BASARA “BASARA 251 ~UTAGE~”, 21/06/2024 Shin-Kiba 1st RING
1. Takato Nakano & Masato Kamino Vs Lil’ Kraken & Leo Isaka
2. FUMA, KUBITO & Daichi Kazato vs SAGAT, Gouma Ryu & Antonio Honda
3. Ryuichi Sekine & Minoru Fujita Vs Takumi Tsukamoto & Judomaster
4. Isami Kodaka Vs Yasu Urano
5. Iron Fist Tag Team Titles: Ryota Nakatsu & Kazusada Higuchi (c) Vs Fuminori Abe & Takuya Nomura
This is the match order for tomorrow’s BASARA show. It is the turn of Astronauts to try and take the Iron Fist Tag Team Titles from Harimao.
DDT “SPA & POOL AQUA YUKARI – SAUNA ROJO PRO WRESTLING”, 21/06/2024 Chiba Aqua Yukari
1. DDT Extreme Title – Falls Count Anywhere Survival 5 Way Match: Shunma Katsumata (c) Vs Yukio Naya Vs To-y Vs Ilusion Vs Kazuma Sumi
I think Kazuma Sumi still has the Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title so tomorrow night’s match at the sauna could end up having two championships on the line.
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “PRECIOUS TIME ’24”, 29/06/2024 Tokyo Shinagawa Prince Hotel Club eX
1. Shoko Nakajima & Yoshiko Hasegawa Vs Nao Kakuta & Yuki Aino
Former Ganbare☆Pro wrestler Yoshiko Hasegawa returns to Tokyo Joshi Pro for the first time since going freelance. She gets to be part of Nao Kakuta’s road to graduation.
DDT “FIGHTING BEER GARDEN 2024 IN UENO”, 05/07/2024 Tokyo Ueno Park Outdoor Stage
1. No DQ I Quit Match: Antonio Honda Vs Invisible Leonardo DiCaprio
2. Special Tag Match ~ Unagi Warriors Vs Brahman Brothers!: Sanshiro Unagi & Sayaka Unagi Vs Brahman Shu & Brahman Kei
3. The 37KAMIINA Vs DAMNATION T.A!: Yuki Ueno, MAO & Shunma Katsumata Vs Daisuke Sasaki, KANON & MJ Paul
News about this show went haywire during the week. First it was announced that Antonio Honda would face The Invisible Man in a singles match. Then a few days later The Invisible Man pulled out of the booking due to what was only described as “various circumstances” by DDT. A replacement was found though and Honda has a new opponent. It is Invisible Leonardo DiCaprio! It is a matchup so big that Honda asked DDT to make it a No DQ I Quit match! It will only end when either Honda or DiCaprio says “I Quit” into a microphone.
DDT “ROAD TO PETER PAN 2024 TOUR IN ODAWARA”, 07/07/2024 Kanagawa Odawara Arena Sub Arena
1. Odawara City Tourism PR Character Umemaru Pro Wrestling Debut Match: Umemaru, Akito & Yuni Vs Pokotan, Antonio Honda & Kazuma Sumi
2. Special Single Match: Aja Kong Vs Kazuki Hirata
3. Sanshiro Takagi Indefinite Rest Road ~ Special 6-Man Tag Match: Sanshiro Takagi, Yoshiaki Yatsu & Kuroshio TOKYO Japan Vs Tetsuya Endo, Yuki Iino & Yuya Koroku
In the same month when the Olympics begins, DDT is heading over to Odawara to meet up with Yoshiaki Yatsu again. Kuroshio TOKYO Japan will be there as well to create the weird trio of Sanshiro Takagi, Yatsu & Kuroshio.
This show will not be the first time Kazuki Hirata and Aja Kong will be fighting each other in a singles match. Back in 2016 Hirata won a Right To Challenge Anytime, Anywhere Contract except the prize was to go on a date with Kong whenever he wanted. He had no choice but to cash in the prize and go on the date where they actually came close to hitting it off. However Hirata got cold feet and left Kong feeling rejected. Kong got her revenge by crashing the next DDT show afterwards and beating Hirata in an impromptu match. I should know. I was there (at the show, not the date)! Have broken hearts been healed over 8 years later?
Odawara’s local mascto Umemaru will make its pro wrestling debut. As usual when this kind of thing happens in DDT, Pokotan will be in the match too so it can show its mascot superiority in the ring.
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “SUMMER SUN PRINCESS ’24”, 20/07/2024 Tokyo Korakuen Hall
1. Yuki Kamifuku Vs Nao Kakuta
2. Special Single Match: Aja Kong Vs Shoko Nakajima
3. Princess Of Princess Title: Miu Watanabe (c) Vs Rika Tatsumi
When Kakuta was asked to pick her final wrestling matches, she came up with two opponents she wants to fight one last time more than ever. They will be split across her final week as a pro wrestler. First she will take on Yuki Kamifuku at “SUMMER SUN PRINCESS ’24” for her final match at Korakuen Hall.
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “NAO KAKUTA GRADUATION COMMEMORATION ~KIMITACHIHA ISSHOUNO TAKARAMONO~”, 25/07/2024 Shin-Kiba 1st RING
1. Nao Kakuta Graduation Match: Nao Kakuta Vs Mizuki
A few days later Kakuta will have her graduation match and her last opponent will be no other than Mizuki!
DDT “ROJO PRO WRESTLING”, 21/09/2024 Naraha Town, Fukushima
DDT is teaming up with To-y’s home of Naraha Town in Fukushima for the area’s migration campaign. The town was evacuated after the 2011 Tohoku earthquake until 2015 when town recovery efforts went into effect. DDT is getting involved with this year’s project by having one of their wrestlers become an ambassador for the area. To-y has been in the role before but now Shunma Katsumata is taking over to help promote the town. However the town’s mascot Yuzutaro objected to the idea because it claims To-y recently ate and drank too much of the local delicacies without paying for it. According to Yuzutaro, the damage to the town’s reputation caused by this will cost To-y one trillion yen! If To-y is unable to pay it back then Yuzutaro suggested he work jobs in Naraha until the debt is repaid. Katsumata thought that was a fair idea and offered to give up his role so To-y can be the ambassador again for a second year in a row. To-y had no choice but to accept the arrangement, although he has to be recognized as an unofficial ambassador due to the circumstances. One of the events DDT will do to promote the town is hold a Falls Count Anywhere match somewhere in the town this September.
DDT “WHAT ARE YOU DOING 2024 TOUR IN KYOTO”, 08/06/2024 Kyoto KBS Hall
1. Special Single Match: Yukio Naya Vs Hirakata Nii-san
2. Daisuke Sasaki & KANON Vs Toru Owashi & Ilusion
3. Special Single Match: Chris Brookes Vs Kazuki Hirata
4. MAO Vs Yuya Koroku
5. STI Co., Ltd. Presents Special 6-Man Tag Match: Sanshiro Takagi, Akito & Shinichiro Kawamatsu Vs HARASHIMA, Kazusada Higuchi & Kazuma Sumi
6. Tetsuya Endo & Yuki Iino Vs Takeshi Masada & Keigo Nakamura
7. The 37KAMIINA Vs D.O.A!: Yuki Ueno, Shunma Katsumata & To-y Vs Jun Akiyama, Danshoku Dieno & Makoto Oishi
Look at Sanshiro Takagi wrangling in a last minute sponsor for his match. STI stands for Strategic Totalsystem Integrator and they’re a tech company.
DDT “WHAT ARE YOU DOING 2024 TOUR IN MATSUYAMA”, 09/06/2024 Ehime Matsuyama City General Community Center Special Exhibition Hall
1. Special Single Match: Yukio Naya Vs Matsuyama Warrior
2. Daisuke Sasaki & KANON Vs Yuya Koroku & Ilusion
3. Matsuyama Specialty Special Single Match: Danshoku Dieno Vs Bonjin Pulp
4. Shunma Katsumata, Makoto Oishi & Kazuki Hirata Vs Sanshiro Takagi (w/ Cutie Elly The Ehime), Akito & Tsuruhimeka
5. Special Tag Match: Jun Akiyama & Santaro Ishizuchi Vs HARASHIMA & Takeshi Masada
6. Special Tag Match: Tetsuya Endo & Imabari Taoru Mascaras Vs Chris Brookes & Kazuma Sumi
7. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Yuki Ueno, MAO & To-y Vs Yuki Iino, Kazusada Higuchi & Keigo Nakamura
No sponsored matches here though. Takagi is slacking.
