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DDT 3/21/24 Results

DDT held the first day of their traditional spring “Beer Garden Pro Wrestling” event today in Tokyo.

Today’s event was held at Ueno Park Outdoor Stage in Tokyo and should be available on demand on WRESTLE UNIVERSE Sunday. There was no live broadcast. Speaking of WRESTLE UNIVERSE, remember the new price increases take effect today.

The announced paid attendance was 311.

There was a last-minute change to the event card because Makoto Oishi was injured in Ganbare Pro yesterday. Neck. Seems to be mild and today’s absence was more of a precaution.

D GENERATIONS Cup:
Match 1: Illusion beat Yuni by submission.
Match 2: To-y beat Tsubasa Suzuki.
Match 3: Munetatsu Nakamura beat Kazuma Sumi.
Match 4: Rukiya beat Yuya Koroku. That can be called a mild upset.

Match 5: Daisuke Sasaki, KANON & MJ Paul beat HARASHIMA, Yukio Naya & Hideki Okatani. KANON beat Okatani with a ground cobra twist.

Match 6: Tetsuya Endo & Yuki Iino beat Yoshitatsu & Tomomitsu Matsunaga. Iino pinned Mateunaga after a spear. Matsunaga was the replacement for Oishi.

Match 7: Chris Brookes, Antonio Honda & Takeshi Masada beat Danshoku Dieno, Yoshihiko & Pokotan. Brookes pinned Pokotan.

Main Event: Yuki Ueno, MAO & Shunma Katsumata beat Akito, Kazusada Higuchi & Kazuki Hirata. Ueno pinned Hirata after WR.

The D GENERATION Cup is a single-elimination tournament, so as a result of today the Semifinals are Illution vs. To-y and Nakamura vs. Rukiya. The Semifinals are on the next event with the Finals on 4/7 at Korakuen Hall. The winner gets an entry into this year’s KING OF DDT Tournament.

Day 2 of this event is Tuesday. There will be no live broadcast.

Sumo-March 2024 Grand Sumo Tournament Day 12 Results (3/21/24) (Top 2 Tiers)

Here are the quick results from today’s Day 12 of the March 2024 Grand Sumo Tournament in Osaka:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusuvbi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, J-Juryo

Makuuchi (top tier):
Bushozan (J5) beat Chiranoumi (M13)
Kitanowaka (M14) beat Ichiyamamoto (M11)
Sadanoumi (M11) beat Daiamami (M16)
Shodai (M10) beat Ryuden (M13)
Hokutofuji (M9) beat Roga (M16)
Endo (M16) beat Kotoshoho (M9)
Onosho (M8) beat Mitakeumi (M10)
Kinbozan (M7) beat Myogiryu (M15)
Nishikifuji (M14) beat Tamawashi (M7)
Shonannoumi (M12) beat Tobizaru (M4)
Hiradoumi (M4) beat Oho (M3)
Ura (M1) beat Meisei (M2)
Asanoyama (M1) beat Takanosho (M3)
Abi (K) beat Takayasu (M8)
Atamifuji (M2) beat Nishikigi (K)
Gonoyama (M6) beat Daieisho (S)
Wakamotoharu (S) beat Takakeisho (O)
Hoshoryu (O) beat Takerufuji (M17)
Midorifuji (M5) beat Kirishima (O)
Kotonowaka (O) beat Onosato (M5)
Leader: Takerufuji (11-1)
Of note: No perfecto. Hoshoryu finally figured Takerufuji out enough to hand the rookie his first loss. There are now 4 still with a chance to catch him at 9-3 but that will narrow tomorrow after a match between two of them-Gonoyama & Hoshoryu. Kotonowaka is also 9-3 and faces Takakeisho, trying to send the Ozeki to a 4th straight loss as he still needs just one more win to avoid demotion. Also at risk of demotion is Daieisho, now 5-7 and set to perhaps lose his Sekiwake rank after a year at the 3rtd-highest rank, and it doesn’t help that he’s got Onosato.
This all means that if Takerufuji wins tomorrow (Wakamotoharu), there is a chance he can clinch the championship on Day 14 if Kotonowaka & Onosato lose, it would depend on the Gonoyama-Hoshoryu winner.

