Aoki Is Now The Champ, The 37KAMIINA Have Chips On Their Shoulder, Wrestle Princess V Heats up

DDT “FIGHTING BEER GARDEN 2024 IN SHINJUKU – DAY 2”, 30/08/2024
Shinjuku FACE

1. Toru Owashi & Yuki Ishida Vs Yuni & Keigo Nakamura
2. Daisuke Sasaki, KANON & MJ Paul Vs Toru Owashi, Keigo Nakamura & Yuya Koroku
3. Rock ‘N’ Roll 4 Way Death Match: Akito Vs Antonio Honda Vs To-y Vs Kazuma Sumi
4. The Long Awaited New Series By Hisaya Imabayashi! Kaidan Shin Numabukuro Deathmatch 2: Shunma Katsumata Vs Jun Akiyama Vs Danshoku Dieno Vs Makoto Oishi
5. Special Single Match: Chris Brookes Vs Ilusion
6. Beer Garden Specialty Customer Lottery 8-Man Tag Match: Yuki Ueno, MAO, HARASHIMA, Tetsuya Endo, Yuki Iino, Kazuki Hirata, Yukio Naya, Takeshi Masada

Over the weekend Ilusion made more attempts at asking Chris Brookes if he could join SCHADENFREUDE International only to be turned down again. Brookes instead offered Ilusion a singles match between them. See it as Ilusion’s last chance to convince Brookes that he deserves to be part of the unit.

DDT “MEET & GREET & FIGHT SEPTEMBER”, 04/09/2024
Shinjuku FACE

1. To-y & Kazuma Sumi Vs Keigo Nakamura & Yuya Koroku
2. 3 Way Match: Takeshi Masada Vs Yuni Vs Ilusion
3. Special Single Match: Yuki Iino Vs Kazuki Hirata
4. Special Single Match: Shinya Aoki Vs Makoto Oishi

The new KO-D Openweight Champion is Shinya Aoki so he is going to appear in DDT a little more often in the near future. He has been added to Makoto Oishi’s final run of matches in the company.

DDT “TAKESHI MASADA LOCAL TRIUMPH! DRAMATIC INFINITY 2024 TOUR IN OSAKA”, 07/09/2024
Osaka Sun Square Sports Center Sakai

1. Danshoku Dieno, Kazuki Hirata & Kazuma Sumi Vs Toru Owashi, Keigo Nakamura & Ilusion
2. HARASHIMA & Akito Vs Yukio Naya & Yuki Ishida
3. DAMNATION T.A Vs BURNING!: Daisuke Sasaki & MJ Paul Vs Tetsuya Endo & Yuya Koroku
4. Special Tag Match: MAO & Shunma Katsumata Vs Fuminori Abe & Antonio Honda
5. Special Single Match: Jun Akiyama Vs Makoto Oishi
6. Special Single Match: KANON Vs Yuki Iino
7. Osaka Specialty Special Tag Match: Chris Brookes & Takeshi Masada Vs Yuki Ueno & To-y

Another show in Osaka means Takeshi Masada gets to headline it again as the hometown boy. But Yuki Ueno and Yuni are Osaka hometown boys too!

A singles match between KANON and Yuki Iino has the added element of KANON’s Right To Challenge Shield being up for grabs if it hasn’t been used yet. You can afford to take tag losses here and there when you don’t take the fall but when it’s time for singles matches, holders like KANON will need to be more careful.

One of Oishi’s final singles matches in DDT will be against Jun Akiyama! The two of them have gotten along as part of D.O.A and the unit isn’t planning on going away anytime soon.

A preview for the next DDT Universal Title defence is happening the day before the match takes place. MAO and Fuminori Abe will get to test each other out in a tag bout around 24 hours before they fight over the title.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “ALWAYS BE A CHALLENGER ’24”, 08/09/2024
Nagoya International Conference Center Event Hall

1. International Princess Title: Yuki Arai (c) Vs Arisu Endo

In more hometown talk Arisu Endo made it her goal to become a double champion before Tokyo Joshi Pro returns to Aizuwakamatsu. She decided to challenge Yuki Arai for the International Princess Title as part of her plan. Endo was part of Arai’s debut match three years ago and the two have become good friends ever since. Even though Arai is from Kyoto, she considers Nagoya as her second home because of SKE48’s connections to the area so she will need to utilise her own home field advantage in order to stop Endo from powering up Aizuwakamatsu!

DDT “FRIENDSHIP, EFFORT, VICTORY IN NAGOYA 2024”, 08/09/2024
Nagoya International Conference Center Event Hall

1. Takeshi Masada & Yuki Ishida Vs Keigo Nakamura & Ilusion
2. Chris Brookes & Antonio Honda Vs Toru Owashi & Kazuki Hirata
3. Daisuke Sasaki, KANON & MJ Paul Vs Yuki Iino, Yuya Koroku & Kazuma Sumi
4. Yuki Ueno, Shunma Katsumata & To-y Vs Jun Akiyama, Makoto Oishi & Akito
5. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Kota Ibushi, Shuji Ishikawa & Danshoku Dieno Vs HARASHIMA, Yasu Urano & Michael Nakazawa
6. Special Single Match: Ryuichi “Fire” Kawakami Vs Yukio Naya
7. DDT Universal Title: MAO (c) Vs Fuminori Abe
8. KO-D Openweight Title: Shinya Aoki (c) Vs Tetsuya Endo

There is now a sudden shift in direction for the KO-D Title scene coming out of the weekend. Aoki is now the champion and has visions of revitalizing the championship’s value by targeting Katsuhiko Nakajima! In the leadup to Aoki’s title win he said he would like to unify the KO-D Title with the UWF World Title that is currently being used in GLEAT. Nakajima just so happens to be the champion and him knocking out Tetsuya Endo in 2022 is a subject that Aoki brought on Sunday. He does not understand why nobody from DDT ever wanted to get revenge on Nakajima for the damage he did to the company’s reputation. Endo has his reasons for being the first person to challenge Aoki. Nakajima was not meant to be top of that list but since Aoki brought it up, Endo believes it should be him who gets that revenge as champion and not Aoki.

A lot of potential challengers for the KO-D Title are waiting nearby and it’s not just the people who hold the Right To Challenge Shields. The feud between Yukio Naya and Ryuichi Kawakami could launch the winner into a future title shot. Kawakami thinks it will be easy to get one after he destroys Naya once and for all. The sneak attacks and cheating were already getting Naya mad but the thought of Kawakami taking the KO-D Title so lightly has only fired him up even more.

DDT “NO SPOILERS X BEER GARDEN PRO WRESTLING IN UENO”, 10/09/2024
Tokyo Ueno Park Outdoor Stage

1. Special Single Match: Takeshi Masada Vs Yoshihiko
2. Special 4 Way Match: Someone Who Looks Like MAO Vs Someone Who Looks Like Chris Brookes Vs Someone Who Looks Like HARASHIMA Vs Someone Who Looks Like Keigo Nakamura

DDT are holding another event where attendees are encouraged not to post anything about what happened at the show on social media until after midnight. It is doubling up as a Beer Garden show too so you know a bunch of crazy things will happen. The 4 Way Match for example sounds like it will feature wrestlers pretending to be MAO, Brookes, HARASHIMA and Keigo Nakamura fighting each other. Masada has to fight Yoshihiko by himself too.

DDT “DRAMATIC INFINITY 2024 TOUR IN SAPPORO – DAY 1”, 15/09/2024
Hokkaido Sapporo Sun Plaza

1. KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles: Daisuke Sasaki, KANON & MJ Paul (c) Vs Yuki Ueno, Shunma Katsumata & To-y

The 37KAMIINA were quick to tell fans that they are not going to let Ueno losing the KO-D Title stop their momentum. The unit threw out challenges for two championship matches next month. Shunma Katsumata is part of both as he might become a triple champion when all is said and done. First Ueno, Katsumata & To-y challenge DAMNATION T.A for the KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles.

DDT “DRAMATIC INFINITY 2024 TOUR IN SHINJUKU”, 20/09/2024
Shinjuku FACE

1. KO-D Tag Team Titles: Chris Brookes & Takeshi Masada (c) Vs MAO & Shunma Katsumata

Later in the week ShunMao face Brookes & Masada for the KO-D Tag Team Titles. Both MAO & Katsumata believe the tag titles have not seen the best of days ever since they had to vacate them last year. They think they were in the middle of having the best title reign ever until it had to be cut short when Katsumata broke his ankle. ShunMao now want to be the champions again so they can start a new era for the belts. They also seem to have an axe to grind over Kota Ibushi being welcomed back into DDT by the older sections of the fanbase while they’ve been working so hard to attract an audience.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “WRESTLE PRINCESS V”, 22/09/2024
Chiba Makuhari Messe International Exhibition Hall

1. Xia Zhao & Mizuki Vs Yuki Kamifuku & VENY
2. Aja Kong, Max The Impaler & Pom Harajuku Vs X, X & X
3. Emi Sakura Vs Shoko Nakajima
4. Princess Tag Team Titles: Suzume & Arisu Endo (c) Vs Miyu Yamashita & Maki Itoh
5. Princess Of Princess Title: Miu Watanabe (c) Vs Ryo Mizunami

Princess Aniki is now aiming for TJPW’s top championship! After winning the Tokyo Princess Cup on Sunday, Ryo Mizunami didn’t waste any time in challenging Miu Watanabe for the Princess Of Princess Title. Mizunami became the first outsider to win a TJPW tournament, now she can become the first to win the Princess Title too!

A big match for Shoko Nakajima on the show pits her against Emi Sakura. It will be the first time the two will face each other in the ring but Nakajima has learned a lot from Sakura going all the way back to the early years of her wrestling career.

The happy go lucky tag team of Max The Impaler & Pom Harajuku now adds a new friend to make them even happier. Which three poor souls are getting chosen to fight those two and Aja Kong? They might be in luck because SKE48’s Shiori Aoki returns to officiate another match. She might care more about doing carthweels than protecting the team from the monsters though.

Former WWE wrestler Xia Zhao is coming to TJPW so she can wrestle in Japan for the first time ever. Previously known as Xia Li, Zhao has only just begun taking wrestling bookings again after getting released from WWE back in April. Her match with Mizuki here will also reunite Yuki Kamifuku & VENY as a team. VENYU hadn’t teamed together since last summer.

DDT “DRAMATIC INFINITY 2024 ~ 3 HOUR SPECIAL~”, 29/09/2024
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Yuki Ueno, MAO & Kaisei Takeshi Vs Chris Brookes, Takeshi Masada & Masahiro Takanashi

The return of Kaisei Takeshi to DDT is such a big deal the show is going to air live on ABEMA for free.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TOKYO PRINCESS CUP” Results

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TOKYO PRINCESS CUP”, 25/08/2024
Tokyo Korakuen Hall
604 Fans

1. Runa Okubo defeated Chika Nanase with the Jelly Poison (4:41).
2. Pom Harajuku defeated Shino Suzuki with the Pom de Justice (4:28).
3. Mizuki & Haru Kazashiro defeated Mei Suruga & Uta Takami when Mizuki pinned Takami with the Cutie Special (8:49).
4. Shoko Nakajima defeated Yoshiko Hasegawa with the Northern Lights Suplex (10:30).
5. Zara Zakher & Moka Miyamoto defeated Rika Tatsumi & Kaya Toribami when Zakher pinned Toribami with the Control Z (12:28).
6. Miu Watanabe, Yuki Arai, Suzume & Arisu Endo defeated Yuki Kamifuku, Wakana Uehara, Toga & Kira Summer when Endo pinned Uehara with the Ju no Okite (16:26).
7. Tokyo Princess Cup – Final: Ryo Mizunami defeated Yuki Aino with the HOT LIMIT (13:47).

One of the busiest weekends of the year for Tokyo Joshi Pro wrapped up today with the finale of this year’s Tokyo Princess Cup tournament. While a small portion of the roster were off in England to run a show over in London, the majority of the crew remained in Tokyo for an eventful show at Korakuen Hall. The final was a fated meeting between the two wrestlers that make up Yukiniki. Back in January Yuki Aino and Ryo Mizunami won the Princess Tag Team Titles together and now here we are at the end of the summer where they had to fight each other for the Princess Cup. Aino tried to match Mizunami’s power by going for Shoulder Attacks, Side Suplexes, Venus DDT and the Full Nelson Of Love And Flame. But Mizunami relied on the Uranage to stay ahead and pinned Aino with the HOT LIMIT to win the tournament.

Mizunami told Aino after the match not to keep her head down for losing. She knows Aino always wanted a singles match against her and it finally happened today. The frustrated look on Aino’s face is a sign that she is getting stronger and it won’t end here with them. Aino said she will fight Mizunami again and she asked her for another match some day. Mizunami said she has high expectations for Aino from here on out. Aino then bowed to every side of Korakuen and left the ring. Backstage she talked to reporters about the fans supporting her and she’ll keep fighting so she can face Mizunami again.

Back in the ring Mizunami declared that Princess Aniki has been born! She called Miu Watanabe down to the ring and challenged her for the Princess Of Princess Title. Watanabe never thought the day would come and accepted the match. It will happen at “WRESTLE PRINCESS V” on 22nd September. She said she cannot give up a championship this important to TJPW. Mizunami closed out the show by telling the fans about how she was close to retirement five years ago. Then she got an offer to wrestle for AEW and that connection helped lead her over to TJPW where she won the Tag Titles with Aino. She’s now been wrestling for 17 years and it just goes to show you never know what will happen in life! She will treasure all of the chants for Aniki and can’t wait to see everyone at “WRESTLE PRINCESS V”.

All four current TJPW Champions teamed together for an 8-Woman Tag Match. The Princess Champion Watanabe was joined by Yuki Arai with the International Princess Title and also the Princess Tag Champions Daisy Monkey. Their opponents were the ragtag collection of Yuki Kamifuku, Wakana Uehara, Toga & Kira Summer. The finish came with Suzume diving onto everyone outside the ring leaving Arisu Endo to pin Uehara with the Ju no Okite.

The four champions celebrated their victory but as they all left the ring, Endo asked Arai to stay behind with her. Endo admits she is starting to feel greedy and wants to hold another championship before TJPW returns to her hometown of Aizuwakamatsu on 14th September. So she is challenging Arai for the International Title in Nagoya on the 8th! Arai is happy to accept the challenge because Endo was one of her opponents in her debut match three years ago and they have become good friends outside of the ring. Nagoya is also like a second home for Arai so she is determined not to lose her title there.

Zara Zakher’s final appearance for this tour with TJPW ends with her arms raised in victory. Rika Tatsumi tried to lull her into a false sense of security by calling her a friend in English but it was just to set up a sneak attack. Zakher fought back and along with Moka Miyamoto went on to beat Tatsumi & Kaya Toribami. Zakher even scored the pin on Toribami with the Control Z. She said she is grateful for TJPW letting her stay with them for so long and treating her as part of the team. She is already going to miss them and hopes to come back to Japan again.

One of the newsworthy announcements at the start of the show involves Yoshiko Hasegawa. The former member of Ganbare☆Pro went freelance earlier this year but revealed that from September onwards she will regularly wrestle on TJPW shows! So this match with Shoko Nakajima was kind of an early welcome into the TJPW family for her. Nakajima was able to win with the Northern Lights Suplex and thinks TJPW shows will heat up even more now that Hasegawa will be on the cards. Hasegawa calls Nakajima one of the best wrestlers in TJPW and she experienced first hand just how thick the walls are. There are a lot of people in TJPW she wants to fight and her goal is to win one of the championships here.

