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 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.
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 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.
Stardom continued the New Year Stars 2024 Tour today with an event in Sendai.
Today’s event was held at Sendai Pit in Sendai and will be available on demand on Stardom World at a later date.
The announced paid attendance was 331.
Match 1: Mei Seira beat Miyu Amasaki.
Match 2: Mai Sakurai beat Sayaka Kurara.
Match 3: Momo Watanabe & Starlight Kid beat Saori Anou & Yuna Mizumori. Kid pinned Mizumori with a Star suplex hold.
Match 4: Suzu Suzuki & Giulia beat Sumire Natsu & Natfuko Tora. Giulia beat Natsu with Bianca.
Match 5: Yuzuki, Koguma, Hanan, Saya Iida & Mayu Iwatani beat Ranna Yagami, Saki Kashima, Ami Sohrei, MIRAI & Syuri. Yuzuki pinned Yagami after Rolling Arrow.
Main Event: HANAKO, Waka Tsukiyama, Mina Shirakawa & Maika beat Lady C, AZM, Saya Kamitani & Utami Hayashishita. Maika pinned C after Flame Drop. Afterwards, Shirakawa challenged Iwatani for the IWGP Women’s Championship. More on that at a later date after consulting with New Japan Pro Wrestling as it’s their title.
The next event is tomorrow (underway as of this post) at Tokorozawa Sakura Town Pavilian Hall A in Saitama. It should be available on Stardom World at a later date.
DDT runs their monthly Tokyo major event today, Sweet Dreams! 2024, and it’s their first really major event of the year. There are 3 title matches scheduled but the big one is the main event for the KO-D Openweight Championship. Previously on the verge of the title but his hopes derailed by injury that kept him out long-term, Yukio Naya made his comeback late last year and won the D KING GP 2023 to earn a shot at current champion Yuki Ueno today. The time may be now for the big man who clearly is a big part of DDT’s future. Before that, there will be a KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Championship match, which is also a DOA Contra DOA Match, where the losing team can no longer call themselves “Dead Or Alive/DOA”. The DDT Extreme Championship is also up for grabs as Kazuki Hirata defends against Shunma Katsumata in a comedy match where Toi Kojima ultimately will decide the victor through various challenges he will undertake. The event will also see Yukio Sakaguchi’s final match in Korakuen Hall before his retirement next month, and he’ll face young Eruption stablemate & protege Hideki Okatani, who will have a lot of weight on his shoulders from carrying on the legacy of both retired factionmate Saki Akai and soon Sakaguchi.
Today’s event will be held at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo and can be watched LIVE on WRESTLE UNIVERSE in Japanese. Japanese voice actor Tetsu Inada will be a special guest on commentary. You can also watch the first 2 matches FOR FREE live on YouTube. This could be a long-running event with 3 title matches, if like me you’re watching opposite other wrestling tonight (like the WWE Royal Rumble) you’ll be split-screening for a little while before it’s just this event, which I’m estimating will run for around 3 hours.
Today’s lineup: Sanshiro Takagi, Toru Owashi, Akito, Shnichiro Kawamatsu & Yuni vs. HARASHIMA, Tomoya, Antonio Honda, Takeshi Masada & Kazuma Sumi Tetsuya Endo, Yuki Iino & Rukiya vs. Daisuke Sasaki, KANON & Bryan Keith Yukio Sakaguchi vs. Hideki Okatani MAO & TAKA Michinoku (New Japan) vs. Chris Brookes & Masa Takanashi DDT Extreme Champion Kazuki Hirata vs. Shunma Katsumata for the title. 2 Count pinfalls. After a pinfall, KO, TKO, submission or countout, Toi Kojima may enter the ring for a Kojima Challenge. If he does and completes the challenge, whoever got that last fall wins. If Kojima fails the challenge, the match continues KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Champions Jun Akiyama, Danshoku Dieno & Makoto Oishi vs. Hikaru Sato, Kazusada Higuchi & Ryo Kawamura in a DOA Contra DOA Match for the titles. The losing team can no longer call themselves DOA (Dead Or Alive) Konosuke Takeshita vs. Naruki Doi (Independent/Freelancer) KO-D Openweight Champion Yuki Ueno vs. Yukio Naya for the title The opponent for Kaaisei Takechi’s Debut Match on 2/25 will be announced
Refresh this page occasionally for the latest results.
The YouTube broadcast is scheduled to begin 10 minutes before the event and can be watched below (video courtesy of the DDT Official YouTube channel), scroll down further for results/updates:
Updates below will begin at 6:30 PM PT/9:30 PM ET.