Juryo:
Hakuoho (J13) beat Tsushimanada (J12)
Aoiyama (J11) beat Oshoumi (J11)
Tamashoho (J9) beat Kotoeko (J12)
Asakoryu (J8) beat Wakatakakage (J10)
Shishi (J8) beat Chiyosakae (J14)
Hidenoumi (J7) beat Akua (J13)
Kagayaki (J4) beat Kitaharima (J14)
Oshoma (J4) beat Daishoho (J7)
Tomokaze (J3) beat Chiyoshoma (J6)
Hakuyozan (J2) beat Tohakuryu (J2)
Mitoryu (J2) beat Shimanoumi (J9)
Shiden (J10) beat Tokihayate (J1)
Takarafuji (J1) beat Shirokuma (J5)
Leader: Mitoryu, Daishoho, Asakoryu (9-3)
Of note: Still a 3-way tie, but a new face as Wakatakakage was beaten by Asakoryu to fall one back. Based on tomorrow’s matches it could go down to the last day and several others are still in it, but tomorrow’s Wakatakakage-Oshoma loser is probably out. What’s also going to come down to the wire is any potential promotions to the top tier except Mitoryu at J2, who should be headed back up in May. Both J1s (Takarafuji & Tokihayate) are 6-6 and Tohakuryu will be demoted from J2. This might finally opent he door for Oshoma to get past J3 into the top tier if he cam win out, or at least go 2-1. On the other side, Kotoeko is definitely demoted to Makushita and despite a win today, Aoiyama isn’t sage yet at 5-7at J11 with Kagayaki next.

Lower tier notes:
Tomorrow is Championship Day! The Makushita Championship is Kazekeno’s to lose. If he beats Onokatsu tomorrow, he is the champion as the only 7-0. If he loses, there will be AT LEAST a 7-way playoff. because there are at least 14 at 5-1 and aside from Onokatsu 12 face each other then one has a Sandanme man. The Sandanme has 3 left at 6-0, and could be interesting because 2 of the 3 are from Kise Beya, meaning if both win their matches they will have a playoff against each other for the championship. Higonomaru is up first against a Jonidan man, then stablemate Nagamura faces fellow unbeaten Aonishiki. If Higonomaru loses, the latter match is for the championship. If Higonomaru wins, there will be a playoff. Should Aonishiki be champion, that’s 3 titles in his first 3 career tournaments. The Jonidan also has 3 at 6-0, to be settled like this: First will be Tochimaru vs. Taranami. Whoever wins then must wait for Ryuo to face Higonomaru in the Sandanme. If Ryuo loses, the earlier winner is the champion. If Ryuo wins, there will be a playoff. In the Jonokuchi, sole leader Chiyooga at 6-0 just needs to beat his Jonidan opponent tomorrow to be champion. If he loses, there will be a playoff.

Stardom 3/20/24 Results

Stardom wrapped up the 2024 Cinderella Tournament today with the tour-ender in Nagoya.

Today’s event was held at Nagoya Congress Center Event Hall in Nagoya and can be watched on demand on PPV via Pia Stream for 4400 Japanese yen (around $30 US) until Saturday morning. It should be available on demand on Stardom World after that. It is Japanese commentary with Haruo Murata, Kagehiro Osano & special guest MIRAI (but not for the whole event).

The announced paid attendance was 994, a full house/near sellout. The Event Hall has a normal full capacity of 1800 so they probably had a max setup of maybe 1200.

Match 1: Mayu Iwatani beat Yuzuki.

Match 2; Gina, HANAKO, Waka Tsukiyama & Mina Shirakawa beat Ranna Yagami, Saki Kashima, MIRAI & Syuri. Shirakawa pinned Yagami after Venus Tower.

Cinderella Tournament Semifinals:
Match 3: Hanan beat Ruaka.
Match 4: Ami Sohrei beat AZM.