The Super Cute Sisters have been realised but they are not going to use that name after all! Mei Suruga & Uta Takami tried out being a tag team today after hitting it off so well as opponents last month. The two acted like brats for Mizuki & Haru Kazashiro to figure out how to handle. Mizuki ended up using high risk moves to great effect. Kazashiro even got ahead of Suruga by giving her the Fisherman Suplex. Mizuki then overwhelmed Takami with Elbow Strikes before pinning her with the Cutie Special. Kazashiro said the other team were a hundred times more crazy than she expected. Takami apologised to Suruga for losing but Suruga told her there was nothing to be upset about. She also knows Takami came up with a tag team name for them. Together they are… Apple Ice Cream? However Takami had second thoughts after saying it out loud so she will come up with a different name the next time they team up.

There was one thing Pom Harajuku wasn’t able to do this summer and that was attend an idol concert as a fan. She asked Shino Suzuki to perform one of her songs so she could cheer her on with penlights. However it was all a trap so Harajuku could ambush her and take control of the match. Later Harajuku told everyone there was something she wanted to shout out but Suzuki covered her mouth. Harajuku kicked her in the shin and hit the Pom de Justice to get the three count.

Beware of the Jelly Poison because that is the name of Runa Okubo’s new submission finisher! She used the Arm Clutch Half Crab Hold to make Chika Nanase give up in the opening match.

A few more matches were announced for “WRESTLE PRINCESS V”. Mizuki will team with Xia Zhao (the former Xia Li from WWE) to take on VENY & Yuki Kamifuku. It will be the first time VENYU have teamed together in a while. Shoko Nakajima will face Emi Sakura one on one. Sakura is somebody Nakajima says has been close with her ever since her debut. Back when TJPW hardly ran any shows Nakajima would go to Ichigaya to see Sakura. Aja Kong, Max The Impaler & Pom Harajuku will team up for a 6-Woman Tag Match with Shiori Aoki from SKE48 as the special referee.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “SUMMER SUN PRINCESS ’24” Results

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “SUMMER SUN PRINCESS ’24”, 20/07/2024
Tokyo Korakuen Hall
873 Fans

1. Wakana Uehara, Toga & Runa Okubo defeated HIMAWARI, Shino Suzuki & Haru Kazashiro when Toga pinned Suzuki with the Rock Bottom (13:59).
2. Kira Summer defeated Chika Nanase with a Samoan Drop (5:50).
3. Mei Suruga defeated Uta Takami with the Gateau Invisible (7:19).
4. Yuki Aino, Raku & Pom Harajuku defeated Yuna Manase, Moeka Haruhi & Kaya Toribami when Aino pinned Toribami with the Venus DDT (9:02).
5. Yuki Kamifuku defeated Kakeru Sekiguchi with the Famouser (8:09).
6. Miyu Yamashita & Maki Itoh defeated Mizuki & Emi Sakura when Yamashita pinned Mizuki with the Skull Kick (16:16).
7. Special Single Match: Aja Kong defeated Shoko Nakajima with the Diving Elbow Drop (9:01).
8. Princess Tag Team Titles: Suzume & Arisu Endo (c) defeated Yuki Arai & Moka Miyamoto when Endo submitted Miyamoto with the Camel Clutch (16:09).
*V2 for Daisy Monkey.
9. Princess Of Princess Title: Miu Watanabe (c) defeated Rika Tatsumi with the Tear Drop (20:19).
*V3 for Miu Watanabe.

The biggest show of the summer for Tokyo Joshi Pro was headlined with a Daydream clash for the Princess Of Princess Title. After weeks of mind games from Rika Tatsumi towards her tag partner Miu Watanabe the two finally got to see who is more deserving of being the champion. The match was taken outside a couple of times including one moment where they fought up to the stands. Tatsumi placed Watanabe onto a cart in the aisle and then ran the length of the aisle to hit her with a Sliding Hip Attack. She then kicked Watanabe down the stairs back to the ring. Watanabe got her own back by catching a Hip Attack from the apron and then giving Tatsumi a Reverse Giant Swing at ringside. Back in the ring Tatsumi tried to strangle her opponent but Watanabe powered out of it. Watanabe also kicked out of the Twist Of Fate and blocked the Missile Hip by striking Tatsumi with a Double Hammer Swing. She reversed the Dragon Sleeper into one of her own. Tatsumi reversed the reversal to take her move back but Watanabe got a rope break. Watanabe then went on to hit the Tear Drop and win the match.

The two bowed to each other and shook hands after the match. Tatsumi then left the ring and Watanabe described her freedom and strength as a style that only Tatsumi can have. She wants to fight with Tatsumi more and more. That includes Daydream continuing to team and go after championships together. Watanabe will do her best to make this summer a hot one for everybody and that will happen during the Tokyo Princess Cup starting soon. She wants to become the first reigning Princess Champion to win the tournament. However, Tatsumi’s comments backstage about Daydream’s future were different. She said she realises that Watanabe has been fine without her for a long time now so today Daydream has come to an end! When Watanabe heard that backstage she couldn’t believe it and told reporters she does not want to break up with Tatsumi. We’ll have to see if this gets cleared up in the near future.

Some new looks for both members of Daisy Monkey kicked off the Princess Tag Team Titles match against Yuki Arai & Moka Miyamoto. The tag team experience of Suzume & Arisu Endo turned out to be the deciding factor too. Every time Arai or Miyamoto looked like they were going to win the match, Daisy Monkey were there to get each other out of trouble. When Arai was about to hit Endo with the Finally, Suzume jumped in to Dropkick her out of the way. Arai was then taken out with a Power Slam/Facebuster combo. Miyamoto had more chances to beat Endo until she was flipped over with a Waterwheel Drop and then placed in the Camel Clutch. Endo then rolled Miyamoto into the middle of the ring with the move, giving Miyamoto no choice but to give up. Endo credited the win on her team’s spirit rather than just relying on skill. Suzume admitted it took a lot of spirit though. Miyamoto said from the moment the match ended, her first thought was she wants to challenge Daisy Monkey again. Arai told her she wants the two of them to keep teaming together. She also loved the experience of being a challenger in a championship match again. That kind of aggressive attitude is something Arai wants to keep for her next International Princess Title defence.

The Big Kaiju went to war against one of the most legendary monsters in pro wrestling. Shoko Nakajima wasted no time in attacking Aja Kong from the start but a quick dive out of the ring was blocked by Kong’s steel can. Kong followed up with chair attacks at ringside and then some painful looking Back Drops in the ring. Nakajima launched a counter attack by hitting a 619 while Kong was climbing the turnbuckles. She landed the Diving Senton while Kong was on the ring apron, knocking her out of the ring long enough for a 19 count. When Kong climbed back into the ring, Nakajima quickly gave her a Double Arm DDT but when she climbed the corner, Kong was already back standing up ready to throw a Uraken strike to the body. Nakajima kicked out of the Veritcal Drop Brainbuster and also did her best to keep standing when she took another Uraken. But Kong knocked her down with another big slap and then hit the backwards Diving Elbow Drop for the three count. Kong praised Nakajima but her words weren’t taken as such by her. Nakajima thinks Kong is treating her like a baby and that annoys her. Kong doesn’t feel that way. She told reporters than had the match gone on for longer, she would not have had the stamina to beat Nakajima. She has a bad back and Nakajima did the right thing as a “monster” to target it. Her mistake was not continuing to target that weakness for the rest of the match. Being a monster is not just about size, it is also about being in battles of wits. Kong’s advice for Nakajima is to use her brain outside the ring as well as inside.

TJPW had the pleasure of having Mizuki & Emi Sakura teaming up in their ring for the first time ever. The student and mentor pairing joined forces to take on 121000000. The match turned into a fight from the get go but Mizuki & Sakura found their spots to mock their opponents with a tea time gesture. Sakura also called herself the cutest in the world while giving Maki Itoh a DDT. They then used double team moves like Assisted Double Stomp and Rolling Sentons onto Miyu Yamashita. However Itoh misdirected Mizuki and threw her into Sakura’s Tilt-O-Whirl Backbreaker before giving Sakura the Stunner. 121000000 then used a Flying DDT/Wheelbarrow German Suplex combo on Mizuki. Sakura was helpless to stop Yamashita from pinning Mizuki with the Skull Kick. She gave Mizuki another Backbreaker after the match, this time on purpose as her punishment for losing. Backstage Yamashita figured out that Mizuki & Sakura are the type of wrestlers who like to confuse their opponents. So Yamashita & Itoh being able to keep communication with each other throughout the match was a key for their victory, along with some luck. 121000000 are happy with the win because it fits into their future plans. They aren’t saying what that is yet. Sakura said she was going to name her team The Whirling Candy Sisters except she never wants to team with Mizuki ever again!

Unfortunately Nao Kakuta’s match with Yuki Kamifuku had to be cancelled because of Kakuta’s back injury. Kamifuku was given a match against Kakeru Sekiguchi instead with Kakuta watching at ringside. Mahiro Kiryu also missed the show due to illness so Kamifuku gave her an unintentional shoutout by accidentally calling Sekiguchi “Mahiro” during the match. Kamifuku was able to win by using a Reverse Famouser, a Big Boot against the ropes and then the standard version of the Famouser for the three count. She told Kakuta after the match not to cry because even though her retirement road has not gone to plan, she should have no regrets over it. Kakuta said she can feel so much warmth and kindness from everyone that she will do her best until the end. She also joked that she hopes Sekiguchi and Kiryu will meet each other some day because they do look similar to each other.

Kiryu’s absence from the show brought in the return of Moeka Haruhi to TJPW as her replacement in Match #4. Together with Yuna Manase & Kaya Toribami the trio went by the name of Ganbare☆Torippi. They were asked before the match if they wanted it to be fought under Summer Vacation rules. Ganbare☆Torippi refused but Love Triangle entered the ring wearing summer costumes and carrying summer related props anyway. Raku got rid of Manase & Haruhi with a Double Facecrusher while Pom Harajuku gave Toribami the Pom de Justice. Yuki Aino then finished her off with the Venus DDT. Ganbare☆Torippi complained about Love Triangle not following the rules even when they were told the match stipulation was not accepted. However Manase hasn’t been able to do a lot of summer activities this year so getting to do some of it in the ring today wasn’t too bad. Aino said she notices more fighting spirit than usual coming from Toribami. If she got that from teaming with the visitors then Aino hopes it encourages her to keep trying harder.

The match between Mei Suruga and Uta Takami was like seeing two long lost sisters meeting each other. Suruga definitely feels that way because she kept calling herself Takami’s first big sister after the match! She likes how cute and friendly Takami is while also having a cheeky side, just like her. Perhaps next time they will team up as The Super Cute Sisters! Takami said when the match was first announced she kept thinking about it. Then before she knew it she was wearing red things with apples on them. Today feels like a turning point to her and she is already sad to see her “big sister” leave.

Kira Summer scored her first singles win as a TJPW wrestler by beating Chika Nanase. She used a Samoan Drop to get the victory. She is so happy about it she thanks all of the fans who went to the show and those who watched from home for giving her their support. Next she would like to team with Nanase and win a match together. Nanase still wants to face her in singles match so she can try and beat her. She promises not to lose next time.

In the opening match Toga was able to win for her team by pinning Shino Suzuki with the Rock Bottom. The result almost turned out differently because Suzuki used the same Backwards Rolling Cradle she used to beat Toga before. Toga had backup to break the pin this time. So today’s result makes Toga feel like she got revenge on that loss to Suzuki. Runa Okubo noticed Haru Kazashiro is using new moves and getting stronger. She does not want to lose to her while they continue growing side by side. Wakana Uehara is also seeing how much everyone is growing, particularly everyone in the 23 Year Olds group. She is looking forward to even more matches between that group in the future. HIMAWARI said the result was a close call for the winners. She wants to train even harder to overtake everyone.

Two new TJPW dates for Korakuen Hall were announced. First they will close out the year on 29th December for “TJPW YEAR-END PARTY 2024”. Then on 4th January it will be the tenth annual Ittenyon show at Korakuen.

MAO Runs Away From The 37KAMIINA, Full Cards For Summer Sun Princess And Wrestler Peter Pan

DDT “FIGHTING BEER GARDEN 2024 IN UENO”, 05/07/2024
Tokyo Ueno Park Outdoor Stage

1. Kazuki Hirata & Kazuma Sumi Vs Shinichiro Kawamatsu & Ilusion
2. Jun Akiyama, Danshoku Dieno & Makoto Oishi Vs HARASHIMA, Keigo Nakamura & Yuki Ishida
3. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Tetsuya Endo, Yuki Iino & Yuya Koroku Vs Chris Brookes, Takeshi Masada & Yukio Naya
4. No DQ I Quit Match: Antonio Honda Vs Invisible Leonardo DiCaprio
5. Special Tag Match ~ Unagi Warriors Vs Brahman Brothers!: Sanshiro Unagi & Sayaka Unagi Vs Brahman Shu & Brahman Kei
6. The 37KAMIINA Vs DAMNATION T.A?: Yuki Ueno, Shunma Katsumata & To-y Vs MAO, Daisuke Sasaki & KANON (w/ MJ Paul)

Coming out of yesterday’s show MAO has made the dramatic decision to run away from The 37KAMIINA for the time being. He feels it would be best for him to fight against the group so both he and Yuki Ueno will be at their most motivated heading into Sumo Hall. So for most of July MAO is hopping from unit to unit across DDT in 6-Man Tag Matches against his friends. Out of all the groups he could team up with, DDT is trying him out with DAMNATION T.A first. He is well aware they could stab him in the back but is willing to risk it so he can wrestle against Ueno more often.

DDT “ROAD TO PETER PAN 2024 TOUR IN ODAWARA”, 07/07/2024
Kanagawa Odawara Arena Sub Arena

1. Chris Brookes & Takeshi Masada Vs Keigo Nakamura & Yuki Ishida
2. Daisuke Sasaki & KANON Vs Soma Takao & Makoto Oishi
3. Odawara City Tourism PR Character Umemaru Pro Wrestling Debut Match: Umemaru, Akito & Yuni Vs Pokotan, Antonio Honda & Kazuma Sumi
4. The 37KAMIINA Vs. D.O.A?: Yuki Ueno, Shunma Katsumata & To-y Vs MAO, Jun Akiyama & Danshoku Dieno
5. Special Single Match: Aja Kong Vs Kazuki Hirata
6. Special Single Match: HARASHIMA Vs Yukio Naya
7. Sanshiro Takagi Indefinite Rest Road ~ Special 6-Man Tag Match: Sanshiro Takagi, Yoshiaki Yatsu & Kuroshio TOKYO Japan Vs Tetsuya Endo, Yuki Iino & Yuya Koroku

Next MAO will try teaming with D.O.A. It’s a trio full of wildcards so maybe it is a better fit than it looks on paper.

DDT “ROAD TO PETER PAN 2024 TOUR IN SHINJUKU”, 10/07/2024
Shinjuku FACE

1. KANON 5th Anniversary Match ~ Special Single Match: TAKA Michinoku Vs KANON
2. Special Single Match: Yuki Iino Vs Go Shiozaki
3. The 37KAMIINA Vs SCHADENFREUDE International?: Yuki Ueno, Shunma Katsumata & To-y Vs MAO, Chris Brookes & Antonio Honda

Then MAO gives SCHADENFREUDE International a shot. This should be the only other unit in DDT where he feels at home. There’s another show on the schedule this month so MAO might get a chance to team with BURNING or whatever’s currently left of Harimao.

