DDT “DDT YOKOHAMA UNLIMITED SPECIAL”, 01/07/2023 Yokohama Radiant Hall
1. Yuki “Sexy” Iino, Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno & Yumehito “Fantastic” Imanari Vs Akito, MAO & Kazuma Sumi
2. Daisuke Sasaki & MJ Paul Vs Yusuke Okada & Rukiya
3. Kazusada Higuchi & Yuki Ishida Vs Saki Akai & Yuya Koroku
4. BURNING Vs DISASTER BOX!: Tetsuya Endo & Jun Akiyama Vs Toru Owashi & Kazuki Hirata
5. Special Tag Match: Yuji Hino & Makoto Oishi Vs HARASHIMA & Soma Takao
6. Special Hardcore Tag Match: Atsushi Onita & Toy Kojima Vs Yukio Sakaguchi & Hideki Okatani
7. International Special Tag Match: Yuki Ueno & Yuni Vs Nick Wayne & Takeshi Masada
A preview for the next KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles match is happening here when Saki Akai faces two members of the champions Harimao.
DDT “DRAMATIC DREAMS! VOL. 10 ~SPARE MYSELF AND SPARE MY NAME~”, 02/07/2023 Osaka Komikyo Higashinari Civic Center
1. Dosukoi Thank You Vs DDT’s Most Green Boy Combo: Yusuke Okada & Yuki Ishida Vs Kazuma Sumi & Rukiya
2. Pheromones Vs Former Smile Squash Vs Yoga Sumo ~Between Compliance And The Taste Of Pheromones~: Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno Vs Yasu Urano & Soma Takao Vs Toru Owashi & Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi
3. Diabolical DAMNATION T.A Vs Men With A Thousand Skills: Daisuke Sasaki & MJ Paul Vs Tsubasa & Makoto Oishi
4. “Did You Hear That? I Heard That Guy’s A Prick” Special Tag Match: Tetsuya Endo & Kuishinbo Kamen Vs Kikutaro & Antonio Honda
5. Special 6-Man Tag Match – Japan-US Young Wrestling Summit!: MAO, Toy Kojima & Yuni Vs Nick Wayne, Kohei Kinoshita & Yuya Koroku
6. Special Tag Match – One Hundred Tales Of Osaka ~Saki Akai, Her Biggest Crisis Before Retirement~: Yukio Sakaguchi & Saki Akai Vs Kazuki Hirata & No Name
7. Right Before Ryogoku! Road To KOKUGIKAN Special 6-Man Tag Match: Yuji Hino, Jun Akiyama & Hideki Okatani Vs HARASHIMA, Kazusada Higuchi & Akito
8. Magnitude Kishiwada 30th Anniversary Match ~You Guys Will Know When You See It~: Dick Togo, Magnitude Kishiwada & Black Buffalo Vs Sanshiro Takagi, Shigehiro Irie & Takeshi Masada
9. Special Single Match – WR ~Wrestling & Respect~: Yuki Ueno Vs HUB
This is the full card for Yukinori Matsui’s annual self-produced show.
DDT “DDT TANABATA SPECIAL 2023 IN SHINJUKU”, 07/07/2023 Shin-Kiba 1st RING
1. Kazusada Higuchi, Yuki Ishida & Rukiya Vs Yukio Sakaguchi, Saki Akai & Hideki Okatani
2. BURNING Vs DISASTER BOX!: Jun Akiyama & Yusuke Okada Vs HARASHIMA & Kazuki Hirata
3. International Special Single Match: Yuki Ueno Vs Nick Wayne
4. KANON Debut 4th Anniversary Match ~ Special Tag Match: TAKA Michinoku & KANON Vs Tetsuya Endo & Yuya Koroku
5. Road To PETER PAN 2023! Special Tag Match: Yuji Hino & Makoto Oishi Vs Chris Brookes & Masahiro Takanashi
Two important names are coming back from injuries on this show. Chris Brookes and KANON are both returning from dislocated shoulders. Brookes has some catching up to do. He is paying back every wrestler who fought on his behalf against Yuji Hino while he was recovering, starting with his CDK buddy Masahiro Takanashi.
KANON’s big return is for his 4th Anniversary match. His trainer TAKA Michinoku was previously announced and now we know they will be teaming up against Tetsuya Endo & Yuya Koroku.
DDT “ROAD TO PETER PAN 2023 IN AOMORI”, 15/07/2023 Aomori Hamanasu Hall
1. Daisuke Sasaki, MJ Paul & KANON Vs Yuki Ueno, Toy Kojima & Takeshi Masada
2. Falls Count Anywhere Special 6-Man Tag Match: Tetsuya Endo, Jun Akiyama & Yuya Koroku Vs Sanshiro Takagi, HARASHIMA & Kazuma Sumi
3. Special Tag Match: Yuji Hino & Makoto Oishi Vs Chris Brookes & Kazusada Higuchi
Kazusada Higuchi in particular was doing the heavy lifting against Ω while Brookes was gone. He deserves at least a beer or a lottery ticket as a thank you.
I think this is DDT’s first show in Hamanasu Hall since 2019. It’s been long enough that they are doing a Falls Count Anywhere match as their way to welcome themselves back into the building.
DDT “60TH BIRTHDAY & 20TH ANNIVERSARY ALL TOGETHER! ~ GORGEOUS NIGHT”, 16/07/2023 Fukushima Toyota Crown Arena Sub Arena
1. Saki Akai & Hideki Okatani Vs Kazuki Hirata & Kazuma Sumi
2. Special Tag Match: Yuji Hino & Makoto Oishi Vs Chris Brookes & Takeshi Masada
3. Fukushima Specialty Special 6-Man Tag Match: Gorgeous Matsuno, HARASHIMA & Yukio Sakaguchi Vs Sanshiro Takagi, Toru Owashi & Antonio Honda
The hometown hero Gorgeous Matsuno gets to team with HARASHIMA & Yukio Sakaguchi for his big show.
Last but not least, the final preview match between Hino and Brookes has Takeshi Masada backing up the Englishman like he always does. I can’t be counting out Makoto Oishi either. He’s stuck with Hino through thick and thin for all of this.
DDT “WHAT ARE YOU DOING 2023 TOUR IN SAPPORO DAY 2”, 18/06/2023 Sapporo ii-one Stadium 304 Fans
1. Daisuke Sasaki & MJ Paul defeated Hideki Okatani & Kazuma Sumi when Paul pinned Sumi with a Running Body Press (9:33).
2. Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno Vs Sanshiro Takagi & Yukio Sakaguchi ended in a No Contest (7:24).
3. Akito & Sanae Takebayashi defeated Kazuki Hirata & Saki Akai when Akito submitted Hirata with an Ankle Lock (10:20).
4. Special Single Match: Andreza Giant Panda defeated Pokotan with the Andreza Press (6:04).
5. Sapporo Specialty Special Tag Match: Yuji Hino & Tomoya defeated Kazusada Higuchi & Yuki Ishida when Hino submitted Ishida with the King Kong Sleeper (13:30).
6. Jun Akiyama & Noriyuki Yoshida defeated HARASHIMA & Takeshi Masada when Akiyama pinned Masada with the Exploder Suplex (12:13).
7. BURNING Vs The 37KAMIINA!: Yuki Ueno, MAO & Toy Kojima defeated Tetsuya Endo, Yusuke Okada & Yuya Koroku when Ueno pinned Koroku with the WR (18:39).
Yuki Ueno & Toy Kojima successfully pulled off the My MADMAX on the way to winning today’s main event. The move itself did not score the win though. Ueno picked up Yuya Koroku afterwards to pin him with the WR. He then promoted the 25th June Korakuen Hall show to the Sapporo crowd where he, Kojima & MAO will all be fighting to win championships. Backstage Kojima said he is confident he & Ueno will win the KO-D Tag Team Titles while MAO will win the DDT Extreme Title.
Noriyuki Yoshida talked to Jun Akiyama backstage after their match and told him he wants to join BURNING. Akiyama decided to let him in as part of BURNING’s Hokkaido branch. DDT will be back in Sapporo this October so we’ll likely see Yoshida on those shows teaming with BURNING again.
The growing bad blood between Pokotan and Andreza Giant Panda led to a violent finish to their match. An Uppercut from Andreza knocked Pokotan’s head off! Andreza followed up with a big Headbutt followed by the Andreza Press to finish off the mascot. Andreza held Pokotan’s decapitated head while placing one foot on top of the body for the pinfall.
When Akito put Kazuki Hirata in the Ankle Lock, Hirata quickly tapped out. Somehow he thinks the speed of his tapping shows how great shape he’s in for the Extreme Title match. Sanae Takebayashi said she was happy to wrestle in DDT for the first time and would like to appear on their shows more often if given the chance. Akito said he liked seeing Saki Akai wrestle more women in DDT and hopes she will wrestle many more matches until her retirement later in the year.
Sanshiro Takagi had good news for everyone today. Pheromones are going to break up because there is no way they can beat him & Yukio Sakaguchi! The two of them took Yuki Iino out of action during the match, leaving Danshoku Dieno to fight them by himself. Sakaguchi put Dieno in a Sleeper Hold and Takagi placed a microphone up to Dieno’s face to force him into saying Pheromones are breaking up. Iino returned for the rescue and then trapped Takagi to force him into saying DDT is breaking up! Sakaguchi stopped them by shoving a penlight up Iino’s backside. Big mistake. Iino pulled it out and stuck the penlight into Sakaguchi’s mouth, causing him to faint. Iino then tried to strip naked causing the match to get called off.
