come here and do normal wrestling, do what only you can do.” With a flash of inspiration, Dieno kicked out. Haku then entered the ring and bit Sakai in the crotch. Dieno thought his pet came to rescue him but Haku then attacked him too and jumped on top of both fallen wrestlers. Yukinori Matsui decided to make the three count and declared Haku the winner of the match!

Imabayashi was confused by what he just watched. He asked the fans if that was a good main event and they applauded. Sakai explained this was the last time they could wrestle their match in front of him because Imabayashi is leaving DDT at the end of the year. Imabayashi had to correct them. It’s true he is quitting the company soon in order to spend more time with his family in Fukuoka but he recently agreed to remain the DDT GM as a subcontractor. With this deal he will only be gone from DDT once a month. There wasn’t much time left in the show to explain so Dieno was given the final moments to give his speech and thank everyone for coming. He especially singled out the older generation of DDT wrestlers who were there with the company before him.

The other big idea for a match Dieno had was his two contemporaries from Pheromones facing off against each other. All of the lewd stuff surrounding Pheromones was shoved into this match. Yuki Iino did his sexy poses while Yumehito Imanari tried to take over one of the Samurai TV cameras to film it. There actually was wrestling going on in between the antics, although Dieno told Iino through a video message to bring out the “Sexy” that nobody has seen yet. Iino did just that and finished the match on top. Imanari said there was a lot of conflict in Iino’s heart but he could see the “Sexy” pride inside. Iino just said “Pheromones good, forever.”

There was plenty of nonsense all over the show. A 6-Man Tag had Kazusada Higuchi & Yuki Ishida both wrestle in mawashi and fight using sumo techniques. Thanomsak Toba did not join in, preferring to stick to the kickboxing he knows. The match was briefly interrupted by the announcement that one of Jun Akiyama’s friends was here to celebrate his 30th anniversary. Antonio Honda entered the ring in a diaper and Toru Owashi put a home made Ultimo Dragon mask over his head. Meanwhile it took DJ Nira several attempts to pull off a successful double team move with Akiyama. When it finally worked, Tetsuya Endo took over and got the win for his team. Honda then returned in his diaper with several other wrestlers wearing the same costume to dance around Akiyama. None of the wrestlers in the match knew what was going on except for Toba. He explained to the others backstage that this kind of match used to happen all the time in DDT back when he was around. Now it only happens once every ten years.

Naruki Doi beat Shunma Katsumata in a first time singles meeting. Katsumata hit a dive to the outside onto Doi and a bunch of other wrestlers seconding at ringside. Doi almost won with the Avalanche Doi 555 but got the victory with the Bakatare Sliding Kick afterwards. Katsumata asked for a handshake at ringside and Doi gave him the NeppoWER pose instead. He’d like to have another match with him either as partners or opponents. Doi also promised to read Dieno’s new book instead of sleeping tonight.

6-Man Tag action saw CDK & Ken Ohka get the better of The 37KAMIINA. Ohka kept taunting Toi Kojima by saying his moves didn’t hurt at all after every bump. Everyone ended up forming a group pyramid submission with Ohka posing on top until Yuki Ueno made it all collapse with a Dropkick. Ohka returned with the Spear Of Fire to both MAO & Kojima before taking out Ueno with a Death Valley Bomb. That left CDK to pin MAO with the Hair Of The Dog to win the match. Backstage MAO complainied about both Chris Brookes & Masahiro Takanashi pinning him at the same time. That is supposed to be illegal in tag team matches. However MAO has an open mind and accepts that double pinfalls are fair play in ChocoPro, which is where CDK learned it from. He now wants the vacant KO-D Tag Team Titles match between CDK and ShunMao on 3rd January to allow double pinfalls.

The Rumble match had an unannounced rule where every competitor had to wrestle wearing pantyhose over their head, making them unwillingly pull funny faces. HARASHIMA and Koju Takeda had a pose off. Yuya Koroku didn’t want to wear it and got booed when he pulled his off. The eliminations caught some of the wrestlers off guard, like when Yukio Sakaguchi and Yasu Urano eliminated each other right when Sakaguchi entered the match. the match came down to Makoto Oishi and Yusuke Okada fighting on the apron. Suddenly the final wrestler made their entrance. It was Saki Akai! She walked out in full catwalk mode and the sight of her wearing pantyhose over her face scared the other wrestlers off the apron and out of the ring. She ended up winning the match without touching anybody. It was then revealed the match was to crown the King Of Pantyhose 2022! Akai credited the victory on reading Dieno’s book because it gave her courage.

The opening match gave the spotlight to DDT’s younger wrestlers along with the guest Anarko Montaña. The visitor hit some high risk moves including a Moonsault out of the ring. Takeshi Masada & Kazuma Sumi had their moments and could smell victory at times but Hideki Okatani was always there to stop it from happening. Instead Montaña planted Sumi with the Michinoku Driver II and pinned him with the Shooting Star Press.

An extra rule was added to the 5 Vs 1 dark match. Before it began, Keigo Nakamura wheeled out a cart full of copies of Dieno’s book. The rule was every count that happens in the match will be added up and whatever the total is, the losing side will have to buy that many copies of the book. The number ended up at 47 and Sanshiro Takagi was the loser after he was pinned by Kazuki Hirata. As a result, Takagi was forced to purchase 47 copies of the book with his own money. Even though Akito is currently Dieno’s enemy, he admitted he was happy to be a part of today’s show.


The Eccentric’s Ambition, Dogs On The Line, Ittenyon Tradition, LiLiCo Prepares For Spectacular Explosion

December 19, 2022

DDT “DANSHOKU DIENO 20TH ANNIVERSARY BOOK PUBLICATION COMMEMORATION”, 21/12/2022
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

0. Dark Match – Karma Handicap Match: Sanshiro Takagi Vs Akito, Toru Owashi, Kazuki Hirata, Antonio Honda & Hiroshi Yamato
1. DDT Wrestlers With Short Career Experience Are Called Young Drama: Anarko Montaña & Hideki Okatani Vs Takeshi Masada & Kazuma Sumi
2. Untitled Staggered Entrance Rumble: HARASHIMA Vs Makoto Oishi Vs Yukio Sakaguchi Vs Saki Akai Vs Koju “Shining Ball” Takeda Vs Yusuke Okada Vs Yuya Koroku
3. In The Present 6-Man Tag Match: Yuki Ueno, MAO & Toi Kojima Vs Chris Brookes, Masahiro Takanashi & Ken Ohka
4. Novelty Single Match: Naruki Doi Vs Shunma Katsumata
5. DDT Tradition 6-Man Tag Match: Kazusada Higuchi, Yuki Ishida & Thanomsak Toba Vs Tesuya Endo, Jun Akiyama & DJ Nira
6. Selfishly For The 2nd Time In 20 Years, A Single Match That Danshoku Dieno Just Wants To See: Yuki “Sexy” Iino Vs Yumehito “Fantastic” Imanari
7. Selfishly For The 1st Time In 20 Years, Danshoku Dieno’s Self-Satisfaction Match: Danshoku Dieno Vs Muscle Sakai

The name of Danshoku Dieno’s book is “The Eccentric’s Ambition: What I Learnt From Fighting The Invisible Man On How To Increase My Value”. He got the book deal by pitching it as a self help title but it’s really an excuse for him to write his opinions about pro wrestling from throughout his career.