Actually, maybe not with BURNING. Their focus is on preparing to defend the KO-D Tag Team Titles against TEAM NOAH. After a few clashes that happened in both DDT and NOAH recently, Yuki Iino has demanded a singles match against Go Shiozaki to prove who is better.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “SUMMER SUN PRINCESS ’24”, 20/07/2024
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Wakana Uehara, Toga & Runa Okubo Vs HIMAWARI, Shino Suzuki & Haru Kazashiro
2. Chika Nanase Vs Kira Summer
3. Mei Suruga Vs Uta Takami
4. Yuki Aino, Raku & Pom Harajuku Vs Yuna Manase, Mahiro Kiryu & Kaya Toribami
5. Yuki Kamifuku Vs Nao Kakuta
6. Miyu Yamashita & Maki Itoh Vs Mizuki & Emi Sakura
7. Special Single Match: Aja Kong Vs Shoko Nakajima
8. Princess Tag Team Titles: Suzume & Arisu Endo (c) Vs Yuki Arai & Moka Miyamoto
9. Princess Of Princess Title: Miu Watanabe (c) Vs Rika Tatsumi

This is the complete lineup and match order for “SUMMER SUN PRINCESS ’24”. The show has Emi Sakura, Mei Suruga and Yuna Manase calling by for some standout matches on the undercard. Sakura is teaming with Mizuki after they were opponents at “GRAND PRINCESS ’24” back in March. Together they take on 121000000. Suruga meets Uta Takami for the first time. She might end up reacting to Takami the same way everyone else reacts to her.

DDT “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2024”, 21/07/2024
Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan

1. Keigo Nakamura, Yuki Ishida & Kazuma Sumi Vs Yuni, Yuya Koroku & Ilusion
2. 6-Man Tag Match Featuring People Connected To Sanshiro Takagi: Toru Owashi, Hisamaru Tajima & Shinichiro Kawamatsu Vs Makoto Oishi, Soma Takao & Ippanjin Munenori Sawa
3. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Minoru Suzuki, Shuji Ishikawa & Hikaru Sato Vs Jun Akiyama, Yukio Naya & Tomomitsu Matsunaga
4. Special Single Match: Super Sasadango Machine Vs Kazuki Hirata
5. KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles – Survival 4 Way 6-Man Tag Match: HARASHIMA, Akito & Yasu Urano (c) Vs Daisuke Sasaki, KANON & MJ Paul Vs Aja Kong, Shunma Katsumata & To-y Vs Masahiro Takanashi, Antonio Honda & Takeshi Masada
6. KO-D Tag Team Titles: Tetsuya Endo & Yuki Iino (c) Vs Go Shiozaki & Atsushi Kotoge
7. Special Single Match: KONOSUKE TAKESHITA Vs Masato Tanaka
8. Sanshiro Takagi Indefinite Rest Road FINAL ~ Weapon Rumble: Sanshiro Takagi Vs Super Sasadango Machine
9. Dramatic Dream Match: El Desperado Vs Chris Brookes
10. KO-D Openweight Title – Goodcom Assets Presents: Yuki Ueno (c) Vs MAO

Ten matches takes up this year’s “WRESTLE PETER PAN”. In what will be Sanshiro Takagi’s final match for the time being, he faces his longtime rival Danshoku Dieno in the dreaded Weapon Rumble where mystery weapons are added every couple of minutes. The KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles are now being defended in a Survival 4 Way Match. Smile Squash has to defend the belts against DAMNATION T.A, SCHADENFREUDE International and The 37KAMIINA with Aja Kong as their long awaited third member. We even get friends of Takagi taking part in their own match. It includes Munenori Sawa and I think the first ever DDT appearance of Hisamaru Tajima.

DDT Around The World – April 2024

Even with WrestleMania Week out of the way there is so much to talk about what happened in April. It’s probably going to be a month Yuka Sakazaki will want to forget. She finally returned to TV screens only to possibly find her way back to the injury list. It only happened two weeks ago so there’s been no update to her condition. All she has tweeted since the match happened is a zombie emoji. She was being set up for a match with Serena Deeb in AEW but that seems to have gone to the wayside because Deeb is already moving ahead in the AEW Women’s Title picture. Just have to wait and see if it was just a knock to the knee or something worse.

In more uplifting news, Konosuke Takeshita is showing interest in taking the IWGP World Heavyweight Title from Jon Moxley. This is going to be facinating watching a DDT affiliated wrestler in an AEW storyline built around New Japan’s top championship. Does he have any realistic chance of becoming champion? Not unless Moxley gets legit knocked out during the match again. New Japan have clearly set their own story over Moxley’s IWGP Title reign. Their roster led by “The Reiwa Musketeers” are all showing frustration over their company playing second fiddle to AEW. Whether it is Moxley not taking part in the Japan tours or handing title matches out to undeserving challengers in America, the story New Japan is telling does not have Takeshita fitting in anywhere as an important player and I do not expect AEW to make booking decisions that will interfere with it. Still though, Takeshita versus Moxley has been good before and the addition of the IWGP Title is a novelty that got me more interested in the rematch.

Wrapping up the month is the Tokyo Joshi Pro portion of appearances. Maki Itoh finished up her latest American tour and got to defend the GCW Extreme Title. Not sure when she is due back in GCW other than we certainly won’t be waiting long to find out. Miyu Yamashita returned to a bunch of familiar promotions from last year’s excursion. The big one was a visit to TNA where she main evented their TV taping. Most important of all, Kaya Toribami stepped in for an injured Hyper Misao to help save the world from a kappa invasion. That’s a good bird.

Oh and there was also the crazy happenings that went on when Kazusada Higuchi and Mecha Mummy went to West Coast Pro. Let’s get to that.

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Videos

Konosuke Takeshita In AEW Playlist

Video starts at 2:58:38
WEST COAST PRO “CHRIS HERO’S PRO WRES MIXTAPE”, 14/04/2024
Don Quixote Event Center, Los Angeles, California, USA

1. Chris Hero Vs Kazusada Higuchi
2. Tornado Tag Team Match: Chris Hero & Bryan Keith Vs Kazusada Higuchi & Mecha Mummy

AEW “COLLISION”, 20/04/2024
Peoria Civic Center, Peoria, Illinois, USA

1. Bunkhouse Brawl: Bryan Danielson & Claudio Castagnoli Vs Kyle Fletcher & Konosuke Takeshita

AEW “RAMPAGE”, 20/04/2024
Peoria Civic Center, Peoria, Illinois, USA

1. Yuka Sakazaki Vs Emi Sakura

PRESTIGE/PRIDESTYLE “PRIDE & PRESTIGE”, 26/04/2024
Meet Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

1. Miyu Yamashita Vs Trish Adora

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Results

WEST COAST PRO “CHRIS HERO’S PRO WRES MIXTAPE”, 14/04/2024
Don Quixote Event Center, Los Angeles, California, USA

1. Chris Hero Vs Kazusada Higuchi ended in a No Contest (12:23).
2. Tornado Tag Team Match: Chris Hero & Bryan Keith defeated Kazusada Higuchi & Mecha Mummy when Keith pinned Mummy with the Emerald Tiger Driver (13:45).

This was not how I thought things were going to go between Higuchi and Chris Hero. I mean the first ten minutes, sure. They hit each other hard and Higuchi no sold hitting the ring post head first. That was all well and good. He even used his own head to block one of Hero’s Elbow Strikes. Unfortunately as they kept fighting in the corner the referee stepped in one too many times and got knocked out with a Lariat. Higuchi kept attacking Hero until Bryan Keith made his entrance and started squaring off with him. Hero & Keith joined forces so Higuchi now found himself needing help. Suddenly Mecha Mummy appeared!

There were plans for a Keith Vs Mummy match to happen on the show but now the fans got a Tornado Tag match between the four fighters instead! Mummy gave Keith an Atomic Drop onto the Mecha Fist but Keith returned fire by giving Mummy a Drop Toe Hold, destroying the fist on impact. Keith then challenged Mummy to a duel but it ended with them giving each other and the referee Low Blows. The ref also got impaled with the Mecha Drill by accident. Hero then fought Mummy all the way up to the balcony where Higuchi followed. Mummy fired the repaired Mecha Fist at Keith from the balcony and raced down to pin him for a nearfall. Hero returned with bottles of water but Higuchi stopped him from pouring it over Mummy. Keith however took a big drink of the bottle and spat it all over Mummy to make it go haywire. He then gave it the Emerald Tiger Driver to win a crazy match.

PRESTIGE “ROSELAND 8”, 14/04/2024
Roseland Theater, Portland, Oregon, USA

1. Miyu Yamashita defeated Kylie Rae with the Skull Kick (15:30).

Yamashita’s good run in Prestige continued when she beat Kylie Rae in a hard fought match. Hitting the Return Crash seemed to fire up Yamashita in particular. With that boost she broke out of Rae’s Crippler Crossface and kicked out of a Super Kick at one. She then rolled Rae into a Buzzsaw Kick for a nearfall before putting her down for the count with the Skull Kick.

ROH “ROH ON HONOR CLUB”, 17/04/2024 (Aired 25/04/2024)
Indiana Farmers Coliseum, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA

1. Yuka Sakazaki defeated Leila Grey with the Magical Girl Splash (4:44).

Oh yikes this was bad. There was an awkwardly timed replay segment too right before the finish which only makes me wonder what was cut out because what was left in is the kind of stuff those anti-AEW Twitter accounts would salivate over if people gave a shit about ROH. There was an Elbow Strike exchange that looked like both didn’t want to sell and then Sakazaki tried to do a rope-assisted German Suplex that did not work at all. She was able to beat Leila Grey with the Magical Merry-Go-Round followed by the Magical Girl Splash but that match was one to forget. Or at least it would be if she hadn’t gotten injured in her next match during the month.

UPRISING “UPRISING: WOMEN ATHLETES 2”, 19/04/2024
Knights of Columbus, LaSalle, Illinois, USA

1. Maki Itoh defeated Black Swan with the I.S.D. (9:22).
2. Hyan defeated Miyu Yamashita with the Glam Slam (11:27).

It looks like Hyan is one of the few opponents who seems to have Yamashita’s number whenever Yamashita goes over to America. This was their second singles match and there is a tag match to come later this summer. Hyan has beaten Yamashita both times now but it’s been no easy feat. This time Hyan was overwhelmed by Yamashita’s kicks but found ways to avoid the Attitude Adjustment. The last counter led to Hyan giving Yamashita the Glam Slam to win the match.

Itoh was given an opponent who is just as much of a dramatic attention seeker as she is in the form of Black Swan. They spent part of the match fighting outside where Swan threw Itoh into the barricade and then Itoh Body Slammed Swan onto the floor. After going back and forth in the ring, Itoh dropped Swan with a DDT and then got the win by hitting the I.S.D. off the top rope.

DREAMWAVE “ANNIVERSARY IX”, 20/04/2024
Knights of Columbus, LaSalle, Illinois, USA

1. Megan Bayne defeated Miyu Yamashita with a Tombstone Piledriver (9:52).

The next night Uprising’s main promotion DREAMWAVE put together the surprise matchup of Yamashita against Megan Bayne. She is one of the stronger booked wrestlers on the independents right now and her momentum continued here with a clean win over Yamashita. The result seemed to have put Yamashita in a bad mood afterward because she refused to shake Bayne’s hand after the match and left the ring with a sour look on her face.

AEW “COLLISION”, 20/04/2024
Peoria Civic Center, Peoria, Illinois, USA

1. Bunkhouse Brawl: Bryan Danielson & Claudio Castagnoli defeated Kyle Fletcher & Konosuke Takeshita when Danielson submitted Fletcher with the Chain Assisted LaBell Lock (16:03).

Add the Bunkhouse Brawl to the list of violent matches Takeshita is finding himself in over at AEW. He was all dressed up for the occasion too as one should be for a stipulation like this. Chairs and chains were used by everyone and things got even more chaotic with interference from Powerhouse Hobbs and Moxley. The presence of Hobbs tipped things in favour for The Don Callis Family even when Moxley came down to get rid of him. Things then went south when Bryan Danielson countered Takeshita’s top rope Power Bomb with a Hurricanrana onto a chair set up in the middle of the ring. Claudio Castagnoli then covered his arm with the chain and hit Takeshita with a Charging European Uppercut. Danielson won the match by hitting Kyle Fletcher with the Busaiku Knee followed by putting him in the LaBell Lock for the submission.

AEW “RAMPAGE”, 20/04/2024
Peoria Civic Center, Peoria, Illinois, USA

1. Yuka Sakazaki defeated Emi Sakura with a Sliding German Suplex (9:31).

And here’s where Sakazaki’s return hit a big bump on the road. During her match with Emi Sakura, Sakazaki tried to do a cartwheel from the top rope onto the ring apron to avoid an attack. She missed landing on the apron and crashed onto the floor outside, hurting her knee in the process. Sakura bought some time with some improvised heel work ringside while Sakazaki tried to walk it off. They were able to continue the match but Sakazaki was still clearly shaken up and using the Sliding German Suplex for the finish was definitely not the original plan. Credit to her for gutting through it and still being able to do most of her moves but she couldn’t hide the upset look on her face after the match.

GCW “HOW HIGH”, 20/04/2024
Ukrainian Cultural Center, Los Angeles, California, USA

1. GCW Extreme Title: Maki Itoh (c) defeated Sandra Moone with the I.S.D. (8:55).
*V1 for Maki Itoh.

GCW is keeping us on our toes when it comes to Itoh defending the GCW Extreme Title. It wasn’t until the show took place when they announced her match with Sandra Moone would have the title on the line. No worries! Itoh beat Moone in her first defence and they left the ring together shoulder to shoulder.

TNA “IMPACT!”, 21/04/2024 (Aired 02/05/2024)
Palms Casino Resort, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

1. Knockouts World Title: Jordynne Grace (c) defeated Miyu Yamashita with the Juggernaught Driver (?:??).
*V7 for Jordynne Grace.

Last year Yamashita got to wrestle in Impact for the first time. Now it’s a year later and Impact has gone back to being called TNA. No matter what name it’s under now, she was back to fight Jordynne Grace. The stakes were then made higher when TNA decided to make the match for the Knockouts World Title. Yamashita tried something a little bit new in the match when she hit the Skull Kick to the back of Grace’s head buzzsaw style but Grace recovered and used the Grace Driver to retain her title.

PRESTIGE/PRIDESTYLE “PRIDE & PRESTIGE”, 26/04/2024
Meet Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

1. Miyu Yamashita defeated Trish Adora with the Skull Kick (10:33).

Yamashita’s next Prestige match was at an event co-promoted with PrideStyle Inclusive Pro in Las Vegas. She defeated Trish Adora in a match I haven’t seen the VOD of yet.

DAIKAIJU PRO “VOL. 2 – KAPPAS COUNTERATTACK”, 27/04/2024
White Eagle, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA

1. Kaya Toribami defeated Ultramantis Black with the Sento Choryu (?:??).

This was originally supposed to be Hyper Misao coming back to America to protect the land from UltraMantis Black and his kappa army. Unfortunately an ankle injury forced a change of plans. Depending on who you ask she either got injured during her match against Steph de Lander at the “GCW VS TJPW” show or she was the victim of an ambush attack put together by the devious UltraMantis. Either way she sent Kaya Toribami to Daikaiju Pro in her place because they still needed a hero to fight for them. During the match Mantis called upon his kappa army for help but Toribami had backup from all of the other babyfaces to even the odds. In the end good prevailed over evil and Toribami successfully hit the Sento Choryu on Mantis to get the victory.