Match 5: Mei Seira, Suzu Suzuki & Mai Sakurai beat Miyu Amasaki, Lady C & Saya Kamitani. and Saya Iida, Koguma & Hazuki in a 3-way when Seira pinned Kamitani.

Match 6: Tam Nakano vs. Giulia went to a 15 minute time limit draw.

Match 7: Momo Watanabe, Starlight Kid, Fukigen, Rina & Natsuko Tora beat Saori Anou, Sayaka Kurara, Aya Sakura, Yuna Mizumori & Natsupoi. Rina pinned Sakura after a diving double knee drop.

Match 8: Cinderella Tournament Finals: Hanan beat Ami Sohrei to win the tournament. Hanan wins a trophy and a Cinderella dress for winning. If she gets a title shot, Hanan made it clear she wants the Wonder Of Stardom Championship.

Main Event: World Of Stardom Champion Maika beat Utami Hayashishita to retain the title. V2 for Maika. With only 19 seconds left to spare before it would have been a 30 minute time limit draw. Next up: If what Maika said post-match holds true, Meghan Bayne. That match will happen on 4/4 in Philadelphia, PA if so. It also has been announced that 4/4 will be a PPV only on TrillerTV (fka FITE) in English only for $24.99. No Pia PPV or Japanese option. Start time will be 3 PM ET/Noon PT. Note that the event is on a Thursday so keep that in mind for watching live (you do get unlimited on demand replays with purchase on Triller).

The next event is Saturday (Friday night US time) at Nara Convention Center in Nara. It will be available on demand on Stardom World at a later date.

Sumo-March 2024 Grand Sumo Tournament Day 11 Results (3/20/24) (Top 2 Tiers)

Here are the quick results from today’s Day 11 of the March 2024 Grand Sumo Tournament in Osaka:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, J-Juryo

Makuuchi (top tier):
Roga (M15) beat Myogiryu (M15)
Nishikifuji (M14) beat Oshoma (J4)
Ichiyamamoto (M11) beat Churanoumi (M13)
Kotoshoho (M9) beat Daiamami (M16)
Hokutofuji (M9) beat Endo (M16)
Takayasu (M8) beat Sadanoumi (M11)
Tamawashi (M7) beat Ryuden (M13)
Kinbozan (M7) beat Kitanowaka (M14)
Gonoyama (M6) beat Mitakeumi (M10)
Midorifuji (M5) beat Shodai (M5)
Hiradoumi (M4) beat Onosho (M8)
Tobizaru (M4) beat Meisei (M2)
Asanoyama (M1) beat Oho (M3)
Atamifuji (M3) beat Ura (M1)
Takanosho (M3) beat Nishikigi (K)
Abi (K) beat Shonannoumi (M12)
Hoshoryu (O) beat Daieisho (S)
Wakamotohru (S) beat Kirishima (O). Kirishima kadoban…
Takerufuji (M17) beat Kotonowaka (O)
Onosato (M5) beat Talaleosho (O)
Leader: Takerufuji (11-0)
Of note: Takerufuji can’t clinch the title tomorrow but it could be all but over if he wins and Onosato loses. Worst-case then is a playoff. But the rookie has now tied the all-time record for most consecutive wins to begin a rookie top tier tournament with 11, held by legendary Yokozuna Taiho (also the grandfather of Oho). Next up on the super-rookie’s road to potential records is Hoshoryu. Onosato gets Kotonowaka tomorrow. Speaking of Ozeki, Kirishima took loss 8 today and that means he’s in trouble come May-he must finish with 8 wins or more pr he will be demoted. And Takakeisho is stuck on 7 wins after 2 straight losses now, needing just that one more win to avoid demotion. Kotonowaka & Hosboryu are good as both now have 8 wins.

