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Dragon Gate 1/30/24 Results

Dragon Gate wrapped up the New Year Gate 2024 Tour today with a Hyo hometown event.

Today’s event was held at Loisir Hotel Toyohashi in Aichi. There is/was no live or on demand broadcast.

The paid attendance has not yet been announced.

Match 1: Kzy, BIGBOSS Shimizu & U-T beat Madoka Kikuta, Dragon Dia & Ryoya Tanaka. Shimizu pinned Tanaka after Power BOSS.

Match 2: Gianni Valetta & Yoshiki Kato beat Dragon Kid & Daiki Yanagiuchi. Valetta pinned Yanagiuchi after a King Kong kneedrop.

Match 3: Punch Tominaga beat Jason Lee.

Match 4: JACKY “FUNKY” KAMEI & Ho Ho Lun beat YAMATO & Problem Dragon. Lun pinned Dragon with Ho Roll.

Match 5: Masaaki Mochizuki, Susumu Mochizuki & Yasushi Kanda vs. Kota Minoura, Ben-K & BxB Hulk went to a double countout.

Main Event: Hyo & Luis Mante beat Shun Skywalker & ISHIN. Hyo pinned ISHIM after Samson Driver.

The next event is Saturday at Tajimi City Industrial Culture Center in Gifu. Broadcast plans TBA.

On a related note, I am considering subscribing to DRAGONGATE NETWORK in the next couple days and, if I do, there will be live results for some upcoming events possibly starting with Sunday’s MEMORIAL GATE 2024 in Wakayama event (if there are live results, they would begin Saturday at 10 PM PT). (May be tough to manage as there’s a Pro Wrestling NOAH event live at the same time. Need WRESTLE UNIVERSE to get an Apple TV app!)

DEVELOPING: Top New Japan Star Staying Put

The end of January is typically when New Japan wrestlers’ contracts expire (after Tokyo Dome and New Year’s Dash), and the promotion has lost 3 major names already this month but they have locked up one..according to translation of social media posts from a Tokyo Sports reporter, Hiromu Takahashi has signed a new contract with New Japan. Terms not disclosed but unless he gets injured he’ll be in Chicago for New Japan’s next US event in April.

Injury Report: GLEAT Passes A Bad Check

And after a short break the body count across Japan further rises as injuries continue to pile up. GLEAT does sometimes make the bad puns easy for me, as in this case as they announced the latest casualty is Check Shimatani. Left arm and left side. Out indefinitely but translation noted “severe pain” so it probably will be a while, however this is pending further examination by doctors. He is off the 2/2 event and, while they were not mentioned specifically, it appears corresponding card changes have already been made.

More as it becomes available.

All-Japan News: Upcoming Title Matches Announced, More (Updated 2/1)

All-Japan has announced several title matches for upcoming events, plus some other news:

First, 3 title matches will be on 2/20 at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo: GAORA TV Champion Seigo Tachibana vs. Ryo Inoue for the title, All-Japan World Jr. Heavyweight Champion Dan Tamura vs. Fuminori Abe for the title, and Triple Crown Champion Katsuhiko Nakajima vs. Rei Saito for the Triple Crown. Another match announced for 2/20 was Suwama vs. Hideki Suzuki. They’ve had their issues getting along the last couple months.

On 2/25 in Kyoto at Kyoto KBS Hall, All-Japan World Tag Team Champions Jun & Rei Saito vs. Kento Miyahara & Yuma Aoyagi for the titles has been announced.

AJPW.TV has announced the broadcast schedule for February: 2/8, 2/20 & 2/25 will be LIVE. 2/23 & 2/24 will have no live broadcast but will be available on demand later that day or, at the latest, the next day.

The 2/8 NEW AGE CHRONICLE Z 3 event is now a legit advance sellout as of today, so no same-day ticket sales. It will be broadcast live on AJPW.TV.

The schedule for the 2024 Champions Carnival Tournament has been announced:
4/18-Korakuen Hall
4/20-Act City Hamamatsu, Shizuoka
4/21-Makuhari Messe International Exhibition Center Exhibition Hall 4, Chiba
4/28-Shinagawa Prince Hotel Stellar Ball, Tokyo
4/27-Osaka Prefectural Gym 2, Osaka
4/28-Nagoya Congress Center, Nagoya
4/29-Kurobe City Sports Center, Toyama
4/3-Yume Messe Miyagi Building Exhibition Hall C, Sendai
5/6-Korakuen
5/12-Yokohama BUNTAI, Yokohama (Finals)
More dates possibly TBA.
Also announced was their traditional New Year’s Eve Tournament, to be held on 12/31 at Yoyogi National Stadium Gym 2 in Tokyo.