INSPIRE A.D. “THE EVIL WE DO”, 28/04/2024
Empire Control Room, Austin, Texas, USA

1. Miyu Yamashita defeated Maya World (?:??).

The last time Yamashita was at Inspire A.D. she took a surprise upset loss to Killa Kate. That wasn’t going to happen again when she fought Maya World in her return to the promotion.

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Upcoming Appearances

GCW “RATHER YOU THAN ME”, 03/05/2024
Egypt Shrine Center, Tampa, Florida, USA

1. Miyu Yamashita Vs Joey Janela

She got a taste of GCW earlier this month with the “GCW VS TJPW” show and is coming back for a proper go this time around. Yamashita is getting thrown into the deep end for her proper GCW debut. Joey Janela is chomping at the bit to break her into pieces so he can rub it in the faces of joshi fans afterwards.

VPW “SAIGON SLAM”, 04/05/2024
VAIB Studios, Vietnam

1. VPW Women’s Title: Alexis Lee Vs Yuki Kamifuku

Will Yuki Kamifuku beat Alexis Lee for the VPW Women’s Title so it can go along with her Queen Of Asia Title?

MLW “AZTECA LUCHA”, 11/05/2024
Cicero Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, USA

1. MLW Women’s World Featherweight Title – 4 Way Match: Janai Kai (c) Vs Miyu Yamashita Vs Zayda Vs Delmi Exo

Well Yamashita wasn’t able to win the Knockouts Title in TNA but she has another title match to look forward to in May. She returns to MLW where Janai Kai is defending the MLW Women’s World Featherweight Title in a 4 Way Match. The other challengers are Zayda Steele and Delmi Exo but Kai’s previous title defences have mostly been against joshi wrestlers and TJPW wrestlers in particular. She’s beaten Yamashita before outside of MLW. Can she do it again when her MLW Title is on the line and she needs to have eyes on the back of her head?

DPW “LIMIT BREAK”, 19/05/2024
Durham Convention Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA

1. Miyu Yamashita & Lady Frost Vs Hyan & Vert Vixen

It’s back to Deadlock Pro! Yamashita’s first time in the ring with Lady Frost is as a team together and they are both familiar with their opponents. Hyan is now a regular presence in Yamashita’s US tours and Yamashita teamed with Vert Vixen the last time she was in DPW.

LLL “HIGH STRANGENESS – NIGHT ONE”, 24/05/2024
The Oriental Theater, Denver, Colorado, USA

1. Abadon Vs Miyu Yamashita

This isn’t the first time Yamashita will be fighting a zombie. She used to do that all the time when Maho Kurone was still wrestling. Abadon though is a bit more intense when it comes to that sort of stuff.

LLL “HIGH STRANGENESS – NIGHT TWO”, 25/05/2024
The Oriental Theater, Denver, Colorado, USA

1. Miyu Yamashita Vs X

What else is Lucha Libre & Laughs going to throw at Yamashita?

SETUP “CLASH OF THE TITANS”, 25/05/2024
The Circus Studio, G Village, Bangkok, Thailand

1. SETUP All Asia Women’s Title: Matcha (c) Vs Monomoth Vs Mizuki

How possible is is that Mizuki wins the SETUP All Asia Women’s Title and then brings it along for her Queen Of Asia Title shot that is due anytime soon? Add the VPW Women’s Title then we end up with an Asian Triple Crown of women’s championships.

GCW “TOURNAMENT OF SURVIVAL 9”, 01/06/2024
The Showboat, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA

1. Tournament Of Survival 9: Shunma Katsumata Vs X

One of the big death match tournaments of the year is held by GCW over in America. The 9th annual Tournament Of Survival will have Shunma Katsumata as one of the Japanese entrants along with Big Japan wrestlers Hideyoshi Kamitani and Yuki Ishikawa.

REPUBLIC OF LUCHA “ROL7: HIT THE LIGHTS”, 01/06/2024
The Temple, Los Angeles, California, USA

1. Konosuke Takeshita Vs X

The first two seasons of Lucha Underground was a magical time. Season three was good too but the show suffered from taking a massive break mid-season but that’s a conversation for somewhere else. The warehouse that was used to house The Temple for the show tapings is going to host a wrestling show for the first time in seven years. I don’t expect it to look anything like it did in the old days because a lot of that setup was just a TV set but Takeshita getting to wrestle there is pretty neat nonetheless.

MAW “LIFT BRIDGE BASH 4”, 08/06/2024
Lift Bridge Brewing Company, Stillwater, Minnesota, USA

1. Miyu Yamashita Vs Laynie Luck

This is still for now the last date on Yamashita’s schedule before she goes back to Japan.

IWA JAPAN “HARDCORE FOREVER”, 27/07/2024
The Circus Studio, G Village, Bangkok, Thailand

1. IWA Japan SETUP World Tag Team Titles: Chris Brookes & Masahiro Takanashi (c) Vs X & X

This year is the 30th anniversary of IWA Japan’s launch. What a weird existence this promotion has had. To celebrate there will be a memorial show held by SETUP taking place in Thailand using the IWA branding. CDK will be there to defend the SETUP Tag Team Titles since those belts are also affiliated with IWA Japan. Will Chris Brookes & Masahiro Takanashi have to defend the belts against a pair of kaiju or will they be fighting more normal looking opponents?

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “GRAND PRINCESS ’24” Results

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “GRAND PRINCESS ’24”, 31/03/2024
Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan
2,349 Fans

1. Haru Kazashiro, Runa Okubo & Uta Takami defeated Shino Suzuki, Chika Nanase & Kira Summer when Kazashiro pinned Nanase with a Fisherman Suplex (7:43).
2. Nao Kakuta & Ami Yumoto defeated Mahiro Kiryu & HIMAWARI when Kakuta pinned HIMAWARI with the Shiden Kai (8:52).
3. Raku & Pom Harajuku defeated Andreza Giant Panda & Kaya Toribami (w/ Haruna Neko) when Raku pinned Toribami with the Doctor Yellow (8:38).
4. Moka Miyamoto & Juria Nagano defeated Wakana Uehara & Toga when Miyamoto pinned Toga with the Korokan (11:11).
5. Masha Slamovich defeated Rika Tatsumi with the White Knight Driver (10:35).
6. Aja Kong & Max The Impaler defeated Shoko Nakajima & Hyper Misao when Kong pinned Misao with the Diving Back Elbow Drop (12:39).
7. Special Single Match: Minoru Suzuki defeated Maki Itoh by Referee Stoppage with the Sleeper Hold (18:01).
8. Yuka Sakazaki & Mizuki defeated Emi Sakura & Chris Brookes when Mizuki pinned Sakura with the Aquamarine (15:43).
9. International Princess Title: Yuki Arai (c) defeated Yuki Kamifuku with the Finally (11:28).
*V2 for Yuki Arai.
10. Princess Tag Team Titles: Suzume & Arisu Endo defeated Ryo Mizunami & Yuki Aino (c) when Suzume pinned Aino with the Ring A Bell (15:57).
*Yukiniki fails in V1. Daisy Monkey become the 16th Princess Tag Team Champions!
11. Princess Of Princess Title: Miu Watanabe defeated Miyu Yamashita (c) with the Tear Drop (20:07).
*Miyu Yamashita fails in V4. Miu Watanabe becomes the 14th Princess Of Princess Champion!

Has the dawn of a new era finally begun up for Tokyo Joshi Pro? The big story coming out of “GRAND PRINCESS ’24” is the young generation of wrestlers surpassing the veterans in each of the three title matches. None was more newsworthy than the main event where Miu Watanabe defeated Miyu Yamashita for the second time in her career to become the new Princess Of Princess Champion! It was as loud of a declaration as she could make in a Sumo Hall main event, kicking out of the pin after taking the Skull Kick (first time that ever happened in TJPW) and pinning Yamashita clean with the Tear Drop. This title win also makes Watanabe the second ever Grand Slam champion in TJPW!

Watanabe was overcome with emotion after the match. She thanked everyone for their support and talked about how much she loves TJPW. The company is entering its 11th year of existence and from now on everyone in TJPW are going to have plenty of big dreams that she wants to see come true. She will do her best to make those dreams come true and hopes everyone will love TJPW forever! The show ended with the entire roster gathered together on the entrance stage and bowing to the audience in thanks for their support. All of the new champions then remained for a group photo together.

Backstage Watanabe told reporters she’s been with TJPW for 6 or 7 years and came into the company not knowing anything about pro wrestling. It was the kindness and love she found within TJPW that made her fall in love with the promotion. It is an important place for her which makes today’s championship win even more meaningful. She looks forward to being here for another 10, 20 and even 30 years so she can expand her dreams! In regards to Yamashita, Watanabe believes she has now caught up with her but it only takes a second for Yamashita to sprint back ahead with incredible speed. It will be the same for the rest of Yamashita’s generation so Watanabe wants to be a champion who can take them all on. Yamashita admitted it was frustrating to lose but she is happy to see Watanabe become the champion. It gives her another reason to keep getting stronger. If Yamashita is currently at her limit then she will now focus on exceeding it.

The other title change of the day was in the semi-main event. Daisy Monkey have now won the Princess Tag Team Titles that’s been out of their reach for so long! Yukiniki put up a good fight and had the plan to isolate Suzume late in the match. Yuki Aino gave her a Side Suplex and Ryo Mizunami followed with the Uranage for a nearfall. Suzume blocked the UBV attempt long enough for Arisu Endo to come back in and even the odds. Together Daisy Monkey used a double team Facebuster on Aino and Suzume finished her off with the Ring A Bell for the title switch.

Daisy Monkey were so happy to win they didn’t even know what to do with the title belts or the streamers that were thrown for them. Suzume said she knew there were always people who supported her and with Endo by her side they were able to fight at their most passionate and win. Endo cried because what makes Suzume happy makes her happy too. So many of the senpais that they admire have held the tag titles and now Daisy Monkey’s name is deservedly added to that lineage. Suzume said their team was missing a pink colour and Yukiniki gave it to them today. So from now on they want to defend the belts against a variety of challengers who will offer them something new. They will absorb all the different colours from them to become more colorful than the rainbow! Aino is upset to lose but feels she has moved to the next level thanks to Mizunami. She is ready to take on new challenges and fight for more championships. Mizunami explained wrestling is a dream-filled profession and seeing Aino become so motivated after losing makes her think she is ready to take her own next step too.

The International Princess Title match ended up having a big connection to Saki Akai thanks to both participants. Yuki Arai used to team with Akai as Reiwa AA Cannon until Akai retired from wrestling. Yuki Kamifuku wrestled the match wearing the costume top Akai gave to her the last time they were in the ring together. She also wanted to steal the spotlight knowing that a lot of SKE48 fans were in the audience today. However Arai went kick for kick against her, dodged the Famouser and beat Kamifuku with the Finally. Arai remembers the last time she wrestled in Sumo Hall two years ago she challenged for the IP Title and lost. Today she successfully defended the same title in the same venue, giving herself even more confidence. It makes her excited to see what she can do in another two years time. Kamifuku admitted her opinions on SKE48 changed today. She wanted to outshine them but when she watched their mini-concert during the show she realised they were too cute and she knew all of their songs. Now Arai is somebody she wants to go out for drinks with someday! Until that happens Kamifuku is considering going on another trip somewhere in Asia to brush up on her beauty tips.

The Magical Sugar Rabbits came back ready to fly all over Sumo Hall against the unusual team of TeaDK. That pair went off to an awkward start when Emi Sakura had to order Chris Brookes into helping her with double team moves that just didn’t work well because of their size difference. MagiRabi took advantage with big dive moves including a double dive that came off one of the aisleway entrances! Yuka Sakazaki also showed her strength by giving Brookes the Magical Merry-Go-Round as well as the Tea Time. TeaDK had more moments of bad teamwork but still overpowered Mizuki with their attacks. Mizuki wiped out Brookes with the Whirling Candy before facing off with Sakura once again. They had a back and forth exchange that ended with Mizuki pinning Sakura with the Aquamarine!

Backstage Sakazaki said the match hurt a lot but still felt so right. It was her first match since graduating from TJPW and she admitted her future turned out differently than what she imagined. She is feeling refreshed and excited because she hasn’t done anything in the last four months. It is still her plan to go to America this year but right now her schedule is undecided. Mizuki was happy to beat Sakura the way she did but admits it doesn’t feel like she won at all. Sakura is always ahead of her and Mizuki fears she can never catch up. Elsewhere TeaDK were at odds over why they lost. Sakura blamed Brookes while he tried to tell her she is not royalty. She wouldn’t listen and Brookes was left thinking he is better off going back to CDK.

Maki Itoh knew she was in for an impossible fight against Minoru Suzuki but she still gave it her best shot. She tried to get on his good side by acting cute and polite but they just made Suzuki ask what’s so cute about her? Suzuki grabbed Itoh by the hair, making her cry. He complained to Yukinori Matsui but took it too far and made him cry too. In Itoh’s case it was just a trap to get the jump on Suzuki. That didn’t work out because Suzuki hit her with a chair outside the ring. Itoh kept trying to fight back both in the fight as well as the war of words. She countered the Gotch-Style Piledriver into a Cradle for a few nearfalls until Suzuki caught her in the Sleeper Hold. Itoh fainted from the move and the match had to be stopped. When Itoh regained consciousness she refused to shake his hand, opting to give him the middle finger instead. Suzuki grabbed Itoh by the middle finger and dragged her backstage all the way to the interview desk. Itoh stuck up her other middle finger and Suzuki grabbed that too. He held on until Itoh apologised. Suzuki patted her on the head and left, promising he will be back. Itoh told the reporters it was fun to wrestle Suzuki. Next time she would like to team with him again.

With the new and improved Hypami Dramatic Dream combat bike fully completed, Kyoraku Kyomei were ready to take on the incoming rampage of Aja Kong & Max The Impaler. They had other tricks up their sleeve like Hyper Misao blinding Kong with a her spray so Kong would miss the Diving Elbow Drop. The match didn’t take long to move out of the ring. Misao tried to run over Kong with the Hypami DD but she dodged out of the way. However Shoko Nakajima caught Kong and kept her in place long enough for Misao to turn the bike around and crash it into her! Back in the ring Max came to Kong’s rescue and soon the two monsters were armed with steel cans. After beating up Kyoraku Kyomei with the cans, Kong & Max decided to give them Piledrivers together. Kong then copied Misao’s “I Am A Hero” catchphrase and hit the Diving Elbow Drop for the three count. Kong called it a forgone conclusion. The Princess Tag Team Champions should consider themselves lucky that Kong & Max aren’t the next challengers. As soon as Kong said that she began to wonder out loud what would happen if they did become the champions…

The reigning JCW Champion came to Sumo Hall and put down one of TJPW’s main stars. Masha Slamovich survived being strangled by Rika Tatsumi and also caught her Hip Attack. Tatsumi was left stunned with a Spin Kick to the head and was done for when Slamovich gave her the White Knight Driver. Slamovich said winning a match in Sumo Hall felt special and she is ready to fight more TJPW wrestlers in Philadelphia next week. Tatsumi hopes she will come back so they can have a rematch. If she doesn’t then Tatsumi will just go searching after her.

