DDT continues the D KING GP 2023 today with the second half of a weekend doubleheader in Tokyo. There are 4 tournament matches scheduled today, two in each of the 2 blocks. Block A has Tetsuya Endo vs. Yuki Iino and Yuki Ueno vs. Daisuke Sasaki. Block B has Yukio Naya vs. Kazuki Hirata and, in the main event, Chris Brookes vs. MAO. Based on the standings so far, if Naya wins and he should, he will be firmly in control of Block B at his halfway point at 3-0. Block A has almost everyone at 1 win after 1 or 2 matches so today could help determine favorites to move on to the eventual finals.
Today’s event will be held at Shinjuku Face in Tokyo and can be watched LIVE on WRESTLE UNIVERSE. There will probably be no commentary. With just 6 matches on tap and no intermission it’ll go 3 hours tops, but realistically I’m estimating the running time being closer to 2 1/4 hours. Probably depends on the main event, which I can see going the full 30 minutes.
Today’s lineup (in order):
MIKAMI & Kazuma Sumi vs. Demus & KANON
Jun Akiyama, Makoto Oishi, Yusuke Okada & Rukiya vs. HARASHIMA, Akito, Toi Kojima & Takeshi Masada
D KING GP:
Block B: Yukio Naya vs. Kazuki Hirata
Block A: Tetsuya Endo vs. Yuki Iino
Block A: Yuki Ueno vs. Daisuke Sasaki
Block B: Chris Brookes vs. MAO
Refresh this page occasionally for the latest results.
Updates below will begin at 7 PM PT/10 PM ET.
6:30 PM PT UPDATE: The stream launch, normally 30 minutes before the event begins, has been pushed back to 6:45 PM PT/9:45 PM ET. Unless there’s a last-second change, no pre-show matches planned.
7 PM PT UPDATE: Live updates begin now…
We are LIVE from Shinjuku Face in Tokyo, Japan. There is no commentary.
The paid attendance will be announced after the event. Advance sales were good so it looks to be probably around yesterday which did 334. It looks at first like it’ll be 325-350. (UPDATE: The announced paid attendance was 266)
Match 1: MIKAMI & Kazuma Sumi vs. Demus & KANON. 30 minute time limit
Result: Demus & KANON beat MIKAMI & Kazuma Sumi. Demus pinned Sumi after a spinning neckbreaker bomb.
Match 2: Jun Akiyama, Makoto Oishi, Yusuke Okada & Rukiya vs. HARASHIMA, Akito, Toi Kojima & Takeshi Masada. 30 minute time limit
Result: HARASHIMA, Akito, Toi Kojima & Takeshi Masada beat Jun Akiyama, Makoto Oishi, Yusuke Okada & Rukiya. Masada pinned Rukiya.
Quick break for the usual opening announcements from GM Imabayashi. The end of this brings out MAO with microphone. Comments in Japanese. He then called out Chris Beookes, his opponent in the main event. Brookes came out. It sounded like MAO wanted to change today’s match to also be for the DDT Universal Championship. Imabayashi makes it official. Main Event now for the title.
Match 3: D KING GP Block B: Yukio Naya vs. Kazuki Hirata. 30 minute time limit
Result: Yukio Naya beat Kazuki Hirata. Comedy match and, as usual with Hirata, a really funny one.
Match 4: D KING GP Block A: Tetsuya Endo vs. Yuki Iino (remember he’s no longer Sexy!). 30 minute time limit
Result: Tetsuya Endo beat Yuki Iino
Match 5: D KING GP Block A: Yuki Ueno vs. Daisuke Sasaki. 30 minute time limit
Result: Time Limit Draw. Largely because of MJ Paul interference and heel tactics by Sasaki including blatantly taking out the ref late.
Main Event: D KING GP Block B: DDT Universal Champion MAO vs. Chris Brookes for the title. 30 minute time limit (not 1 Hour because it’s a tournament match)
Result: DDT Universal Champion MAO beat Chris Brookes by countout to retain the title. V2 for MAO. Apparently they had the match in a way that they were trying to both win by countout.
The next event is 12/9 at Osaka Azalea Taisho in Osaka. There will be no live broadcast.