UJPW “ALL TOGETHER IN SAPPORO”, 15/06/2024 Sapporo Hokkai Kitayell
0. Dark Match: Toru Yano & Tomoaki Honma Vs Tomoya & Andreza Giant Panda
1. Zack Sabre Jr., Robbie Eagles & Kosei Fujita Vs Ulka Sasaki, HAYATA & Yu Owada
2. AZM Vs Starlight Kid
3. Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI Vs Daisuke Sekimoto & Daichi Hashimoto
4. Shota Umino, Ryohei Oiwa & Tetsuya Endo Vs Jeff Cobb, Great-O-Khan & Kazusada Higuchi
5. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Naomichi Marufuji & Kento Miyahara Vs SANADA, Taichi & Yuya Uemura
6. Tomohiro Ishii Vs Masa Kitamiya
7. Shingo Takagi, Yota Tsuji, Hiromu Takahashi, BUSHI & Titan Vs Jack Morris, Anthony Greene, LJ Cleary, Clark Connors & Drilla Moloney
8. Kaito Kiyomita, Kenoh & Alejandro Vs Gabe Kidd, David Finley & YO-HEY
9. Tetsuya Naito Vs Jake Lee
A bonus match has been added to the next “ALL TOGETHER” show. Andreza Giant Panda gets to be part of the event by teaming with Tomoya as the “local” team taking on Toru Yano & Tomoaki Honma from New Japan.
DDT “DRAMATIC DREAM BATTLE”, 16/06/2024 TOKYO FM Hall
1. Chris Brookes, Takeshi Masada & Kazuma Sumi Vs Kazusada Higuchi, Yukio Naya & Yuni
2. Shunma Katsumata & To-y Vs Toru Owashi & Akito
3. DAMNATION T.A Vs BURNING!: Daisuke Sasaki, KANON & MJ Paul Vs Tetsuya Endo, Yuki Iino & Yuya Koroku
4. Special Single Match: Sanshiro Takagi Vs Kazuki Hirata
5. Special Single Match: Danshoku Dieno Vs Makoto Oishi
6. Special Tag Match: Yuki Ueno & Fuminori Abe Vs HARASHIMA & Keigo Nakamura
7. DDT Universal Title: MAO (c) Vs Shiryu
MAO used the GLEAT/DDT show to send a message to Kaz Hayashi. He wants to defend the DDT Universal Title against Hayashi’s masked alter ego from his Michinoku Pro days. That’s right he wants to wrestle Shiryu! MAO thinks it will be fitting for Hayashi to take up the gimmick again and fight for a championship with “Universal” in the name for old time’s sake.
BASARA “BASARA 251 ~UTAGE~”, 21/06/2024 Shin-Kiba 1st RING
1. Takato Nakano & Masato Kamino Vs Lil’ Kraken & Leo Isaka
2. Iron Fist Tag Team Titles: Ryota Nakatsu & Kazusada Higuchi (c) Vs Fuminori Abe & Takuya Nomura
Perhaps the next challengers for the Iron Fist Tag Team Titles will be decided when Aijin Tag takes on the tag team from Tochigi.
DDT “WHAT ARE YOU DOING 2024”, 30/06/2024 Tokyo Korakuen Hall
1. Sanshiro Takagi Indefinite Rest Road ~ Special Tag Match: Sanshiro Takagi & Miyu Yamashita Vs Danshoku Dieno & Maki Itoh
2. Special 6-Man Tag Match ~ BURNING Vs TEAM NOAH!: Tetsuya Endo, Yuki Iino & Yuya Koroku Vs Go Shiozaki, Atsushi Kotoge & Hi69
3. Road To PETER PAN 2024! Special Tag Match: Yuki Ueno & Shunma Katsumata Vs MAO & To-y
The build up to “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2024” begins with The 37KAMIINA clashing against each other in tag matches as previews for the big KO-D Openweight Title match. BURNING and TEAM NOAH continue their growing feud too.
It is thanks to Takagi that both Miyu Yamashita and Maki Itoh entered the world of pro wrestling. They get to play a part in his final bunch of matches for the time being. Danshoku Dieno isn’t being left out of this either.
BAKA GAIJIN + FRIENDS “VOL. FIFTEEN: SEHNSUCHT IST SO GRAUSAM”, 02/07/2024 Tokyo ARENA Shimokitazawa
1. Special Single Match: Antonio Honda Vs Mad Dr. Ueki
2. Special Single Match: Mecha Mummy Vs Mr. Bueno
3. Special Single Match: MAO Vs Sayaka Unagi
4. Special Tag Match: Chris Brookes & Masahiro Takanashi Vs Fuminori Abe & Takuya Nomura
More Astronauts matches to pay attention to in this side of the puro bubble. They are entering the cramped little space that is ARENA Shimokitazawa for what will certainly be a crazy match against CDK.
Sayaka Unagi also joins in the Baka Gaijin + Friends circle for the first time. Perhaps the hardest working self promoter in the business today gets to fight MAO too which is a pretty high profile matchup nowadays.
The newest regular to Baka Gaijin shows is the masked man Mr. Bueno. He impressed with a victory against Antonio Honda on the last show but how will he handle the mayhem that usually follows after Mecha Mummy? Speaking of Honda he takes on Mummy’s current handler Mad Dr. Ueki.
DDT “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2024”, 21/07/2024 Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan
1. Special Single Match: KONOSUKE TAKESHITA Vs Masato Tanaka
2. KO-D Tag Team Titles: Tetsuya Endo & Yuki Iino (c) Vs Go Shiozaki & Atsushi Kotoge
3. KO-D Openweight Title: Yuki Ueno (c) Vs MAO
I’m glad to see we’re actually getting something out of DDT’s appearances on the NOAH Limit Break shows. So far on the shows both Tetsuya Endo & Yuki Iino have been wanting to fight and beat Go Shiozaki to no avail. Now Shiozaki is coming back over to DDT to help Atsushi Kotoge try and win the KO-D Tag Team Titles. Shiozaki has also been a member in past iterations of BURNING so what does he think of the current day version?
EVE/TOKYO JOSHI PRO “EVE X TJPW”, 24/08/2024 London, England
The four Tokyo Joshi Pro talents travelling over to England for the joint show with EVE are Miyu Yamashita, Raku, Mahiro Kiryu and HIMAWARI. Also taking part on the show is Aja Kong! Since the show is happening in between the final rounds of the Tokyo Princess Cup that means the four names mentioned above will not be taking part in the tournament this year. It’s also been confirmed that Maki Itoh will not be in the tournament either because she will be on her next tour of America during August.
DDT “WHAT ARE YOU DOING 2024 TOUR IN SHINJUKU”, 05/06/2024 Shinjuku FACE
1. Kazusada Higuchi & Yuya Koroku Vs Yukio Naya & Keigo Nakamura
2. Special Tag Match: MAO & Shunma Katsumata Vs Danshoku Dieno & Kazuki Hirata
3. Tetsuya Endo, Yuki Iino & Yuya Koroku Vs Jun Akiyama, Atsushi Kotoge & Tomomitsu Matsunaga
4. Daisuke Kiso Referee 14th Anniversary Match ~ Special Tag Match: Keisuke Ishii & Shigehiro Irie Vs To-y & Yuni
5. CDK 5th Anniversary Match ~ Special Tag Match: Chris Brookes & Masahiro Takanashi Vs Makoto Oishi & Shiori Asahi
6. KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles: Daisuke Sasaki, KANON & MJ Paul (c) Vs HARASHIMA, Akito & Yasu Urano
7. KO-D Openweight Title: Yuki Ueno (c) Vs Sanshiro Takagi
Tomorrow will see a version of Sanshiro Takagi free of responsibility gunning after Yuki Ueno in what could be the last time he challenges for the KO-D Openweight Title.
GLEAT/DDT “GLEAT VER. & – GLEAT X DDT PRO WRESTLING”, 06/06/2024 Tokyo Korakuen Hall
1. 3 Way Tag Match: Shunma Katsumata, Takanori Ito & Issei Onitsuka Vs Densha MICHIo, Keigo Nakamura & Yu Iizuka Vs Danshoku Dieno, Makoto Oishi & Jun Tonsho
2. Minoru Tanaka Vs Kazuki Hirata
3. CIMA & HARASHIMA Vs Soma Watanabe & Soma Takao
4. Tetsuya Izuchi Vs Tetsuya Endo
5. SBK & TAKUMA Vs To-y & Kazuma Sumi
6. Yuki Ueno, El Lindaman & MAO Vs Sanshiro Takagi, Kaz Hayashi & Akito
7. Elimination Tag Match: T-Hawk, Chris Brookes, Takehiro Yamamura, Seiki Yoshioka & Takeshi Masada Vs Daisuke Sasaki, Kaito Ishida, KANON, Hartley Jackson & Kotaro Suzuki
8. Hayato Tamura, Ryuichi Kawakami & KAZMA SAKAMOTO Vs Kazusada Higuchi, Yuki Iino & Yukio Naya
The opening match was originally supposed to have MICHIKO involved but she decided to step aside so her alter ego Densha MICHIo can take part instead. The gimmick is a trainspotting hobbyist from Akihabara that MICHIKO created for a comedy match back in April.