The new ring costumes worn by Wakana Uehara & Toga were not enough for them to beat Shinken Kusho. Instead it was the teamwork of Moka Miyamoto & Juria Nagano that made the difference. Nagano took care of Uehara allowing Miyamoto to beat Toga with the Korokan. With only a short time remaining until Nagano’s graduation, Shinken Kusho were happy to win in the same building where Nagano debuted and started teaming with Miyamoto two years ago.

It turns out that Raku’s lullaby is super effective against giant pandas. She was able to send Andreza Giant Panda to dreamland, thanks to some help from Pom Harajuku placing a pillow beneath his head. Andreza woke up when they tried to pin him with the Oyasumi Express. When Andreza became too powerful to fight directly, RakuPom turned their attention to Kaya Toribami. Andreza ended up Headbutting Toribami by accident, giving Raku the opening to give her the Doctor Yellow and win. Andreza took the result in his stride though and was happy he got along with both Toribami and Haruna Neko. He wants to make even more animal friends so they can all be part of an Animal Paradise. He also warned TJPW that some of the stuff that happened to him in the ring today counts as animal abuse and he will be calling the animal welfare centre later.

It was a successful debut match for Ami Yumoto. She started off the match against HIMAWARI and held her own. Things got difficult when HIMAWARI tagged in Mahiro Kiryu but Nao Kakuta was there to save the day. Yumoto did a dive onto Kiryu out of the ring while Kakuta beat HIMAWARI with the Shiden Kai. Yumoto wished she could have done more in training to be better prepared. She hopes this match will be a good opportunity to set up another one in the future. She said she has always been a tomboy since she was a kid and would like to do more high flying moves next time. Kakuta would like to team with her again but her advice to Yumoto is to prioritise her health and career.

The JK Trio of Haru Kazashiro, Runa Okubo & Uta Takami won in the opening contest. Does this make them the youngest pro wrestling team to ever win a match in Sumo Hall? The match went back and forth until the teenagers hit a Triple Dropkick to Shino Suzuki, Chika Nanase & Kira Summer. Kazashiro then used a Fisherman Suplex to pin Nanase.

Five members of SKE48 including Yuki Arai held a mini-concert after the third match. For one member Marika Tani it turned out to be her final live performance because today is her graduation from the idol unit. One thing she noticed is at SKE48 concerts the fans chant “Yuki-chan” for Yuki Arai but at wrestling shows the fans chant “Arai” for her instead.

Did April Fool’s come a day early? There was an announcement at the beginning of the show of a collaboration between TJPW and mecha franchise Armored Trooper Votoms. As part of the collaboration famed mecha designer Kunio Okawara created illustrations of existing Votoms robots with colour schemes and accessories related to TJPW wrestlers. The first revealed designs are Berserga Pink Striker based on Miyu Yamashita and Cat Shoulder based on Haruna Neko.

It was announced that “SUMMER SUN PRINCESS ’24” will be held at Korakuen Hall on 20th July. Normally that show would be held somewhere like Ota Ward Gymnasium. However that building won’t be available for a while because it is being renovated for the rest of the year.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “GRAND PRINCESS ’24” Preview

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “GRAND PRINCESS ’24”, 31/03/2024
Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan

1. Shino Suzuki, Chika Nanase & Kira Summer Vs Haru Kazashiro, Runa Okubo & Uta Takami
2. Nao Kakuta & Ami Yumoto Vs Mahiro Kiryu & HIMAWARI
3. Andreza Giant Panda & Kaya Toribami (w/ Haruna Neko) Vs Raku & Pom Harajuku
4. Moka Miyamoto & Juria Nagano Vs Wakana Uehara & Toga
5. Rika Tatsumi Vs Masha Slamovich
6. Aja Kong & Max The Impaler Vs Shoko Nakajima & Hyper Misao
7. Special Single Match: Minoru Suzuki Vs Maki Itoh
8. Yuka Sakazaki & Mizuki Vs Emi Sakura & Chris Brookes
9. International Princess Title: Yuki Arai (c) Vs Yuki Kamifuku
10. Princess Tag Team Titles: Ryo Mizunami & Yuki Aino (c) Vs Suzume & Arisu Endo
11. Princess Of Princess Title: Miyu Yamashita (c) Vs Miu Watanabe

The third annual “GRAND PRINCESS” supershow is taking place this Sunday. It is where Tokyo Joshi Pro will return to Sumo Hall after last year’s attempt at running Ariake Coliseum. The promotion’s three championships are all represented in the late side of the card but you will find some of the matches making the most headlines are right there underneath them. We have new faces that weren’t here a year ago, a few women who will soon be saying goodbye to wrestling, somebody who already said goodbye not that long ago but came back anyway and a few guests coming over to check things out as well. The three title matches will also end up answering a question that always follows TJPW’s biggest shows. Are they finally going to push the next generation? Let’s look through the matches one by one and see what’s on offer.

1. Shino Suzuki, Chika Nanase & Kira Summer Vs Haru Kazashiro, Runa Okubo & Uta Takami

It is up to the six lowest wrestlers on the tier list to open up the show. Three of the wrestlers only have a year of experience each. The other three have only debuted in the last month and only have around five matches under their belt! Shino Suzuki was the first of the six to make her debut and has been making strides in the ring lately. “She Know” might know how to lead her rookie partners Chika Nanase & Kira Summer to victory. Nanase has a pretty strong Shoulder Block she uses as her first move to build matches around. Summer was already no stranger to wrestling before she joined TJPW because her siblings back in Australia are wrestlers too. Facing them are the three youngest wrestlers on the roster. Haru Kazashiro & Runa Okubo debuted together at last year’s “GRAND PRINCESS” show. As the year progressed Kazashiro ended up getting more matches because Okubo needed to improve her school work. Kazashiro only just recently won her first singles match too by beating Suzuki. The newcomer on their side is Uta Takami, the newest member of The Up Up Girls. The best way I’ve seen her described so far is she has “bratty little sister energy”. So if you’re the kind of fan who gets drawn in by Mei Suruga’s personality then Takami is going to grab your attention. In terms of wondering which side has the advantage, it might actually go to the team of teenagers because they have more ring time combined than the adults!

2. Nao Kakuta & Ami Yumoto Vs Mahiro Kiryu & HIMAWARI

A match that was about a new beginning for someone when it was announced and has since added the story of the end approaching for someone else. Let’s start with the new beginning. Ami Yumoto is a former idol who was a member of the famous AKB48 troupe. She was part of group from 2013 until her graduation last year. You may have seen her before in that viral clip of the most highly produced Rock Paper Scissors tournament anyone outside of Japan has ever seen. In that time Yumoto participated in the Tofu Pro Wrestling series under the gimmick name Komanechi Yumoto so she has some familiarity with wrestling already. Since leaving AKB48 Yumoto became a stage actress and worked on a play with Nao Kakuta. The two of them became friends and Kakuta encouraged Yumoto to come see TJPW for herself. The reason is when Kakuta discovered TJPW she fell in love with the place and she thinks Yumoto will do the same. The two will be teaming together for the idol’s debut match. It may be a one off but if Kakuta’s plan is correct, Yumoto might end up sticking around afterwards.

That brings us to the point I made about the end approaching. Two weeks after Yumoto’s debut was announced, Kakuta dropped the news she will be graduating from TJPW and retiring from pro wrestling in July. It sounds like she’s ready to move on from being a performer in general because she said her next career step is going to be something that will not put her in front of an audience again. It’s a shame to see her leaving soon because I was hopeful there would be a chance for her to move up a spot this year. The success she finally earned last year got wiped out due to matters outside of her power. However given how roster advancement goes in this company that same success was probably the most she was going to get and she realised that herself. No shame in calling it a career when you’ve done everything you can do and know there is nothing else possible within your means.

Those stories above mean the match will be all about those two and not their opponents. Mahiro Kiryu got her day in the sun last year when she unexpectedly became the main character of the highly praised “HYPE!” show. HIMAWARI has fitted into the TJPW undercard so perfectly you’d think she was part of the company for years already. Either of them could very likely pick up the win just by targeting Yumoto but it is also a believable result if Kakuta just clears house and wins in her final Sumo Hall appearance instead without Yumoto having to do much for the finish.

3. Andreza Giant Panda & Kaya Toribami (w/ Haruna Neko) Vs Raku & Pom Harajuku

If last year’s match was “Andreza Minus-One” then you can call this year’s match “Andreza x Kaya”. Last year Andreza Giant Panda teamed with Haruna Neko but it’s a little different this time around. The catgirl has been out of action with an injury for a long while now. She will still be at the panda’s side but won’t be able to wrestle in the match itself. That’s not a problem because you can just swap out the cat for a bird. Kaya Toribami will be Andreza’s partner here in what could be the second ever recorded interaction between a panda and a cassowary (TikTok beat them to the punch because of course TikTok would).

TJPW’s resident kaiju and superhero are busy dealing with a more demanding challenge later in the show so who gets the responsibility of containing Andreza within Ryogoku this time? It’s RakuPom that has to deal with it now. Raku makes sense the more I think of it because trains have been used to take down giant monsters before and the power of sleep can turn Andreza into a Snorlax. Pom Harajuku’s chances will depend on what happens when you kick a large inflatable thing over and over. Maybe she can kick Andreza at the right angle and cause it to burst from the shins. If none of that works Raku & Harajuku can always use the power of friendship to prevail. Or just focus on beating Toribami, that would be a lot easier.

4. Moka Miyamoto & Juria Nagano Vs Wakana Uehara & Toga

Another match where one of the participants will be wrestling in Sumo Hall for the final time. Juria Nagano has her finger in a lot of pies and sadly it’s reached the point where she no longer has the focus and energy to continue her pro wrestling career. This match is happening two weeks before her final bout and graduation from TJPW takes place. She said she wants to keep fighting as hard as she can until she burns out. That hard work paid off when she finally won her first singles match in February. She won’t have any championships or tournament wins under her name when she graduates but to her it was still all worth it. Teaming with Nagano is Moka Miyamoto, one of the current gen wrestlers who’s been climbing up the card and finding more opportunities along the way. As long as she keeps going the way she’s going now, I can see her getting eventually rewarded with some success in the future. It’s sad to see Shinken Kusho become such a short lived tag team because two karate girls working together like that was fun to watch.

Their opponents are two wrestlers who debuted TJPW almost a year after Nagano did and I’d say just about count as the next generation after her. Wakana Uehara has become noticeably more popular over 2023. She won the Next Generation Tournament to become the top prospect in her class, her social media numbers are going up and she has that one fan that constantly shouts “WAKANAAAAAA!” during her matches. Everything’s going up for the girl with the big appetite. Toga is getting more comfortable with herself in the ring and starting to show she has more to offer than just throwing a big Elbow Strike. Her finisher is one of the weirdest ways I’ve ever seen anyone do the Rock Bottom but it still looks like it hurts when she drives her opponent onto the mat.

5. Rika Tatsumi Vs Masha Slamovich

The antics of a certain “White Dragon” has been gradually getting more unhinged as time goes by. It’s one thing for Rika Tatsumi to always choke people during a wrestling match but when she’s scary enough to make Demonio Uno or Demonio Dos nervous then it’s probably time to put her in check. If only there was somebody out there with the pain tolerance to handle Tatsumi at her worst as well as being powerful enough to challenge Tatsumi at her best. Oh! Good to see you again Masha Slamovich, boy does TJPW have an opponent for you! Earlier this year Slamovich had a great performance in the main event of the annual 4th January show in Korakuen Hall. Meanwhile she is racking up Tatsumi has spent most of 2024 wrestling in the tag team division as part of Daydream. This is a good matchup for both women and I can see the result setting up a No. 1 Contender for either of the singles championships in the aftermath.

6. Aja Kong & Max The Impaler Vs Shoko Nakajima & Hyper Misao

Damn it, I should have saved the Godzilla x Kong joke for this match. Kyoraku Kyomei did such a great job handling a giant kaiju at last year’s “GRAND PRINCESS”. So much so they are now being counted on to fight the two meanest monsters TJPW can find! In a throwback to the days of Stan Hansen & Bruiser Brody teaming up as the Miracle Power Combination, TJPW have decided to put Aja Kong & Max The Impaler together on the same side. The previous times the two of them have been in the ring were as opponents. The wrestlers they teamed with were more concerned about protecting the venue from getting ripped apart than they were with winning the match. What hope does Sumo Hall have now that Kong & Max are going to team together? That’s when you call on the services of Shoko Nakajima & Hyper Misao to save the day.

Kyoraku Kyomei are well aware of the younger wrestlers in TJPW doing their best to catch up with the veteran generation. That kind of threat was what kept them motivated until this match was announced. Nakajima is looking forward to it because it is her chance to prove the Big Kaiju is also the strongest kaiju. Misao is not as enthusiastic. She only just recently built the second generation Hypami Dramatic Dream bike thanks to a successful crowd funding campaign. The original was destroyed by Aja Kong so there is no way Misao will let her or Max lay even a finger on the new one. Misao also warns the new bike has a secret weapon that was specially built in to deal with those two monsters. Maybe even three if Nakajima accidentally gets in the way.

7. Special Single Match: Minoru Suzuki Vs Maki Itoh

The cutest in the world is going to fight the meanest king of pro wrestling! A recurring story for a long time now is Maki Itoh becoming more and more disconnected from the rest of TJPW. She wrestles in America for GCW more often and whenever she does come back to Japan her matches in TJPW are in the middle of the card and she feels aimless despite still winning matches. Her wrestling career is still going great, it’s just that more and more of her highlights are happening away from TJPW. The big one that happened recently was Itoh winning the GCW Extreme Title. She’ll have the title belt with her coming down to the ring on the night but her match will have nothing to do with it. It is about something even more important.

In February Itoh went to the Piledriver clothing shop in Harajuku in search of its Minoru Suzuki. When she found him she pitched an idea for the two of them to team up at Sumo Hall. They have teamed up once before in DDT and Itoh thinks the cutest wrestler in the world teaming with the meanest person on the planet would draw fans to the show. Suzuki flipped the idea on its head and told Itoh it would be even more buzzworthy if the two of them fought each other in a singles match! Itoh was left speechless by the suggestion but pulled up the courage not just to accept the match but promise she will end Suzuki’s career too! Suzuki saw the funny side of the threat and isn’t intimidated. Itoh’s wrestling career is only the size of Suzuki’s little finger in comparison to his own legendary career.

In the leadup to the match Itoh had time to think over it. She wanted to send a message to Suzuki that she has no fear so she choked out Shino Suzuki with a Sleeper Hold backstage during a show. Then she went to Twitter and posted a long message about her wrestling life from the start up until now. She is now the best she has ever been but misses the desperation her younger self had back when she started out. She needs to feel true despair again and can only find it by fighting someone who can bring it out of her. The match against Suzuki is going to be exactly that. She knows he is going to beat her to a pulp but she cannot wait to feel that desperate energy again in order to take herself to the next level. For Suzuki this will just be another match. For Itoh it is going to be the only match in the world that matters.

8. Yuka Sakazaki & Mizuki Vs Emi Sakura & Chris Brookes

Okay tell me if I got this correct. Yuka Sakazaki graduated from TJPW in December, said her 2024 plans were to relocate to America and continue her wrestling career there. The graduation happened and since then Sakazaki hasn’t wrestled anywhere, might have stayed in Japan the entire time and her first match back in almost five months is going to be in… Tokyo Joshi Pro. I’m just as confused about this as you might be. Was she prevented from re-entering America to protect all the mascots at Disney World or something? In reality it’s either just a visa situation that is delaying her plans or she isn’t travelling overseas unless she has something ready to do.