Juryo:
Alua (J13) beat Tamashoho (J9)
Haluoho (J13) beat Asakoryu (J8)
Daishoho (J7) beat Chiyosakae (J14)
Chiyoshoma (J6) beat Kitahaima (J14)
Hakuyozan (J6) beat Kotoeko (J12)
Shirokuma (J5) beat Aoiyama (J11)
Tsushimanada (J12) beat Bushozan (J5)
Kagayaki (J4) beat Shiden (J10)
Tomokaze (J3) beat Oshoumi (J11)
Mitoryu (J2) beat Wakatakakage (J10)
Tohakuryu (J2) beat Shimanoumi (J9)
Shishi (J8) beat Takarafuji (J1)
Tokihayate (J1) beat Hidenoumi (J7)
Leader: Daishoho (9-2)
Of note: Well that changes everything…for the first time in several days we have a leader not named Asakoryu or Wakatakakage. That’s because Daishoho has now won 9 straight since an 0-2 start. To fans’ dismay Kitaharima will only have been back in Juryo long enough for another cup of sake as he is now being demoted back to Makushita after taking his 8th loss today, and Kotoeko being demoted to Makushita now seems official at 1-10. I think this is the end for the veteran.
Daishoho gets the Juryo gatekeeper tomorrow aka Oshoma, while Asakoryu & Wakatakakage face off in the featured match.

AEW Dynamite & Rampage 3/20/24 Results

Here are the quick results from tonight’s AEW Dynamite and LIVE AEW Rampage from Toronto, Canada:

Dynamite:
Mercedes Mone comes out first. She introduces herself to fans with a video package of her past, not including WWE. Julia Hart & Skye Blue come out at the end and try to ambush Mone but it backfires. When they get chairs, Willow Nightingale & Kris Statlander rush out to make the save, but at the end Nightingale teases hitting Mone with a chair.

Match 1: AEW Continental Champion Eddie Kingston vs. Kazuchika Okada for the title (but not the Continental Crown. Interesting)
Result: Kazuchika Okada beat AEW Continental Champion Eddie Kingston to become THE NEW AEW CONTINENTAL CHAMPION! So apparently the Triple Crown is no longer as Kingston is still the ROH World Champion and NJPW STRONG Openweight Champion, with an ROH Title defense coming at the Supercard Of Honor PPV in April. After the match, Pac came out and stared down Okada.

Swerve Strickland interviewed backstage.

Kris Statlander & Willow Nightingale interviewed backstage before Mone interrupts.

Match 2: Hook vs. Chris Jericho
Result: Hook beat Chris Jericho

Adam Cole promo.

Jericho will have a proposition for Hook next week.

Will Ospreay interviewed in the ring. He talks Bryan Danielson & Katsuyori Shibata and this leads to a match against Shibata next week.

Match 3: Mariah May & Toni Storm vs. Deonna Purrazzo & Thunder Rosa
Result: Deonna Purrazzo & Thunder Rosa beat Mariah May & Toni Storm. Rosa pinned Storm.

Match 4; Swerve Strickland vs. TBA, which is revealed to be The Butcher
Result: Swerve Strickland beat The Butcher by submission. Afterwards Strickland calls out Samoa Joe and the champ comes out. They tease going at it but get interrupted by Don Callis, which leads to Strickland vs. Konosuke Takeshita next week.

Main Event: AEW TNT Champion Christian Cage vs. Adam Copeland in an I Quit match for the title. The only way to win is make your opponent say I Quit
Result: Adam Copeland beat AEW TNT Champion Christian Cage to become THE NEW AEW TNT CHAMPION!

I cared less than not at all about the main event and it was little more than hardcore garbage. Outside of that, it was a fine Dynamite, not awesome but definitely above average and I enjoyed the first 90 minutes.

Rampage:
Dynamite main event continues/concludes after what would have been the usual overrun cutoff. No Rampage opening due to Dynamite overrun.

Bullet Club promo.

The Acclaimed comes out to respond to Bullet Club. No Billy Gunn. They run down Bullet Club.

Match 1: AEW Tag Team Championship Tournament: Orange Cassidy & Trent Beretta vs. Kyle Fletcher & Powerhouse Hobbs
Result: Orange Cassidy & Trent Beretta beat Kyle Fletcher & Powerhouse Hobbs. Cassidy pinned Fletcher after Orange Punch.