DDT “WHAT ARE YOU DOING 2024 TOUR IN KYOTO”, 08/06/2024 Kyoto KBS Hall
1. Daisuke Sasaki & KANON Vs Toru Owashi & Ilusion
2. Tetsuya Endo & Yuki Iino Vs Takeshi Masada & Keigo Nakamura
3. MAO Vs Yuya Koroku
4. Sanshiro Takagi, Akito & Shinichiro Kawamatsu Vs HARASHIMA, Kazusada Higuchi & Kazuma Sumi
5. Special Single Match: Yukio Naya Vs Hirakata Nii-san
6. Special Single Match: Chris Brookes Vs Kazuki Hirata
7. The 37KAMIINA Vs D.O.A!: Yuki Ueno, Shunma Katsumata & To-y Vs Jun Akiyama, Danshoku Dieno & Makoto Oishi
This weekend Yukio Naya is taking on opponents from the regional wrestling scenes. First on Saturday he takes on Hirakata Nii-san from Dotonbori Pro.
DDT “WHAT ARE YOU DOING 2024 TOUR IN MATSUYAMA”, 09/06/2024 Ehime Matsuyama City General Community Center Special Exhibition Hall
1. Daisuke Sasaki & KANON Vs Yuya Koroku & Ilusion
2. Shunma Katsumata, Makoto Oishi & Kazuki Hirata Vs Sanshiro Takagi (w/ Cutie Elly The Ehime), Akito & Tsuruhimeka
3. Special Tag Match: Jun Akiyama & Santaro Ishizuchi Vs HARASHIMA & Takeshi Masada
4. Special Single Match: Yukio Naya Vs Matsuyama Warrior
5. Matsuyama Specialty Special Single Match: Danshoku Dieno Vs Bonjin Pulp
6. Special Tag Match: Tetsuya Endo & Imabari Taoru Mascaras Vs Chris Brookes & Kazuma Sumi
7. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Yuki Ueno, MAO & To-y Vs Yuki Iino, Kazusada Higuchi & Keigo Nakamura
The next day Naya takes on Matsuyama Warrior from Ehime Pro.
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW CITY CIRCUIT ’24”, 15/06/2024 Kobe Art Center
1. Yuna Manase Vs Nao Kakuta
Only a few more matches left for Nao Kakuta so she will be getting some significant opponents for her final singles bouts. Yuna Manase returns to Tokyo Joshi Pro to be one of them.
UJPW “ALL TOGETHER IN SAPPORO”, 15/06/2024 Sapporo Hokkai Kitayell
1. Zack Sabre Jr., Robbie Eagles & Kosei Fujita Vs Ulka Sasaki, HAYATA & Yu Owada
2. AZM Vs Starlight Kid
3. Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI Vs Daisuke Sekimoto & Daichi Hashimoto
4. Shota Umino, Ryohei Oiwa & Tetsuya Endo Vs Jeff Cobb, Great-O-Khan & Kazusada Higuchi
5. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Naomichi Marufuji & Kento Miyahara Vs SANADA, Taichi & Yuya Uemura
6. Tomohiro Ishii Vs Masa Kitamiya
7. Shingo Takagi, Yota Tsuji, Hiromu Takahashi, BUSHI & Titan Vs Jack Morris, Anthony Greene, LJ Cleary, Clark Connors & Drilla Moloney
8. Kaito Kiyomita, Kenoh & Alejandro Vs Gabe Kidd, David Finley & YO-HEY
9. Tetsuya Naito Vs Jake Lee
Only updating this because Kento Miyahara and Taichi have been added to Match #5.
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW CITY CIRCUIT ’24”, 16/06/2024 Acros Fukuoka
1. Nao Kakuta Vs HIMAWARI
Kakuta also has a single match with HIMAWARI coming up.
DDT “DRAMATIC DREAM BATTLE”, 16/06/2024 TOKYO FM Hall
1. Chris Brookes, Takeshi Masada & Kazuma Sumi Vs Kazusada Higuchi, Yukio Naya & Yuni
2. Shunma Katsumata & To-y Vs Toru Owashi & Akito
3. DAMNATION T.A Vs BURNING!: Daisuke Sasaki, KANON & MJ Paul Vs Tetsuya Endo, Yuki Iino & Yuya Koroku
4. Special Single Match: Sanshiro Takagi Vs Kazuki Hirata
5. Special Single Match: Danshoku Dieno Vs Makoto Oishi
6. Special Tag Match: Yuki Ueno & Fuminori Abe Vs HARASHIMA & Keigo Nakamura
7. DDT Universal Title: MAO (c) Vs X
One of the most watched videos on DDT’s Youtube channel is a match between Danshoku Dieno and Makoto Oishi from five years ago. The two have decided to have a rematch of that fateful battle!
BASARA “BASARA 251 ~UTAGE~”, 21/06/2024 Shin-Kiba 1st RING
1. Iron Fist Tag Team Titles: Ryota Nakatsu & Kazusada Higuchi (c) Vs Fuminori Abe & Takuya Nomura
Just when it looked like Harimao have run out of opponents for their Iron Fist Tag Team Titles reign, along comes Astronauts to challenge them!
BASARA “BASARA 252 ~TAKAGARI 26~”, 15/07/2024 Tokyo Takashimadaira Kumin Center
1. Union MAX Title: Minoru Fujita (c) Vs Takumi Tsukamoto
The next Union MAX Title match will be held in Takashimadaira Kumin Center for the first time. The venue has been host to BASARA’s B-shows over the last five years with a more relaxed and (more importantly) sober atmosphere compared to the events held in Shin-Kiba 1st RING. It adds another element to Minoru Fujita’s title reign because he has made it his mission to have emotional matches that can only be found in BASARA. Takumi Tsukamoto shares the same vision for his upcoming title challenge here.
GANBARE☆PRO “DISASTER ARTIST 2024”, 15/07/2024 Tokyo Takashimadaira Kumin Center
1. Moeka Haruhi Return Match: Shuichiro Katsumura & YuuRI Vs Yusaku Ito & Moeka Haruhi
2. Fire Festival – A Block: Yumehito Imanari Vs Satsuki Nagao
3. Spirit Of Ganbare World Openweight Title: Keisuke Ishii (c) Vs Hong Kong International Police Man
One of the most unexpected people you can think of will be the next Spirit Of Ganbare Title challenger coming up in July. Hong Kong International Police Man and his co-workers has always shown up at Ganbare☆Pro events whenever a particular wrestler booked for the show goes missing. In fact he has never interacted with Keisuke Ishii before so this is a brand new match-up for both of them.
This year Yumehito Imanari will be entering the annual Fire Festival tournament held by ZERO1. As part of the deal one of his block matches will be taking place in a GanPro show. Satsuki Nagao will be his opponent for that match.
What was already a touching story surrounding Moeka Haruhi’s return match is now even more so because of who she is teaming with. Haruhi recently donated one of her kidneys while years ago Yusaku Ito was the recipient of a kidney transplant.
BASARA “BASARA 250 ~TAKAGARI 25~”, 02/06/2024 Tokyo Takashimadaira Kumin Center ??? Fans – Unannounced
1. Daichi Kazato defeated Takato Nakano with a Rocket Punch (10:09).
2. FUMA & KUBITO defeated Lil’ Kraken & Takahiro Katori when KUBITO pinned Kraken with the Death Metal Roll (13:11).
3. Isami Kodaka & Judomaster Vs Tsutomu Oosugi & Banana Senga ended in a Double Countout (13:22).
4. Ryota Nakatsu defeated Masato Kamino with a Cradle (14:43).
5. Takumi Tsukamoto, SAGAT & Fuminori Abe defeated Minoru Fujita, Yasu Urano & Ryuichi Sekine when Tsukamoto pinned Sekine with the Running Zudon (17:32).
After the main event Takumi Tsukamoto challenged Minoru Fujita for the Union MAX Title at the next Takashimadaira Kumin Center show on 15th July. Fujita said the atmosphere for this title match will be different because the audience in Takashimadaira are more calm and sober than the crowd who gets to drink a lot at BASARA shows held in Shin-Kiba 1st RING. Backstage Tsukamoto said he wants to do a match that only BASARA can do, one that will dig deep into their hearts.
Yesterday it was announced that Astronauts will be challenging Harimao for the Iron Fist Tag Team Titles on 21st June. Fuminori Abe was on the winning side in the main event today. He also walked past Fujita during Fujita’s post match comments backstage.
Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi appeared with the other members of Asian Kung Fu Revolution at the start of the show to announce he has now become a first class Love Intructor. However seconds before his match took place he had to pull out when he suddenly came down with another bout of love sickness. Judomaster replaced him, making his first public appearance since losing the Iron Fist Tag Titles match with Tsukamoto a week ago. His tag match ended in a double countout when everyone fought up to the entrance stage. FUMA appeared in the ring armed with a rifle sensing wildlife was nearby and he shot down all of the wrestlers on the stage. Judomaster tried to run back to the ring but FUMA shot him last and the referee finished the 20 count.
DDT “D-OH GRAND PRIX 2023 IN KORAKUEN HALL”, 24/12/2023 Tokyo Korakuen Hall
-. D-Oh Grand Prix 2023 – B Block: Rei Saito (8) defeated Chris Brookes (2) by Forfeit.
1. Yukio Sakaguchi & Rukiya Vs KANON & MJ Paul
2. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title – Battle Royal ~ Toru Owashi Return Match: The Great Koji (c) Vs Toru Owashi Vs Sanshiro Takagi Vs Kazuki Hirata Vs Akito Vs Kazuma Sumi Vs Open Recruitment X
3. Special Single Match: Rei Saito Vs Hideki Okatani
4. KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles: Jun Akiyama, Danshoku Dieno & Makoto Oishi (c) Vs Masahiro Takanashi, Antonio Honda & Takeshi Masada
5. D-Oh Grand Prix 2023 – B Block: MAO (6) Vs Yukio Naya (6)
6. D-Oh Grand Prix 2023 – A Block: Daisuke Sasaki (5) Vs HARASHIMA (2)
7. D-Oh Grand Prix 2023 – A Block: Yuki Ueno (5) Vs Yuki Iino (2)
8. D-Oh Grand Prix 2023 – A Block: Tetsuya Endo (4) Vs Kazusada Higuchi (6)
Yusuke Okada is out sick and will have to miss tomorrow’s show.
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW INSPIRATION”, 06/01/2024 Shinjuku FACE
1. Pom Harajuku Vs Kuishinbo Kamen
2. Max The Impaler & Yuki Aino Vs HIMAWARI & Toga
3. Battle Royal To Win The Right To Challenge The Princess Of Princess Champion: Mizuki Vs Rika Tatsumi Vs Shoko Nakajima Vs Maki Itoh Vs Yuki Kamifuku Vs Miu Watanabe
4. Death Match: Masha Slamovich Vs Hikari Noa
By the end of the first week in January we will know what the main event of “GRAND PRINCESS ’24” is going to be. Miyu Yamashita and Masha Slamovich are fighting over the Princess Of Princess Title on the 4th. Then two days later there will be a Battle Royal between the six biggest potential challengers remaining for the title. The winner will become the No. 1 Contender and gets to face the champion at Sumo Hall on 31st March.
Life is already a circus for Pom Harajuku so it was only a matter of time before she cross paths with Kuishinbo Kamen. She kicks shins and he sells them like Trevor Berbick. It’s like a match made in heaven!
BASARA “BASARA 239 ~UTAGE~”, 07/01/2024 Shin-Kiba 1st RING
1. KUBITO & Yasu Urano Vs Takato Nakano & Masato Kamino
2. Ryuichi Sekine & Ryota Nakatsu Vs Tsutomu Oosugi & Banana Senga
3. Isami Kodaka Vs Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi
4. Takumi Tsukamoto, SAGAT & Lil’ Kraken Vs Daichi Kazato, Fuminori Abe & Takuya Nomura
5. Union MAX Title: FUMA (c) Vs Minoru Fujita
A little bit of Astronauts for you when BASARA holds their first show of 2024. Takuya Nomura is here to team with Fuminori Abe again but they also have Daichi Kazato on their side too.
September was looking to be more of a quiet month for looking at the overseas adventures of the DDT extended family until the last week showed up like an avalanche. You can always get a lot of news to cover during tournament weekends. It’s a shame that the current state of the independent scene means those tentpole super weekend events don’t get as much coverage like they used to. Can’t blame them when WWE and AEW dominates everybody’s attention. It’s only going to get tougher when those two companies increase their schedules and reach out even further. This week’s news of WWE getting an ABEMA deal and having NOAH promote it on social media does not thrill me. I’ve seen how this story goes before. Even if some kind of big crossover does happen with WWE it is never worth it for the other company in the long run. And any pundit who says a project like NXT Japan will work as a gateway for getting WWE fans into Japanese wrestling is only fooling themselves. The appetite that audience has for non-WWE wrestling is just not there anymore.
Heading into October we have Konosuke Takeshita deep into a feud with The Golden Lovers. The lack of actual wrestling from Takeshita last month annoyed me. I get holding some wrestlers back for PPV but his standard of ring work has been missing from AEW TV recently. His storyline is also pulling in other wrestlers who are never hurting for screentime which makes me worry he is getting pushed to the side. Maki Itoh has finished up her latest North American tour, Shoko Nakajima had a quick trip to the USA and Miyu Yamashita was in the middle of wrestling in UK and Ireland when the month began. The big chunk of news that completely passed me by until it happened was Mizuki Watase going over to wXw in Germany with Shigehiro Irie. Oh and Tokyo Joshi Pro squeezed in a visit to China right at the deadline.
A few years ago the idea of Yamashita wrestling in OTT would have had me overjoyed but nowadays I don’t want to give the company much of my attention because of how people attached to them handled and disregarded Speaking Out. Her Irish wrestling debut had a slight change in plan thanks to the other team. Debbie Keitel was advertised to team with Anita Vaughan but she instead surprised everyone by bringing along Emersyn Jayne to be her partner instead.
MLW “FURY ROAD”, 03/09/2023 2300 Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
1. MLW Women’s World Featherweight Title No. 1 Contendership: B3CCA defeated Maki Itoh with the World Tour (7:42).
A singer showdown took place when Itoh made her first appearance in MLW. Itoh and B3CCA both love to be the centre of attention and literally fought over the microphone during their match. Itoh won that exchange and told B3CCA to “kiss my ass, bitch!” She also found a Singapore cane to beat up B3CCA with outside the ring. But Itoh made the grave mistake of missing the Flying Big Head, allowing B3CCA to give her a Death Valley Driver to the corner and then pin her with the World Tour 450 Splash.
AEW “ALL OUT”, 03/09/2023 United Center, Chicago, Illinois, USA
1. Konosuke Takeshita (w/ Don Callis) defeated Kenny Omega with the Powerdrive Knee (22:30).
A few days after Takeshita pinned Kenny Omega in England, he did it again back in America this time in a singles match. The match carried history over from Omega’s time in DDT, wearing new green and yellows tights based on what he wore in the early 2010s. Don Callis got involved though and brought the dreaded screwdriver into the match for Takeshita to use. However this time the referee stopped it from being used. It turned out Takeshita wouldn’t have needed it because he went on to beat Omega anyway, pulling down his kneepad to hit a raw Powerdrive Knee for the victory. The match even got ***** from Dave Meltzer! Okay, that doesn’t mean as much as it used to but it’s still a good accomplishment to have. Also let’s face it, when the wrestlers who complain about star ratings actually do get ***** from Meltzer they all of a sudden do a 180 and become grateful for it.
MYSTERY WRESTLING “MYSTERY WRESTLING 3”, 08/09/2023 Centre Aydelu, Gatineau, Quebec, Canada
1. Emi Sakura defeated Maki Itoh with La Magistral Cradle (?:??).
This year over in Canada Evil Uno has been running a Mystery Wrestling show on his Twitch channel every couple of months. The surprise headline match for the most recent event was a first time singles bout between Itoh and Emi Sakura. Itoh played a trick to escape from Sakura’s attacks by beginning to cry and then walking out of the match back to the locker room. She then reappeared from the opposite side of the room to attack a confused Sakura from behind. Sakura’s not someone you can beat with just one trick though. She ended up rolling Itoh into La Magistral Cradle to win the match.
GCW “CRUSHED UP”, 10/09/2023 Roulette Intermedium, New York City, New York, USA
1. Maki Itoh defeated Killer Kelly with a Tornado DDT (10:43).
Itoh’s current run with GCW ended here with a match against Killer Kelly. She’ll be back again later this year but what will be in store for her next? Her feud with Matt Cardona & Steph De Lander can be never ending but there has to be other stuff she wants to do in GCW next. Maybe she already found a new arch nemesis as you will see at the bottom of this post.