Sakazaki coming back to TJPW is good news for Mizuki. Nobody is happier to be in the ring with her again than the other half of The Magical Sugar Rabbits. When Sakazaki’s return was first announced, Mizuki was nervous there would not be a reunion because the match wasn’t revealed at the time. Imagine the relief she must have felt when she found out followed by the surprise over who they are fighting against. MagiRabi are taking on a queen they both had battles with in the past along with a very tall new opponent for them.

Here’s the funny thing. Emi Sakura and Chris Brookes will both be wrestling in TJPW for the first time ever yet their appearances are not as random as they sound. Sakura was a mentor figure for Mizuki in the early parts of her career and they’ve been in plenty of matches together. She also fought Sakazaki a bunch in AEW on their Youtube shows. Brookes meanwhile is often at the announce desk doing English commentary for TJPW’s most important shows of the year. They are a suitable pairing to take on The Magical Sugar Rabbits. All they need now is a name. You can count on Sakura to come up with one because she is calling the team TeaDK!

9. International Princess Title: Yuki Arai (c) Vs Yuki Kamifuku

The eventual takeover by the idol is moving along at a slow pace as planned. Yuki Arai won her second championship in January when she defeated the seemingly unbeatable Max The Impaler for the International Princess Title. It is only a matter of time before she moves on to chase after the biggest prize but we’ll cross that bridge whenever we get to it. Let’s stick to the present where Arai is the IP Champ and already has one successful title defence in her reign. A glamourous girl like her needs a glamourous opponent for such a big show. Luckily there is someone right here who fits the description.

Yuki Kamifuku has shown a lot more determination to win recently. Last year in the Tokyo Princess Cup she became fed up with her own excuses about never taking tournaments seriously because the younger wrestlers were using it against her whenever she lost. She proved all of them wrong by reaching the final round. While she did not win the tournament, her run of success getting there was the spark needed to figure out what she wanted to do next. She began searching for ways she could make TJPW more exciting. One of them was wrestling around Southeast Asia and winning the Queen Of Asia Title. Next on her list is challenging Arai for the IP Title because it is a match that can attract fans from their hometowns (Nagoya for Arai and Fujisawa for Kamifuku). She also thinks two beautiful women fighting over a championship sounds like an exciting way to draw in a crowd.

10. Princess Tag Team Titles: Ryo Mizunami & Yuki Aino (c) Vs Suzume & Arisu Endo

There have been many great super subs in sport throughout the years. Ole Gunnar Solskjear for Manchester United, Manu Ginobili for the San Antonio Spurs, Tadashi Yamaguchi for Karasuno High School and perhaps the most greatest of them all… Ryo Mizunami for Tokyo Joshi Pro! Whenever TJPW was in need of a last minute replacement, Aniki was there to step up for them. That kind of reliability was rewarded with a Princess Tag Team Titles run with Yuki Aino as her partner. It’s been a successful pairing that is taking them all the way to an important championship match at Sumo Hall.

The championship win was also a big boost for Aino. Tag Team wrestling has always been where her better performances come from but she keeps trying to break out into singles wrestling. This new team she formed with Mizunami was built upon their individual strengths rather than their teamwork so in a way it is kind of giving Aino the best of both worlds. The vacant titles went to Yukiniki when they won a 3 Way Match at the expense of Daisy Monkey. And wouldn’t you know it, Daisy Monkey are back looking to take those titles as revenge!

That 3 Way Match in January put Daisy Monkey in a disadvantage from the get-go. The original match was Suzume & Arisu Endo challenging the champions Free WiFi. That plan was thrown out the window because of Hikari Noa suddenly going on hiatus, causing WiFi to be stripped of the belts. While that match ended up being a big setback for Daisy Monkey, they were ready to start climbing from the bottom once again. In February they fought tooth and nail to win the annual Max Heart Tournament and become recognised as TJPW’s strongest tag team. They immediately called their shot and challenged Yukiniki for the titles. It is the one thing Suzume & Endo want more than anything else because becoming the champions will put them on the same level as all of the tag teams from TJPW’s history that they admire.

11. Princess Of Princess Title: Miyu Yamashita (c) Vs Miu Watanabe

Memories of the 2022 Tokyo Princess Cup remain fresh in my mind. That was the year Miu Watanabe scored the upset semi-final win against Miyu Yamashita that planted the seeds to this weekend’s main event. The story today is similar to what it was back then. Watanabe believes she is ready to beat the veteran generation and surpass them to become the best wrestler in TJPW. The person who stands in her way though is the ace who has been on top of the company since day one. It’s Yamashita. It is always Yamashita. Watanabe got a reminder of that when she was pinned with the Skull Kick for the finish of the 10th Anniversary main event last December.

Yamashita’s 4th Princess Of Princess Title reign has so far been built around defences against foreign wrestlers. Regina, Delmi Exo (happened in MLW) and Masha Slamovich have all failed to dethrone her. She is also going on another tour of America this year that will last from April to June. If Yamashita wins at Sumo Hall she intends to bring the belt with her for more title defences overseas. It’s a situation all too familiar for TJPW fans. Yamashita has done it all on top and has become an even bigger fish in the small pond.

Watanabe’s talents make her the natural choice for a brand new champion yet TJPW always relies on the original generation to carry the top belt. The Princess Title lineage has been running through the same cycle of Yamashita, Sakazaki, Nakajima, Tatsumi and Mizuki since 2018. While it might be prestigious to book a championship lineage around an exclusive club, TJPW is long past the point of giving the ball to somebody new so they can run with it. The concern is they might miss the window and wait too long to crown the next ace. Do we really need another wrestling company that delays their coronation of a new star for a year again?

Tetsuya Koda’s management philosophy follows that of the idol industry. Over there the senior generation of idols graduate and open up new spots for the junior idols to take their place. That is how the business evolves. TJPW’s roster progression feels similar but moves at a much more glacial pace, perhaps surprisingly so. Not to jynx anything but it always amazes me the amount of wrestlers TJPW produced in its history that have stuck around for the long haul. Does it take losing main eventers like Sakazaki for the younger wrestlers to finally move up the ladder? Does that mean there is a permanent bottleneck on top for as long as Yamashita remains in TJPW competing at the level she always does? If she ever does leave would TJPW just resort to relying on the remaining former Princess Champions to carry the title scene again? Those are the questions on my mind if Yamashita beats Watanabe this Sunday. If Watanabe wins and becomes the champion instead then buckle up because TJPW will be stepping into fresh territory for the first time in a long time.

The Complete Grand Princess ’24 Lineup

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “GRAND PRINCESS ’24”, 31/03/2024
Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan

1. Shino Suzuki, Chika Nanase & Kira Summer Vs Haru Kazashiro, Runa Okubo & Uta Takami
2. Nao Kakuta & Ami Yumoto Vs Mahiro Kiryu & HIMAWARI
3. Andreza Giant Panda & Kaya Toribami (w/ Haruna Neko) Vs Raku & Pom Harajuku
4. Moka Miyamoto & Juria Nagano Vs Wakana Uehara & Toga
5. Rika Tatsumi Vs Masha Slamovich
6. Aja Kong & Max The Impaler Vs Shoko Nakajima & Hyper Misao
7. Special Single Match: Minoru Suzuki Vs Maki Itoh
8. Yuka Sakazaki & Mizuki Vs Emi Sakura & Chris Brookes
9. International Princess Title: Yuki Arai (c) Vs Yuki Kamifuku
10. Princess Tag Team Titles: Ryo Mizunami & Yuki Aino (c) Vs Suzume & Arisu Endo
11. Princess Of Princess Title: Miyu Yamashita (c) Vs Miu Watanabe

Eleven matches make up the big Sumo Hall show at the end of the month. One of the big additions to the card is a match that mixes together Tokyo Joshi Pro with DDT, Gatoh Move and AEW all into one potentially massive chaotic blur. Mizuki gets to breath a sigh of relief because she gets to reunite with Yuka Sakazaki and bring back The Magical Sugar Rabbits after all. Facing them is the wild card pairing of Emi Sakura & Chris Brookes! Oddly enough it will be the first time both Sakura & Brookes are wrestling on a TJPW show despite previously being in the ring with TJPW wrestlers elsewhere. Or also in Brookes’ case doing commentary on the shows themselves.

Rika Tatsumi gets a big international singles match with Masha Slamovich. For Slamovich it’s another chance for her to leave her stamp in TJPW after matches with Miyu Yamashita and Max The Impaler back in January. Tatsumi is going to be the third high level opponent in a row for her.

This could probably be the last time Shinken Kusho get to tag together. Juria Nagano will be graduating from TJPW a few weeks later. Moka Miyamoto has been gradually climbing her way up the ladder too so far this year. Their match here looks to me like it will be a showcase for the two of them rather than their opponents Wakana Uehara & Toga.

The animals are all joining forces and it will be up to Raku & Pom Harajuku to save humanity! Or something like that. The last time Andreza Giant Panda was in TJPW he teamed with Haruna Neko. One year later Neko will still be there but she isn’t cleared to wrestle yet. So she’ll hang around ringside while Kaya Toribami fights alongside the panda.

It was already announced that the debuting Ami Yumoto will team with Nao Kakuta. We now know their opponents will be Mahiro Kiryu & HIMAWARI.

Welcome to joshi wrestling where in a match featuring six people the two teenagers are among the most experienced of the bunch. The show opens with three members of the 2023 Class against the three members of the 2024 Class.

DDT Around The World – December 2023

Happy new year! December featured plenty of CyberFight related appearances in North America. Tokyo Joshi Pro held its second show in USA. They also had two seperate championship matches happening within minutes from each other in two different countries. Konosuke Takeshita remains stuck in AEW limbo, Maki Itoh wrapped up the latest leg of her US bookings, Shota paid a visit to California and MAO partied hard as the end of 2023 counted down to midnight.

So what is there new to expect in 2024 when it comes to international stuff for DDT and its family? I think the focus will be what Yuka Sakazaki will get up to. I will continue following her career using these articles. If she sticks within AEW/ROH then it won’t be much work to see what she gets up to every month. But I want to see her spread out to some of the indies. At least go to Deadlock Pro every now and then. She owes them a match anyway.

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Videos

Konosuke Takeshita In AEW Playlist

Video starts at 11:02.
MPW “THE LONG NIGHT”, 08/12/2023
MPW Academy, Chatsworth, California, USA

1. Miggy Rose & Michael Hopkins Vs Shota & J2 Mattioli

AEW “RAMPAGE”, 08/12/2023
Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

1. Christopher Daniels & Matt Sydal Vs Powerhouse Hobbs & Konosuke Takeshita

DREAMWAVE “GOOD AS GOLD”, 09/12/2023
Knights of Columbus, LaSalle, Illinois, USA

1. Miyu Yamashita & Emi Sakura Vs Zayda Steel & Maggie Lee

SKYFIRE PRO “NAVIDAD NIGHTMARE”, 10/12/2023
Bay City Brewing Co., San Diego, California, USA

1. Rebel Storm Vs Shota

TOKYO JOSHI PRO/PRESTIGE “COMBAT PRINCESS USA”, 14/12/2023
The Vermont Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
400 Fans – Super No Vacancy

7. Special Tag Match: Miyu Yamashita & Maki Itoh Vs Masha Slamovich & Killer Kelly

Video starts at 16:20.
MPW “NAUGHTY OR NICE 2023”, 15/12/2023
MPW Academy, Chatsworth, California, USA

1. Shota Vs Jr Mattioli

PANDEMONIUM PRO “HOLIDAY IN LA”, 17/12/2023
Don Quixote, Los Angeles, California, USA

1. Mike Bailey Vs Miyu Yamashita

CIRCLE 6 “BARROOM BLITZ”, 31/12/2023
Knucklehead Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

1. DDT Universal Title: MAO (c) Vs Nate Webb

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Results

BLACK LABEL PRO “SLAMILTON”, 02/12/2023
Berwyn Eagles Club, Berwyn, Illinois, USA

1. Maki Itoh defeated Rachel Armstrong with the Itoh Deluxe (11:22).

Let’s begin with a show that has become an annual event for Black Label Pro. Six months ago Rachel Armstrong had a match here against Miyu Yamashita so now it was Itoh’s turn to see what the fuss is all about. A naïve Armstrong fell for Itoh’s crocodile tears act but took control using her speed and agility. A Northern Lights Suplex in particular came very close to getting her the win. But Itoh had control for most of the match, trapping Armstrong in the Itoh Special and then building her way up to the Itoh Deluxe to make her tap out.

GCW “WHAT IS YOUR CHOICE?”, 03/12/2023
Roulette Intermedium, Brooklyn, New York, USA

1. Maki Itoh defeated Mike Bailey with a Cradle (16:14).

Is this the upset of the year? Mike Bailey learned the hard way not to kick Itoh in the head because it is as hard as iron! When the shock of that wore out, Bailey took her seriously, even pulling out the Flamingo Driver that Itoh kicked out of. His frustration led to his undoing because when he grabbed Itoh’s legs to do a Boston Crab, Itoh twisted over and cradled Bailey for the flash pin! Itoh had to console Bailey after the match because he burst into tears over the result.

AEW “RAMPAGE”, 06/12/2023 (Aired 08/12/2023)
Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

1. Powerhouse Hobbs & Konosuke Takeshita defeated Christopher Daniels & Matt Sydal when Hobbs pinned Daniels with The World’s Most Dangerous Slam (8:38).

What was looking to be Takeshita’s only match of the month was teaming up with Powerhouse Hobbs to beat Christopher Daniels & Matt Sydal after the latter tried standing up to The Don Callis Family. During the month Don Callis announced that his unit will now be using “Family Rules” for their tag team matches against Chris Jericho & Kenny Omega going forward, which is just their name for Freebird Rules. The storyline they’re doing is falling apart though because Omega is now out of action indefinitely with diverticulitis.

MYSTERY WRESTLING “MYSTERY WRESTLING 5”, 07/12/2023
Centre Aydelu, Gatineau, Quebec, Canada

1. International Princess Title: Max The Impaler (c) defeated Jody Threat (?:??).
*V3 for Max The Impaler.

There was a surprise International Princess Title match for the fans at this month’s Mystery Wrestling show. Evil Uno runs these events every couple of months, airs them live on his Twitch channel and keeps the VOD on his Patreon. Max The Impaler was brought in for a match against Jody Threat and agreed to put the championship on the line. TJPW gave their authorization and recognizes the result as an official title defence.

MLW “ONE-SHOT”, 07/12/2023
Melrose Ballroom, Queens, New York, USA

1. Princess Of Princess Title: Miyu Yamashita (c) defeated Delmi Exo with the Skull Kick (9:13).
*V2 for Miyu Yamashita.
2. MLW World Featherweight Title: Janai Kai (c) (w/ Salina de la Renta & Jesus Rodriguez) defeated Maki Itoh with the Modified Dragon Sleeper (7:27).
*V2 for Janai Kai.

Both Itoh and Yamashita were at MLW’s final show of the year, each in a championship match. Itoh was given a big title match against Janai Kai for the MLW World Featherweight Title. She had an unfair disadvantage though because Kai had both Salina de la Renta and Jesus Rodriguez (the former Ricardo Rodriguez from WWE) in her corner to interfere when needed. There was also an unexpected run-in from the masked wrestler Ichiban that distracted Itoh long enough for her to miss a Diving Headbutt. If that wasn’t bad enough, Matt Striker on commentary completely did not understand Itoh’s gimmick. Maybe he had good intentions by trying to put Itoh over as a fighter to be taken seriously but he’s been so bad as a colour commentator for so long he should not get the benefit of the doubt.