6:20 PM PT UPDATE: Live updates begin now.
We are LIVE from Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan. Your hsots are Haruo Murata, Kagehiro Osano & special guest Tetsu Inada.
The paid attendance will be announced after the event. Looks like they’re using more capacity on the bleacher side than usual but it’s too early to estimate the crowd. They are going up opposite the final day of sumo in Tokyo but it’s hopefully going to be a good number. I’ll hope for at least 1000 right now. (It looks like a close-to-full-capacity setup today. Gonna stick with around 1000 for my prediction) (UPDATE: The announced paid attendance was 1120, a super full house/very near sellout)
The matches should begin in 15-20 minutes.
The matches begin at 6:32 PM PT/9:32 PM ET.
Match 1: Sanshiro Takagi, Toru Owashi, Akito, Shnichiro Kawamatsu & Yuni vs. HARASHIMA, Tomoya, Antonio Honda, Takeshi Masada & Kazuma Sumi. 30 minute time limit Result: HARASHIMA, Tomoya, Antonio Honda, Takeshi Masada & Kazuma Sumi beat Sanshiro Takagi, Toru Owashi, Akito, Shnichiro Kawamatsu & Yuni. Sumi pinned Yuni.
The debut opponent on 2/25 for Kaisei Takechi is announced. It actually will be a 6-man tag: Takechi, Yuki Ueno & Shunma Katsumata vs. Tetsuya Endo, Hideki Okatani & Takeshi Masada. Pre-recorded comments from Takechi follow.
Match 2: Tetsuya Endo, Yuki Iino & Rukiya vs. Daisuke Sasaki, KANON & Bryan Keith. 30 minute time limit Result: Daisuke Sasaki, KANON & Bryan Keith beat Tetsuya Endo, Yuki Iino & Rukiya. KANON pinned Rukiya.
The YouTube broadcast ends here.
Match 3: Yukio Sakaguchi vs. Hideki Okatani. 30 minute time limit Result: Yukio Sakaguchi beat Hideki Okatani
Your new host is Ken Kato for the next match or two.
Match 4: MAO & TAKA Michinoku (New Japan) vs. Chris Brookes & Masa Takanashi. 30 minute time limit Result: MAO & TAKA Michinoku beat Chris Brookes & Masa Takanashi. MAO pinned Takanashi after Cannonball 450.
The 20th Anniversary KING OF DDT Tournament is announced along with the first 5 entrants, all former winners: Poison Sawada JULIE, Sanshiro Takagi, Danshoku Dieno, HARASHIMA and…Shuji Ishikawa! (Formerly of All-Japan Pro Wrestling but he is leaving the promotion). The schedule is set too: 5/5 at Korakuen for Round 1, 5/11 at Yokohama Radiant Hall in Yokohama for Round 2, and 5/26 at Korakuen for the Finals (this is a single-elimination tournament).
Quick break for the delayed-to-now opening announcements from GM Imabayashi.
Match 5: DDT Extreme Champion Kazuki Hirata vs. Shunma Katsumata for the title. 2 Count pinfalls. After a pinfall, KO, TKO, submission or countout, Toi Kojima may enter the ring for a Kojima Challenge. If he does and completes the challenge, whoever got that last fall wins. If Kojima fails the challenge, the match continues. 1 Hour time limit Result: By virtue of a Kojima challenge being completed after a 2 count fall, Shunma Katsumata beat DDT Extreme Champion Kazuki Hirata to win the title. Katsumata becomes the 59th DDT Extreme Champion. Afterwards, Katsumata invited Hirata to join The37Kamiina. My Japanese is not good enough to know whether Hirata accepted. (Update: He refused) Katsumata stood frozen holding them microphone in a comedy spot as GM Imabayashi entered the ring. Announcement eventually made…next up: MJ Paul. He handed Imabayashi a note before trying to ambush Katsumata but Hideki Okatani made the save. If Katsumata wins, then maybe Okatani. More on this as it becomes available. (UPDATE: Next up will be the winner of a match TBA on 2/7 with the title match on 3/17)
Match 6: KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Champions Jun Akiyama, Danshoku Dieno & Makoto Oishi vs. Hikaru Sato, Kazusada Higuchi & Ryo Kawamura in a DOA Contra DOA Match for the titles. The losing team can no longer call themselves DOA (Dead Or Alive). 1 Hour time limit Result: KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Champions Jun Akiyama, Danshoku Dieno & Makoto Oishi beat Hikaru Sato, Kazusada Higuchi & Ryo Kawamura to retain the titles. Oishi pinned Kawamura. V3 for the champs. As a result, the losers can no longer call themselves DOA.