DDT “WHAT ARE YOU DOING 2023 TOUR IN SAPPORO DAY 1”, 17/06/2023 Sapporo ii-one Stadium 210 Fans
1. Hideki Okatani defeated Yuki Ishida with the Double Arm Suplex (8:46).
2. 2 Vs 3 Handicap Match: Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno defeated Yusuke Okada, Kazuma Sumi & Rukiya when Iino submitted Rukiya after the Boys Be Ambitious (10:49).
3. Special Tag Match: Andreza Giant Panda & Saki Akai defeated Akito & Kazuki Hirata by TKO after Akito knocked out Akito with an Accidental Elbow Strike (0:19).
3a. Rematch: Andreza Giant Panda & Saki Akai defeated Akito & Kazuki Hirata when Akai pinned Hirata with the Quetzalcoatl (9:59).
4. Sapporo Specialty Special 8-Man Tag Match: Tetsuya Endo, Jun Akiyama, Yuya Koroku & Noriyuki Yoshida defeated Sanshiro Takagi, HARASHIMA, Tomoya & Makoto Oishi when Endo pinned Oishi with the Burning Star Press (14:35).
5. DAMNATION T.A Vs The 37KAMIINA!: MAO & Toy Kojima defeated Daisuke Sasaki & MJ Paul when Kojima pinned Paul with a School Boy (14:30).
6. Special Tag Match: Yuji Hino & Yukio Sakaguchi defeated Kazusada Higuchi & Takeshi Masada when Hino pinned Masada with the Fuckin’ BOMB (14:33).
It’s possible that Yuji Hino needed a day like today. All he had to do was focus on his match and not worry about Chris Brookes in any way, shape or form. The result of this was Hino scoring the pin and feeling very happy with how hot the atmosphere was in the building. He joked with Makoto Oishi that Sapporo is where it snows in the summer so it couldn’t possibly be this hot today. But it is! Yukio Sakaguchi added to the tension by gesturing towards Kazusada Higuchi and his KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Title belt after the match. He simply warned him that Eruption will take the titles from Harimao at Sumo Hall.
The latest drama between Toy Kojima and DAMNATION T.A continued the chair based beatings on The 37KAMIINA wrestler. However today he got a win over his enemies thanks to some help from MAO. Things went pear shaped when MAO missed the Whirlwind Kick and hit the referee Tomomitsu Matsunaga by accident. Sasaki hit Kojima with a chair until Kojima was able to defend himself and block the attack. Kojima then rolled over MJ Paul with a School Boy to get the 3 count from a recovered Matsunaga. DAMNATION T.A attacked Kojima again after the match but when they left, a defiant Kojima told the fans he and Yuki Ueno will win the vacant KO-D Tag Team Titles at Korakuen Hall! However Sasaki backstage called today’s result a miracle. One that will never happen again.
Obviously whenever Andreza Giant Panda appears it is very noticeable. It was even more so here when fans could see Andreza’s head sticking out behind the entrance curtain before he even made his entrance. He ended up getting stuck and his match began without him. Kazuki Hirata grabbed Saki Akai and Akito threw an Elbow Strike at her. She ducked and Hirata accidentally knocked out Hirata with his elbow. Akai was angry over how the match went and purposely revived Hirata to restart it, entrances and all. Andreza was still stuck behind the stage by the way. The match restarted and Akai made sure it wouldn’t suddenly end with Hirata getting knocked out again. Akito & Hirata got Andreza to chase them around ringside but it was to lure him into a trap. With the help of Underwear Sanshiro (a Sanshiro Takagi impersonator wearing underwear instead of wrestling trunks), Andreza was trapped inside two dollies leaving Akai having to fight Akito & Hirata by herself. Akai was able to fight off her opponents, free Andreza and go on to win the match as a team.
After the match Pokotan suddenly appeared and grabbed the microphone. He said he and Chiitan are now called the Chi-Poko Alliance and they will beat Andreza & Super Sasadango Machine to a pulp at Sumo Hall on 23rd July! But first Pokotan will face Andreza in a singles match tomorrow. He promised a fair fight and shook Andreza’s paw. Pokotan then gave him a Low Blow and a Stunner but Andreza shook it off and Headbutted Pokotan in retaliation!
DDT announced their next doubleshot at Sapporo ii-one Stadium will be on 14th and 15th October.
The shit has hit the fan now boys and girls because Konosuke Takeshita has turned heel! What looked like a quiet month of recovery for the guy after getting injured by the Blackpool Combat Club in AEW instead ending with a bang with him betraying The Elite and solidifying his alliance with Don Callis. The angle has sent AEW fantasy booking into overdrive with fans now hoping this will lead into Kota Ibushi making his long awaited entry into the company to join the storyline. Kenny Omega is fanning the flames somewhat by telling the audience after Sunday’s PPV that he has friends from outside AEW he’s thinking about bringing in to even the numbers. Whatever happens next, it should become a big step forward for Takeshita’s AEW career.
Meanwhile May was the second full month for Miyu Yamashita in America. She has named her excursion the Kick Rampage Tour and continues to experience wins and losses across the country. She even started the month with a very busy weekend in England. Title matches in particular have been the big challenges she’s had difficulty with this month. While she’s been busy with that, Maki Itoh begun her own training excursion in America to prepare for her big Princess Of Princess Title match in July. So far her appearances have all been for GCW and she’s been thick in the action over there. Both Yamashita and Itoh will be staying in America for most of June along with Yuka Sakazaki.
Sakazaki’s story for this article is a little odd. She is currently in America travelling with AEW but has not wrestled any matches yet, as of the time I write this. That’s what happens when you get rid of Dark and Elevation but I digress. She is going to be wrestling in June but her visit seems to be more about preparations for life in America after she graduates from Tokyo Joshi Pro at the end of the year. Also I want to remind everyone she is a playable character in AEW: Fight Forever coming out at the end of June. She’s even in a photo for one of the game achievements. By the time June ends Yamashita, Itoh and Sakazaki will all be back in Japan for TJPW again but that won’t be the end of their international bookings this year by a long shot.
———————————————————————–
Videos
NEW TEXAS PRO “SUPER TEXAS CONTENDERS SERIES 1”, 11/05/2023 Houston Premier Arena, Houston, Texas, USA
1. New Texas Pro Women’s Title: Hyan (c) Vs Miyu Yamashita
HOG “BEWARE THE FURY”, 19/05/2023 Amazura, Queens, New York, USA
1. HOG Women’s Title: The Ultra Violette (c) Vs Miyu Yamashita
GCW “I CAN’T SAVE YOU”, 21/05/2023 Valley Dale Ballroom, Columbus, Ohio, USA
1. Steph De Lander Vs Maki Itoh
GLORY PRO “GO FOR BROKE”, 21/05/2023 South Broadway Athletic Club, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
1. Tootie Lynn Vs Miyu Yamashita
TITLE MATCH “LADIES NIGHT OUT: TRIPLE SHOT 2”, 26/05/2023 AML Wrestling Training Center, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
1. Ladies Night Out Title – 3 Way Match: Janai Kai (c) Vs Miyu Yamashita Vs Angélica Risk
AEW “DYNAMITE”, 31/05/2023 Viejas Arena, San Diego, California, USA
Don Callis and Konosuke Takeshita Get Booed Out Of San Diego
———————————————————————–
Results
EVE “LUCKY 13 – NIGHT 1”, 05/05/2023 The Dome, Tufnell Park, London, England
1. EVE Title – Iron Woman Match: Miyu Yamashita (c) (4) defeated Millie McKenzie (3) (30:00).
1a. Millie McKenzie (1) defeated Miyu Yamashita (0) with a German Suplex (5:05).
1b. Miyu Yamashita (1) defeated Millie McKenzie (1) with the Skull Kick (11:14).
1c. Millie McKenzie (2) defeated Miyu Yamashita (1) with an Inside Cradle (23:13).
1d. Miyu Yamashita (2) defeated Millie McKenzie (2) with a High Kick (23:20).
1e. Miyu Yamashita (3) defeated Millie McKenzie (2) with the Attitude Adjustment (24:34).
1f. Millie McKenzie (3) defeated Miyu Yamashita (3) with the Spear (26:20).
1g. Miyu Yamashita (4) defeated Millie McKenzie (3) with the Skull Kick (28:05). *V4 for Miyu Yamashita.
It’s the rivalry that went worldwide. Yamashita and Millie McKenzie have fought each other in Spain, England and Japan with a close win-loss record between them if you include their tag match in TJPW. McKenzie failed to win the EVE Title from Yamashita once before but she got a second chance on home soil. This time it was going to be a grueling 30 minute Iron Woman Match so there could be no question over who deserved to be champion. The battle left McKenzie as a bloody mess but she got the first pinfall early and was able to catch up when Yamashita took the lead. But the Skull Kick was the difference maker, giving Yamashita the winning fall and the two were left exhausted by the time the match reached its end.
EVE “LUCKY 13 – NIGHT 2”, 06/05/2023 The Dome, Tufnell Park, London, England
1. EVE Title: Miyu Yamashita (c) defeated Billie Starkz with the Skull Kick (12:00). *V5 for Miyu Yamashita.
With hardly even a good day’s rest, Yamashita defended the EVE Title again the next day against Billie Starkz. She and Starkz are going to have matches together in America soon enough but EVE also wanted to host one because they didn’t know if they would ever get another chance. That Yamashita was still the champion gave them the perfect opportunity to make it a title match too. The result here shows that even when Yamashita’s American excursion ends, she still has a second home with EVE in England. They haven’t seen the last of her at all.