Finally, All-Japan announced additional participation on 2/9 for the NTV 70 Years Of Pro Wrestling event at Korakuen Hall, which will also include Pro Wrestling NOAH participation. The All-Japan match will be Kento Miyahara, Ryuki Honda & Dan Tamura vs. Yuma & Atsuki Aoyagi & Rising Hayato. Previously announced matches set are Jun & Rei Saito vs. Timothy Thatcher & Saxon Huxley in an AJPW vs. NOAH match and the main event, which will be Kaito Kiyomiya vs. Yuma Anzai. The event will air on NTV (may be either the main network or their G+ network) in Japan on 2/18 at 1:50 AM JST and there currently is no live broadcast scheduled, also no word on when/if it will be available on AJPW.TV and/or WRESTLE UNIVERSE.

2/1 UPDATE: Added to the Champions Carnival schedule is 5/4 at Sanjo City Health and Welfare Center in Niigata.

DDT News: Yet Another Upcoming Card Change…But Different

DDT has been forced to make another change to an already-scheduled card, this time for 2/4, but it’s not injury-related this time, it’s more an “only in DDT” thing…Yoshihiko was scheduled for the 2/4 event in Nagano but is now off. Double booked that date and will be overseas instead. He was to have teamed with Jun Akiyama & Toru Owashi to face Danshoku Dieno, Makoto Oishi & Tetsuya Endo. Akihiro, who could pass as a relative of Yoshihiko, is the replacement. Yoshihiko has been given a “strict warning” about this. Based on the new match graphic, it makes it very clear this is all about “only in DDT” and the blame probably should be directed to some extent towards MAO (if you get it):

Stardom 1/28/24 Results

Stardom ran a house show today ahead of their next blowout event next weekend.

Today’s event was held at Tokorozawa Sakura Town Jappan Pavilion Hall A in Saitama and will be available on demand on Stardom World at a later date.

The announced paid attendance was 404.

Match 1; Saki Kashima beat Waka Tsukiyama by submission.

Match 2; Ami Sohrei beat Sayaka Kurara & Mai Sakurai in a 3-way by pinning Kurara..

Match 3; Saori Anou & Yuna Mizumori beat Starlight Kid & Ruaka. Anou pinned Ruaka.

Match 4: Yuzuki & Hazuki beat Lady C & Ytami Hayashishita. Hazuki pinned C with Hazukistral .

Match 5: Hanan, Saya Iida & Mayu Iwatani beat Momo Watanabe, Hina & Natsuko Tora. Iida pinned Hina after Kinniku Muscle Buster.

Match 6: Mei Seira, Suzu Suzuki & Giulia beat Ranna Yagami, MIRAI & Syuri. Seira pinned Yagami after a dropkick.

Main Event: Miyu Amasaki, Saya Kamitani & AZM beat HANAKI, Mina Shirakawa & Maika. Kamitani beat HANAKO with Phoenix Shine.

The next event is Saturday at Kyoto KBS Hall in Kyoto. It will be available on demand at a later date.

Dragon Gate 1/28/24 Results

Dragon Gate continued the New Year Gate 2024 Tour today with the penultimate house show of the tour.

Today’s event was held at Fujisan Messe in Shizuoka. There is/was no live or on demand broadcast.

The announced paid attendance was 306, a full house/near sellout.

Match 1: Kota MInoura, Ben-K & BxB Hulk beat Madoka Kikuta, Dragon Dia & Ryoya Tanaka. Ben-K pinned Tanaka after a spear.

Match 2: Gianni Valetta beat Punch Tominaga.

Match 3: YAMATO & Don Fujii beat Jason Lee & Ho Ho Lun. YAMATO pinned Lun after Omniscient & Omnipotent Frankensteiner.

Match 4: Dragon Kid beat Kagetora.

Match 5: Luis Mante & Hyo beat Susumu Mochizuki & Yasushi Kanda. Hyo pinned Kanda after Samson Driver.

Main Event: Kzy, BIGBOSS Shimizu, JACKY “FUNKY” KAMEI & U-T beat Shun Skywalker, KAI, ISHIN & Yoshiki Kato. Kzy pinned Kato with Skayde Schoolboy.

The next event is Tuesday at Loisir Hotel Toyohashi in Aichi. There will be no live or on demand broadcast.