WXW “INNER CIRCLE”, 21/09/2023 wXw Wrestling Academy, Gelsenkirchen, Germany
1. Mizuki Watase defeated Danny Fray with a Diving Foot Stomp (7:23).
2. Shigehiro Irie defeated 1 Called Manders with a Roaring Elbow (8:57).
This was already announced earlier in the summer and I completely missed it. Irie & Watase reunited as RENEGADES to enter the annual World Tag Team Festival in Germany! But first the wrestlers took part in separate warmup matches the night before the tournament began. Watase’s first match ever in Germany was a win against Danny Fray. Irie also won his match by beating 1 Called Manders in a hoss fight.
WXW “WORLD TAG TEAM FESTIVAL 2023 – NIGHT 1”, 22/09/2023 Turbinenhalle 2, Oberhausen, Germany
1. World Tag Team Festival 2023 – Round 1: Shigehiro Irie & Mizuki Watase defeated Aigle Blanc & Senza Volto when Irie pinned Blanc with the Beast Bomber (16:41).
Irie won wXw’s other premium tournament the 16 Carat Gold back in March so he had his heart set on winning WTTF with Watase. They eliminated The Frenchadors in the opening round. Aigle Blanc & Senza Volto are former wXw World Tag Team Champions so RENEGADES could not have gotten off to a better start.
1. Shigehiro Irie defeated Arez with the Beast Bomber (9:20).
The WTTF weekend also featured shows promoted by GCW as part of their September European tour. Only Irie was on the first of two GCW shows that weekend where he beat the luchador Arez. Normally I wouldn’t include entries for Irie by himself but since he was RENEGADES affiliated for the weekend, I’m adding it here.
FREELANCE “ONCE UPON A TIME IN FREELANCE”, 22/09/2023 Avondale Music Hall, Chicago, Illinois, USA
1. Shoko Nakajima defeated Shazza McKenzie with the Diving Senton (12:19).
Nakajima did a quick trip to the United States near the end of the month. Her first stop was at Freelance where she got over big with the crowd during her win against Shazza McKenzie. Nakajima’s quickness and ability to hit the 619 from any height near the ropes were the key to victory here.
WXW “WORLD TAG TEAM FESTIVAL 2023 – NIGHT 2”, 23/09/2023 Turbinenhalle 2, Oberhausen, Germany
1. World Tag Team Festival 2023 – Round 2: Shigehiro Irie & Mizuki Watase defeated Takuya Nomura & Fuminori Abe when Irie pinned Abe with a Roaring Elbow (16:14).
RENEGADES weren’t the only Japanese team taking part in WTTF weekend. Takuya Nomura & Fuminori Abe from Astronauts were there too! The two team crossed paths in Night 2 where the winners would advance to Sunday’s final.
GCW “GCW VS THE WORLD”, 23/09/2023 Turbinenhalle 2, Oberhausen, Germany
1. Scramble Match: Gringo Loco defeated Mizuki Watase, The Rotation, Arez, Jimmy Lloyd and Aigle Blanc when Loco pinned Blanc with the Base Bomb (11:46).
2. Joey Janela defeated Shigehiro Irie with the Diving Foot Stomp (17:19).
Irie was in GCW again for their other show in Germany, losing to Joey Janela in the main event. Watase also showed up by taking part in one of GCW’s staples, the Scramble Match. Watase hit a big dive and also the Coast To Coast Dropkick but otherwise got lost in the action and did not factor into the finish.
WXW “WORLD TAG TEAM FESTIVAL 2023 – NIGHT 3”, 24/09/2023 Turbinenhalle 2, Oberhausen, Germany
1. wXw World Tag Team Titles – World Tag Team Festival 2023 Final 3 Way Match: Hektor Invictus & Dennis Dullnig defeated Robert Dreissker & Laurance Roman (c) and Shigehiro Irie & Mizuki Watase (23:13). *Amboss fails in V1. Hektor Invictus & Dennis Dullnig become the 64th wXw World Tag Team Champions!
RENEGADES made it all the way to the final. Had Irie & Watase won the match and the tournament they would have become the new wXw Tag Champions. Sadly for them they couldn’t pull it off. Instead Hektor Invictus & Dennis Dullnig were the winners, taking the titles away from the defending champions Amboss.
PRESTIGE “THE RESPECT ISSUE”, 24/09/2023 Globe Theatre, Los Angeles, California, USA
1. Trish Adora defeated Shoko Nakajima with the Lariat Tubman (9:51).
Nakajima’s other US booking this month was with Prestige at the Globe Theatre, the same location TJPW will return to this December. Trish Adora was a tougher opponent for her and kicked out of the Northern Lights Suplex. Just when Nakajima thought he had another shot, she was caught off guard and pinned with the Lariat Tubman.
JFC “JINGWU TAN JFC EXOTIC FIGHTING EXHIBITION 2”, 30/09/2023 Rucker Park, Chaoyang, Shanghai, China
1. Tokyo Joshi Pro Offer Match: Maki Itoh defeated Yuki Aino with the Itoh Deluxe (?:??).
2. Tokyo Joshi Pro Offer Match: Mizuki defeated Nao Kakuta with the Cutie Special (?:??).
TJPW sent four of their wrestlers over to China for a martial arts expo taking place in Shanghai. They would be presenting two women’s pro wrestling matches to go along with a bunch of other martial art bouts provided by other groups. It is not the first time joshi wrestling has been part of the event. The same organizers had Sareee and Nanae Takahashi wrestle for them during the first expo in the summer. After a lot of searching through Chinese social media I was able to find a clip of Mizuki beating Nao Kakuta and Itoh locking in the Itoh Deluxe on Yuki Aino.
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Upcoming Appearances
AEW “WRESTLEDREAM”, 01/10/2023 Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle, Washington, USA
1. Chris Jericho, Kenny Omega & Kota Ibushi Vs Sammy Guevara, Will Ospreay & Konosuke Takeshita (w/ Don Callis)
Takeshita has spent the rest of the month either standing to the side Don Callis or wrestling back in Japan for DDT. Oh and he also invaded Kota Ibushi’s gym, attacking him with a kettlebell (and also getting Yumehito Imanari caught in the crossfire) because Callis understands how much Ibushi means to Omega. The big payoff it is leading to will happen later today when The Golden Lovers & Chris Jericho join forces to get revenge on The Don Callis Family. Takeshita is part of that family teaming with Sammy Guevara (newest member) and Will Ospreay (not a member). It is annoying to see what looked like a big push for Takeshita turn into him getting pushed aside so Jericho, Guevara and Ospreay can all squeeze into the spotlight instead.
WARRIOR “WARRIOR WRESTLING 31”, 06/10/2023 Bendix Arena, South Bend, Indiana, USA
1. Konosuke Takeshita Vs Storm Grayson (w/ Frank The Clown)
One of the few American indies Takeshita wrestles for when he’s not busy with AEW is Warrior Wrestling. The next time he shows up there he takes on one of Frank The Clown’s clients, Storm Grayson.
SPARK “RISING HEAT WEST”, 11/10/2023 LA Dojo, Carson, California, USA
1. Spark Joshi World Title: Miyu Yamashita (c) Vs Billie Starkz
A familiar opponent challenges Yamashita for the Spark Joshi Title. She has a 1-1 singles record against Billi Starkz so this championship bout can also end up becoming a rubber match between the two.
SPARK “RISING HEAT EAST”, 14/10/2023 Engelwood Neighborhood Center, Orlando, Florida, USA
1. Miu Watanabe Vs KiLynn King
2. Miyu Yamashita Vs Jessie
A few days later Yamashita takes on Jessie, the former Jessi Kamea from NXT. That’s an interesting matchup because since leaving WWE, Jessie wound up doing a tour in Stardom. So we have a TJPW Vs Stardom match on a Spark show.
But Yamashita won’t be the only Tokyo Joshi there. Miu Watanabe is along for the ride too! She is getting to fight KiLynn King from Impact in what is sure to be a hoss fight. Or a hossette fight? Whatever, two strong women are going to fight each other. What more do you want?
LLL “THE HANDS OF FATE”, 20/10/2023 The Oriental Theater, Denver, Colorado, USA
1. Lilith Grimm Vs Miyu Yamashita
Are there Lucha Libra & Laughs to be found when Yamashita pays another visit to Denver? Her opponent Lilith Grimm is nicknamed “The War Hammer” and does an entrance where she sets off sparks with a grinder.
SETUP “SETUP EP.16”, 28/10/2023 The Circus Studio, G Village, Bangkok, Thailand
1. Gatoh Move One And Only Title & SETUP Thailand Openweight Title: Paksa (G/c) Vs Masahiro Takanashi (S/c)
2. Dramatic Dream Match: Chris Brookes Vs Monomoth
Whenever CDK goes over to Thailand and shows up in SETUP they tend to take over the place. One of the local faces Monomoth tries his best to defend his home but Chris Brookes & Masahiro Takanashi find ways to get the better of him. Monomoth now gets to fight Brookes in a big singles match the next time Brookes heads over.