DDT “NEVER MIND 2022”, 29/12/2022
Tokyo Dome City Hall

0. Dark Match: Hideki Okatani & Toi Kojima Vs Yuya Koroku & Kazuma Sumi
0. Dark Match: Minoru Fujita, MJ Paul & KANON Vs Masahiro Takanashi, Soma Takao & Antonio Honda
1. Sanshiro Takagi Vs Takeshi Masada
2. HARASHIMA & Yukio Sakaguchi Vs Yuji Hino & Yuki Ishida
3. Pheromones Vs “Miyako & Ward” Pheromones Subjugation Allied Forces ~ Dissolution & Pet Dogs Contra One Day Experience: Yuki “Sexy” Iino, Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno, Yumehito “Fantastic” Imanari & Koju “Shining Ball” Takeda Vs Akito, Osamu Nishimura, Shinichiro Kawamatsu & Shunma Katsumata
4. Special Tag Match: Saki Akai & Yuki Arai Vs Saori Anou & Riko Kawahata
5. Special Tag Match: Konosuke Takeshita & Yukio Naya Vs Daisuke Sekimoto & RSP
6. International 4 Way Match: Daisuke Sasaki Vs Chris Brookes Vs MAO Vs Cara Noir
7. Special Single Match: Shinya Aoki Vs Chihiro Hashimoto
8. KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles: Naruki Doi, Toru Owashi & Kazuki Hirata (c) Vs Tetsuya Endo, Kotaro Suzuki & Yusuke Okada
9. DDT Extreme Title: Jun Akiyama (c) Vs Super Sasadango Machine
10. KO-D Openweight Title: Kazusada Higuchi (c) Vs Yuki Ueno

The big blowoff match between Pheromones and the Pheromones Subjugation Allied Forces now has several stipulations attached to it. Pheromones and Akito had three prelim matches earlier this month and the winner of each match got to add a stipulation. Pheromones won the first match and decided if they win the blowoff bout then whoever they pin must join their unit for one day. Akito’s team won the other two prelim matches and he got to come up with two conditions if Pheromones lose on the 29th. The first is Pheromones must disband. The second is Dieno & Yuki Iino must give away their pet dogs to Shunma Katsumata for a month! Will Haku & Lily end up under Katsumata’s care?

The special ambassador LiLiCo was interviewed over her role on the show. She said ever since her retirement from pro wrestling, she felt like she lost a part of herself. The anal explosion ceremony gives her something to focus on and she wants it to be spectacular. She understands the risk of it and promises not to complain if she can’t use that body part anymore afterwards. She also hopes to continue being involved with DDT next year. She is still rehabbing the knee injury that made her decide to do her retirement match back in March. However she is on track to be completely healed in 2023. Perhaps a return to the ring is in her future.

DDT “HATSUYUME 2023”, 03/01/2023
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Makoto Oishi & Shiori Asahi Vs Hideki Okatani & Toi Kojima
2. New Year Special 8-Man Tag Match: Toru Owashi, Kazuki Hirata, Yuji Hino & Yukio Naya Vs Shinshun Pokotan, Yukio Sakaguchi, Saki Akai & Kazuma Sumi
3. DDT Universal Title Next Challenger Decision Battle: Naruki Doi Vs Daisuke Sasaki
4. KO-D Tag Team Titles: Chris Brookes & Masahiro Takanashi Vs MAO & Shunma Katsumata

Pokotan gets to be part of the new year celebrations. The DDT mascot will be appearing in its Shinsun New Year form for its first match of 2023.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TOKYO JOSHI PRO ’23”, 04/01/2023
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. HIMAWARI Debut Match: Yuki Aino Vs HIMAWARI
2. Wakana Uehara Debut Match: Moka Miyamoto & Juria Nagano Vs Arisu Endo & Wakana Uehara
3. Nao Kakuta, Mahiro Kiryu & Kaya Toribami Vs Raku, Pom Harajuku & Haruna Neko
4. New Year Special Match: Shoko Nakajima Vs Hyper Misao
5. Princess Of Princess Title Next Challenger Decision Battle Royal: Rika Tatsumi Vs Mizuki Vs Maki Itoh Vs Yuki Kamifuku Vs Hikari Noa Vs Suzume
6. International Princess Title: Miu Watanabe (c) Vs Trish Adora
7. Princess Tag Team Titles: Saki Akai & Yuki Arai (c) Vs Max The Impaler & Heidi Howitzer
8. Princess Of Princess Title: Yuka Sakazaki (c) Vs Miyu Yamashita

A 6-Woman Battle Royal will determine the No. 1 Contender for the Princess Of Princess Title. There’s a former champion in Rika Tatsumi taking part. Both Mizuki and Maki Itoh have had failed challenges for the top title. Yuki Kamifuku, Hikari Noa or Suzume would all be first time challengers should one of them win.

The Ittenyon tradition returns! Since 2020 Shoko Nakajima and Hyper Misao have done a wacky singles match against each other on 4th January. The usual stipulation is the loser gets renamed by the winner for a short period of time, along with a gimmick change to go with it. The past examples are Misao becoming Akemi Daredasore and Nakajima becoming Shin Ultra Shoko. Nakajima did not go through with renaming Misao after the last match because she was concerned it would be a distraction for them before the “Futari wa Princess” Max Heart tournament began. The same situation is coming up in January so at least right now there is no stipulation attached to the match.

The debut matches for Wakana Uehara and HIMAWARI are now confirmed. Uehara gets to be in a tag match while HIMAWARI is doing a singles.

DDT “NEW YEAR’S CURRENT EXPLOSION!”, 07/01/2023
Kanagawa Tsurumi Fruit & Vegetable Market

1. Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno Vs Hideki Okatani & Kazuma Sumi
2. Yukio Naya Vs Takeshi Masada
3. The 37KAMIINA Vs BURNING!: Yuki Ueno & MAO Vs Tetsuya Endo & Yuya Koroku
4. Harimao Vs DAMNATION T.A!: Kazusada Higuchi & Yuki Ishida Vs Daisuke Sasaki & KANON
5. Special 6-Man Tag Match: HARASHIMA, Saori Anou & Yusuke Okada Vs Kazuki Hirata, Saki Akai & Gota Ihashi
6. Tsurumi Fruit & Vegetable Market Specialty Special Single Match: Chris Brookes Vs Demonio Uno
7. “Current Explosion” Trademark Battle ~ Current Explosion Death Match: Atsushi Onita, Shunma Katsumata & Toi Kojima Vs Sanshiro Takagi, Akito & Soma Takao

The CyberFight president, vice president and store manager of the Dropkick Bar are all joining forces to take the exploding death match trademark away from Atsushi Onita! Their argument is DDT could do more with the gimmick if they had the trademark while all Onita has done with it is create an exploding death match monopoly. Onita got some unlikely allies for this fight. Katsumata was previously trying to dethrone Onita as “The Evil Ways” for a new generation. He supports Onita here because you can’t do an exploding death match without him! Toi Kojima experienced this kind of match for the first time back in September and impressed Onita with his courage. Together the three of them will stop DDT management from taking what does not belong to them!

“BAKA GAIJIN + FRIENDS VOL. TWO”, 24/01/2023
Tokyo ARENA Shimokitazawa

1. Special Singles Match: Fuminori Abe Vs Death Worm
2. Thai Boxing Vs Death Match: Thanomsak Toba Vs Drew Parker
3. Special Tag Match: Ram Kaichow & Onryo Vs Chris Brookes & Masahiro Takanashi

The first “BAKA GAIJIN + FRIENDS” show was a big success and the second one looks to be even bigger. This time around Ram Kaichow & Onryo from 666 are here to give CDK a scary night. I bet Chris Brookes hasn’t forgotten about his casket match with both of them during the King Of Street Wrestling tournament.