NEW TEXAS PRO “SUPER TEXAS CONTENDERS SERIES 1”, 11/05/2023 Houston Premier Arena, Houston, Texas, USA
1. New Texas Pro Women’s Title: Hyan (c) defeated Miyu Yamashita with the Beauty Sleep (15:05). *V4 for Hyan.
A big main event spot was given to Yamashita and Hyan over at New Texas Pro. Hyan successfully defended her Women’s Title in a back and forth match, withstanding a High Kick to give Yamashita her version of the Glam Slam for the victory.
MAW “VENDETTA”, 13/05/2023 2nd St. Depot, Hastings, Minnesota, USA
1. Miyu Yamashita defeated Sierra (?:??).
Even though Sierra holds Midwest All-Star Wrestling’s women’s title, her match with Yamashita turned out to be a non-title bout. It was in the main event however and Yamashita won it. Would have been nice if she added another belt to her collection during this tour. Two is not enough!
HOG “BEWARE THE FURY”, 19/05/2023 Amazura, Queens, New York, USA
1. HOG Women’s Title: The Ultra Violette (c) defeated Miyu Yamashita after a Chairshot (10:46). *V5 for Violette.
Yamashita has dealt with interference from a heel unit before but I don’t remember anyone from NEO Biishiki-gun ever smashing a chair over her head. That is what happened here when The Ultra Violette got help from The Bookers to defend the HOG Women’s Title. Yamashita did her best to fend off the cheaters, kicking The Bookers off of the ring apron and landing the Skull Kick on Violette. But the referee was pulled out of the ring during the pinfall, Yamashita got knocked out with a chairshot and Violette’s limp arm was placed over her to get the three count.
AIW “GAUNTLET FOR THE GOLD 16”, 20/05/2023 Force Sports, Eastlake, Ohio, USA
1. Joseline Navarro defeated Miyu Yamashita with a Low Cross Body (?:??).
A result like this sounds like a massive upset but looking at Joseline Navarro’s run of results in AIW, she has a pretty strong win-loss record for the company. Still, Yamashita looked to have underestimated her. She didn’t realise Navarro shook off a High Kick to the head and was German Suplexed over to the corner of the ring. Yamashita got some momentum back but missed the Skull Kick and was German Suplexed again, this time head first into the bottom turnbuckle. Navarro followed up with a Basement Cross Body into the corner and that kept Yamashita down for the three count.
GCW “THE WAY I AM”, 20/05/2023 Harpo’s Theatre, Detroit, Michigan, USA
1. GCW World Title – 5 Way Match: Masha Slamovich (c) defeated LuFisto, Shazza McKenzie, Maki Itoh and Allysin Kay when Slamovich submitted McKenzie with (12:25). *V6 for Masha Slamovich.
This was originally going to be just Itoh against Shazza McKenzie in a singles match but in the week leading up to the show GCW thankfully changed plans. It was changed to a 6 Way Match featuring Masha Slamovich defending the GCW World Title against 5 other women, Itoh included. Then it turned out to be a 5 Way Match when Allie Katch was unable to make it to the show. Unlike Yamashita, Itoh can take a chair to the head and proved it by grabbing a chair and repeatedly headbutting it. Sadly she wasn’t able to become champion in the end.
GCW “I CAN’T SAVE YOU”, 21/05/2023 Valley Dale Ballroom, Columbus, Ohio, USA
1. Steph De Lander (w/ Matt Cardona) defeated Maki Itoh (w/ Nick Gage) with a Sit Out F5 (8:58).
The next night Itoh went face to face with a woman who is fast becoming her international nemesis, Steph De Lander. Both Nick Gage and Matt Cardona were there for their entrances but it was Cardona who ended up interfering when he stopped Itoh from using her pizza cutter. The distraction led to De Lander getting a cheap win.
GLORY PRO “GO FOR BROKE”, 21/05/2023 South Broadway Athletic Club, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
1. Miyu Yamashita defeated Tootie Lynn with the Skull Kick (12:26).
After a poor run of results Yamashita got things back on track by beating Tootie Lynn in the main event of a Glory Pro show. She even acted a little cheeky after the match, pulling back on a handshake only to give Lynn a hug afterwards. I think she liked wrestling her.
1. Triple Threat Match: Masahiro Takanashi defeated Big T and John Day (?:??).
2. SPW Queen Of Asia Title: Alexis Lee (c) defeated Saki Akai (?:??).
*V? for Alexis Lee.
3. SPW Southeast Asia Title: Aiden Rex (c) defeated Yukio Sakaguchi (?:??).
*V? for Aiden Rex.
This one slipped past me when it was announced last month. Eruption members Yukio Sakaguchi and Saki Akai went over to Singapore Pro Wrestling to challenge some of their champions. Both of them failed to win the belts with Sakaguchi losing to Aiden Rex and Saki Akai losing to Alexis Lee. The only DDT related win on the show was Masahiro Takanashi getting his hand raised after the 3 Way Match.
TITLE MATCH “LADIES NIGHT OUT: TRIPLE SHOT 2”, 26/05/2023 AML Wrestling Training Center, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
1. Ladies Night Out Title – 3 Way Match: Angélica Risk defeated Janai Kai (c) and Miyu Yamashita when Risk pinned Yamashita after the Tornado Kick from Kai (?:??). *Janai Kai fails in V4. Angélica Risk becomes the 3rd Ladies Night Out Champion!
Janai Kai has become a favourite opponent for Yamashita during her tour and this time she had a chance to win a championship from her. But things got weird. Title Match were running three shows that day and promoted two matches for Yamashita. One against Kai and one against Angélica Risk. Then on the night it turned out to be just one match between all three wrestlers and it was the main event of the final show. Kai actually had Yamashita beat by hitting her with the Tornado Kick. But Risk got Kai out of the way and stole the pin to become the new champion.
GCW “LIFESTYLE”, 26/05/2023 Silver Nugget Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
1. Maki Itoh defeated Sandra Moone with the I.S.D. (9:18).
Itoh’s GCW adventure bounced back from last week’s losses by beating Sandra Moone in Las Vegas. She had no time to celebrate though because Cardona & De Lander attacked her immediately after the match. Gage ran down to the rescue, leading everyone to anticipate Maki Death Kill to team up again so they can cut their enemies apart!
———————————————————————–
Upcoming Appearances
LLL “BEST WISHES WARMEST REGARDS”, 02/06/2023 The Oriental Theater, Denver, Colorado, USA
1. 3 Way Match: Masha Slamovich Vs Heidi Howitzer Vs Miyu Yamashita
Two opponents Yamashita has gotten to know in the ring pretty well this year. Her versus Masha Slamovich should happen more often. Heidi Howitzer is showing how busy she is while she’s away from Max The Impaler.
BLACK LABEL PRO “FANCY WRESTLING 2”, 03/06/2023 RDS Gym, Crown Point, Indiana, USA
1. Rachel Armstrong Vs Miyu Yamashita
From what I could find about Rachel Armstrong, she has a deadly looking 450 Splash.
GCW “CAGE OF SURVIVAL 2”, 04/06/2023 The Showboat, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA
1. Maki Itoh Vs X
Itoh’s not going to fight in a Cage Match, is she?
INSPIRE A.D. “KIDS OF THE BLACKHOLE”, 04/06/2023 Empire Control Room, Austin, Texas, USA
1. Miyu Yamashita Vs Killa Kate
Yamashita says farewell to Texas by fighting “The Submission Musician” Killa Kate. The people at Inspire A.D. have such big expectations for this match they made their own instruction video teaching fans how to throw streamers into the ring.
ST. LOUIS ANARCHY “GIANT’S WOKE EYES OPEN”, 09/06/2023 The House of Anarchy, Alton, Illinois, USA
1. Billie Starkz Vs Miyu Yamashita
This is the US match between Yamashita and Starkz that I was talking about earlier.
SPARK “IGNITE EAST”, 11/06/2023 The Heart Ballroom, Newark, New Jersey, USA
1. Maki Itoh Vs Brittany Blake
2. Spark Joshi World Title: Miyu Yamashita Vs Rachael Ellering
Yamashita is one of the two wrestlers chosen to fight for the new Spark Joshi World Title with Rachael Ellering being the other. If you ever wanted to know how those zombie championships that bounce around the Japanese indies get created, maybe give this thing a follow. Am I being too harsh with that assumption? Yep!
Itoh joins Yamashita for the first two Spark shows. She takes on Brittany Blake on the debut event.
SPARK “IGNITE WEST”, 16/06/2023 East San Gabriel Valley Japanese Cultural Center, West Covina, California, USA
1. Maki Itoh Vs X
2. Miyu Yamashita Vs Delilah Doom
Delilah Doom is a well travelled veteran of the independents, wrestling for a similar length of time Yamashita has.
ENJOY “SOMETHING TO WRITE HOME ABOUT”, 17/06/2023 Mr. Smalls Theatre, Millvale, Pennsylvania, USA
1. Miyu Yamashita Vs Ray Lyn
It appears that the Kick Rampage Tour will indeed end here. Yamashita’s first match back in TJPW will be on 24th June so unless something gets booked in the last week this will be it.
WRESTLING REVOLVER “RING OF DESTINY”, 17/06/2023 Calumet Center, Dayton, Ohio, USA
1. JT Dunn (w/ Allie Katch) Vs Konosuke Takeshita
JT Dunn has had a few chances now at trying to beat Takeshita but has yet to find success. Things in Wrestling REVOLVER have been going way lately though. He and Allie Katch got engaged at the last REVOLVER show and they have been causing chaos over there as part of The Unit. Is Katch the difference maker Dunn needed all along? Will this match even make sense by the time it happens? It could become heel versus heel depending on how Takeshita will start acting in AEW after his recent actions.