Match 7: Konosuke Takeshita (entrance starting with the AEW Don Callis ambient droning tone before his normal music) vs. Naruki Doi (Independent/Freelancer). 30 minute time limit Result: Konosuke Takeshita beat Naruki Doi
Main Event: KO-D Openweight Champion Yuki Ueno vs. Yukio Naya for the title. 1 Hour time limit Result: KO-D Oprnweight Champion Yuki Ueno beat Yukio Naya by submission to retain the title. V1 for Ueno. Wow. What a finish. Naya slowly if not reluctantly tapped out to a sleeper hold after BME. GM Imabayashi interviewed Ueno afterwards and, according to Ueno, if he gets his wish…next up: Danshoku Dieno (!?!). Afterwards, Ueno brought The37Kamiina back in all together, and now with 3 titles they once again are where they were just under a year ago. They’re the faces that run the places in DDT. WER!!
The next event is 2/4 at Nagano Arcs in Nagano. There will be no live broadcast.
Here are the quick results from tonight’s AEW Collision in Bossier City, LA:
Match 1: Jon Moxley & Claudio Castagnoli vs. Shane Taylor & Lee Moriarty Result: Jon Moxley & Claudio Castagnoli beat Shane Taylor & Lee Moriarty. Moxley beat Taylor with a rear naked choke.
Match 2: AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy vs. Komander for the title Result: AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy beat Komander to retain the title.
Daniel Garcia has been ambushed backstage and left bloody. Matt Menard finds him and summons help.
Match 3: Mariah May vs. Lady Frost Result: Mariah May beat Lady Frost
Swerve Strickland promo. He chooses Adam Page vs. Toa Liona as his choice of Page’s match for Wednesday on Dynamite.
Adam Page promo.
Match 4: AEW Continental Champion Eddie Kingston vs. Willie Mack in a NON-TITLE match Result: Eddie Kingston beat Willie Mack
Match 5: Bryan Danielson vs. Yuji Nagata (New Japan Pro Wrestling) Result: Bryan Danielson beat Yuji Nagata
Daniel Garcia appears to be out of the main event after what happened earlier. Mark Briscoe may be in with FTR now.
Match 6: Serena Deeb vs. a jobber. Didn’t catch the name Result: Serena Deeb beat a jobber by submission. Glorified squash.
Main Event: FTR & Mark Briscoe (replacing Daniel Garcia) vs. House Of Black in an Escape The Cage Elimination Match Result: FTR & Mark Briscoe beat House Of Black by having all 3 escape the cage first
Here are the quick results from today’s Day 14-the penultimate day-of the January 2024 Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo: Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, Y-Yokozuna, J-Juryo, Ms-Makushita
Makuuchi (top tier): Endo (M13) beat Roga (J3) Takanosho (M12) beat Bushozan (M16) Tsurugisho (M11) beat Shimazuumi (M17) Oho (M11) beat Takarafuji (M16) Onosato (M15) beat Sadanoumi (M10) Kotoshoho (M14) beat Mitakeumi (M9) Onosho (M14) beat Meisei (M9) Tomokaze (M14) beat Ichiyamamoto (M7) Churanoumi (M13) beat Shonannoumi (M6) Nishikigi (M5) beat Tamawashi (M10) Hiradoumi (M8) beat Tobizaru (M4) Gonoyama (M3) beat Myogiryu (M12) Midorifuji (M2) beat Ryuden (M5) Abi (M2) beat Wakamotoharu (M1) Asanoyama (M7) beat Atamifuji (M1) Ura (K) beat Shodai (M4) Daieisho (S) beat Kinbozan (M6) Kotonowaka (S) beat Kirishima (O) Terunofuji (Y) beat Hoshoryu (O) by default/withdrawal Leader: Terunofuji, Kotonowaka (12-2) WITHDRAWAL: Hoshoryu (O). Ankle. Likely out for the final day. Will finish the equivalent of 10-5 it that is the case so he will maintain his Ozeki status but it cost him a chance at the championship. Of note: There’s still a playoff chance but either we’ll have a repeat winner or a first-timer. Terunofuji may have been gifted another Emperor’s Cup today because of the Hoshoryu withdrawal but he still has to beat Kirishima tomorrow. Kotonowaka has easier for his potential first championship but not that easy-Tobizaru. The Flying Monkey is going for promotion and, along with Ura, is one of the most unpredictable rikishi in the top tier. If Kotonowaka does win, he either wins his first championship or will have a playoff rematch against Terunofuji. If Kotonowaka loses, Terunofuji is the champion if he beats Kisishima, but if Kirishima wins there would be a 3-way playoff. Elsewhere, that’s 7 straight wins for Abi, who has gone from a 1-6 start to promotion. Onosato has stopped his 4-match losing streak since an 8-1 start with 2 straight wins now, and with 10 wins he’s going to have a chance to win one of the Special Prizes. Finally, I think we can say with confidence that it’s over for Takaraduji. 