Drew Parker has a styles clash waiting for him. The death match wrestler takes on the challenge of Thanomsak Toba and his Thai kickboxing abilities. Meanwhile Fuminori Abe is already making use of his newly freelance statuse by getting into fight with Death Worm.

Takayuki Ueki will be doing a variety performance of some sort before the main event.


DDT “ROAD TO NEVER MIND 2022 IN FUKUOKA” Results

December 18, 2022

DDT “ROAD TO NEVER MIND 2022 IN FUKUOKA”, 18/12/2022
Pivole Fukuoka
226 Fans – No Vacancy

1. Sanshiro Takagi & Kazuki Hirata defeated Saki Akai & Toi Kojima when Hirata pinned Kojima with the Miracle One Shot Cradle (9:10).
2. Akito & MAO defeated Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno when Akito pinned Dieno with a Stepover Toe Hold (10:53).
3. Daisuke Sasaki & KANON defeated Yuya Koroku & Kazuma Sumi when KANON submitted Sumi with the Crucifixion Cobra Twist (12:01).
4. Fukuoka Specialty Special 6-Man Tag Match: Yuji Hino, Makoto Oishi & Shiori Asahi defeated Toru Owashi, Azul Dragon & Hideki Okatani when Hino pinned Okatani with the Fuckin’ BOMB (12:15).
5. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Tetsuya Endo, Jun Akiyama & Yusuke Okada defeated HARASHIMA, Chris Brookes & Takeshi Masada when Endo pinned Masada with the Swivel Torture Rack Bomb (14:19).
6. Harimao Vs The 37KAMIINA!: Kazusada Higuchi & Yuki Ishida defeated Yuki Ueno & Shunma Katsumata when Higuchi pinned Katsumata with the Brain Claw Slam (18:11).

A comment Kazusada Higuchi made after the show fired up Yuki Ueno once he heard it. Higuchi said he will have the attitude of a challenger when he defends the KO-D Openweight Title against Ueno on 29th December. Ueno’s response is a champion should never say something so pathetic. If Higuchi feels like a challenger then he should always remain a challenger. Ueno won’t lose to someone like that. Other than that, both men showed respect to each other and agree the better man will win on the 29th.

MAO fell for the Pheromones charm again during his match and was tempted into turning on Akito for the second day in a row. Akito had a few backup plans this time. First he told MAO that he would be fined 1,000 yen anytime he did something “sexy” with Pheromones. That didn’t stop MAO from doing it and he thinks he probably lost 40,000 to 50,000 yen because of this. Akito then got Toi Kojima to run down and Chop MAO so he would snap back to his senses. Akito’s team beating Pheromones on today’s show adds one more stipulation to the big showdown between them on 29th December. If Akito’s team can win that match then Danshoku Dieno must give his pet dog Haku away to Shunma Katsumata for one month! Akito later added that Yuki Iino will have to give his pet dog Lily away to Katsumata too!

Katsumata’s mind was elsewhere. He heard about DDT’s challenge to Atsushi Onita yesterday and does not like it one bit. He does not get along with Onita but believes an exploding death match without Onita is not an exploding death match worth doing! If anything it sounds to him like Sanshiro Takagi is the one trying to monopolize the stipulation. Katsumata is going to get involved in this situation because he wants to be the one to take over “The Evil Ways” from Onita. He can’t do that if DDT takes the trademark away from him!


Christmas Fan Lottery Matches, Iwasaki & Ishii Reminisce, New Year’s Eve Trios Bracket

December 13, 2022

DDT “DDT FREE -DECEMBER-”, 14/12/2022
Shinjuku FACE

1. 2 Vs 3 Handicap Match: Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno Vs Akito, MAO & Kazuma Sumi
2. Tryout Match: Shunma Katsumata Vs Anarko Montaña
3. Road To NEVER MIND 2022! Special Tag Match: Saki Akai & Yoshiko Hasegawa Vs Saori Anou & Riko Kawahata
4. Sanshiro Takagi, Yuji Hino & Makoto Oishi Vs Soma Takao, Yuya Koroku & Takeshi Masada
5. Special 8-Man Tag Match: HARASHIMA, Toru Owashi, Kazuki Hirata Vs Yukio Naya Vs Tetsuya Endo, Jun Akiyama, Kotaro Suzuki & Yusuke Okada
6. Daisuke Sasaki & KANON Vs Chris Brookes & Hideki Okatani
7. Road To NEVER MIND 2022! Special Tag Match: Kazusada Higuchi & Yuki Ishida Vs Yuki Ueno & Toi Kojima

Before the show takes place there will be a press conference announcing details for some of the matches taking place at Korakuen Hall on 3rd January. We will find out who the teams competing in the vacant KO-D Tag Team Titles match are and also the No. 1 Contendership for the DDT Universal Title.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “SE-NO, MERRY CHRISTMAS! 2022”, 24/12/2022
Tokyo Ryogoku KFC Hall

1. Fan Lottery 3 Way Match: X Vs X Vs X
2. Fan Lottery Singles Match: X Vs X
3. Fan Lottery Singles Match: X Vs X
4. Fan Lottery Singles Match: X Vs X
5. Fan Lottery Singles Match: X Vs X
6. Fan Lottery Singles Match: X Vs X
7. TJPW Year End Special 8-Man Tag Match: Yuka Sakazaki, Mizuki, Shoko Nakajima & Suzume Vs Miyu Yamashita, Maki Itoh, Hyper Misao & Moka Miyamoto

Fan Lottery: Miu Watanabe, Rika Tatsumi, Yuki Aino, Yuki Kamifuku, Hikari Noa, Nao Kakuta, Raku, Pom Harajuku, Mahiro Kiryu, Haruna Neko, Arisu Endo, Kaya Toribami and Juria Nagano

A fan lottery taking place on the 15th December show will determine who faces who at the Christmas show.

GANBARE☆PRO “GIRI GIRI CHOP! 2022”, 27/12/2022
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Sotatsu Nakamura Debut Match: Shinichiro Tominaga Vs Sotatsu Nakamura
2. GanJo x TJPW Special Tag Match: Suzume & Yoshiko Hasegawa Vs Yuki Kamifuku & YuuRI
3. Shota Triumphant Return Match: Shuichiro Katsumura & Shota Vs Soma Takao & Shigehiro Irie
4. GanPro Vs Pheromones: Ken Ohka & Yumehito Imanari Vs Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno
5. GanJo Vs Ice Ribbon: Yuna Manase, Moeka Haruhi & HARUKAZE Vs Nao Ishikawa, Yuki Mashiro & Kaho Matsushita
6. Kouki Iwasaki Ganbare☆Pro Wrestling Last Match: Keisuke Ishii Vs Kouki Iwasaki
7. Spirit Of Ganbare World Openweight Title: Hartley Jackson (c) Vs Mizuki Watase

Kouki Iwasaki credits Keisuke Ishii’s knowledge of pro wrestling for helping him gain confidence over the years. For example, Ishii can remember off the top of his head he has a record of 3 wins and one draw against Iwasaki in singles matches. He also has fond memories of them challenging for the GHC Jr. Tag Team Titles together back in 2018. Iwasaki wants to repay that kindness and is open to continue teaming with Ishii around the wrestling scene. Ishii identifies that this match is not just happening to give Iwasaki one last happy memory when he leaves Ganbare☆Pro. Iwasaki is looking to win and create momentum for himself when he steps out into the world. Ishii thinks the last year in Ganpro has been competitive within the roster and he wants to show he can be also competitive going into 2023.