Yamashita was at the show to defend the Princess Of Princess Title against Delmi Exo. Her opponent is a former MLW Featherweight Champion and brought her best fight to the match. Yamashita kicked out of the Ocean Cyclone Suplex and got Exo up to the top rope for an Avalanche Attitude Adjustment. Yamashita kept the pressure up and Exo was helpless by the time she was beaten with the Skull Kick. The result helps establish Yamashita’s current title reign being about taking on opponents from around the world. Her next challenger will be back in TJPW on 4th January against Masha Slamovich.

DREAMWAVE “UPRISING”, 08/12/2023
Knights of Columbus, LaSalle, Illinois, USA

1. Miyu Yamashita defeated Shazza McKenzie with the Skull Kick (10:59).

Over to DREAMWAVE where Yamashita appeared on a weekend of shows for them. The first one was an all women’s event where Yamashita beat Shazza McKenzie in a rematch from their ROH bout from earlier this year. DREAMWAVE later announced they will be spinning off a new all women’s wrestling promotion called Uprising: Women’s Athletes so don’t be surprised to see Yamashita show up there in 2024.

MPW “THE LONG NIGHT”, 08/12/2023
MPW Academy, Chatsworth, California, USA

1. Miggy Rose & Michael Hopkins defeated Shota & J2 Mattioli when Rose & Hopkins pinned Mattioli with a Sunset Flip & Body Press (?:??).

Shota spent the month of December travelling over to America again for a short tour. Just like last year, Shota found went to the obscure end of the US indies including Millennium Pro Wrestling who welcomed him back with open arms. Shota teamed with one of his opponents from the last excursion, J2 Mattioli to take on a team called 24K. Sadly the team lost when Miggy Rose & Michael Hopkins used a double team Sunset Flip to pin Mattioli. Afterwards Mattioli apologised to Shota for losing and then challenged him to a singles match for the following week. Shota accepted and shook his hand.

DREAMWAVE “GOOD AS GOLD”, 09/12/2023
Knights of Columbus, LaSalle, Illinois, USA

1. Miyu Yamashita & Emi Sakura defeated Zayda Steel & Maggie Lee when Sakura pinned Steel with the Double Arm Backbreaker (8:02).

There was a small change to the match when one of the original opponents Zamaya was bumped up to the semi-main event for the DREAMWAVE Women’s Title. So Yamashita & Emi Sakura instead found themselves teaming up against Zayda Steel and Zamaya’s replacement Maggie Lee. A lot of the match was Steel & Lee working on Yamashita so Sakura can get the hot tag. Still it’s not everyday you get to see Sakura & Yamashita teaming together. They won when Sakura gave Steel the Double Arm Backbreaker and Yamashita gave Lee the Attitude Adjustment, leading to a double pin.

EWF “PRO WRESTLING LUCHA LIBRE”, 09/12/2023
VFW Post 8737, San Bernardino, California, USA

1. EWF Vs The World: Kid Noah defeated Shota (?:??).

An outdoor show held in December doesn’t sound that pleasant even if it’s in California. Shota wrestled twice outdoors during the tour. The first one was at Empire Wrestling Federation where he lost to Kid Noah.

GCW “HIGHEST IN THE ROOM 2”, 09/12/2023
Ukrainian Cultural Center, Los Angeles, California, USA

1. Johnny Game Changer & Taya Valkyrie defeated Nick Gage & Maki Itoh (17:42).

Itoh’s last GCW appearance of the year had Maki Death Kill back together to take on the husband and wife team of Johnny Game Changer & Taya Valkyrie. The match went from a normal two vs two tag into a brawl with chairs and doors being used as weapons. Valkyrie put Nick Gage through one of the doors and then tried giving Itoh the Road To Valhalla. Itoh countered it into a Roll Up but Valkyrie then blocked the counter and grabbed onto Itoh’s tights to pin her for the three count. Itoh demanded a singles match against Valkyrie afterwards.

SKYFIRE PRO “NAVIDAD NIGHTMARE”, 10/12/2023
Bay City Brewing Co., San Diego, California, USA

1. Rebel Storm defeated Shota with the Thunderstruck (?:??).

Shota’s second outdoor match of the month was for Skyfire Pro Lucha Libre. He tried his best to outwrestle his opponent but Rebel Storm stopped him in his tracks with a Headbutt followed by the Twist Of Fate that he calls Thunderstruck.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO/PRESTIGE “COMBAT PRINCESS USA”, 14/12/2023
The Vermont Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
400 Fans – Super No Vacancy

1. Max The Impaler & Pom Harajuku defeated Rika Tatsumi & Amira when Harajuku pinned Amira after the Wasteland War Justice with Max (10:20).
2. Trish Adora defeated Moka Miyamoto with the Lariat (8:42).
3. Mizuki defeated Sandra Moone with the Cutie Special (10:21).
4. Miu Watanabe defeated Hyan with the Tear Drop (8:33).
5. Princess Tag Team Titles: Hikari Noa & Nao Kakuta (c) defeated Janai Kai & Shazza McKenzie when Noa pinned McKenzie with the Blizzard Suplex (9:42).
*V3 for Free WiFi.
6. Taya Valkyrie defeated Shoko Nakajima with the Road To Valhalla (10:47).
7. Special Tag Match: Masha Slamovich & Killer Kelly defeated Miyu Yamashita & Maki Itoh when Slamovich pinned Yamashita with the White Knight Driver (18:00).

The show report can be found here.

MPW “NAUGHTY OR NICE 2023”, 15/12/2023
MPW Academy, Chatsworth, California, USA

1. J2 Mattioli defeated Shota with the Playmaker Lariat (?:??).

The match between Shota and Mattioli was a mostly friendly back and forth match between the two. Mattioli ended up using his Playmaker Lariat to win, capping off a year he was really happy with.

PANDEMONIUM PRO “HOLIDAY IN LA”, 17/12/2023
Don Quixote, Los Angeles, California, USA

1. Keita defeated Shota (?:??).
2. Miyu Yamashita defeated Mike Bailey with the Skull Kick (?:??).

Okay so this month we found out that Bailey’s weakness is Tokyo Joshi Pro wrestlers. He lost to Itoh in GCW and here in Pandemonium Pro he lost clean to Yamashita! There were no tears in this one, instead these two tried to kick the tar out of each other!

Shota completed his USA tour by making Pandemonium Pro his final stop. Originally he was going to face Vinnie Massaro but that guy is busy living it up on a NOAH tour right now. So Shota was given the newcomer Keita as a replacement opponent. Keita made the most of this opportunity and beat the more experienced Shota.

AEW “WORLDS END”, 30/12/2023
Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, New York, USA

1. Chris Jericho, Sammy Guevara, Sting & Darby Allin defeated Ricky Starks, Big Bill, Powerhouse Hobbs & Konosuke Takeshita when Guevara pinned Starks with a Shooting Star Press (15:42).

What a mess this storyline has turned out to be. Omega falling ill meant that he and Jericho couldn’t go ahead with challenging Ricky Starks & Big Bill for the AEW World Tag Team Titles so they had to throw in The Don Callis Family, Sting, Darby Allin and the return of Sammy Guevara to make it an 8-Man Tag Match. Takeshita was not part of the lineup when the match was made but then a day later AEW swapped him into the match and took Kyle Fletcher out. Then on the day of the show allegations of Jericho’s past behavior resurfaced online from Nick Hausman as part of Jericho’s online spat with a lawyer with a that could not have been handled any more uglier than it did. Almost everybody except the alleged victim is coming out of it as a bunch of massive scumbags. So come to the part of the show when the match happened and there was an uncomfortable atmosphere that could be felt through the screen as the match went on. I wish I could instead focus on Takeshita getting to wrestle Sting and throw Allin around like he’s Yoshihiko but everyone watching was in a bad mood over what emerged throughout the day.

CIRCLE 6 “KING OF THE DEATHMATCHES”, 30/12/2023
Don Quixote, Los Angeles, California, USA

1. King Of The Deathmatches – Round 1 – Ultraviolent Baptism: Bobby Beverly defeated MAO with the Fisherman DDT (?:??).

How about taking part in a deathmatch tournament to bring out the end of the year? MAO entered the King Of The Deathmatches that was being held by Circle 6 and faced Bobby Beverly in the 1st Round. MAO brought along chairs and plastic boxes but soon smashed lighttubes over his opponent. He also put Beverly through a bunch of chairs with a Double Arm Piledriver and used high flying moves but couldn’t get the win. A triple Low Blow spot that also included the referee brought the match back to an even fight. Wooden skewers were stabbed into each other’s heads and Beverly smashed MAO with lighttubes before pinning him with the Fisherman DDT.

CIRCLE 6 “BARROOM BLITZ”, 31/12/2023
Knucklehead Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

1. DDT Universal Title: MAO (c) defeated Nate Webb with the Diving Radio Silence from the Bar Counter (?:??).
*V3 for MAO.

MAO stuck around in Circle 6 on New Year’s Eve so he could defend the DDT Universal Title against Spyder Nate Webb. The match went outside to Santa Monica Blvd so they could fight on the street as traffic drove by.

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Upcoming Appearances

MLW “KINGS OF COLOSSEUM”, 06/01/2024
2300 Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

1. Moka Miyamoto Vs Nao Kakuta
2. MLW World Featherweight Title: Janai Kai (c) Vs Hyper Misao

TJPW’s working relationship with MLW continues into the new year. Hyper Misao has been selected to be Kai’s next challenger for the MLW Featherweight Title.

Also happening on the show is a TJPW offer match between Moka Miyamoto and Nao Kakuta. Miyamoto is only just now starting to wrestle abroad while Kakuta has already done it a few times in 2023. The two matches here are a little glimpse of what TJPW in Philadelphia will look like next April.

GCW “NO COMPADRE”, 12/01/2024
Thalia Hall, Chicago, Illinois, USA

1. Maki Itoh, Effy & Allie Katch Vs Matt Cardona, Steph de Lander & Broski Jimmy

Itoh and Bussy all share grudges with Matt Cardona & Steph de Lander so it was inevitable that Maki Death Bussy would join forces to take on Deathmatch Royalty. The latest development in the story is Cardona forced Jimmy Lloyd to become his new disciple in GCW, turning Lloyd into Broski Jimmy.

GCW “56 BIRDZ”, 13/01/2024
Valley Dale Ballroom, Columbus, Ohio, USA

1. Maki Itoh Vs Tony Deppen

The day after that Itoh will take on Tony Deppen in a first time match. GCW at times have promoted Deppen as their gatekeeper. A win for Itoh here could be a sign of things to come for her in GCW.

F1RST “WRESTLEPALOOZA – NIGHT 2”, 14/01/2024
First Avenue, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

1. Maki Itoh Vs X

No match announced yet for Itoh’s appearance at F1RST.

SPW “CHAMPIONS NEVER YIELD 2”, 19/01/2024
Foo Chow Building, Singapore

1. Mizuki Vs Alexis Lee
2. SPW Southeast Asia Tag Team Titles: Chris Brookes & Masahiro Takanashi (c) Vs Da Butcherman & Dr. Gore

In November 2022 CDK defeated The Horrors to win the SPW Southeast Asia Tag Team Titles. Now after more than a year later comes the rematch. Dr. Gore got to wrestle in Japan for a little while and gain some experience while Da Butcherman kept himself busy in Singapore. There is a chance the match might not go ahead because Chris Brookes had surgery this month to remove a tumor from his abdomen. At the time of writing there is no decision made yet on when he can start wrestling again. But even if he can’t make the trip, Masahiro Takanashi still will.

SPW’s own Alexis Lee continues to be the opponent of choice for joshi coming into Singapore. She lost the Queen Of Asia Title to Yuki Kamifuku last month but is looking to bounce right back with a win against Mizuki.

SETUP “BANGKOK SHOWDOWN”, 20/01/2024
The Circus Studio, G Village, Bangkok, Thailand

1. IWA Japan SETUP World Tag Team Titles: Chris Brookes & Masahiro Takanashi (c) Vs Kevin Weng & Pondhub Vs Anont Alonzo & Mister Suchart

If CDK can go ahead with travelling together in January then they have a tough challenge waiting for them in Thailand. SETUP is making them defend the IWA Japan SETUP World Tag Team Titles in a 3 Way Match against St. John Innocent College and THE GOOD DEAL. CDK won the titles from THE GOOD DEAL in an impromptu match bck in October. But even though the former champions are getting a rematch, they have to share it with St. John Innocent College. That kind of multi-man chaos is an environment that CDK benefits from.

GCW “LOOK AT ME”, 26/01/2024
Egypt Shrine Center, Tampa, Florida, USA

1. Maki Itoh Vs X

What will await Itoh in Florida next month?

BZW “X”, 03/02/2024
Salle Jacques Brel, Faches-Thumesnil, France

1. Yoshihiko Vs X
2. MAO Vs X

MAO is coming to France and he’s brining Yoshihiko with him! Also Minoru Suzuki and KUSHIDA are booked for the show too. Banger Zone Wrestling won’t know what hit them.

TNT EXTREME “MERSEYSIDE MASSACRE”, 04/02/2024
Hanger34, Liverpool, England

1. Yoshihiko Vs X

Yoshihiko heads over to Liverpool the next day for TNT Extreme. Surely not by itself though.

DDT “DDT GOES PHILADELPHIA!”, 04/04/2024
Penns Landing Caterers Auditorium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

DDT won’t be the only CyberFight presence in Philly that week…

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW LIVE IN PHILLY”, 05/04/2024
Penns Landing Caterers Auditorium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

… because TJPW is going there too! They will also be part of The Collective which is interesting to note because last time TJPW were with WrestleCon.

DDT Around The World – November 2023

Okay so where did things stand during November? Konosuke Takeshita’s work in America was still as a background player in the Don Callis storyline. The rivalry between him and Chris Jericho was mostly focused in Japan for DDT. But with that said there was still the rest of the month for AEW to give him stuff to do and there was nothing to show for it. Shoko Nakajima got to stomp her way to America briefly but just like every American monster movie it was only for a little while. Maki Itoh seems to be booked stronger and stronger in GCW as the months go by. She won all of her matches in America this month! I think there’s going to be some gold on her way in the future. Speaking of gold there is plenty of championship news to talk about for this month.

Sadly for Miyu Yamashita she lost some of her gold after her latest appearance in England. The global triple crown she held a few months back is now long gone and she’s back to just being a champion in Japan. The International Princess Title got to be defended overseas and even made a cameo on NWA programming. The belt was also handled by James Mitchell a lot which makes me hope it got a deep clean before it was transported back to Japan. Yuki Kamifuku has always behaved like a queen and now she gets to be called one thanks to the title she won in Singapore.

So with all of this now out of the way let’s hope December ends the year with a few high notes. Tokyo Joshi Pro has their show with Prestige coming up, Shota is doing a winter excursion and MAO is spending New Year’s with the dodgy bunch of friends you’d wish your kid wouldn’t hang out with.