Meanwhile Takanashi has been ruling the roost in SETUP as the SETUP Openweight Champion. He can increase his domination when he has a double title match against Paksa. Takanashi puts his SETUP Title on the line while Paksa is defending a Gatoh Move branded championship called the One And Only Title.
REPUBLIC OF LUCHA “ROL VI VI VI: LA NOCHE DE WALPURGIS”, 30/10/2023 Republic Of Lucha, South Pasadena, California, USA
1. Konosuke Takeshita, Penta el Zero Miedo & Rey Fenix Vs Shun Skywalker, Bestia 666 & Mecha Wolf
I’m keeping my fingers crossed that nobody in The Lucha Brothers gets injured, company politics do not keep Takeshita and Shun Skywalker away from each other and Vampiro does not show up with La Rebelion.
DAIKAIJU PRO “VOL. 1 – THE KAPPAS WALK AMONG US”, 04/11/2023 White Eagle, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
1. Shoko Nakajima Vs X
Something new and monstrous is coming out of Massachusetts. Daikaiju Pro is holding their debut show and seems to have deep ties with SETUP and also the UMA Corps. The new promotion is promising a mixture of talent coming in to mix around with monsters and other strange creatures. A show like these requires a Big Kaiju so Nakajima will be there.
TOKYO JOSHI PRO/PRESTIGE “COMBAT PRINCESS USA”, 14/12/2023 Globe Theatre, Los Angeles, California, USA
Miu Watanabe has been added to the lineup.
PANDEMONIUM PRO “HOLIDAY IN LA”, 17/12/2023 Don Quixote, Los Angeles, California, USA
1. Mike Bailey Vs Miyu Yamashita
Yeah this do quite nicely. Pandemonium Pro is doing Yamashita against Mike Bailey in a first time ever matchup.
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Other Appearances
GCW “SAY YOU WILL”, 01/09/2023 Grand Sports Arena, Hoffman Estates, Illinois, USA
Itoh did not wrestle on the first GCW show of the month. Instead she showed up to attack Frank The Clown with a pizza cutter much to everyone’s delight.
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “SUMMER SUN PRINCESS ’23”, 08/07/2023 Tokyo Ota Ward Gymnasium
1. Juria Nagano Comeback Match: Suzume & Arisu Endo Vs Moka Miyamoto Vs Juria Nagano
2. Mahiro Kiryu, Haruna Neko, HIMAWARI & Shino Suzuki Vs Kaya Toribami, Toga, Haru Kazashiro & Runa Okubo
3. Ryo Mizunami & Nao Kakuta Vs Yuki Kamifuku & Asuka
4. DEFY Women’s Title: Vert Vixen (c) Vs Hikari Noa
5. 3 Way Tag Match: Shoko Nakajima & Hyper Misao Vs Aja Kong & Raku Vs Max The Impaler & Pom Harajuku
6. Nyla Rose Vs Miu Watanabe
7. EVE Title: Miyu Yamashita (c) Vs Sawyer Wreck
8. Sakisama & Mei Saint-Michel Vs Yuki Arai & Wakana Uehara
9. International Princess Title: Rika Tatsumi (c) Vs Yuki Arai
10. Princess Of Princess Title: Mizuki (c) Vs Maki Itoh
Miyu Yamashita was in London this past weekend wrestling in EVE. She successfully defended the EVE Title against “The Unbreakable” Rhio (filling in for Yamashita’s original opponent Emersyn Jayne). After the show Yamashita recorded a video message telling Sawyer Wreck she wants to put the EVE Title on the line for their match at “SUMMER SUN PRINCESS ’23”.
GANBARE☆PRO “WRESTLE SEKIGAHARA II”, 09/07/2023 Tokyo Ota Ward Gymnasium
1. Munetatsu Nakamura Vs Masahiro Takanashi
2. YuuRI & Tomoka Inaba Vs Takumi Iroha & Mio Momono
3. Riara Vs Sayaka Unagi
4. Yoshiko Hasegawa Vs Miyuki Takase
5. Keisuke Ishii, Shigehiro Irie & Soma Takao Vs Akito, Shota & Shinichiro Tominaga
6. Spirit Of Ganbare World Tag Team Titles Next Challengers Decision Survival 4 Way Tag Match: Ken Ohka & Kuma Arashi Vs Hartley Jackson & HARUKAZE Vs Minoru Fujita & Daiki Shimomura Vs Tsuyoshi Okada & Yuki Kanzaki
7. Special Single Match: Yumehito Imanari Vs El Lindaman
8. Spirit Of Ganbare World Tag Team Titles: Hikaru Sato & Tyson Maeguchi (c) Vs Shuichiro Katsumura & Takuya Wada
9. Spirit Of Ganbare World Openweight Title: Mizuki Watase (c) Vs Isami Kodaka
The contracts for the two championship matches have been signed. Isami Kodaka said he wants to win the Spirit Of Ganbare Title so he can keep wrestling in Ganbare☆Pro. He respects Mizuki Watase for carrying GanPro after Ken Ohka’s position on top faded away. Watase said he can win any battle because of the support from the fans. If this match really is about GanPro Vs BASARA then Watase urges the BASARA fans to hurry up and buy tickets to the show.
Last year at the first “WRESTLE SEKIGAHARA” there was a match between Shuichiro Katsumura and Minoru Suzuki. GanPro interviewed Takuya Wada as part of the promotion for the match and he went along to watch it. One year later and Wada cannot believe he is now wrestling on the show! Tyson Maeguchi is in a similar mindset because he only won his first match at last year’s show and now he is going into this year’s event as a champion. Meanwhile Hikaru Sato is wondering will the actual Spirit Of Ganbare Tag Team Title belts ever arrive? He is fine with carrying around the tournament trophies instead because he cannot imagine what Hentai Punch Drunkers would look like wearing championship belts.
There is history that already exists between Yumehito Imanari and El Lindaman. They both entered the 2020 Tenkaichi Jr. Tournament in ZERO1 and faced each other in a couple of tag matches in the same company a year later. Lindaman also invited Imanari to train with him in 2022 while Imanari was the SOG Champion preparing for the title defence against Shigehiro Irie. The two know each other’s feelings and Imanari knew he was destined to wrestle Imanari in a singles match some day. He does not know if there is anybody in wrestling as sincere as Lindaman so he promises to wrestle at 120% for him. Lindaman said the Imanari Vs Irie match changed his perception of pro wrestling and he’s been trying to rediscover it ever since. He does not know if this match with Imanari will give him the answer he’s looking for but it will bring him one step closer.
BASARA “BASARA 224 ~TAKAGARI 18~”, 17/07/2023 Tokyo Takashimadaira Kumin Center
1. Daiki Shimomura & Minoru Fujita Vs Lil’ Kraken & Leo Isaka
2. Takato Nakano Vs Fuminori Abe
3. FUMA & Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi Vs Tsutomu Oosugi & Banana Senga
4. Isami Kodaka Vs Daichi Kazato
5. Takumi Tsukamoto & Yasu Urano Vs Ryota Nakatsu & SAGAT
There is one more BASARA show taking place before they return to Korakuen Hall. A few of the matches here builds up to what’s going to happen later in the month.
DDT “SOYOKAZE PRO WRESTLING”, 17/07/2023 Tokyo Sumida Park Breeze Square
1. X Vs X
2. X Vs X
3. X Vs X
DDT is holding a free outdoor show at the 14th annual Soyokaze Tsunagu Festival. There will be three matches held with Tetsuya Endo, Danshoku Dieno, HARASHIMA, Chris Brookes and Shinichiro Kawamatsu as the wrestlers advertised so far.
GANBARE☆PRO “MACHIDA KANSAI PRO WRESTLING FESTIVAL”, 22/07/2023 Tokyo Machida GION Stadium
1. Shuichiro Katsumura Vs Munetatsu Nakamura
2. Cherry & Riara Vs HARUKAZE & Yoshiko Hasegawa
3. Ken Ohka, Seiya Morohashi & HIROYA Vs Keisuke Ishii, Shota & Shinichiro Tominaga
GanPro gets to continue CyberFight’s relationship with FC Machida Zelvia. A wrestling ring will be set up outside the stadium on the day of Zelvia’s home game against JEF United Chiba. Matches will be held for free in front of spectators going to see the football match.