A trio from Ice Ribbon are coming over to face Ganbare☆Joshi. It is a special match for Yuki Mashiro in particular because she will be retiring from pro wrestling a few day’s later on New Year’s Eve. Nao Ishikawa & Kaho Matsushita have been recent opponents of Yuna Manase in Ice Ribbon too.

When Yumehito Imanari is in DDT, he is part of Pheromones. But in his home promotion he is his own man! He is ditching the bowtie to fight against his pervert friends Yuki Iino & Danshoku Dieno with Ken Ohka along to help him.

“NEW YEAR’S EVE PRO WRESTLING 2022 ~TOSHIWASURE! SHUFFLE 6-MAN TAG TOURNAMENT~”, 31/12/2022
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Shuffle 6-Man Tag Tournament – Round 1A: MAO, Yuya Aoki & Yuko Miyamoto Vs Yukio Naya, Hideyoshi Kamitani & Kikutaro
2. Shuffle 6-Man Tag Tournament – Round 1B: Kazusada Higuchi, Kota Sekifuda & MUSASHI Vs Chris Brookes, Daisuke Sekimoto & Isami Kodaka
3. Shuffle 6-Man Tag Tournament – Round 1C: Tetsuya Endo, Yasufumi Nakanoue & Brahman Kei (w/ Brahman Shu) Vs Yuki Ueno, Daichi Hashimoto & Yuma Aoyagi
4. Shuffle 6-Man Tag Tournament – Round 1D: Takeshi Masada, Takuya Nomura & Masato Tanaka Vs HARASHIMA, Yuki Ishikawa & Masashi Takeda
5. Danshoku Dieno, Antonio Honda, Kazuki Hirata & Shunma Katsumata Vs Ryuji Ito, Abdullah Kobayashi, Jaki Numazawa & Kankuro Hoshino
6. Shuffle 6-Man Tag Tournament – Semi Final: Winners Of Match 1A Vs Winners Of Match 1B
7. Shuffle 6-Man Tag Tournament – Semi Final: Winners Of Match 1C Vs Winners Of Match 1D
8. Special 8-Man Tag Match: Konosuke Takeshita, Drew Parker, Cara Noir & RSP Vs Yuji Okabayashi, Kazumi Kikuta, Takuho Kato & Kazumasa Yoshida
9. Shuffle 6-Man Tag Tournament – Final: X, X & X Vs X, X & X

Ika Ra Takeshi Ki Asu Manji Hai (Driver’s High) – MAO, Yuya Aoki & Yuko Miyamoto
Team 2023 – Chris Brookes, Daisuke Sekimoto & Isami Kodaka
Zero Hyaku – Yuki Ueno, Daichi Hashimoto & Yuma Aoyagi
Big Bombers – Yukio Naya, Hideyoshi Kamitani & Kikutaro
Emi Chichichi (Wara Chichichi) – HARASHIMA, Yuki Ishikawa & Masashi Takeda
Bara No Ue In The Sky With Diamonds – Tetsuya Endo, Yasufumi Nakanoue & Brahman Kei (w/ Brahman Shu)
Team Kansai – Takeshi Masada, Takuya Nomura & Masato Tanaka
Super J Cups – Kazusada Higuchi, Kota Sekifuda & MUSASHI

The New Year’s Eve teams are picked and the bracket is ready. Now all that’s left to do is wrestle during the final hours of 2022.


DDT “NEXTBODY PRESENTS STERNNESS 30TH ANNIVERSARY VOL. 2 IN OSAKA” Results

December 10, 2022

DDT “NEXTBODY PRESENTS STERNNESS 30TH ANNIVERSARY VOL. 2 IN OSAKA ~JUN AKIYAMA DEBUT 30TH ANNIVERSARY ROUND 2~”, 10/12/2022
Osaka Izumi City Plaza Yayoi no Kaze Hall
320 Fans

1. Hideki Okatani & Yuya Koroku defeated Takeshi Masada & Kazuma Sumi when Koroku submitted Sumi with the Chickenwing Arm Lock (9:14).
2. Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno defeated Akito & Kazuki Hirata when Iino submitted Akito with the Minryuu→Hakuryuu→Kairyuu (9:25).
3. Yuji Hino, Makoto Oishi & Soma Takao defeated Toru Owashi, Chris Brookes & Toi Kojima when Hino pinned Kojima with the Fuckin’ BOMB (10:45).
4. HARASHIMA & Yukio Naya defeated Kazusada Higuchi & Yuki Ishida when Naya pinned Ishida with the Choke Slam (12:35).
5. Special Single Match: Tigers Mask defeated Yusuke Okada with the Delfin Special No. 3 (13:29).
6. The 37KAMIINA Vs DAMNATION T.A!: Daisuke Sasaki, MJ Paul & KANON defeated Yuki Ueno, MAO & Shunma Katsumata when Sasaki submitted Katsumata with the Crossface Lock (10:18).
7. NEXTBODY presents Jun Akiyama Debut 30th Anniversary Match In Osaka ~ Special 6-Man Tag Match: Zeus, Bodyguard & Ryouji Sai defeated Jun Akiyama, Tetsuya Endo & Sanshiro Takagi when Zeus pinned Akiyama with the Jackhammer (19:01).

There was already a 30th Anniversary celebration for Jun Akiyama back in September but that took place in Tokyo. Akiyama is from Osaka and wanted to celebrate his 30 years in front of his home crowd so DDT were happy to set it up for him. The main event this time was Akiyama leading Tetsuya Endo & Sanshiro Takagi against a trio of Osaka all star wrestlers. Akiyama got to spend a lot of time inside and outside the ring against his opponents. He started off the match against Zeus and the two eventually fought each other outside the ring. Tigers Mask got dragged into the brawl at ringside and took some hits after Akiyama recognised he is Atsushi Maruyama under the mask. Bodyguard congratulated Akiyama for his anniversary while throwing a bunch of Lariats at his opponents. Takagi missed a Lariat of his own and hit Akiyama by accident. That led to the Osaka team launching a train attack on Akiyama. They gave him a Lariat from Zeus, a Spear from Bodyguard and the Akagawa Bridge from Ryouji Sai. Zeus then got the three count by giving Akiyama the Jackhammer.

Everybody congratulated Akiyama after the match. Zeus talked about the time he worked for All Japan while Akiyama was the company’s president. He said Akiyama is the only person in wrestling he looks up to as a mentor. It is because of Akiyama’s teachings that Zeus became a Triple Crown Champion, won the Champion Carnival and became the president of Osaka Pro Wrestling. He also joked his mission today was to give Akiyama 30 Chops to the chest during the match. Bodyguard credits Akiyama for giving him the opportunity to be active in major pro wrestling promotions. Sai pointed out it’s a contradiction that his team all wanted to beat up Akiyama yet here they are congratulating him afterwards. He admires Akiyama because no matter how high the bar is raised, Akiyama is able to go above and beyond it. The show ended with Akiyama giving the final speech. He does not know how long he will continue to wrestle but as long as Takagi needs him, he will want to work for DDT. He thanked everyone for being here today, including Maruyama.

Yuki Ueno was disappointed to lose his first match since winning the D-Ou Grand Prix. It was also Shunma Katsumata’s 30th birthday a few days ago so he was upset to lose his first match in his 30’s. MAO is currently 25 so nothing that happened in their loss today let him down moreso than usual.