GCW “THANK ME LATER”, 17/06/2023 Ukrainian Cultural Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
1. Rina Yamashita Vs Maki Itoh
If there is a joshi wrestler who has taken GCW even more by storm than Itoh, it is Rina Yamashita. She is the longest reigning GCW Ultraviolent Champion and also has the most defences in a single reign. Who will the GCW audience get behind more or will there be an audible split in support?
DPW “TAG FESTIVAL 2023”, 18/06/2023 Durham Armory, Durham, North Carolina, USA
1. Yuka Sakazaki & Mizuki Vs X & X
Of course Deadlock Pro is the first place in America to book The Magical Sugar Rabbits outside of TJPW!
EVE “NMITB”, 02/07/2023 The Dome, Tufnell Park, London, England
1. Eve Title: Miyu Yamashita (c) Vs Rhio or Emersyn Jayne
Last week EVE held a taping that had a No. 1 Contender’s match to determine Yamashita’s next challenger for her title. Videos of the show won’t be uploaded to their paid Youtube channel until June and the promoters asked their audience not to put any spoilers out anywhere. Those fans obliged and no results from the show can be found online. So right now I don’t know if it is Rhio or Emersyn Jane who is getting the title shot. Or even both if their match ended in a draw.
WEST COAST PRO “CRUEL SUMMER 2023”, 08/07/2023 United Irish Cultural Center, San Francisco, California, USA
1. Bryan Keith Vs MAO
There’s still going to be international wrestling for me to talk about after the women go back to TJPW. MAO will be going to America in July and West Coast Pro are giving him a doozy of an opponent. Bryan Keith might have the tools needed to deal with MAO’s crazy energy.
IWTV “MARCUS MATHERS ALL I WANT 2”, 13/07/2023 H20 Wrestling Center, Williamstown, New Jersey, USA
1. Yoshihiko Vs X
2. MAO Vs X
Both MAO and Yoshihiko have been invited over to a show produced by Marcus Mathers for IWTV.
GCW “NOW AND FOREVER”, 14/07/2023 Melrose Ballroom, Queens, New York, USA
1. Yoshihiko Vs X
2. Maki Itoh Vs X
Itoh’s going to be doing more GCW appearances that TJPW appearances the way things are going. Yoshihiko also returns.
Itoh’s relationship with death match wrestling is no longer just confined to GCW. She’ll be going over to Canada to make her International Wrestling Syndicate debut in July!
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW LIVE TOUR IN SPRING ’23”, 27/05/2023 Kanagawa Fujisawa City Shonandai Cultural Center
1. Hikari Noa Vs Haru Kazashiro
2. Yuki Aino & Pom Harajuku Vs Toga & Runa Okubo
3. Nao Kakuta & Asuka Vs Moka Miyamoto & Kaya Toribami
4. Mizuki & Raku Vs Hyper Misao & Shino Suzuki
5. Rika Tatsumi, Miu Watanabe & HIMAWARI Vs Suzume, Arisu Endo & Wakana Uehara
6. Shoko Nakajima & Yuki Kamifuku Vs Aja Kong & Mahiro Kiryu
The weekend of shows begin with Yuki Kamifuku’s homecoming in Kanagawa.
DDT “WHAT ARE YOU DOING 2023 TOUR IN HIROSHIMA”, 27/05/2023 Hiroshima JMS Aster Plaza
1. Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno Vs Kazuma Sumi & Rukiya
2. Kazusada Higuchi & Yuki Ishida Vs Sanshiro Takagi & Yusuke Okada
3. MAO Vs Hideki Okatani
4. Special Single Match: Kenshin Chikano Vs Kazuki Hirata
5. Hiroshima Specialty Special 6-Man Tag Match: Tetsuya Endo, Jun Akiyama & Yuya Koroku Vs HARASHIMA, Toru Owashi & Rey Paloma
6. The 37KAMIINA Vs DAMNATION T.A!: Yuki Ueno & Toy Kojima Vs Daisuke Sasaki & MJ Paul
7. Special Tag Match: Yuji Hino & Makoto Oishi Vs Chris Brookes & Takeshi Masada
Then it’s onto the first preview of Yuji Hino versus Chris Brookes.
GANBARE☆PRO “I WILL BE A BUTTERFLY FOR YOU 2023”, 28/05/2023 Tokyo Oji BASEMENT MON☆STAR
1. GanPro Vs Australia: Keisuke Ishii & Soma Takao Vs Hartley Jackson & Mitch Ryder
2. GanJo Special Tag Match: YuuRI & Yoshiko Hasegawa Vs Moeka Haruhi & Riara
3. GanPro Vs Sento Minzoku: Ken Ohka & Shota Vs Minoru Fujita & Daiki Shimomura
4. Mizuki Watase, Shuichiro Katsumura & Yuki Kanzaki Vs Yumehito Imanari, Tyson Maeguchi & Shinichiro Tominaga
On Sunday Ganbare☆Pro presents its monthly tripleshot. GanPro’s feud with Sento Minzoku also brings back the rivalry between Ken Ohka and Minoru Fujita.
GANBARE☆PRO “WRESTLE YUMEHITO FACTORY 2023”, 28/05/2023 Tokyo Oji BASEMENT MON☆STAR
1. BEST OF THE SUPER arena Grand Final: Moeka Haruhi Vs YuuRI
2. Yumehito Poison Rumble: Mizuki Watase Vs Soma Takao Vs Tyson Maeguchi Vs Yuki Kanzaki Vs HARUKAZE Vs Yoshiko Hasegawa Vs Riara
3. Shin Rogai-gun Vs Shin Jidai-gun: Shuichiro Katsumura & Shota Vs Ilusion & Munetatsu Nakamura
4. Yumehito Imanari’s GanPro 10th Anniversary Match: Yumehito Imanari & Shinichiro Tominaga Vs Ken Ohka & Keisuke Ishii
Then things get a bit silly with Yumehito Imanari in charge of the middle show. The show’s logo is a tribute to Wrestle Yume Factory.
DDT “WHAT ARE YOU DOING 2023 TOUR IN KUMAMOTO”, 28/05/2023 Kumamoto Castle Hall Civic Hall
1. Yuya Koroku Vs Rukiya
2. 2 Vs 3 Handicap Match: Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno Vs HARASHIMA, Toru Owashi & Kazuki Hirata
3. Chris Brookes & Sanshiro Takagi Vs Hideki Okatani & Kazuma Sumi
4. BURNING Vs The 37KAMIINA!: Tetsuya Endo & Yusuke Okada Vs Yuki Ueno & MAO
5. Special Single Match: Jun Akiyama Vs Toy Kojima
6. Kumamoto Specialty Special Tag Match: Kazusada Higuchi & Yuki Ishida Vs Kota Umeda & Takeshi Masada
7. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Yuji Hino, Makoto Oishi & X Vs Daisuke Sasaki, MJ Paul & Shogun Okamoto
Still no reveal of who X is yet.
GANBARE☆PRO “GANBARE☆PRO WRESTLING PLAYERS ASSOCIATION PERFORMANCE”, 28/05/2023 Tokyo Oji BASEMENT MON☆STAR
1. Mixed Tag Match: Shota & YuuRI Vs Shinichiro Tominaga & HARUKAZE
2. Special Single Match: Choun-Shiryu Vs Moeka Haruhi
3. Elimination 6-Man Tag Match: Mizuki Watase, Soma Takao & Yumehito Imanari Vs Ken Ohka, Keisuke Ishii & Shuichiro Katsumura
4. Spirit Of Ganbare World Openweight Title Next Challenger: Isami Kodaka Vs Munetatsu Nakamura
GanPro ends their long day finding out who will be the No. 1 Contender for the Spirit Of Ganbare Title.
BASARA “BASARA 220 ~OJI NI KITSUNE 25~”, 03/06/2023 Tokyo Oji BASEMENT MONSTAR
1. Isami Kodaka & Daiki Shimomura Vs Daichi Kazato & Lil’ Kraken
2. 3 Way Match: Ryuichi Sekine Vs Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi Vs SAGAT
3. Chouten ~Itadaki~ 2023 – Round 1 B Block: Takato Nakano Vs Minoru Fujita
4. Chouten ~Itadaki~ 2023 – Round 1 B Block: Ryota Nakatsu Vs Tatsuhiko Yoshino
5. Chouten ~Itadaki~ 2023 – Round 1 B Block: FUMA Vs Fuminori Abe
6. Chouten ~Itadaki~ 2023 – Round 1 B Block: Takumi Tsukamoto Vs Yasu Urano
The Chouten ~Itadaki~ moves onto the B Block in Round 1.
DDT “DDT YOKOHAMA UNLIMITED VOL. 3”, 03/06/2023 Yokohama Radiant Hall
1. Takeshi Masada Vs Kazuma Sumi
2. Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno Vs Akito & Antonio Honda
3. Yukio Sakaguchi, Hideki Okatani & Rukiya Vs Yusuke Okada, Yuya Koroku & Yuki Ishida
4. Tetsuya Endo & Jun Akiyama Vs HARASHIMA & Soma Takao
5. DAMNATION T.A Vs The 37KAMIINA!: Daisuke Sasaki & MJ Paul Vs Yuki Ueno & Toy Kojima
6. Special Single Match: MAO Vs Yuni
7. Special Tag Match ~ Gatoh Move Vs DDT’s Comical Strongest Tag: Masahiro Takanashi & Mei Suruga Vs Toru Owashi & Kazuki Hirata
8. Special Tag Match: Yuji Hino & Makoto Oishi Vs Chris Brookes & Kazusada Higuchi
One by one Yuni is going to be getting singles matches against DDT’s regulars. Not sure if it’s a good idea to let MAO be of any influence to him.