Match 2; Katsuyori Shibata vs. TBA, which is Kevin Matthews
Result: Katsuyori Shibata beat Kevin Matthews. Squash.

Match 3: Konosuke Takeshita vs. Rocky Romero
Result: Konosuke Takeshita beat Rocky Romero

Main Event: Willow Nightingale & Kris Statlander vs. Julia Hart & Skye Blue in a street fight
Result: Julia Hart & Skye Blue beat Willow Nightingale & Kris Statlander. Hart beat Statlander with Heartless.

Despite getting the Dynamite overrun at the end, Rampage was way too rushed and was a victim of bad time management by AEW, weighing the show down and making it look and feel much worse than it actually was.

No Collision this week due to NCAA Basketball.

Pro Wrestling NOAH 3/20/24 Results

Pro Wrestling NOAH ran their second standalone LIMIT BREAK event today, dubbed LIMIT BREAK ex.

Today’z event was held at Yokohama Radiant Hall in Yokohama and can be watched on demand on WRESTLE UNIVERSE. However, it may be temporarily unavailable due to audio issues with the live broadcast.

The announced paid attendance was 330, a super full house/very near sellout.

Match 1: Yu Owada beat Rukiya (DDT).

Match 2: Mohammd Yone & Hi69 beat Yuto Kikuchi & Harutoki (?). Hi69 pinned Harutoki after Stuka Splash.

Match 3: Kazuyuki Fujita & Atsushi Kotoge beat Kazusada Higuchi (DDT) & Black Menso-re (Independent/Freelancer). Kotoge pinned Menso-re after Kill Switch.

Match 4: Jun Akiyama (DDT) & Akitoshi Saito vs. Shuji Ishikawa (Independent/Freelancer) & Ren Ayabe (All-Japan) went to a 20 minute time limit draw.

Main Event: Tetsuya Endo & Yuki Iino (DDT) beat Go Shiozaki & Genta Yubari (Independent/Freelancer). Endo pinned Yubari after Burning Star Press.

The next LIMIT BREAK event will be on 6/19 at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo and will be a Go Shiozaki 20th Anniversary event.

The next event is 3/31 at Korakuen Hall for a STAR NAVIGATION 2024 Tour event with GHC Heavyweight Champion Hijo dr Dr. Wagner Jr. vs. Jake Lee for the title. Live streaming on WRESTLE UNIVERSE will begin at 2:30 AM PT/5:30 AM ET

Ganbare Pro 3/20/24 Results

Ganbare Pro ran their penultimate event under the CyberFight Corp. umbrella, as they will separate from their former owner and become independent at the end of the month. They will remain under the WRESTLE UNIVERSE umbrella for on demand broadcasts.

Today’s event was held at Takashimadaira Community Center in Tokyo and will be available on demand on WRESTLE UNIVERSE at a later date. There was no live broadcast.

The announced paid attendance was 140.

Match 1: Yoshiko Hasegawa bear Riara by submission.

Match 2: Yuna Manase & HARUKAZE beat YuuRI & Bunny Oikawa. Manase pinned YuuRI after a lariat.

Match 3: Makoto Oishi & Shiori Asahi beat Keosuke Ishii & Shinichiro Yominaga. Oishi pinned Tominaga after Cactus Flower.

Match 4: Yumehito Imanari, Tyson Maeguchi & Hartley Jackson beat Ken Ohka, Mizuki Watase & Munetatsu Nakamura. Imanari pinned Nakamura after Sakuragaoka Cutter.

Main Event: Spirit Of Ganbare World Tag Team Champions Shuichiro Katsumura & Takuya Wada beat Shota & Takao Soma to retain the titles. Katusmura beat Shota with Triple 3 Lock. V5 for the champs.

The next event is 3/28 at Ueno Park Outdoor Stage in Tokyo. There will be no live broadcast.

Injury Report: Makoto Oishi was onjured during his match. Neck. Out indefinitely and off DDT’s event tomorrow as a precaution. He was to have teamed with Yosjitatsu to face Tetsuya Endo & Yuki Iino. Tomomitsu Matsunaga is the replacement.