After Tigers Mask won his match, Yusuke Okada asked for a rematch and for it to take place in Osaka Pro. Mask described Akiyama as both the scariest teacher and the most kindest senior. He made similar comments as Zeus about how Akiyama’s teachings are being put to use in running the new version of Osaka Pro. Backstage Zeus approached Tigers Mask, told him Akiyama wants to do a singles match against him in Osaka Pro soon and left. Mask isn’t sure if he was joking or not.

Yukio Naya said it was thanks to Akiyama’s teachings along with Yuji Hino’s that he was able to reach the D-Ou final this year.

In the latest battle between Akito and Pheromones, Akito had a plan. He stole his opponent’s lewd wrestling gear, thinking it would force Yuki Iino & Danshoku Dieno to wrestle in normal looking costumes. It didn’t work because they had their spare gear with them. Also during the match Pheromones forced one of Iino’s stolen costumes onto Akito before beating him with one of their humiliating finishers.


DDT “D-OU GRAND PRIX 2022 THE FINAL” Results

December 4, 2022

DDT “D-OU GRAND PRIX 2022 THE FINAL”, 04/12/2022
Tokyo Korakuen Hall
711 Fans – Super No Vacancy Full House

1. Soma Takao, Hideki Okatani & Hikaru Machida defeated Yuya Koroku, Yuki Ishida & Takeshi Masada when Takao pinned Ishida with the Gin And Tonic (8:36).
2. Soccer Match: Yuki “Sexy” Iino, Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno & Yumehito “Fantastic” Imanari (3) defeated Akito & Antonio Honda (2) by Penalty Shootout.
2a. Akito (1) pinned Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno (0) with a Gene LeBell Style Rolling Cradle (1st Half 0:18).
2b. Akito (2) pinned Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno (0) with a Free Kick (1st Half 1:21).
2c. Yuki “Sexy” Iino (1) pinned Akito (2) with the Ketsugoye (2nd Half 0:37).
2d. Yuki “Sexy” Iino (2) pinned Akito (2) with the Sexy Lariat (2nd Half 2:54).
*Pheromotia advance to the Final 8.
3. BURNING Vs The 37KAMIINA!: Tetsuya Endo, Kotaro Suzuki & Yusuke Okada defeated MAO, Shunma Katsumata & Toi Kojima when Endo pinned Kojima with the Burning Star Press (12:09).
4. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Naruki Doi, Toru Owashi & Kazuki Hirata defeated HARASHIMA, Yukio Sakaguchi & Kazuma Sumi when Hirata pinned Sumi with the Miracle One Shot Cradle (10:25).
5. DDT Extreme Title – TLC Match: Jun Akiyama defeated Joey Janela (c) with the Wrist Clutch Exploder Suplex (11:32).
*Joey Janela fails in V5. Jun Akiyama becomes the 56th DDT Extreme Champion!
6. Special 8-Man Tag Match: Kazusada Higuchi, Yuji Hino, Chris Brookes & RSP defeated Daisuke Sasaki, Minoru Fujita, MJ Paul & KANON when Higuchi pinned Paul with the Buchikamashi (10:50).
7. D-Ou Grand Prix 2022 – Final: Yuki Ueno defeated Yukio Naya with the BME (20:32).

The reigning DDT Universal Champion is now also the D-Ou Grand Prix winner for 2022! Before the tournament even began Yuki Ueno has been calling his shot to win the whole thing as part of his quest to be the leading figure in DDT. He achieved it here by beating Yukio Naya in the final. Naya came into the match as confident as he has ever been and looked to win with sheer power. He used an Avalanche Choke Slam as his big move to set up the Torture Cobra Twist. Ueno relied on his own speed and agility in response, nearly scoring a countout win after a Moonsault out of the ring. The BME was countered at first when Naya blocked it with his knees. Ueno tried to show fighting spirit against his opponent’s Lariats and Knee Strikes until he started to show signs of collapse. His second wind came when he countered a Choke Slam with a Triangle Choke. He used his new Rolling Guillotine Ace Crusher but was too beaten up to go for the pin. When both stood back up, Naya got the first blow and landed the Back Drop. However he too was slow to make the cover and Ueno kicked out. Naya rushed in for a final attack and he ran straight into a series of Dropkicks until he couldn’t get back up. Ueno got to hit the BME in the end and that was enough to win him the match.

Naya received applause from the crowd as he left ringside. Ueno stayed in the ring to receive his trophy from Kenta Kobashi. Ueno called Naya a big and amazing opponent that he was able to beat on his own. Ueno promises he will still work hard to become the best in DDT and get more people to watch DDT. He wants everybody to love DDT as much as he does. He has the DDT Universal Title, just won the D-Ou Grand Prix and now wants to win the KO-D Openweight Title! He’s sure Konosuke Takeshita is watching him from America and knows he wouldn’t be working so hard if it wasn’t for his friends. Backstage Naya showed frustration because he said he was going to carry DDT on his shoulders like a big shot only to lose in the final. He swore in 2023 he will go higher and become big enough to challenge for the KO-D Title. Kobashi praised Naya for not running out of stamina during such a long match and being able to respond to Ueno’s fast pace. Last year he was told by people in DDT that Ueno is a genius. Kobashi is beginning to understand the claim after watching him throughout the Grand Prix. He also thinks the future of DDT is blossoming because the final was between two wrestlers in their 20s.

A collection of heavyweights from the D-Ou group stages all joined forces to fight against DAMNATION T.A. The size differences took Minoru Fujita off guard. The opposition all ganged up on him and pulled off the Kai En Tai pyramid pose with Chris Brookes posing at the top. KANON tried slowing down Yuji Hino with the Cobra Twist. Daisuke Sasaki wanted to fight everyone off with a chair but was given a Double Choke Slam from RSP & Brookes. Hino then gathered most of DAMNATION T.A together outside the ring so RSP could do a Topé into them. MJ Paul showed some fight against Kazusada Higuchi but he too was decimated with the Buchikamashi sumo charge for the three count. After the match Higuchi said it does not matter if his next challenger is Ueno or Naya. He just wants to fight and defend the championship.

For the first time in his decorated career Jun Akiyama was taking part in a TLC Match. His opponent Joey Janela came up with the stipulation for the DDT Extreme Title match for his own benefit. Except that does not change the face he still had to fight Jun Akiyama! The challenger gradually found his footing in an arena filled with Tables, Ladders and Chairs all available to be used as weapons. He threw Janela out of the ring onto a castle of chairs. He also gave Janela the Exploder Suplex onto a ladder inside the ring. Janela showed his guts and went high risk. It paid off with a Diving Elbow from a ladder putting Akiyama through a table. He wanted to continue the attack but Akiyama gave him an Avalanche Exploder onto another table. Janela kicked out so Akiyama had to give him the Wrist-Clutch Exploder to finally put him away and win the Extreme Title!

After the match Janela finally showed Akiyama some respect by shaking his hand. Janela later said Akiyama earned his respect by stepping into his area of hardcore wrestling and winning. As Akiyama was leaving the ring, Super Sasadango Machine appeared and called for his attention. He told everyone that he has not wrestled much in 2022 and wanted to make a year end adjustment. He figured if he could challenge Akiyama for the Extreme Title at the end of the year it would make up for his inactivity. Akiyama thought about it and agreed. He then asked Sasadango how much he weighed. Sasadango answered he is 125kg. Akiyama told him to lose 20kg and then left the ring. Hisaya Imabayashi used his GM powers to make the match official for 29th December.