BASARA “BASARA 221 ~OJI NI KITSUNE 26~”, 03/06/2023 Tokyo Oji BASEMENT MONSTAR
1. FUMA & Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi Vs Ryota Nakatsu & SAGAT
2. Ryuichi Sekine Vs Daichi Kazato
3. Takumi Tsukamoto & Yasu Urano Vs Fuminori Abe & Takato Nakano
4. Lil’ Kraken & Leo Isaka Vs Tsutomu Oosugi & Banana Senga
5. Chouten ~Itadaki~ 2023 – Round 2 A Block: Isami Kodaka Vs Daiki Shimomura
The 2nd Round schedule looks to be changed a little bit. Only one match from Round 2 is happening on the show due to some wrestlers having commitments elsewhere that evening. The rest of Round 2 will be happening on the 17th June show.
DDT “JAPAN PARA-WRESTLING FEDERATION CHARITY SHOW ~ WHAT ARE YOU DOING 2023 TOUR IN ODAWARA”, 04/06/2023 Kanagawa Odawara Arena Sub Arena
1. Takeshi Masada Vs Rukiya
2. Saki Akai & Hideki Okatani Vs Kazuki Hirata & Toy Kojima
3. DAMNATION T.A Vs BURNING!: Daisuke Sasaki & MJ Paul Vs Yusuke Okada & Yuya Koroku
4. Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno Vs MAO & Kazuma Sumi
5. Special Single Match: Yuki Ueno Vs Akito
6. Odawara Specialty Special 6-Man Tag Match: Yoshiaki Yatsu, Tetsuya Endo & Jun Akiyama Vs Sanshiro Takagi, Toru Owashi & Makoto Oishi
7. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Yuji Hino, HARASHIMA & Yukio Sakaguchi Vs Chris Brookes, Kazusada Higuchi & Yuki Ishida
Two wrestlers who were part of Hino’s 20th Anniversary match are teaming with him here. Hino gets HARASHIMA & Yukio Sakaguchi on his team while Brookes joins forces with Harimao.
DDT “WHAT ARE YOU DOING 2023 TOUR IN OSAKA”, 10/06/2023 Osaka Suminoe Maikon Hall
1. Yuki Ishida Vs Kazuma Sumi
2. Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno Vs Akito & Makoto Oishi
3. Tetsuya Endo & Jun Akiyama Vs Kazusada Higuchi & Rukiya
4. Yukio Sakaguchi, Saki Akai & Hideki Okatani Vs Sanshiro Takagi, Yusuke Okada & Yuya Koroku
5. DAMNATION T.A Vs The 37KAMIINA!: Daisuke Sasaki & MJ Paul Vs MAO & Toy Kojima
6. Special Tag Match: Toru Owashi & “brother” YASSHI Vs Naruki Doi & Kazuki Hirata
7. Maikon no Kohara Presents Special Tag Match: Yuji Hino & HARASHIMA Vs Chris Brookes & Takeshi Masada
The main event gets a sponsor and the undercard is changed around a bit because of Shunma Katsumata’s injury.
DDT “WHAT ARE YOU DOING 2023 TOUR IN MATSUYAMA”, 11/06/2023 Ehime Matsuyama City Comprehensive Community Center Exhibition Hall
1. Kazusada Higuchi Vs Rukiya
2. 2 Vs 3 Handicap Match: Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno Vs Toru Owashi, Kazuki Hirata & Yuki Ishida
3. Daisuke Sasaki & MJ Paul Vs Chris Brookes & Takeshi Masada
4. Special Tag Match: Akito & Char Vs Yusuke Okada & Tsuru Himeka
5. Ω Vs Eruption!: Yuji Hino & Makoto Oishi Vs Yukio Sakaguchi & Hideki Okatani
6. BURNING Vs The 37KAMIINA!: Tetsuya Endo, Jun Akiyama & Yuya Koroku Vs MAO, Yuki Ueno & Toy Kojima
7. Matsuyama Specialty Special 6-Man Tag Match: Sanshiro Takagi (w/ Cutie Elly The Ehime), Imabari Taoru Mascaras & Tsutenkakka Vs HARASHIMA, Saki Akai & Kazuma Sumi
Katsumata’s injury means the Ehime shows gets changed a little bit too.
DDT “WHAT ARE YOU DOING 2023”, 25/06/2023 Tokyo Korakuen Hall
1. Yukio Sakaguchi, Saki Akai, Hideki Okatani & Sanshiro Takagi Vs Ryota Nakatsu, Yuki Ishida, Yusuke Okada & Yuya Koroku
2. International Special Single Match: Tetsuya Endo Vs Nick Wayne
3. DDT Extreme Title: MAO Vs Kazuki Hirata
4. KO-D Tag Team Titles: X & X Vs X & X
MAO and Kazuki Hirata have been chosen to compete in the vacant DDT Extreme Title match. MAO thinks it is fitting to be the next person to hold the title after Katsumata. Hirata understands that would be lovely story telling but that doesn’t matter because he is going to win it instead! He expects the match to be so exciting it will help Katsumata recover quicker.
Now in his 30s, Tetsuya Endo is starting to notice it takes longer for him to recover from his matches so it motivates him to see the next generation rise. That is why he wants to face Nick Wayne in a singles match for Wayne’s DDT debut in Japan to keep him sharp for Matt Cardona in July.
Sanshiro Takagi wants to team up with Eruption one time before Saki Akai’s retirement takes place. His King Of DDT match against Sakaguchi also inspired him to come up with the idea. Ryota Nakatsu is looking forward to facing Takagi because he likes fighting his bosses. Just ask Isami Kodaka in BASARA.
DDT “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2023”, 23/07/2023 Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan
1. Special Tag Match: Chiitan☆ & Pokotan Vs Andreza Giant Panda & Super Sasadango Machine
2. Dramatic Dream Match: Daisuke Sasaki Vs El Desperado
3. KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles: Kazusada Higuchi, Ryota Nakatsu & Yuki Ishida (c) Vs Yukio Sakaguchi, Saki Akai & Hideki Okatani
4. DDT Universal Title: Tetsuya Endo (c) Vs Matt Cardona (w/ Steph De Lander)
5. KO-D Openweight Title: Yuji Hino (c) Vs Chris Brookes
One of Akai’s requests before she retires is try and win the KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles with Eruption one more time. Takagi immediately put the match together for “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2023”.
DDT “KING OF DDT 2023 FINAL!!”, 21/05/2023 Tokyo Korakuen Hall 677 Fans
0. Dark Match: Yuki “Sexy” Iino, Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno & Yumehito “Fantastic” Imanari defeated Akito, Yusuke Okada & Rukiya by TKO when Iino used the Radio Taiso Exercise on Rukiya (6:01).
0. Dark Match: Yukio Sakaguchi, Saki Akai, Soma Takao, Yuni & Yuki Ishida defeated Toru Owashi, Makoto Oishi, Antonio Honda, Kazuki Hirata & Kazuma Sumi when Akai pinned Hirata with the Quetzalcoatl (7:39).
1. King Of DDT 2023 – Semi Final: Kazusada Higuchi defeated Yuki Ueno with the Brain Claw Slam (10:57).
2. King Of DDT 2023 – Semi Final: Chris Brookes defeated Jun Akiyama with the Praying Mantis Bomb (11:20).
3. BURNING Vs DAMNATION T.A!: Tetsuya Endo & Kotaro Suzuki defeated Daisuke Sasaki & MJ Paul when Endo pinned Paul with the Burning Star Press (11:02).
4. Special 8-Man Tag Match: Yuji Hino, Sanshiro Takagi, HARASHIMA & Naruki Doi defeated MAO, Toy Kojima, Yuya Koroku & Takeshi Masada when Hino submitted Koroku with the King Ghidorah Sleeper (10:32).
5. DDT Extreme Title – Piercing Death Match: Shunma Katsumata (c) defeated Hideki Okatani with an Inside Cradle (12:02). *V1 for Shunma Katsumata.
6. King Of DDT 2023 – Final: Chris Brookes defeated Kazusada Higuchi with the Ground Octopus Stretch (24:28).
Four years ago an English wrestler from the independents named Chris Brookes came to DDT. He took to Japan’s wrestling scene like a duck to water, ticking off a hardcore puroresu bucket list of things to do that isn’t just wrestle in Korakuen Hall and getting a Ribera Steakhouse jacket. What was supposed to be a year long visit to Japan became a four year stay, partly due to the pandemic, but that only helped his career grow. He ingrained himself into Japan’s wrestling scene from as many corners as he could whether it was for DDT, Gatoh Move or somewhere else. Today that four year journey reached its highest point for now because Brookes is the winner of this year’s King Of DDT tournament!
Brookes earned his victory by beating last year’s winner Kazusada Higuchi in the final. Higuchi kicked out of the Praying Mantis Bomb and used the Brain Claw to set up an Exploder Suplex. That almost resulted in a double KO countout but both men got up at 9. Higuchi did the Doctor Bomb but Brookes kicked out at two. Higuchi provoked Brookes into Headbutting him several times and then fired back with one of his own. But when Higuchi charged in to do the Buchikamashi, Brookes jumped onto him and latched on the Octopus Stretch. The move took Higuchi off his feet and Brookes kept finding ways to twist him until Higuchi finally gave up.
Brookes shook hands with Higuchi after the match and was presented with the trophy. He then celebrated with his cornermen Masahiro Takanashi, Drew Parker and Antonio Honda. Brookes told the fans he was able to win because of their cheers. But his “Dramatic Dream” is not over yet because Brookes is now setting his sights on the KO-D Openweight Title! Backstage he told the reporters that it was not a hard decision to stay in Japan during the pandemic because his friends and family are with DDT and he will always be a part of the company. He beat HARASHIMA, Sanshiro Takagi, Jun Akiyama and Higuchi to win this tournament so he isn’t intimidated with fighting Yuji Hino for the KO-D Title. Higuchi praised Brookes for his persistence and tenacity. He credits that as the difference maker today.