Ahead of its separation from Cyberfight, the promotion has also created a new website, whoch can be accessed at http://ganpro.net

All-Japan 3/20/24 Results

All-Japan continues the Dream Power Series today with an event in Saitama.

Today’s event was held at Akos Igeo in Saitama and will be available on demand on AJPW.TV later today. There was no live broadcast.

The announced paid attendance was 279.

Match 1: Ryuji Hijikata beat Ryo Inoue.

Match 2: Dan Tamura vs. Seigo Tachibana went to a 15 minute time limit draw.

Match 3: Shotaro Ashino & Kiroshio TOKYO Japan beat Suwama & Hikaru Sato. Kiroshio pinned Sato after Handsome Special.

Match 4: Jun Saito beat Kumaarashi.

Match 5: Yuma Apyagi & MUSASHI (Michinoku Pro) beat Kento Miyahara & Rising Hayato. MUSASHI pinned Hayato.

Main Event: Katsuhiko Nakajima, Hokuto Omori & Hartley Jackson beat Ryuki Honda, Yuma Anzai & Fuminori Abe. Nakajima pinned Honda after a face kick.

The next event is 3/30 at Ota City General Gym in Tokyo. Live streaming on AJPW.TV will begin at midnight PT/3 AM ET.

New Japan 3/20/24 Results

New Japan wrapped up the New Japan Cup today with the Finals.

Today’s event was held at Aore Nagaoka in Niigata and can be watched on demand on New Japan World. This event aired as part of WORLD PRO WRESTLING LIVE 2024 on YV Asahi in Japan.

The announced paid attendance was 3003.

Match 1: BUSHI & Hiromu Takahashi beat Kysuya Murashima & Shoma Kato. BUSHI pinned Murashima.

Match 2: Francesco Akira, TJP & Great-O-Khan beat Ryusuke Taguchi, Tanga Loa & Tomohiro Ishii. Akira pinned Taguchi after 2/2.

Match 3: Mikey Nicholls & Zack Sabre Jr. beat Callum Newman & Jeff Cobb. Nicholls pinned Newman after Master Blaster.

Match 4: Gabriel Kidd, Chase Owens & KENTA beat Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Togi Makabe & YOSHI-HASHI. Owens pinned Tenzan.

Match 5: Yujiro Takahashi, Jack Perry & Ren Narita beat El Desperado, Yuji Nagata & Shota Umino. Narita beat Nagata with a cobra twist.

Match 6: Yoh beat Yoshinobu Kanemaru.

Match 7: Boltin Oleg, Toru Yano, Jado, El Phantasmo & Hikuleo beat TAKA Michinoku, DOUKI, Yuya Uemura, Taichi & SANADA. Phantasmo pinned TAKA after Super Thunder Kiss 86.

Match 8: Shingo Takagi & Tetsuya Naito vs. Dick Togo & EVIL went to a double countout. Which led to…
Match 8 (again): Shingo Takagi & Tetsuya Naito beat Dick Togo & EVIL. Naito pinned Togo.

Main Event: New Japan Cup Finals: Yota Tsuji beat Hirooki Goto to win the tournament. It’s the first Cup for Tsuji. As a result, Tsuji will face IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Tetsuya Naito for the title at SAKURA GENESIS on 4/6.

The next event is NJPW ACADEMY SHOWCASE 3 Saturday at the LA Dojo in Carson, CA. There will be no live broadcast, but it will be available on demand on YouTube at a later date.

The next Japan event is the Road to SAKURA GENESIS 2024 Tour starting on 3/30 at Takaoka Techno Dome in Toyama. There will be no live or on demand broadcast.