Naruki Doi’s request to face DDT’s best led him straight to HARASHIMA. Although first he had to go through Kazuma Sumi because the rookie wanted to start the match against him. Kazuki Hirata did not show as much bravery when he had to share the ring with Yukio Sakaguchi. Doi and HARASHIMA got to fight each other eventually but Hirata continued to look like the weak link. He took a Running Knee from Sakaguchi in the corner, a Springboard Splash from HARASHIMA and a Standing Moonsault from Sumi. However Hirata kicked out of the pin and suddenly caught Sumi in the Miracle One Shot Cradle to win the match for his team out of nowhere.

Hirata wanted to give a victory speech but he was interrupted by Tetsuya Endo’s theme music. Endo walked out with Kotaro Suzuki & Yusuke Okada by his side. Endo said he hadn’t forgotten about Doi mentioning his name in Kyoto as somebody he wants to fight. This is Endo accepting the challenge! He also wants it to be a KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles match. Hirata tried to speak but Doi cut him off. Doi thinks it is a chance of fate because not only does he want to fight Endo, he also never thought he would see Suzuki in a DDT ring again. Doi told them his next scheduled appearance for DDT is on 29th December. He asked Toru Owashi who was the authority around here and was confused when he was pointed over to Imabayashi. The GM confirmed the title match will happen on the 29th.

The BURNING trio had just wrestled in the match before, beating The 37KAMIINA. Suzuki squared off with Shunma Katsumata. The two of them had a singles match in DNA 5 years ago and Katsumata was eager to show hot much he has grown since then. Toi Kojima also wanted to test himself against the veteran. He ended up on the worst end of things by taking Suzuki’s Tombstone, then Okada’s Diving Headbutt and finally Endo’s Burning Star Press for the finish. Endo and Suzuki treated the match as their first introductions to each other. Suzuki also called DDT a new view for him to experience now that he is freelance. Katsumata wants another chance to fight Suzuki and show he can surpass him. MAO was in a bit of a bad mood after seeing the video of Akiyama interviewing Suzuki. In the video there are three times when Akiyama said DDT became a stronger place after he joined the company. That line has been bothering MAO ever since he heard it.

The success of Japan in the World Cup has Pheromones feeling football crazy. They all walked down to the ring wearing football kits and demanding their match be held under Soccer Rules. Every 1 Count pinfall counted as a goal. At first the plan backfired when Akito quickly pinned Dieno early in the 1st half. Dieno then caused a foul which allowed Akito to score a second goal from a free Dropkick. Antonio Honda was in the middle of telling his Gongitsune joke when Yukinori Matsui blew his whistle and ended the half. For the 2nd Half, Yumehito Imanari was brought in as a substitute for Dieno. Yuki Iino blocked Honda’s Bionic Elbow and used the Katsugoye to make the score 2-1. Imanari then pinned Akito to make it 2-2 but the pinfall was disallowed after a VAR review. Play restarted and Iino pinned Akito with the Sexy Lariat. Akito pleaded for another VAR review, claiming that Iino’s ball was showing outside of his skimpy costume. VAR showed that the ball was still in bounds within the line by the slightest of margins so the goal stood. The match went to an actual penalty shootout in the ring and Imanari scored the winning shot to send his team into the Quarter Finals! Final score: Pheromotia 3 – 2 Subjugation JAPAN.

The first match of the day featured the return of the kickboxer Hikaru Machida. He had some striking exchanges with Takeshi Masada when they were both in the ring. Yuya Koroku used a Waterwheel Drop on Soma Takao, setting up his team to launch a train attack against him. Yuki Ishida tried to take it all the way until Machida & Hideki Okatani cut him off. Ishida kicked out of Takao’s Running Elbow but was down and out when Takao did the Gin And Tonic.

Dieno announced some new matches for his book launch event at Korakuen Hall on 21st December. Doi and Katsumata face off in a first time singles match. Kazusada Higuchi, Thanomsak Toba & Yuki Ishida Vs Tesuya Endo, Jun Akiyama & DJ Nira will also happen on the show.


Hartley Faces RENEGADES, Dieno’s Selfish Matches, Rookie Munetatsu, New Year’s Eve Participants

November 21, 2022

“MASAHIRO TAKANASHI INDEPENDENT PERFORMANCE – BOKUTACHI 4 HANJUKU 4 I LOVE YOU! 2022”, 22/11/2022
Shinjuku FACE

0. Dark Match: Shinsetsu Gomu Ningen & Gota Ihashi (w/ Miyako Haru) Vs SAKI & Yasu Urano (w/ KUDO)
1. Chris Brookes, Mizuki Watase & Antonio Honda Vs Keisuke Ishii, Shigehiro Irie & Soma Takao
2. Mei Suruga Vs MAO
3. Mixed Gauntlet Tag Match: Ram Kaichow & Yuko Miyamoto Vs Saki Akai & Brahman Kei (w/ Brahman Shu) Vs Mochi Natsumi & Hoshitango Vs Cherry & Gorgeous Matsuno Vs Chie Koishikawa & Shin Suzuki Vs Choun-Shiryu & Lee Yoneyama Vs Isami Kodaka & Emi Sakura W
4. Daisuke Sekimoto Vs Masahiro Takanashi

Drew Parker had to pull out of tomorrow’s show due to an arm injury. Mizuki Watase is his replacement.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “ALL RISE ’22”, 27/11/2022
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Shoko Nakajima, Hyper Misao & Kaya Toribami Vs Pom Harajuku, Haruna Neko & Mahiro Kiryu
2. Suzume Vs Yoshiko Hasegawa
3. Mizuki Vs Arisu Endo
4. Maki Itoh & Hikari Noa Vs Yuki Kamifuku & Nao Kakuta
5. Rika Tatsumi & Miu Watanabe Vs Moka Miyamoto & Juria Nagano
6. EVE Title: Miyu Yamashita (c) Vs Millie McKenzie
7. Princess Tag Team Titles: Saki Akai & Yuki Arai (c) Vs Yuki Aino & Raku
8. Princess Of Princess Title: Yuka Sakazaki (c) Vs Billie Starkz

The undercard has now been filled out. Daydream are back together for a match against the Karate Tag of Moka Miyamoto & Juria Nagano. Also Yoshiko Hasegawa from Ganbare☆Pro returns for another appearance in Tokyo Joshi Pro. This time she’s getting a singles match against Suzume.

GANBARE☆PRO “TOKIMEKI NISHISU 2022”, 03/12/2022
Yokohama Radiant Hall

1. GanPro Vs P.P.P: Yumehito Imanari & Yuna Manase Vs Kentaro Hachisu & Echika Miyabi
2. Tokimeki Nishisu 2022 Special Tag Match: Hartley Jackson & Seiya Morohashi Vs Shigehiro Irie & Mizuki Watase

This is one last chance for Watase to prove he will be some kind of threat against Hartley Jackson. The Spirit Of Ganbare Champion suddenly turned sour on the idea he could be welcomed into the Ganpro family because of Watase’s recent weak efforts against him. So this time Watase is calling in his buddy Shigehiro Irie to provide back up against the champ and Seiya Morohashi. The power of RENEGADES may be just what Watase needs.

Yuna Manase and Echika Miyabi are in another match together after the two enjoyed their first rendezvous. This time the match is attracting other members of Ganpro and P.P.P Tokyo because Yumehito Imanari and Kentaro Hachisu are getting involved too.