The DDT Extreme Title was on the line in a Piercing Death Match. It was a No DQ match featuring nothing but sharp weapons for Shunma Katsumata and Hideki Okatani to stab each other with. Okatani purposely dyed his hair blonde for the match so he could cover it in Katsumata’s blood! An extra stipulation was added where piercing your opponent’s ear three times was a valid way to win the match. That wasn’t needed in the end although both men did get their ears stapled a lot. Okatani had his back rolled over a pile of thumbtacks while Katsumata was pushed through a barbed wire board. However Katsumata got away with the win thanks to an Inside Cradle.
Afterwards Katsumata said he always thought Okatani had what it takes to do hardcore and death match wrestling. He wants to do a rematch some day. Okatani agreed because he had fun doing his first death match. Katsumata then suggested when Atsushi Onita comes back to DDT on 1st July, they can get him involved too for a tag team match. However when Yukio Sakaguchi heard about the idea backstage he got angry over hearing Onita’s name.
Before Hino knew who his next challenger was going to be, he led his squad to victory in an 8-Man Tag Match. It was a rocky start with MAO’s team setting up a Kongo style train of Elbow Drops onto Takagi. Takeshi Masada attacked Takagi, complaining to his boss that he wants to travel to shows on the bullet train. Takagi ordered him while fighting back to take the bus instead because he’s too immature. Naruki Doi also got more annoyed at his younger opponents as the match progressed. Hino sorted that problem out, hitting both Yuya Koroku and Toy Kojima with his big Chops. Kojima withstood the Chops as best as he could until Hino held both him and Koroku in a Double Dragon Sleeper for the win. When Hino does the move to one person it’s called the King Kong Sleeper. But when he does it to two people at the same time it’s called the King Ghidorah Sleeper!
Tetsuya Endo faced his past in the BURNING Vs DAMNATION T.A tag match. Daisuke Sasaki attacked him before the bell and took a moment to look at the DDT Universal Title. Endo fought back and had help from Kotaro Suzuki against MJ Paul. Suzuki blocked Paul from doing the Reverse Splash and then he along with Endo gave Paul a Power Bomb/Neckbreaker combo. Later Sasaki missed a Diving Clothesline and accidentally hit Paul from behind. That gave Endo the opening to knock Sasaki outside, wipe him out with the Sasuke Special and then climb the turnbuckles to pin Paul with the Burning Star Press.
After the match Endo called for the big announcement over the ex-WWE wrestler coming to DDT soon to be revealed. He doesn’t care who it is but he heard that this person is being paid 30 million yen to come over! A video played revealing the wrestler is Matt Cardona! The man who now calls himself the “Indy God” is going to face Endo for the Universal Title at “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2023” and he is bringing former NXT wrestler Steph De Lander along with him. Endo was not impressed. He expected a big name but this exceeded his expectations in a bad way. He thinks no amount of money or Twitter followers directly relates to how strong a wrestler is. Endo swore he will defend the Universal Title, take Cardona’s Twitter followers and also take the 30 million yen! Endo also put out word he is waiting for KANON to come back from injury because he owes him a match. KANON was supposed to be part of today’s tag match but is out of action with a dislocated shoulder.
Brookes had to go through Akiyama in the King Of DDT semi-finals earlier in the show. Akiyama threw his Knee Strikes, Exploder Suplexes and even applied the Front Neck Lock to no success. Brookes recovered some ground by countering another Exploder into a Cradle for a nearfall. Akiyama went for the move again but Brookes cut him off with a Knee Strike of his own and used the Praying Mantis Bomb to get the win out of nowhere. Akiyama said afterwards he has to get back into the swing of things otherwise he will wind up like the NOAH Health Club. That is a nickname he gave to Jun Izumida, Masao Inoue and Kishin Kawabata back in 2004 for their lackadaisical efforts in training at the time.
Higuchi’s path to the final saw him go through Yuki Ueno in a rematch of their KO-D Title bout from last December. The two know each other well by this point and had counters for each other’s signature moves. Ueno just couldn’t go through with the WR and was stunned with a Headbutt. Higuchi ran him over with a Lariat and finished him off with the Brain Claw Slam. Ueno told the reporters that results like this should prove he is not good enough. But he beat Naruki Doi and Kotaro Suzuki to get to this point so giving up now would only be disrespectful to them. So Ueno will not stop fighting until he makes it to the top of DDT!
The final rounds of the tournament taking up so much of the main card resulted in a lot of the roster being relegated to the dark matches. A 10-Man Tag featured the usual mix. Kazuki Hirata was briefly abandoned by the rest of his side, leaving him alone in the ring with Sakaguchi. That led to a train attack on Hirata until he was able to tag in Toru Owashi. Then Yuni gave Makoto Oishi a top rope Frankensteiner and got a two count that was broken up by Kazuma Sumi. A circle of split leg submissions formed in the ring with Honda and Yuki Ishida both being left out so they joined together in the center of the circle for a Gongitsune spot. The spot went out of control with Honda striking everybody until he and Ishida started pinching each other’s nipples. Hirata broke it up with his dance but that got intercepted by an attack from Sakaguchi. Saki Akai then joined in wearing the Hirata GO! glasses and pinned Hirata with the Quetzalcoatl.
The pre-show began in the morning time so Pheromones had an idea in mind to wake everyone up. They started playing exercise music from a morning TV show midway through the match so they could do lewd looking exercises while fighting off the opposition. Akito & Yusuke Okada both had their attempts to stop the workout fail, leaving Rukiya to take the worst of it. The exercises Pheromones did to him rendered him unconscious so the match ended by TKO.
When the show had ended and Korakuen started clearing out, Daisuke Sasaki urgently called for the media to meet him in the waiting room backstage. There he told them he was waiting for El Desperado to show up because New Japan were running the next event in Korakuen later in the evening. He claimed he only wanted to meet with Desperado and take a picture together to promote their match at “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2023”. However the venue staff started to complain and told Sasaki to leave so they could clean the place up before New Japan arrived. Management then approached Sasaki telling him to leave and he tried to pay them 1,000 yen and then promised that Sanshiro Takagi will pay for an extension fee. He finally gave up and left when the staff started pushing him out of the room with their mops.
The Yuki Ueno & Yuni Vs Nick Wayne & Takeshi Masada that was meant to take place in Yokohama Budokan earlier this month is now happening at Yokohama Radiant Hall on 1st July. Yuni backstage said he is very excited and wil be waiting for Wayne right here in DDT.
Fighting Beer Garden 2023 will be held at Ueno Park on 16th and 29th August. For the first time in four years it will be a full fledged drinking show for the fans like it used to be.
Starting on 23rd May DDT will be doing a free ticket campaign for preschool, elementary school and junior high school students at all of their shows. The plan was originally going to be for just preschoolers but DDT decided to include other students due to Yuki Ueno’s recent appearances on the NHK show Tensai TV-kun.
ShunMao’s next KO-D Tag Team Titles defence was announced to take place at Korakuen on 25th June.
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW LIVE TOUR IN SPRING ’23”, 20/05/2023 Tokyo Otemachi Mitsui Hall
1. Mahiro Kiryu Vs Toga
2. Yuki Kamifuku Vs HIMAWARI
3. Hyper Misao Vs Shino Suzuki
4. Ryo Mizunami, Kaya Toribami & Yoshiko Hasegawa Vs Shoko Nakajima, Suzume, & Haru Kazashiro
5. Yuki Aino, Raku & Pom Harajuku Vs Hikari Noa, Nao Kakuta & Wakana Uehara
6. Mizuki & Moka Miyamoto Vs Miu Watanabe & Arisu Endo
Rika Tatsumi is unable to wrestle tomorrow due to illness. Miu Watanabe is now teaming with Arisu Endo in the main event. Ryo Mizunami is being called in to take Endo’s spot in Match #4.
DDT “KING OF DDT 2023 FINAL!!”, 21/05/2023 Tokyo Korakuen Hall
0. Dark Match: Yuki “Sexy” Iino, Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno & Yumehito “Fantastic” Imanari Vs Akito, Yusuke Okada & Rukiya
0. Dark Match: Toru Owashi, Makoto Oishi, Antonio Honda, Kazuki Hirata & Kazuma Sumi Vs Yukio Sakaguchi, Saki Akai, Soma Takao, Yuni & Yuki Ishida
1. King Of DDT 2023 – Semi Final: Kazusada Higuchi Vs Yuki Ueno
2. King Of DDT 2023 – Semi Final: Jun Akiyama Vs Chris Brookes
3. BURNING Vs DAMNATION T.A!: Tetsuya Endo & Kotaro Suzuki Vs Daisuke Sasaki & MJ Paul
4. Special 8-Man Tag Match: Yuji Hino, Sanshiro Takagi, HARASHIMA & Naruki Doi Vs MAO, Toy Kojima, Yuya Koroku & Takeshi Masada
5. DDT Extreme Title – Piercing Death Match: Shunma Katsumata (c) Vs Hideki Okatani
6. King Of DDT 2023 – Final: X Vs X
It was reported today that KANON injured his left shoulder while training and he was diagnosed with a dislocated shoulder. He is out of action for the time being. The BURNING versus DAMNATION T.A match is now changed from a 6-Man Tag to a regular Tag Match. Yusuke Okada gets bumped down to one of the dark matches to accomodate for this.
The mystery ex-WWE wrestler coming to DDT soon will be revealed on this show.