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Videos

Konosuke Takeshita In AEW Playlist

DAIKAIJU PRO “VOL. 1 – THE KAPPAS WALK AMONG US”, 04/11/2023
White Eagle, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA

1. Shoko Nakajima Vs VENY

AEW “DYNAMITE”, 15/11/2023
Toyota Arena, Ontario, California, USA

1. Like A Dragon Street Fight: Chris Jericho, Kenny Omega, Kota Ibushi & Paul Wight Vs Konosuke Takeshita, Kyle Fletcher, Powerhouse Hobbs & Brian Cage

EVE “WRESTLE QUEENDOM – SHOW 2”, 19/11/2023
The Dome, Tufnell Park, London, England

1. EVE Title: Miyu Yamashita (c) Vs Safire Reed

SPW “VIVA LA LUCHA!”, 24/11/2023
Foo Chow Building, Singapore

1. Queen Of Asia Title: Alexis Lee (c) Vs Yuki Kamifuku

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Results

GCW “PLEASE, BUDDY”, 03/11/2023
Pop’s Nightclub, Sauget, Illinois, USA

1. Maki Itoh defeated Shazza McKenzie with the Itoh Deluxe (8:37).

Itoh can sing, she can dance, she can even carve open human skulls with a pizza cutter. But she cannot do the splits like Shazza McKenzie. The Australian used the splits as a defensive maneuver and then challenged Itoh to match it. Itoh struggled but it didn’t matter because McKenzie then kicked her aside and took control of the match. Itoh recovered and locked in the Itoh Deluxe to make her opponent tap out.

DAIKAIJU PRO “VOL. 1 – THE KAPPAS WALK AMONG US”, 04/11/2023
White Eagle, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA

1. VENY defeated Shoko Nakajima with the Moonsault Press onto the pile of Kaiju Toys (12:04).

When you have a promotion called Daikaiju Pro who else is more fitting to headline their first show than the girl nicknamed Big Kaiju? Nakajima brought out a bag filled with kaiju toys that she wanted to use in her match against VENY but the referee wouldn’t allow her to use them. At least he was polite enough to stand up one of the toys on the apron. VENY wasn’t there to play games either. She spat water in Nakajima’s face while beating her down and later hit a big Moonsault onto her outside the ring. A second Moonsault missed its target allowing Nakajima to get her second wind. Things went haywire after VENY accidentally knocked out the ref with a slap. Nakajima had her beaten with the Northern Lights Suplex but no ref was there to count it. Nakajima took advantage by bringing in the bag of kaiju toys and throwing VENY onto them with a Top Rope Hurricanrana. The ref recovered but VENY kicked out of the pin. Nakajima then got a taste of her own medicine by being slammed onto the pile of toys with a Hurricane Driver. She kicked out of a Michinoku Driver but VENY finished her off with the Moonsault Press on top of the toys.

GCW “¿SI OR NO?”, 04/11/2023
Center Stage, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

1. Maki Itoh, Effy & Allie Katch defeated Jordan Oliver, Davey Bang & August Matthews when Itoh, Effy & Katch all pinned Matthews with a Triple Kokeshi Headbutt (11:29).

The trio known as Maki Death Bussy won again in their second outing as a team. Their opponents Young, Dumb & Bros tried to used fast paced team moves to their advantage until Allie Katch cleared house with her power. Effy then tagged in Itoh so the three of them could hit a Kokeshi Headbutt all at the same time for the win.

EVE “FRIDAY NIGHT’S ALRIGHT FOR FIGHTING”, 10/11/2023
Big Penny Social, Walthamstow, London, England

1. International Princess Title: Max The Impaler (c) defeated Kasey (10:36).
*V1 for Max The Impaler.

The International Princess Title was defended in England for the first time in over a year when Max The Impaler stepped foot into EVE once more. EVE got permission from TJPW to have Max put the title on the line against the “Monster Of Chaos” Kasey. It was a risk to do this title defence when there was already one scheduled for Max when they returned to Japan. But it turned out not to be a problem for the champion and they left EVE with the title still over their shoulder.

AEW “DYNAMITE”, 15/11/2023
Toyota Arena, Ontario, California, USA

1. Like A Dragon Street Fight: Chris Jericho, Kenny Omega, Kota Ibushi & Paul Wight defeated Konosuke Takeshita, Kyle Fletcher, Powerhouse Hobbs & Brian Cage when Omega pinned Cage with the One-Winged Angel (21:01).

Takeshita went full Goro Majima for AEW’s sponsorship with Sega and the new Lika A Dragon game. All that was missing was him calling Kenny Omega “Kenny-chan” while stalking him from every nook and cranny inside the building. The Street Fight was a full tribute to the street fights you get in the game including attacks involving bicycles, people getting slammed onto cars and shop signs getting smashed to bits. This was the kind of natural environments The Golden Lovers developed in and is a recommended throwback to the crazy Falls Count Anywhere Matches they used to get up to in DDT. Kota Ibushi cycling around ringside hitting people with a pipe until Brian Cage decapitated him with a Lariat is something wrestling will always need. Also Powerhouse Hobbs seemed to have killed Paul Wight in the parking lot and it didn’t matter towards the result. AEW really needs to fix that kind of story telling. Anyway, Omega dropped Kyle Fletcher with the One-Winged Angel to deliver a happy ending for this substory.

GCW “GOING AND GOING”, 17/11/2023
Washington Hall, Seattle, Washington, USA

1. Maki Itoh defeated Nicole Matthews with the I.S.D. (9:19).

A first time meeting between Itoh and Nicole Matthews meant it was time for Matthews to discover first hand just how hard Itoh’s head is. She based her attacks around Cravates and Knee Strikes to the head. When that didn’t work she pushed the referee into the ropes to knock Itoh off balance from the top turnbuckle. However Itoh kicked out of a Northern Lights Suplex and lured Matthews back over to the corner. She gave her a Draping DDT onto the ring apron, a Tornado DDT on the floor outside the ring and then the I.S.D back in the ring for the victory.

HOODSLAM “RED”, 18/11/2023
Continental Club, Oakland, California, USA

1. Sawyer Wreck & Maki Itoh defeated Dark Sheik & Vipress when Itoh pinned Sheik with the I.S.D. (17:02).

When Itoh was last in Hoodslam she lost a match to Vipress thanks to interference from Dark Sheik. Itoh got her revenge this month by bringing along Sawyer Wreck so they could beat the two of them together. The match transformed into a chicken fight with Itoh sitting on Wreck’s shoulders and Vipress sitting on Sheik’s. Itoh toppled down the opposing tower with her Headbutts. Communication between Sheik & Vipress broke down and the two turned on each other. From that point they were easily picked off with Itoh hitting Sheik with the I.S.D. and Wreck Choke Slamming Vipress for the double pin.

EVE “WRESTLE QUEENDOM – SHOW 1”, 19/11/2023
The Dome, Tufnell Park, London, England

1. Miyu Yamashita defeated Chantal Jordan with the Skull Kick (12:27).

Two matches in one day awaited Yamashita for EVE’s last major event of the year. The afternoon match was pretty rudimentary. She beat Chantal Jordan with the Skull Kick, no questions asked.

EVE “WRESTLE QUEENDOM – SHOW 2”, 19/11/2023
The Dome, Tufnell Park, London, England

1. EVE Title: Safire Reed defeated Miyu Yamashita (c) with a Rolling Cradle (15:35).
*Miyu Yamashita fails in V9. Safire Reed becomes the 21st EVE Champion!

The second show at night however brought an end to Yamashita’s year long reign as EVE Champion. The up and comer Safire Reed beat her in a big upset to win the title! Yamashita’s title run ends as the fifth longest in EVE’s history and also has the most successful title defences on record in a single reign. I can’t imagine this will be the last time we’ll see her in EVE too so what she and maybe more from TJPW will do with them in the future is something to watch out for.

LLL “DEEP HURTING”, 22/11/2023
The Oriental Theater, Denver, Colorado, USA

1. 3 Way Match: Maki Itoh defeated Lilith Grimm and Stormi Renee (?:??).

Itoh was back in Lucha Libre & Laughs, beating Lilith Grimm and Stormi Renee in a 3 Way Match.

SPW “VIVA LA LUCHA!”, 24/11/2023
Foo Chow Building, Singapore

1. Queen Of Asia Title: Yuki Kamifuku defeated Alexis Lee (c) with the Diving Famouser (?:??).
*Alexis Lee fails in V5. Yuki Kamifuku becomes the 5th Queen Of Asia Champion!

In a rematch from January of this year, Kamifuku had a second chance of taking the Queen Of Asia Title from Alexis Lee. This time she succeeded and has brought the title championship back to Japan! The belt is managed by Singapore Pro Wrestling so they will need to sign off on any title defences Kamifuku will want to do in TJPW.

GCW “WRESTLECADE WEEKEND”, 24/11/2023
Benton Convention Center, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA

1. Maki Itoh defeated Kylie Alexa with the I.S.D. (5:08).

There was no Kenzie Paige on the show. Instead Itoh had to take on Paige’s sister Kylie Alexa. No matter. Itoh beat her anyway.

AEW “RAMPAGE”, 29/11/2023 (Aired 01/12/2023)
Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

1. Powerhouse Hobbs, Konosuke Takeshita & Kyle Fletcher defeated Jah-C. Kit Sackett & Renny D (?:??).

Takeshita ended his month winning a squash match with the rest of The Don Callis Family.

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Upcoming Appearances

BLACK LABEL PRO “SLAMILTON”, 02/12/2023
Berwyn Eagles Club, Berwyn, Illinois, USA

1. Rachel Armstrong Vs Maki Itoh

Itoh will still be in America while TJPW celebrates their 10th anniversary. December for her begins with Itoh taking on Rachel Armstrong in Black Label Pro.

GCW “WHAT IS YOUR CHOICE?”, 03/12/2023
Roulette Intermedium, Brooklyn, New York, USA

1. Maki Itoh Vs Mike Bailey

Here’s a matchup so nutty it has to be done a week sooner! GCW originally booked a match between Itoh and Mike Bailey for their show in LA on 9th December. It had to be cancelled because Bailey had a scheduling conflict. So rather than wait until next year to do the match it’s been pushed forward to the Brooklyn show on the 3rd instead.

MLW “ONE-SHOT”, 07/12/2023
Melrose Ballroom, Queens, New York, USA

1. Princess Of Princess Title: Miyu Yamashita (c) Vs Delmi Exo
2. MLW World Featherweight Title: Janai Kai (c) Vs Maki Itoh

When Yamashita was announced for MLW a war of words broke out online between her and Delmi Exo. This year Exo held the women’s titles from both MLW and wXw at the same time. She no longer has either so she now has her sights set on the Princess Of Princess Title. Yamashita appreciated the challenge but turned it down because she already has her next defence scheduled for 4th January. Exo wasn’t happy with the response and sent insulting messages to Yamashita until the champion decided to accept the challenge and put Exo in her place. It all sounds well and good for a storyline but I’m a little worried MLW will pull off some bullshit when nobody is looking. They’ve done a phantom title change before with one of the AAA championships during the pandemic and tried to play it off as a misunderstanding over wires getting crossed. Call me skeptical but you should only ever trust Court Bauer as far as you can throw him.

In September Itoh lost a No. 1 Contender match to B3CCA so you may be wondering why she is still getting an MLW World Featherweight Title shot against Janai Kai? It’s because B3CCA has since gotten a knee injury and will be on the shelf for a few months. Can Itoh make the most of this unexpected opportunity?

DREAMWAVE “UPRISING”, 08/12/2023
Knights of Columbus, LaSalle, Illinois, USA

1. Shazza McKenzie Vs Miyu Yamashita

Please don’t let Sean Ross Sapp interfere in this match.

MPW “THE LONG NIGHT”, 08/12/2023
Knights of Columbus, LaSalle, Illinois, USA

1. Miggy Rose & Michael Hopkins Vs Shota & J2

Shota is adding dates for his winter tour of America. The earliest match scheduled for him now is at Millenium Pro Wrestling. He will team with a former opponent from last year’s excursion, J2 Mattioli. Their opponents are a team called 24K.

DREAMWAVE “GOOD AS GOLD”, 09/12/2023
Knights of Columbus, LaSalle, Illinois, USA

1. Miyu Yamashita & Emi Sakura Vs Zayda Steel & Zamaya

Well, well, well, what do we have here? Yamashita and Emi Sakura in the same ring on the same team at the same time? They were on opposite sides once before and that was on a DPW show during the summer. Now we get to see how they will fare when they on the same page. Zayda Steel & Zamaya could be in for a rough night if their opponents gel together really well.

EWF “PRO WRESTLING LUCHA LIBRE”, 09/12/2023
VFW Post 8737, San Bernardino, California, USA

1. EWF Vs The World: Shota Vs Noah

Just like last year Shota’s trip to America has him showing up in some real obscure places on the independents. Empire Wrestling Federation is one of them and they have a wrestler called Noah ready to fight him.

GCW “HIGHEST IN THE ROOM 2”, 09/12/2023
Ukrainian Cultural Center, Los Angeles, California, USA

1. Nick Gage & Maki Itoh Vs Johnny Game Changer & Taya Valkyrie

GCW has gone full blown wacky over what they’re replacing Itoh Vs Bailey in LA with. That show is now getting Maki Death Kill against Johnny Game Changer & Taya Valkyrie!

SKYFIRE PRO “NAVIDAD NIGHTMARE”, 10/12/2023
Bay City Brewing Co., San Diego, California, USA

1. Rebel Storm Vs Shota

Shota’s opponent when he comes over to Skyfire Pro is Rebel Storm.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO/PRESTIGE “COMBAT PRINCESS USA”, 14/12/2023
Globe Theatre, Los Angeles, California, USA

1. Rika Tatsumi & Amira Vs Max The Impaler & Pom Harajuku
2. Hikari Noa & Nao Kakuta Vs Janai Kai & Shazza McKenzie
3. Moka Miyamoto Vs Trish Adora
4. Mizuki Vs Sandra Moone
5. Shoko Nakajima Vs Taya Valkyrie
6. Miu Watanabe Vs Hyan
7. Special Tag Match: Miyu Yamashita & Maki Itoh Vs Masha Slamovich & Killer Kelly

The full card for “COMBAT PRINCESS USA” is here. Prestige have gathered together Masha Slamovich, Killer Kelly, Hyan, Taya Valkyrie, Sandra Moone, Trish Adora, Janai Kai, Shazza McKenzie (replacing an injured Johnnie Robbie) and Amira to represent their side in a bunch of inter-promotional matches against TJPW.

PANDEMONIUM PRO “HOLIDAY IN LA”, 17/12/2023
Don Quixote, Los Angeles, California, USA

1. Vinnie Massaro Vs Shota
2. Mike Bailey Vs Miyu Yamashita

It’s neat to see Vinnine Massaro get to wrestle in NOAH earlier this week. I bet that was a big thrill for him.

CIRCLE 6 “KING OF THE DEATHMATCHES”, 30/12/2023
Don Quixote, Los Angeles, California, USA

1. MAO Vs X

I’m not sure if MAO is entering the actual King Of The Deathmatch tournament or if he’s there in a separate attraction match.

GCW “NO COMPADRE”, 12/01/2024
Thalia Hall, Chicago, Illinois, USA

1. Maki Itoh Vs X

Itoh has her first 2024 dates with GCW ready to go.

GCW “56 BIRDZ”, 13/01/2024
Valley Dale Ballroom, Columbus, Ohio, USA

1. Maki Itoh Vs X

So far Itoh has Maki Death Kill and Maki Death Bussy under her list of alliances in GCW. Where does she go next?

DDT “DDT GOES PHILADELPHIA!”, 04/04/2024
Penns Landing Caterers Auditorium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

DDT returns to America next year as part of The Collective in Philadelphia during Wrestlemania week. Sanshiro Takagi said on Twitter he would also like to do a Falls Count Anywhere match at the Philadelphia Museum Of Arts stairway from the Rocky movie if he is part of the crew travelling over.