DDT “D-OU GRAND PRIX 2022 THE FINAL”, 04/12/2022
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. DDT Extreme Title: Joey Janela (c) Vs Jun Akiyama
2. D-Ou Grand Prix 2022 – Final: Yuki Ueno Vs Yukio Naya

The D-Ou Grand Prix final is between Yuki Ueno and Yukio Naya. Ueno lost in last year’s final and is determined not to repeat that result. Naya has already called his shot after he wins the tournament to challenge Kazusada Higuchi for the KO-D Openweight Title in Tokyo Dome City Hall at the end of the year.

Why does Eddie Kingston get to have all the fun? Joey Janela wants to fight Jun Akiyama too and is willing to put the DDT Extreme Title on the line for it to happen.

DDT “DANSHOKU DIENO 20TH ANNIVERSARY BOOK PUBLICATION COMMEMORATION”, 21/12/2022
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Selfishly For The 2nd Time In 20 Years, A Single Match That Danshoku Dieno Just Wants To See: Yuki “Sexy” Iino Vs Yumehito “Fantastic” Imanari
2. Selfishly For The 1st Time In 20 Years, Danshoku Dieno’s Self-Satisfaction Match: Danshoku Dieno Vs Muscle Sakai

A book launch to celebrate 20 years in the business is a good enough reason to give Danshoku Dieno some match making powers for the event. He is happily being selfish with the power by booking himself against his old friend Muscle Sakai. He also wants to see what Yuki Iino versus Yumehito Imanari would be like.

GANBARE☆PRO “GIRI GIRI CHOP! 2022”, 27/12/2022
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Munetatsu Nakamura Debut Match: Munetatsu Nakamura Vs X
2. Kouki Iwasaki Ganbare☆Pro Wrestling Last Match: Keisuke Ishii Vs Kouki Iwasaki
3. Spirit Of Ganbare World Openweight Title: Hartley Jackson (c) Vs Mizuki Watase

The new rookie Munetatsu Nakamura is a 21 year old college student from Chiba. He is 168cm tall, weighs 65kg and his athletic experience is with wrestling and Judo. Nakamura originally trained for the DDTeeeen!! project but never wrestled a match (unless he was Ilusion all along but I have no evidence to back that up). Instead he switched his training over to Ganpro earlier this year and will make his pro debut with them.

DDT “NEVER MIND 2022”, 29/12/2022
Tokyo Dome City Hall

1. Pheromones Vs “Miyako & Ward” Pheromones Subjugation Allied Forces: Yuki “Sexy” Iino, Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno, Yumehito “Fantastic” Imanari & Koju “Shining Ball” Takeda Vs Akito, Osamu Nishimura, Shinichiro Kawamatsu & Shunma Katsumata
2. Special Tag Match: Saki Akai & Yuki Arai Vs Saori Anou & Riko Kawahata
3. KO-D Openweight Title: Kazusada Higuchi (c) Vs X

The KO-D Title shot at the end of the year is not the automatic prize for the D-Ou winner but it’s clear Ueno or Naya is going to get it.

Akito needs some powerful and influential people to help him keep Pheromones under control or else DDT is at risk of being banned from Korakuen Hall and probably all the other venues within Tokyo Dome City. Who could be more powerful and influential than politcians? Osamu Nishimura & Shinichiro Kawamatsu are here to help. Shunma Katsumata is also getting dragged into the fight.

It’s already been announced but here’s a reminder that Konosuke Takeshita and Cara Noir will be on the show. Takeshita is still part of the DDT roster along with his new affiliation with AEW.

“NEW YEAR’S EVE PRO WRESTLING 2022 ~TOSHIWASURE! SHUFFLE 6-MAN TAG TOURNAMENT~”, 31/12/2022
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

DDT: Kazusada Higuchi, HARASHIMA, Tetsuya Endo, Yuki Ueno, Chris Brookes, MAO, Yukio Naya & Takeshi Masada

BJW: Hideyoshi Kamitani, Takuya Nomura, Kota Sekifuda, Yasufumi Nakanoue, Daisuke Sekimoto, Daichi Hashimoto, Yuya Aoki & Yuki Ishikawa

Year End Dream Slot: Masato Tanaka, Yuko Miyamoto, Isami Kodaka, Masashi Takeda, MUSASHI, Yuma Aoyagi, Brahman Kei (w/ Brahman Shu) & Kikutaro

The lineup for the annual New Year’s Eve trios tournament has been revealed. There will be eight teams involved each containing one DDT wrestler, one Big Japan wrestler and one “Dream” wrestler. The teams will be chosen on 24th November. There will be two non-tournament matches happening on the New Year’s Eve show as well.


DDT “D-OU GRAND PRIX 2022 IN KORAKUEN HALL” Results

November 18, 2022

DDT “D-OU GRAND PRIX 2022 IN KORAKUEN HALL”, 18/11/2022
Tokyo Korakuen Hall
450 Fans

0. Dark Match: Yusuke Okada defeated Yuki Ishida with the Sudden Death (6:45).
0. Dark Match – 3 Vs 4 Handicap Match: Yuki “Sexy” Iino, Yumehito “Fantastic” Imanari & Koju “Shining Ball” Takeda defeated Akito, Masahiro Takanashi, Antonio Honda & Gorgeous Matsuno when Iino pinned Honda after the Sexy Lock Up (8:28).
1. Minoru Fujita, MJ Paul & KANON defeated Yukio Sakaguchi, Hideki Okatani & Yuya Koroku when KANON pinned Koroku with the Sleepy Hollow (5:57).
2. Special 8-Man Tag Match: HARASHIMA, Naruki Doi, Toru Owashi & Kazuki Hirata defeated MAO, Shunma Katsumata, Toi Kojima & Takeshi Masada when Doi pinned Kojima with the Bakatare Sliding Kick (11:38).
3. D-Ou Grand Prix 2022 – A Block: Joey Janela (4) Vs RSP (4) ended in a Double Countout (11:36).
4. D-Ou Grand Prix 2022 – A Block: Naomi Yoshimura (4) defeated Tetsuya Endo (5) with the Harai Goshi (7:05).
5. D-Ou Grand Prix 2022 – A Block: Yuki Ueno (6) defeated Daisuke Sasaki (5) with the Rolling Guillotine Ace Crusher (16:53).
6. D-Ou Grand Prix 2022 – B Block: Chris Brookes (4) defeated Yuji Hino (7) with a Modified Samson Clutch (12:10).
7. D-Ou Grand Prix 2022 – B Block: Yukio Naya (8) defeated Kazusada Higuchi (7) with the Back Drop (19:05).

A Block

1. Yuki Ueno (6)
2. Tetsuya Endo (5)
-. Daisuke Sasaki (5)
4. RSP (4)
-. Joey Janela (4)
-. Naomi Yoshimura (4)

B Block

1. Yukio Naya (8)
2. Yuji Hino (7)
-. Kazusada Higuchi (7)
4. Chris Brookes (4)
5. KANON (2)
-. MAO (2)

The race to the final is complete and two men are left to fight over who will win the 2022 D-Ou Grand Prix. The Block was decided by what is possibly the biggest upset in the entire tournament this year when Yukio Naya defeated Kazusada Higuchi! The reigning KO-D Openweight Champion was one of two unbeaten wrestlers left in the group and when the path opened up for him to remain the only one at the finish, but Naya decided it would go differently. The Headbutt was the key move in a Higuchi match yet again. The twist however was the move came from Naya to get the advantage. Some Knee Lifts were used afterwards to soften up Higuchi for the Back Drop for the surprise result. Naya’s win means he vaults over the two top heavyweights to reach the final!