GANBARE☆PRO “YUUSEI KARA NO BUUTAI X 2023”, 03/06/2023 Tokyo Takashimadaira Kumin Center
1. Ken Ohka Vs Yuki Kanzaki
2. Hikaru Sato Vs Shinichiro Tominaga
3. Mizuki, Tsuyoshi Okada & Tyson Maeguchi Vs Keisuke Ishii, Yumehito Imanari & Munetatsu Nakamura
4. Special Tag Match: Shuichiro Katsumura & Shota Vs Soma Takao & Takuya Wada
5. Moeka Haruhi’s Last Match Before Her Break: Moeka Haruhi, HARUKAZE & Yoshiko Hasegawa Vs Rina Amikura, YuuRI & Riara
As the match title says, this is Moeka Haruhi’s final match before her break. The Ganbare☆Joshi division is all showing up for it as well as Rina Amikura. Don’t know what she’s doing there, she isn’t a part of GanJo…
The Shuichiro Katsumura Vs Takuya Wada rivalry continues. Katsumura is having fun doing the matches but Wada hasn’t liked it when he loses to him.
Twelve years ago Shinichiro Tominaga faced Hikaru Sato during his rookie year in Union Pro. They have not faced each other since then.
DDT “JAPAN PARA-WRESTLING FEDERATION CHARITY SHOW ~ WHAT ARE YOU DOING 2023 TOUR IN ODAWARA”, 04/06/2023 Kanagawa Odawara Arena Sub Arena
1. The 37KAMIINA Vs Pheromones!: MAO & Shunma Katsumata Vs Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno
2. Special Single Match: Yuki Ueno Vs Akito
3. Odawara Specialty Special 6-Man Tag Match: Yoshiaki Yatsu, Tetsuya Endo & Jun Akiyama Vs Sanshiro Takagi, Toru Owashi & Makoto Oishi
Yoshiaki Yatsu comes back to DDT to team up with BURNING’s top two in command.
Depending on the result, if ShunMao aren’t careful against Pheromones they may end up having to give them a rematch for the KO-D Tag Team Titles somewhere down the line.
DDT “WHAT ARE YOU DOING 2023 TOUR IN OSAKA”, 10/06/2023 Osaka Suminoe Maikon Hall
1. Special Tag Match: Toru Owashi & “brother” YASSHI Vs Naruki Doi & Kazuki Hirata
2. Tetsuya Endo, Jun Akiyama & Yusuke Okada Vs Kazusada Higuchi, Yuki Ishida & Kazuma Sumi
3. Yukio Sakaguchi Vs Yuya Koroku
Young confidence is on show here with Yuya Koroku challenging Yukio Sakaguchi to a singles match!
DDT “WHAT ARE YOU DOING 2023 TOUR IN MATSUYAMA”, 11/06/2023 Ehime Matsuyama City Comprehensive Community Center Exhibition Hall
1. Special Tag Match: Akito & Char Vs Yusuke Okada & Tsuruhimeka
2. The 37KAMIINA Vs BURNING!: MAO, Shunma Katsumata & Yuki Ueno Vs Tetsuya Endo, Jun Akiyama & Yuya Koroku
3. Matsuyama Specialty Special 6-Man Tag Match: Sanshiro Takagi (w/ Cutie Elly The Ehime), Imabari Taoru Mascaras & Tsutenkakka Vs HARASHIMA, Saki Akai & Kazuma Sumi
Members of Ehime Pro Wrestling are taking part in DDT’s visit to Matsuyama. Imabari Taoru Mascaras (“The Man Of 1,000 Towels” has a talent where he can tell which towels are made in Imabari), the returning Tsutenkakka and valet Cutie Elly The Ehime are all part of a 6-Man Tag Match with DDT regulars. Also two of Ehime’s joshi wrestlers Char and Tsuruhimeka are part of a mixed tag match.
DDT/ONLY WE “ONLY WE X DDT SPECIAL! ~YUJI HINO 20TH ANNIVERSARY EVENT~”, 14/05/2023 Chiba TKP Garden City 241 Fans – Super No Vacancy
1. Hideki Okatani defeated Rukiya with a Running Elbow Butt (4:55).
2. Pheromones Vs DISASTER BOX!: Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno defeated Toru Owashi & Kazuki Hirata when Iino submitted Hirata with the Chiba Port Tower (9:34).
3. Daisuke Sasaki, MJ Paul & KANON defeated Shunma Katsumata, Yusuke Okada & Kazuma Sumi when KANON submitted Sumi with the Crucifixion Cobra Twist (7:54).
4. Chris Brookes & Takeshi Masada defeated Hiroshi Yamato & Yuya Koroku when Brookes submitted Koroku with the Ground Octopus Stretch (6:10).
5. KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles: Kazusada Higuchi, Ryota Nakatsu & Yuki Ishida defeated Shinya Aoki, Yuki Ueno & Super Sasadango Machine (c) when Ishida pinned Machine with the Flame Palm (14:09). *Shinya Aoki, Yuki Ueno & Super Sasadango Machine fail in V2. Harimao becomes the 51st KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Champions!
6. Special Tag Match: Makoto Oishi & Shiori Asahi defeated MAO & Toy Kojima when Oishi pinned Kojima after the Cactus Flower (11:17).
7. Yuji Hino Debut 20th Anniversary Match: Yuji Hino, Jun Akiyama & Yukio Sakaguchi defeated Tetsuya Endo, HARASHIMA & Yuji Okabayashi when Hino pinned HARASHIMA with the Fuckin’ BOMB (21:46).
DDT played host to a celebration of Yuji Hino’s 20th anniversary of his debut match. Hino’s first pro match didn’t take place until November 2023 but according to Hino that just means there is time to do a 2nd, 3rd and even 4th show to continue the commemoration across the rest of the year. It’s not like ONLY WE will be doing anything else by themselves. He is already thinking about holding part two in Kumamoto. Hino convinced Jun Akiyama & Yukio Sakaguchi to team up with him for a big trios match against Tetsuya Endo, HARASHIMA & Yuji Okabayashi. His big day was capped off with him pinning HARASHIMA with the Fuckin’ BOMB.
The dream run for Shinya Aoki, Yuki Ueno & Super Sasadango Machine has come to an end. They have lost the KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles to Harimao. It was Yuki Ishida who stepped up to the plate for the challengers to cause the title change. Sasadango gave Ishida the Lehmann Shock twice but the first pin was broken up and the second was kicked out at two. Ishida avoided the dreaded finisher a third time and opened the gap for Kazusada Higuchi to hit Sasadango with a Lariat. Ishida then hit the Flame Palm and scrambled on top to get the three count. Higuchi is now calling Harimao the best unit in DDT because they have the 6-Man Tag Titles. Ryota Nakatsu also gave a shoutout to Naomi Yoshimura.
Chris Brookes cut off Hiroshi Yamato’s singing entrance because he thought it was too noisy. However he & Takeshi Masada had a change of heart after they won their match and asked Yamato to sing it again for everyone.
A contract signing between Shunma Katsumata and Hideki Okatani before the show began revealed the stipulation of their DDT Extreme Title match. It will be a Piercing Death Match! It is a No DQ match where you can either win through normal means or by piercing your opponent’s ears three times. Many of the weapons that will be laid around the ring for the match will be of the sharp variety for this reason. Katsumata tried to attack Okatani’s ear with a piercing staple in a twisted demonstration but Okatani fought him off, grabbed the staple and pierced Katsumata’s ear instead!
It was announced at the start of the show that Nick Wayne’s delayed visit to Japan has been successfully rescheduled and he will now be coming in for a tour of DDT shows this summer. His tour begins at Korakuen Hall on 25th June and will last until 7th July.
DDT “KING OF DDT 2023 2ND ROUND”, 07/05/2023 Shinjuku FACE 206 Fans
0. Dark Match: Yuni & Yuki Ishida defeated Yuya Koroku & Kazuma Sumi when Ishida pinned Sumi with the Flame Palm (6:58).
1. Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno defeated Akito & Antonio Honda by TKO when Iino used the Sleeper From A Wise Reincarnated Man on Honda (6:38).
2. Daisuke Sasaki, MJ Paul & KANON defeated Shunma Katsumata, Toy Kojima & Takeshi Masada when KANON pinned Masada with the Sleepy Hollow (9:00).
3. Special 8-Man Tag Match: Yuji Hino, Tetsuya Endo, Yukio Sakaguchi & Yusuke Okada defeated HARASHIMA, Naruki Doi, Toru Owashi & Kazuki Hirata when Sakaguchi pinned Hirata with the PK (14:14).
4. King Of DDT 2023 – Round 2: Yuki Ueno defeated Kotaro Suzuki with the WR (12:59).
5. King Of DDT 2023 – Round 2: Jun Akiyama defeated MAO with the Sterness Dust (10:19).
6. King Of DDT 2023 – Round 2: Chris Brookes defeated Sanshiro Takagi with the Praying Mantis Bomb (12:04).
7. King Of DDT 2023 – Round 2: Kazusada Higuchi defeated Hideki Okatani with the Brain Claw Slam (16:04).
Former allies in Eruption crossed paths in the King Of DDT 2nd Round. Last year’s winner Kazusada Higuchi fought Hideki Okatani, the youngster who was all set to blaze through the tournament and make a name for himself. Okatani threw his best shot and did get to leave a mark on his opponent but Higuchi stood tall in the end and beat him with the Brain Claw Slam. It wasn’t all bad news for Okatani though. Shunma Katsumata approached him backstage after the main event offering him a DDT Extreme Title shot. Okatani eliminated him in Round 1 so Katsumata wants to settle that score, putting his title on the line in order to do so. Okatani accepted and Katsumata promised to come up with a stipulation that will show off more of Okatani to the fans.