BASARA “BASARA 225 ~SENGUNBANBA~”, 23/07/2023 Tokyo Korakuen Hall
1. FUMA & Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi Vs Lil’ Kraken & Akira Jo
2. 3 Way Match: Daichi Kazato Vs Gouma Ryu Vs Yasu Urano
3. IRON FIST Tag Team Titles Next Challengers 3 Way Match: Ryuichi Sekine & Ryota Nakatsu Vs Fuminori Abe & Takuya Nomura Vs Tsutomu Oosugi & Banana Senga
4. Isami Kodaka Vs SHO
5. IRON FIST Tag Team Titles Unification Match: Takato Nakano & Masato Kamino (c) Vs Daiki Shimomura & Minoru Fujita (i/c)
6. Union MAX Title & CCW Canadian Heavyweight Title: Takumi Tsukamoto (M/c) Vs SAGAT (C/c)
Ryuichi Sekine accepted Ryota Nakatsu’s request to team up again. What sounded like a one time idea may end up lasting longer though because they are entering a No. 1 Contenders match for the IRON FIST Tag Team Titles. They have to take on two former champion teams Astronauts and Speed Of Sounds at the same time.
I haven’t paid attention to what Akira Jo has been doing since his days in DNA. That was seven years ago? Time sure does fly by.
DDT “SAKI AKAI 10TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR IN KORAKUEN!!”, 13/08/2023 Tokyo Korakuen Hall
1. Saki Akai Debut 10th Anniversary Match Vol. 2 ~ Special 6-Woman Tag Match: Saki Akai, Maya Yukihi & Asuka Vs Takumi Iroha, Rina Yamashita & X
There are several big matches planned for Saki Akai to celebrate her 10 years in wrestling. This one in August has Akai teaming with two of her most recent important opponents Maya Yukihi and Asuka. She spent 2022 in rivalries with both women in DDT. The other team consists of Takumi Iroha and Rina Yamashita along with a third partner yet to be revealed. Iroha and Yamashita’s connection to Akai is they all debuted in the same year. That might provide a clue as to who the third wrestler is going to be.
DDT “OSAKA BAYS BLUES SPECIAL 2023”, 20/08/2023 Osaka Edion Arena #2
1. Current Blast Death Match: Atsushi Onita Vs X
Last week Yukio Sakaguchi challenged Atsushi Onita to give him a shot at the All Asia Tag Team Titles. Onita would only agree if it took place in the exploding death match being planned for Osaka on 20th August. Makes sense because the other champion Yoshitatsu is advertised for the show. However the next day everyone found out that Onita broke his wrist during the Hardcore Tag Match after taking a kick from Sakaguchi. He is about to get surgery for the injury and intends not to miss next month’s Osaka show.
Shigehiro Irie, Kotaro Suzuki and Tsutenkakuka will also be on the show.
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “ADDITIONAL ATTACK ’22”, 19/06/2022 Tokyo Korakuen Hall
1. Arisu Endo Vs Kaya Toribami
2. Yuki Kamifuku & Mahiro Kiryu Vs Nao Kakuta & Haruna Neko
3. 3 Way Match: Yuki Aino Vs Raku Vs Pom Harajuku
4. Miu Watanabe Vs Juria Nagano
5. Miyu Yamashita & Moka Miyamoto Vs Saki Akai & Yuki Arai
6. Rika Tatsumi & Suzume Vs Maki Itoh & Hikari Noa
7. Princess Tag Team Titles: Yuka Sakazaki & Mizuki (c) Vs Shoko Nakajima & Hyper Misao
The match order for tomorrow has been determined. The change is just matches #5 and #6 swapping places now that Rika Tatsumi is the No. 1 Contender.
DDT “KING OF DDT 2022 2ND ROUND”, 19/06/2022 Tokyo Korakuen Hall
0. Dark Match: Toru Owashi & Kazuki Hirata Vs Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno & Yumehito “Fantastic” Imanari
1. DAMNATION T.A Vs Eruption!: MJ Paul & KANON Vs Yukio Sakaguchi & Hideki Okatani
2. THE KICKBOXING MATCH 2022: Shinya Aoki & Toi Kojima Vs Hikaru Machida & Gota Ihashi
3. MAO, Shunma Katsumata, Yusuke Okada & Yuya Koroku Vs Yuji Hino, Yukio Naya, Chris Brookes & Yuki Ishida
4. King Of DDT 2022 – Round 2: Masahiro Takanashi Vs Kazusada Higuchi
5. King Of DDT 2022 – Round 2: Jun Akiyama Vs Yuki “Sexy” Iino
6. King Of DDT 2022 – Round 2: Daisuke Sasaki Vs Yuki Ueno
7. King Of DDT 2022 – Round 2: Naomi Yoshimura Vs HARASHIMA
Round 2 of King Of DDT takes place tomorrow. The winners will all be put through a lottery at the end of the show to pick who faces who in the semi-finals next month.
THE KICKBOXING MATCH is set for 5 Rounds with a 3 minute time limit for each. Fitness model Sanae Takebayashi is the special guest ring girl along with Miyata Mitsuru as the ring announcer. Takebayashi has wrestled before with Best Body Japan Pro Wrestling.
BASARA “BASARA 195 ~GLITTER~”, 21/06/2022 Shin-Kiba 1st RING
1. Lil’ Kraken Vs Chicharito Shoki
2. Daichi Kazato & Gouma Vs SAGAT & Akiyori Takizawa
3. Takumi Tsukamoto, Fuminori Abe & Yasu Urano Vs Daiki Shimomura, Takato Nakano & Masato Kamino
4. IRON FIST Tag Titles: Tsutomu Oosugi & Banana Senga (c) Vs FUMA & Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi
5. Union MAX Title: Ryota Nakatsu (c) Vs Isami Kodaka
There would be nothing better to celebrate Isami Kodaka’s 20th anniversary in wrestling than to win back the Union MAX Title. Otherwise Ryota Nakatsu will continue is unstoppable reign as champion.
GANBARE☆PRO “KINDERGARTEN COP 2022”, 29/06/2022 Shin-Kiba 1st RING
1. Ganbare☆Pro Wrestling Vs Dotonbori Pro Wrestling: Kouki Iwasaki Vs Ryuya Matsufusa
2. Ganpro Special Mixed 6-Man Tag Match: Shuichiro Katsumura, Yuna Manase & YuuRI Vs Mizuki Watase, Moeka Haruhi & HARUKAZE
3. Spirit World Drunkers Vs Dragon Beast Bombers: Onryo & Tyson Maeguchi Vs Tatsuhito Takaiwa & Shigehiro Irie
4. Ishii-gun Vs Pro Wrestling BASARA: Keisuke Ishii & Nobuhiro Shimatani Vs Isami Kodaka & Daiki Shimomura
5. Road To SEKIGAHARA Special 6-Man Tag Match: Yumehito Imanari, Shota & Soma Takao Vs Ken Ohka, Masahiro Takanashi & Chris Brookes
The build to “WRESTLE SEKIGAHARA” continues with Ganbare☆Pro putting together a lot of fresh matches it has to be said. BASARA are invited round with Kodaka & Daiki Shimomura taking on Keisuke Ishii & Nobuhiro Shimatani. That match doubles up as a Gran MilliMeters reunion for Shimomura and Shimatani. Former opponents Onryo & Tyson Maeguchi team up to go against the unique team of Tatsuhito Takaiwa & Shigehiro Irie. Also Ryuya Matsufusa returns to Ganpro for a match against Kouki Iwasaki.
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “SUMMER SUN PRINCESS ’22”, 09/07/2022 Tokyo Ota Ward Gymnasium
1. Willow Nightingale Vs X
2. Mei Suruga & Suzume Vs X & X
3. International Princess Title: Maki Itoh (c) Vs Invited Overseas Wrestler
4. Princess Of Princess Title: Shoko Nakajima (c) Vs Rika Tatsumi
American wrestler Willow Nightingale will make her Tokyo Joshi Pro debut on the show. “The Babe With The Power” is a regular on the American indies with her most high profile work being with ROH, MLW and lately AEW. An interesting note to point out is she will not be the foreign wrestler challenging Maki Itoh for the International Princess Title. Nightingale’s match will instead be announced on a later date.
May as well put it here that the latest issue of the Wrestling Observer reports on discussions to bring Thunder Rosa back to TJPW while she holds the AEW Women’s Title. This follows up on last week’s report on AEW being so impressed with Miyu Yamashita during her entire American excursion that they may want to do Rosa Vs Yamashita for the title somewhere down the road. Rosa herself hasn’t kept it a secret about how much she supports TJPW and wants to go back to Japan (and I think she let slip on one of her vlogs that it will happen sooner rather than later). That would be a big opponent for Itoh because the belt she has was taken away from Rosa two years ago.