So how did it all go wrong for Yuji Hino, the other undefeated wrestler in B Block? Blame CDK for that. Chris Brookes relied on Masahiro Takanashi to help him get a win. The referee was taken out after being used as a shield then Takanashi gave Hino a Low Blow right when he was about to hit the Fuckin’ BOMB on Brookes. Makoto Oishi came to the rescue by grabbing the Asia Dream Tag Team Title belt off of Takanashi. However Brookes then pushed Oishi right into Hino, knocking the big guy loopy when he head first came into contact with the title belt. He was still able to kick out of the pin but was too dazed to kick out of a Samson Clutch afterwards. Brookes isn’t happy with this year being the fourth in a row he failed to win the final. If things don’t improve for him in the next 12 months he does not see a point in him being in the next D-Ou GP. Hino isn’t mad because he doesn’t feel like he lost. All he knows is his head and crotch both hurt so he just wants to go home and get into his bed.

The A Block was a much tighter race with five of the six contestants still in the running one way or another. When the dust settled it was Yuki Ueno who was left standing above everyone else in first place uncontested. He took a beating to get there because Daisuke Sasaki attacked him with plenty of chairs in their match. But Ueno had enough with that kind of stuff and stopped Sasaki with a Dropkick. He hit the BME but Sasaki only kicked out at one. He also blocked the Crossface Lock when Sasaki tried to convert it into the Crossover Facelock. However the BME only got a one count so Ueno had to pull out his new finisher, the Rolling Guillotine Ace Crusher to clear past Sasaki and book his place in the final. Sasaki is so upset over the loss he says 2022 has ended for himself and DAMNATION T.A as well as the first half of 2023. You’ll have to wait until the second half of 2023 to see them get their revenge!

Tetsuya Endo fell at the final hurdle thanks to Naomi Yoshimura. Endo was fighting for first place going into this show and would have made the final had he won, now that we know how Ueno Vs Sasaki went. Instead the Harai Goshi pinned Endo out of nowhere and dashed his chances of advancing. It’s been one of the few bright spots of Yoshimura’s tournament this year and he is currently not in the mood to talk about it. Meanwhile Endo is already thinking of any lessons he learned, figuring out that he has not grown since their last singles match while Yoshimura clearly has.

The two American wrestlers both left their mark in the A Block as wild cards disrupting everyone else’s chances. Both Joey Janela and RSP had slim chances of staying in the Grand Prix but they also had their sights set on each other during the entire tour due to their history together on the American indies. It led to a match where the two tried to destroy each other with the biggest moves they could think of. The biggest came when RSP gave Janela a Death Valley Bomb from the ring apron onto the floor outside. The move took out both men and the match ended in a Double Countout. Due to the new scoring rules implemented this year, a Double Counout means neither wrestlers received any points. Janela takes some enjoyment that the result stopped RSP from getting anywhere near the final. He also now wants to move on to his next target, Jun Akiyama! He thought he would get to fight Akiyama until he found out DDT added an age limit to this year’s D-Ou GP. If that’s not enough, while Janela is here in Japan Akiyama is in America wrestling Eddie Kingston in Janela’s previous workplace AEW! Janela wants Akiyama to come face him when he returns to Japan.

The D-Ou GP final is now set. The A Block winner Yuki Ueno faces the B Block winner Yukio Naya on 4th December. Ueno is in the final for the second year in a row and did not expect to be seeing Naya with him here. Naya’s a big guy but Ueno wants to live up to his promise to carry DDT on his own back. Naya said he is ready to do that too. He just beat Higuchi and now he has to beat Ueno. Should he do that then Naya will make it clear he wants to challenge Higuchi for the KO-D Title inside Tokyo Dome City Hall at the end of December!

Even without the tournament there is a lot of news coming out of this show. Naruki Doi made his next appearance for DDT, forming a team with DISASTER BOX that was nicknamed Disaster Muscle. Doi felt like he was being pranked with DISASTER BOX, The 37KAMIINA and even Takeshi Masada all getting him involved in wacky spots. Toru Owashi did his lucha while Kazuki Hirata tried to mimic MAO’s Koppojutsu but was easily brushed aside. He also tried to wear the Hirata GO! glasses but the music immediately caused Doi to kick him. Toi Kojima was the one to step up to Doi but was cut down with the Doi 555 and Bakatare Sliding Kick. After the match HARASHIMA welcomed Doi to DDT and congratulated him on winning the KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles, one of the few championships that HARASHIMA has never held. Doi asked the fans if they would like to see him face HARASHIMA some day? He then said he will be back in DDT on the 21st and 29th December. If anyone wants to fight Doi, Owashi & Hirata for the titles then Doi will accept any challengers… except for Shunma Katsumata.

KANON had a poor run in the tournament but that is all behind him now. He rejoined MJ Paul & Minoru Fujita to get a win against Eruption & Yuya Koroku. It was a close match with Yukio Sakaguchi & Hideki Okatani keeping DAMNATION T.A on their toes. Koroku then took the lead against KANON but a reversal of fortunes saw KANON pin him with the Sleepy Hollow.

There were also two matches on the pre-show. Danshoku Dieno was absent with a fever so it was up to the rest of Pheromones to keep it up with their obscene antics. This is bad news for Akito because their behaviour is getting so bad that Korakuen Hall management may consider stepping in and banning DDT from doing further shows in the building. Yuki Iino & Koju Takeda may have found a kindred spirit because Gorgeous Matsuno was more than ready to compare his fit body with theirs. Antonio Honda used Iino’s backside to charge up Gongitsune but some bad targeting led to both Akito & Takanashi getting knocked out. Yumehito Imanari saw the opening and got his partners to lock up with each other. Doing so had them essentially teabag all of their opponents over and over into submission. Akito was mad with the result because he bungled the numbers advantage and now DDT is at risk of being kicked out of Korakuen. Pheromones need to be subjugated so Akito will bring in the political tag team of Osamu Nishimura & Shinichiro Kawamatsu for the big 29th December show at Tokyo Dome City Hall!

The other dark match saw Yusuke Okada take all that Yuki Ishida could throw at him. Ishida fought out of a Crab Hold and kicked out of a long distance Diving Headbutt. It was a good effort but Okada beat him with the Sudden Death in the end.

Katsumata feels like there is not enough excitement going around so he came up with an idea to do an Explosion Death Match in the new year. So one will take place in Tsurumi on 7th January where Katsumata will aim to surpass Atsushi Onita and become the Reiwa era’s version of “Evil Ways”. He promised that show will not end until he blows up Onita!

An update was given in regards to LiLiCo’s request to take part in the Anal Explosion opening ceremony for the 29h December show in TDC Hall. Hisaya Imabayashi took part in a show with LiLiCo’s husband Ryohei Odai during the week so he recorded a video discussing the situation with him. Odai does not like the idea but is under the impression that all couples have a rule where they do not need to be concerned for what their partners do with their anuses. So he is ok with LiLiCo and DDT going ahead with the ceremony.

DDT has a Korakuen show on 21st December to celebrate the launch of Dieno’s new book about his views on pro wrestling. Dieno will have a match against Muscle Sakai on the show. There will also be a match between Yuki Iino and Yumehito Imanari just because Dieno wants to see it happen.

Matsuno gave everyone a news update about his planned kidney transplant operation for his partner Junko Tashiro. It was previously announced that the operation was delayed until next Spring because Tashiro is in stable health and has no need to get a transplant right away. The operation is now scheduled for April but may be delayed again if Tashiro remains in good health. It is inevitable that the transplant will need to happen some day and when it does, Matsuno made a vow to return to the ring after it is completed.