In other news, the promotion has announced the Rey De Parejas tag team tournament will return for a second consecutive year in 2024. Details and participating teams TBA but it will run over 9 events: 3/9 (Atelier Himeji, Hyogo), 3/16 (Sanyo Fureai Park Gym, Okayama), 3/17 (Kozakakan SPorts Park Bingo, Hiroshima), 3/18 (Tottori Sangyo Gym, Tottori), 3/20 (Fukui Industrial Hall 1, Fukui), 3/23 (Kirameki Minatokan, Fukui), 3/24 (Nagano Arcs, Nagano), 3/30 (Kobe Sambo Hall, Kobe), 3/31 (Hiroshima Sangyo Kaikan, Hiroshima), 3/6 (Act City Hamamatsu, Shizuoka), 4/7 (Mercure Hotel Yokosuka, Kanagawa) and 4/9 (Korakuen Hall, Tokyo-Finals).
More as it becomes available.

Pro Wrestling NOAH 1/28/24 Results

Pro Wrestling NOAH continued the (never-ending) SUNNY VOYAGE 2024 Tour today with an event in Osaka.

Today’s event was held at Osaka Prefectural Gym 2 in Osaka and will be available on demand on WRESTLE UNIVERSE Wednesday. There was no live broadcast.

The announced paid attendance was 484.

Match 1: Shuhei Taniguchi beat Yu Owada.

Match 2; Dragon Bane, Alpha Wolf, Ninja Mack & Alejandro beat Jake Lee, LJ Cleary, Anthony Greene & Jack Morris. Wolf pinned Cleary after Wolf Driver.

Match 3: Naomichi Marufuji, Takashi Sugiura & Ulka Sasaki beat Manabu Soya, Masa Kitamiya & Daiki Inaba. Sasaki beat Inaba with a triangle.

Match 4: Yoshinari Ogawa beat Ryohei Oiwa.

Match 5: Kenoh & Hajime Ohara beat Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. & Daga by ref stoppage. Kenoh beat Wagner with Kenoh Special.

Match 6: Kaito Kiyomiya, Kazuyuki Fujita, HAYATA & Eita beat Go Shiozaki, Akitoshi Saito, Atsushi Kotoge & Hi69. Fujita pinned Kotoge after Beast Bomb.

Main Event: GHC Jr. Heavyweight Champions YO-HEY & Tadasuke beat Shuji Kondo & Junta Miyawaki to retain the titles. YO-HEY pinned Miyawaki after a dropkick. V2 for the champs. Next up: HAYATA & Eita. That match will happen on 2/23 at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.

The next event is 2/3 at Kasukabe Fureai Cube in Saitama. There will be no live broadcast.

Sumo-January 2024 Grand Sumo Tournament Day 15 (Final Day) Results (1/28/24) (Top Tier Only)

Here are the quick results from today’s Day 15-the Final Day-of the January 2024 Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo (top tier only because Juryo was decided yesterday):
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, Y-Yokozuna, J-Juryo, Ms-Makushita, Sd-Sandanme, Jd-Jonidan, Jk-Jonokuchi

Makuuchi (top tier):
Takarafuji (M16) beat Kotoshoho (M14)
Oho (M11) beat Tomokaze (M15)
Tsurugisho (M11) beat BUshozan (M16)
Onosho (M14) beat Sadanoumi (M10)
Onosato (M15) beat Tamawashi (M10)
Meisei (M9) beat Shimazuumi (M17)
Mitakeumi (M9) beat Endo (M13)
Myogiryu (M12) beat Ichiyamamoto (M7)
Churanoumi (M13) beat Shodai (M4)
Takanosho (M12) beat Gonoyama (M3)
Hiradoumi (M8) beat Abi (M2)
Kinbozan (M6) beat Midorifuji (M2)
Shonannoumi (M6) beat Atamifuji (M1)
Wakamotoharu (M1) beat Nishikigi (M5)
Ura (K) beat Ryuden (M5)
Daieisho (S) beat Asanoyama (M7)
Kotonowaka (S) beat Tobizaru (M4)
Terunofuji (Y) beat Kirishima (O). PLAYOFF!!!
Playoff: Terunofuji beat Kotonowaka. TERUNOFUJI YUSHO!!!
CHAMPION: Terunofuji (Y). 9th career Emperor’s Cup
SPECIAL PRIZES:
Outstanding Performance (winning record with most wins against Yokozuna & Ozeki by a Sekiwake or lower rank): Wakamotoharu
Fighting Spirit (lower ranked wrestler with winning record judged to have shown best fighting spirit): Onosato (Shimazuumi missed out on this due to his loss)
Technique (Sekiwake or lower with winning record judged to have shown best technique or most different techniques used): Kotonowaka
Of note: RARE KIMARITE ALERT! Once again Ura showed off his impressive wrestler background and wowed the fans with an incredible rare technique in victory-tsutaezori, an under arm forward body drop. Elsewhere, at the top this continues quite the trend for Terunofuji since promotion to Yokozuna-he either wins the championship or doesn’t finish the tournament. He undoubtedly was helped by the Hoshoryu withdrawal yesterday (Day 14). Had the Ozeki not pulled out, Kotonowaka would have faced him and not Tobizaru today. Terunofuji beat Kotonowaka a couple days ago and has never lost in their series to date.
Yokozuna Watch: Not going to happen this time for Kirishima. He lost his last 2 and losing to Terunofuji sealed the deal. He has never beaten Terunofuji, now 0-11 career, and will have to try again in March, his last chance before his stabemaster, the current Michinoku, must retire in April (Michinoku will turn 65, the mandatory retirement age in sumo).
Ozeki Watch: Despite the playoff loss, it sounds like Kotonowaka is going to be promoted. An extraordinary meeting will be held in the next couple days so in 2-3 days he may be promoted and will then change his shikona, or ring name, to that of his grandfather, former Yokozuna Kotozakura. Looking ahead to March, Daieisho as usual will have a chance at promotion as he maintained his Sekiwake rank, but he’s going to have to win the championship unless he goes 15-0 and somehow winds up in a playoff. And the numbers game will work against him with potentially 4 Ozeki ahead of him although Takakeisho will be in kadoban status in March due to having to withdraw early this time (injury). With both Komusubi demoted and the pending promotion of Kotonowaka, Wakamotoharu could return to Sekiwake after one tournament.