GANBARE☆PRO “WRESTLE SEKIGAHARA”, 10/07/2022 Tokyo Ota Ward Gymnasium
1. Ganbare☆Pro Wrestling Vs Takiawa Army: Kouki Iwasaki & Tyson Maeguchi Vs Tatsuhito Takaiwa & 5th Black Tiger
2. Four Beasts Of Fate Gathered In Sekigahara ~Special Tag Match~: Keisuke Ishii & Shigehiro Irie Vs Isami Kodaka & Shuji Ishikawa
3. Ganbare☆Pro Wrestling Vs Eruption: Mizuki Watase, Moeka Haruhi & Shinichiro Tominaga Vs Yukio Sakaguchi, Saki Akai & Hideki Okatani
4. Special Single Match: Yuna Manase Vs Sayaka Unagi
5. Special Tag Match ~ CDK Vs ROMANCE DAWN: Chris Brookes & Masahiro Takanashi Vs Shota & Soma Takao
6. Special Single Match: Shuichiro Katsumura Vs Minoru Suzuki
7. Spirit Of Ganbare World Openweight Title: Yumehito Imanari (c) Vs Ken Ohka
Four figures from the past DNA that helped create Ganbare☆Pro are put together for a beastly tag match. You can trace Ishii, Irie, Kodaka and Shuji Ishikawa back to Ganpro’s predecessor Union Pro.
BASARA “ISAMI KODAKA 20TH ANNIVERSARY”, 18/07/2022 Tokyo Korakuen Hall
1. Lil’ Kraken Vs Raimu Imai
2. 3 Way Jacket Match: Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi Vs Gouma Vs Shiori Asahi
3. Takumi Tsukamoto, Yasu Urano & Kengo Mashimo Vs FUMA, Yusuke Kubo & Daichi Kazato
4. Daiki Shimomura, Takato Nakano & Masato Kamino Vs Tsutomu Oosugi, Banana Senga & Masahiro Takanashi
5. Elimination 8-Man Tag Match: Ryota Nakatsu, SAGAT, Naoki Tanizaki & Akiyori Takizawa Vs Fuminori Abe, Takuya Nomura, Hideyoshi Kamitani & Kosuke Sato
6. Isami Kodaka Vs Yuko Miyamoto
Kodaka celebrates his 20th Anniversary by taking on the wrestler who probably knows him better than anyone else in the business. Yuko Miyamoto teams on and off with Kodaka as Yankee Two Kenju and is probably the most fitting opponent available for this show.
For the first time in a long time Sparky is together at full power. All four members of the unit will team up to take on a Big Japan flavored team led by Astronauts.
Yusuke Kubo has recovered from his illness and returns to wrestling here. It will be his first match since March.
DDT “SUMMER VACATION 2022”, 24/07/2022 Tokyo Korakuen Hall
1. Makoto Oishi Return Match: Makoto Oishi Vs X
After one year away with injury, Makoto Oishi returns to the ring! Oishi suffered a back injury last July during a match and had to be stretchered out of the venue. He was diagnosed with a fractured lumbar vertebrae and hadn’t wrestled since. However he was equipped with a back brace and continued working in the background at DDT shows, even finding ways to perform on those shows without having to wrestle.
BASARA “BASARA 173 ~FUDO FUKUTSU~”, 24/10/2021 Tokyo Korakuen Hall ??? Fans – Withheld
1. FUMA & Yusuke Kubo defeated Takato Nakano & Lil Kraken when FUMA submitted Kraken with a Stretch Muffler (6:05).
2. Gouma & Yasu Urano defeated Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi & Daichi Kazato when Urano pinned Kazato with a Diving Body Press (6:16).
3. SAGAT defeated Masato Kamino with the Goregrind (9:17).
4. UWA World 6-Man Tag Team Titles: Toru Owashi, Shuji Kondo & Takuya Sugawara defeated Isami Kodaka, Daiki Shimomura & Yuko Miyamoto when Kondo pinned Shimomura with the King Kong Lariat (12:41). *Aagan Iisou become the 69th UWA World 6-Man Tag Team Champions!
5. IRON FIST Tag Titles: Tsutomu Oosugi & Banana Senga defeated Fuminori Abe & Takuya Nomura (c) when Oosugi pinned Abe with the Tsuki no Ishi (17:24). *Astronauts fail in V3. Speed Of Sounds become the 5th IRON FIST Tag Champions!
6. Union MAX Title: Ryota Nakatsu defeated Takumi Tsukamoto (c) with the V Slider (19:57). *Takumi Tsukamoto fails in V7. Ryota Nakatsu becomes the 16th Union MAX Champion!
Ryota Nakatsu is now a two time Union MAX Champion after beating Takumi Tsukamoto. There was a High Kick in the match that Tsukamoto said blew away all of the memories he had since waking up this morning. The result gives the former champion mixed emotions. He is both extremely disappointed he lost and extremely happy to see Nakatsu as the champion again. He told Nakatsu to make good use of the MAX Title because he will win it back some day. Nakatsu wants to beat Tsukamoto’s reign of six defences so will aim to make seven. SAGAT came out and asked to be the first challenger. It will be Sparky Vs Sparky for the MAX Title!
Speed Of Sounds reclaims the IRON FIST Tag Titles from Astronauts! Teamwork was the key to this result. Tsutomu Oosugi praised his partner Banana Senga for being there at the right time, every time. He said if you ever want to win tag team championships, you have to have Senga as your tag partner. Over on the Astronauts side, Fuminori Abe & Takuya Nomura agreed that they lost because they wrestled more like two individuals instead of a team. However, Abe thinks Astronauts are still one of the top tag teams around. It’s up to them to start from the beginning again and improve each other as a team.
The UWA World 6-Man Tag Team Titles now belong to Toru Owashi, Shuji Kondo & Takuya Sugawara. It’s Aagan Iisou reunited! Owashi said the belts mean a lot to them because they were used by Toryumon and El Dorado when they were there. Aagan Iisou now claim management rights over the championship and where it will go next is up to them. Sugawara wrestled in BASARA for the first time and likes what he sees. He’s sure he will show up here again periodically. Owashi also praised Daiki Shimomura for how he has grown in BASARA. Isami Kodaka shares similar thoughts, feeling regret for Shimomura losing his title belt. He and Yuko Miyamoto were also happy to find out Minoru Fujita was in the venue to watch today’s show.
Yasu Urano carried the Fujita Pro Wrestling School flag to the ring for his entrance. Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi moved around weirdly on his feet during the match and blamed it on gout. He later turned the match into a singing contest against Gouma.
The shaky mystery of who is behind the Lil Kraken mask is cracking even further. His tag partner Takato Nakano accidentally shouted out “Tetsuo!” when he reached out for a tag during the match.
1. SAGAT & Akiyori Takizawa defeated Takumi Tsukamoto & Takato Nakano when SAGAT submitted Nakano with a Modified Backbreaker (9:32)
2. Jacket Double Bout: Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi & Gouma defeated Yusuke Kubo & Daichi Kazato by Referee Stoppage when Hiroshi used the Infinite STO on Kazato (R4 1:58).
3. Masato Kamino defeated Daiki Shimomura with the Lariat (13:15).
4. Fuminori Abe, Takuya Nomura & Yasu Urano defeated Isami Kodaka, Tsutomu Oosugi & Banana Senga when Abe submitted Oosugi with the Manjigatame (11:49).
5. Union MAX Next Challenger Decision League – Final: Ryota Nakatsu defeated FUMA with the V Slider (21:02).
Ryota Nakatsu wins the Decision League and will face Takumi Tsukamoto for the Union MAX Title at Korakuen Hall on 24th October! Nakatsu praised FUMA and admitted he could have lost to him today. Nakatsu called out Tsukamoto and called him really strong. Tsukamoto returned the compliment but told him he isn’t going to win the MAX Title from him. Nakatsu told the fans he and Tsukamoto are both 30 years old and they are going to have a passionate fight at Korakuen.
The 6-Man Tag Match was built around two things. The first was the amount of champions involved in the match. Isami Kodaka, Fuminori Abe and Takuya Nomura all entered carrying belts from several different promotions. The second was Astronauts and Speed Of Sounds facing off to see who is stronger. Abe made Tsutomu Oosugi submit to win the match but asked SOS if they could fight them again on 24th October for the IRON FIST Tag Titles. SOS accepted and Banana Senga said they will show Astronauts the true essence of tag team wrestling.
Toru Owashi attacked Isami Kodaka and Daiki Shimomura after Match #3. He almost Choke Slammed Shimomura onto a pile of chairs but was stopped and kicked out of the venue. As Owashi was leaving he told the Sento Minzoku wrestlers to polish the UWA 6-Man Tag Team Title belts every day because his team are coming to take them on 24th October!
Extra stipulations were added to the Jacket Match after every round. The first round was using regular tag rules, the second turned into a Tornado Tag Match and the third round onwards allowed weapons to be used.