Chris Brookes somehow got a hold of Mecha Mummy’s fist and brought it into his match against Sanshiro Takagi. However a misfired attack knocked out Yukinori Matsui by accident. This also happened after Brookes accidentally took out Daisuke Kiso with a missed RKO. With no more referees in sight Brookes and Takagi fought out of the ring and around the room. Takagi brought out the Dramatic Dream bike but Brookes smashed a plastic box over his head and then threw him into a castle of chairs. Back in the ring both Masahiro Takanashi and Drew Parker interfered to help Brookes out. Takagi fought on but a combination of being put through a table and having more plastic boxes smashed over his head became overwhelming. With nothing left to give, he was pinned with the Praying Mantis Bomb. Backstage Takagi said when he first met Brookes in Japan he thought he had the potential to become the top wrestler in DDT. Today he is convinced Brookes will reach that level.
One thing you should know by now is you should never count out Jun Akiyama in any competition. He reaches the final four by defeating MAO in today’s bout. It took quite a bit to get that result though. The Exploder Suplex and a bare Knee Strike wasn’t enough to put MAO away. Instead Akiyama had to pull out the old Sterness Dust to get his hand raised in the end. MAO didn’t think the match was going to be so close. He went into today with an empty head and came out of the match with a little bit of Akiyama knowledge filling it up. He’ll be going to wrestle in America again soon so he plans to push himself while still wrestling at his own pace.
In a battle of skill, Yuki Ueno came out on top against Kotaro Suzuki. The Endless Waltz couldn’t dizzy Ueno enough to keep him pinned and he also kicked out of a Tombstone. Suzuki then went for the Blue Destiny but Ueno got out of the move and twisted Suzuki into the WR to win the match. Suzuki refuses to let his time in DDT end like this and wants a rematch with Ueno to get revenge.
A lottery was held after the main event to pair off the semi-finals on 21st May. Ueno will face Higuchi and Brookes has to take on Akiyama. Ueno thinks it’s all well and good to see Higuchi shave his head and act like he has given himself a fresh start. But Ueno thinks he himself has been developing too. Higuchi is not giving the final a single thought until he beats Ueno first. Brookes knows he has to go on and win King Of DDT after both HARASHIMA and Takagi have given him their support. If he can beat those two then he can beat Akiyama! But Akiyama has been doing this for decades. Fighting Brookes in a singles match is going to be a new experience for him.
Kazuki Hirata wanted to cheer up and motivate his friend HARASHIMA during their match. He decided the two of them dancing together would be the best way to achieve that. Unfortunately their dance got cut off by the other team and Hirata wound up getting destroyed by Tetsuya Endo & Yukio Sakaguchi, losing the match for his side.
Shunma Katsumata tried to replicate Komander’s tight rope walk into a dive during his match. It ended poorly and Katsumata crotched himself on the rope.
The first appearance of Yuki Iino since his failure to win the KO-D Openweight Title showed him in a crazy state that even has Danshoku Dieno worried. This was a different kind of “Sexy” than everyone is used to seeing. First Iino ran across the entrance way wearing what can be best described as half a speedo. Then when he reappeared for the actual team entrance, Hisaya Imabayashi stopped Pheromones and convinced Dieno to get Iino back into his proper wrestling costume. The match went ahead with Dieno, Akito and Antonio Honda all trying to stop Iino from stripping naked. Honda got Iino to calm down with a lewd Gongitsune joke. In return the now relaxed and enlightened Iino sent both Akito & Honda to sleep with a Sleeper Hold to win the match. Dieno promised the fans that Iino will return to his normal “Sexy” self the next time we see him.
DDT “KING OF DDT 2023 1ST ROUND”, 06/05/2023 Shinjuku FACE 234 Fans
1. King Of DDT 2023 – Round 1: Kazusada Higuchi defeated Yusuke Okada by TKO with a Headbutt (9:11).
2. King Of DDT 2023 – Round 1: Hideki Okatani defeated Shunma Katsumata with the Double Arm Suplex (8:50)
3. King Of DDT 2023 – Round 1: Sanshiro Takagi defeated Yukio Sakaguchi with the Texas Clothesline (3:40).
4. King Of DDT 2023 – Round 1: Chris Brookes defeated HARASHIMA with two Praying Mantis Bombs (12:08).
5. King Of DDT 2023 – Round 1: Jun Akiyama defeate Tetsuya Endo with a Torture Rack Turn Back (10:12).
6. King Of DDT 2023 – Round 1: MAO defeated Takeshi Masada with the Senpukyaku (9:28).
7. King Of DDT 2023 – Round 1: Kotaro Suzuki defeated KANON with an Inside Cradle 8:43).
8. King Of DDT 2023 – Round 1: Yuki Ueno defeated Naruki Doi with the WR (16:19).
Some eye catching results can be found among the first round matches in this year’s King Of DDT tournament. Naruki Doi’s decision to stick around in DDT to claim more prizes hit a wall when Yuki Ueno defeated him in the main event. Ueno jumped over the Bakatare Sliding Kick and landed with a Double Knee Drop onto Doi. However he missed the BME and Doi hit his next attempt at the Sliding Kick, this time aiming for the back of the head. Doi wanted to finish him off with the Muscular Bomb but Ueno countered it into a Cradle for a nearfall and then got the WR to get the win. The result is revenge for Doi taking the DDT Universal Title from Ueno earlier this year. Ueno again told the fans he is going to carry DDT on his back and he wants the audience to give him all of the power of their support.
KANON was left stunned over how he lost to Kotaro Suzuki. He gave him the Sleepy Hollow but Suzuki immediately cradled his shoulders onto the mat and scored the three count from out of nowhere. It left KANON is dispair because he is back to the bottom with no championships again. Suzuki wanted KANON to know that just because you hit your finishing move does not mean you drop your guard in the last second. Suzuki now moves on to face Ueno tomorrow and it’s a match he’s been really looking forward to since he came to DDT
The martial arts background of Takeshi Masada inspired MAO to go barefoot for their match that consisted almost entirely of strike moves. MAO won out by using the Senpukyaku whirlwind kick to sweep away Masada’s Triangle Kick. He praised Masada afterwards, saying it is guys like him who make DDT interesting. It makes MAO make changes to his gameplan, such as to wrestle barefoot like he did here. It makes MAO enjoy himself in the ring more. Masada however is now feeling confused over where he stands compared to the other young wrestlers on the roster. Is he on the right path by having a different wrestling style than the others or has he become lazy?
The DDT Universal Champion is out in the first round but when it’s from losing to Jun Akiyama can you call it an upset? Maybe it is when it’s Tetsuya Endo who is meant to be the leader of BURNING, not Akiyama. Endo was on track to winning when he gave Akiyama the Exploder Suplex three times in a row. But when he lifted him up into the Torture Rack, Akiyama rolled him over and pinned his shoulders to the mat. Well at least he can focus on that mystery former WWE wrestler now. Akiyama now has to deal with MAO in Round 2 tomorrow.
It took two Praying Mantis Bombs to get here but Chris Brookes scored a huge win against HARASHIMA, eliminating one of DDT’s most distinguished wrestlers in the 1st Round. By beating “Mr. DDT”, Brookes is now certain he is going to win the rest of the tournament. HARASHIMA is not left wondering if he is no longer as strong enough any more. It isn’t a thought he gets that often. But since Brookes beat him, he now supports Brookes to go all the way and win King Of DDT.
After five years away from King Of DDT, Sanshiro Takagi returned to the tournament with a vengeance. He defeated Yukio Sakaguchi in under 4 minutes but that result came from both men looking to win as soon as possible. Takagi’s used of the Stunner and then bringing back the Texas Clothesline gave him the victory. He admits if the match lasted even a minute longer he would have lost. He takes on Brookes in Round 2 and now has the time to figure out what he is weakest at.
Hideki Okatani took a longer path to enter the tournament than everyone else and he wasn’t going to do all that just to get eliminated in Round 1. He pulled off an upset by pinning Shunma Katsumata clean with the Double Arm Suplex. Okatani even called Katsumata pathetic because a double champion shouldn’t be losing in Round 1!
The day kicked off with Kazusada Higuchi entering the room with a newly shaved head ready to fight Yusuke Okada. Power versus speed was the name of the game here and power won out. Okada was pretty much on his last legs when he had the idea to Headbutt his opponent for one last desperate attack. When that didn’t work Higuchi returned the favour with his own Headbutt, knocking out Okada and ending the match. Higuchi praised Okada for showing passion in the ring. But he has nothing to say about his next opponent Okatani other than he is going to crush him tomorrow.
DDT “KING OF DDT 2023 2ND ROUND”, 07/05/2023 Shinjuku FACE
0. Dark Match: Yuni & Yuki Ishida Vs Yuya Koroku & Kazuma Sumi
1. Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno Vs Akito & Antonio Honda
2. Daisuke Sasaki, MJ Paul & KANON Vs Shunma Katsumata, Toy Kojima & Takeshi Masada
3. Special 8-Man Tag Match: Yuji Hino, Tetsuya Endo, Yukio Sakaguchi & Yusuke Okada Vs HARASHIMA, Naruki Doi, Toru Owashi & Kazuki Hirata
4. King Of DDT 2023 – Round 2: Kotaro Suzuki Vs Yuki Ueno
5. King Of DDT 2023 – Round 2: Jun Akiyama Vs MAO
6. King Of DDT 2023 – Round 2: Sanshiro Takagi Vs Chris Brookes
7. King Of DDT 2023 – Round 2: Kazusada Higuchi Vs Hideki Okatani
The semi-final lottery will take place after the Round 2 matches are completed.
Posted by JamieOD 
Dramatic DDT 