Jonidan:
Playoff: Aonishiki (Jd10) beat Chiyotaiko (Jd74). AONISHIKI JONIDAN YUSHO!!! 2nd career championship, first Jonidan, in 2 tournaments for the rookie from Ukraine.

TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS:
Makuuchi: Terunofuji (Y). 9th Emperor’s Cup
Juryo: Takerufuji (J10). 3rd career, 1st Juryo
Makushita: Wakatakakage (Ms1). 4th career, 2nd Makushita
Sandanme: Fujiseiun.(Sd26). 3rd career, 2nd Sandanme
Jonidan: Aonishiki (Jd10). 2nd career, 1st Jonidan
Jonokuchi: Anhibiki (Jk15). 1st career in debut tournament
That’s 2 championships this time for both Isegahama and Ajigawa Beya.

The next tournament is March 10-24 at Osaka Prefectural Gym in Osaka. Advance tickets will go on sale on 2/10. The Banzuke will be announced on 2/28. The final wrap-up post will come later this week after we get official word on Kotonowaka potentially being promoted.

All-Japan 1/27/24 Results

All-Japan wrapped up their January tour yesterday with a major event featuring 3 title matches.

Yesterday’s event was held at Esforta Arena Hachioji in Tokyo and can be watched on demand on AJPW.TV.

The announced paid attendance was 1588.

Match 1: Shuji Ishikawa & Black Menso-re Final All-Japan Match: Shuji Ishikawa & Black Menso-re vs. Ren Ayabe & Ryo Inoue went to a 15 minute time limit draw.

Match 2: Suwama, Hideki Suzuki (Pro Wrestling NOAH) & Hikaru Sato beat Minoru Suzuki, Naruki Doi (Independent/Freelancer) & Hokuto Omori. Suzuki pinned Omori with a double arm suplex.

Match 3: Kento Miyahara & Rising Hayato beat Kuroshio TOKYO Japan & Seigo Tachibana. Miyahara pinned Tachibana with a shutdown suplex hold.

Match 4: In an Electric Blasting Bats Exploding Death Match, Atsushi Onita, The Great Kojika & Raijin Yaguchi beat Mr. Pogo, Onryo & Takumi Sakurai. Onita pinned Onryo after an electric exploding bat attack.

Match 5: Yuma & Atsuki Aoyagi beat Konosuke Takeshita & Hideki Okatani (DDT). Yuma Aoyagi pinned Okatani after THE FOOL.

Match 6: All-Japan World Jr. Heavyweight Champion Dan Tamura beat Koji Iwamoto to retain the title. V2 for Tamura.

Match 7: All-Japan World Tag Team Champions Jun & Rei Saito beat Ryuki Honda & Yuma Anzai to retain the titles. Rei Saito pinned Honda after Elsvine. V4 for the champs.

Main Event: All-Japan Triple Crown Champion Katsuhiko Nakajima beat Shotaro Ashino to retain the Triple Crown. V3 for Nakajima.

The next event is NEW AGE CHRONICLE Z 3, the 3rd Rising Hayato Produced event, on 2/8 at Shin-Kiba 1st Ring. Live streaming on AJPW.TV will begin at 1:30 AM PT/4:30 AM ET.