Sumo-March 2024 Grand Sumo Tournament Day 10 Results (3/19/24) (Top 2 Tiers)

Here are the quick results from today’s Day 10 of the March 2024 Grand Sumo Tournament in Osaka:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, J-Juryo, Ms-Makushita

Makuuchi (top tier):
Kitanowaka (M14) beat Kagayaki (J4)
Daiamami (M16) beat Ryuden (M13)
Ichiyamamoto (M14) beat Noshikifuji (M14)
Shodai (M10) beat Roga (M15)
Myogiryu (M15) beat Hokutofuji (M9)
Onosho (M6) beat Sadanoumi (M11)
Takayasu (M8) beat Shonannoumi (M12)
Kinbozan (M7) beat Endo (M16)
Tamawashi (M7) beat Churanoumi (M13)
Midorifuji (M5) beat Kotoshoho (M9)
Takerufuji (M17) beat Onosato (M5)
Gonoyama (M6) beat Tobizaru (M4) by default/withdrawal
Atamifuji (M2) beat Takanosho (M3)
Asanoyama (M1) beat Meisei (M2)
Mitakeumi (M10) beat Abi (K)
Ura (M1) beat Nishikigi (K)
Hiradoumi (M4) beat Kirishima (O)
Kotonowaka (O) beat Oho (M3)
Daieisho (S) beat Takakeisho (O)
Hoshoryu (O) beat Wakamotoharu (S)
Leaser: Takerufuji (10-0)
WITHDRAWAL: Tobizaru (M4). Enteritis. Will return tomorrow. Gonoyama got the fusen today.
Of note: Can the rookie run the table? Nobody has even made Takerufuji break a sweat yet. Tomorrow will perhaps tell the tale as he’ll get Kotonowaka (who will go into his new shikona [(name change to Kotozakura] as a full Ozeki as he now has 8 wins and thus a winning record in his Ozeki debut) and, depending on Onosato, could all but clinch the Emperor’s Cup. Onosato draws Takakeisho, still looking for that critical 8th win to protect his Ozeki rank. Takerufuji could ultimately be 3 wins ahead with 4 days to go. On the flip side, Kirishima has slumped to 3-7 and now must win out or else he’s in danger in May. And still no Ozeki victory sweep days. We also may be seeing the end of Endo-8 losses at M16 likely will see him demoted to Juryo for the first time in 11 years.

Juryo:
Tsukahara (Ms4) beat Kotoeko (J13)
Apiyama (J11) beat Kitaharima (J14)
Shiden (J10) beat Akua (J13)
Oshoumi (J11) beat Shishi (J8)
Hidenoumi (J7) beat Tsushimanada (J12)
Daishoho (J7) beat Wakatakakage (J10)
Bushozan (J5) beat Chiyosakae (J14)
Oshoma (J4) beat Hakuoho (J13)
Tomokaze (J3) beat Shimanoumi (J9)
Tamashoho (J9) beat Tohakuryu (J2)
Motoryu (J2) beat Asakoryu (J8)
Choyoshoma (J6) beat Tokihayate (J1)
Takarafuji (J1) beat Hakuyozan (J6)
Leader: Daishoho, Asakoryu, Wakatakakage (8-2)
RE-ENTRY: Shirokuma (J5). Will return tomorrow. Missed 3 days due to back pain. He will be the equivalent of 5-5 so all it did was probably take him out of championship contention, and he can still earn a promotion.
Of note: Both co-leaders lost again which allowed Daishoho to get into a 3-way tie for the lead. We also are probably seeing the last of veteran Kotoeko as his only hope of keeping his salary and Juryo rank os to win out. The best he can do is 6-9, which at J12 MAY keep him up, but any more losses and he’s going down.
Tomorrow Asakoryu faces the slumping Hakuoho (5-5), Doashoho then faces Chiyosakae (6-4) while Waktakakage gets Mitoryu (7-3).

Lower tier notes: With 5 matches complete the Makushita is down to 3 at 5-0 with Wakatakamoto first facing a Sandanme man, then Asahakuryu faces Kazekeno. If Wakatakamoto wins, he’ll face the latter match winner on Day 13 for the championship. If Wakatakamoto loses, the latter winner only needs to win his final match to be champion. In the Sandanme, 6 are at 5-0 but one, Nagamura, goes up to Makushita tomorrow to face Wakatakamoto. In the Jonidan, 5 are toed for the lead at 5-0 and in the Jonokuchi, 2 are currently 5-0.