5-9 at M16 is going to send him to Juryo for the first time since 2012. If he wins his finale (Kotoshoho, who is now 9-5) it would take Isegahama really flexing his clout to keep his veteran in the top tier, and he’s had that kind of influence in the rankings lately. Maybe too much. A loss and demotion is definite. Yokozuna Watch: Kotonowaka all but slammed the door shut on Kirishima but there still is hope. If Kirishima beats Terunofuji and Kotonowaka loses to Tobizaru, there will be a 3-way playoff for the championship. That gives Kirishima a good chance, he’ll almost definitely be promoted if he wins while a playoff loss still gives him hope because 12 wins would be equal to the championship. If he finishes 2nd with 12 wins to 13 for Kotonowaka, there’s still a possibility because when Terunofuji was promoted, he was runner-up with 14 wins after a final day loss to Hakuho for the legend’s final championship before retirement after a perfect 15-0 finale. Ozeki Watch: Promotion is now Kotonowaka’s to lose. If he wins tomorrow, that’s 33 wins and potentially his first championship so it would be pretty much definite. If he is the champion, promotion will happen. If he loses, that’s 32 wins but it’s not mandatory to hit 33 wins so he will have a chance. If no promotion this time, he’s looking at a magic number of 10 wins in March.
Juryo: Kitaharima (Ms2) beat Akua (J11) Takerufuji (J10) beat Chiyosakae (J14). TAKERUFUJI JURYO YUSHO!!! The latest Isegahama super-prospect wins his first Juryo Championship and 3rd career championship. In 8 tournaments he has a career mark of 55-8. Depending on his final day result, he’ll probably go up to J1 or J2, with an outside chance of reaching the top tier. Shimanoumi (J8) beat Tochimusashi (J14) Yuma (J13) beat Shiden (J8) Hidenoumi (J11) beat Kagayaki (J7) Shitokuma (J6) beat Tenshoho (J12) Oshoumi (J13) beat Chiyoshoma (J5) Daishoho (J9) beat Tamashoho (J4) Kotoeko (J4) beat Chiyomaru (J12) Kitanowaka (J3) beat Hakuyozan (J10) Oshoma (J5) beat Nishikifuji (J2) Tokihayate (J6) beat Tohakuryu (J2) Asakoryu (J7) beat Daiamami (J1) Shishi (J7) beat Miroryu (J1) CHAMPION: Takerufuji (12-2) Of note: The deal was sealed early. Although both Kitanowaka & Tokihayate win, Takerufuji closed the door and maintained his 2-win lead to end the championship race. At 13-2 or 12-3 when it ends he’s going to have at least a chance at reaching the top tier depending on what happens elsewhere. With Daiamami & Mitoryu both at 7-7 and having to win for promotion tomorrow, Takerufuji probably needs both to lose to reach Makuuchi. If one of both win, I’ll slot him at J1 in March. At the bottom, I think we’re now looking at a minimum of 4 demotions to Makushita-Yuma, Tochimusashi (again), Chiyosakae all for sure and one or both of Tenshoho & Chiyomaru. Kotoeko is in danger but at the equivalent of 3-11 at J4 (missed 3 days due to flu) I think he’s managed enough wins to hang on to salary for March, If he gets a 4th win tomorrow, he’s safe. As far as Makushita, right now we’re looking at one definite promotion-Wakatakakage, the former Sekiwake who at Ms1 won the championship at 7-0 and will get his salary back, and 2 probable promotions-Kitaharima clinched promotion today at Ms2 and the numbers game is working in his favor, and Hakuoho, who went 6-1 at Ms5 in his return from shoulder surgery and has the rocket fully fired up for a quick return to the top tier, possibly by July. Tsushimanada, who is 4-2 at Ms2 with promotion already clinched, will also have a chance at a Juryo return, and if he wins it should be definite.
Reminder: NHK World Japan will have 90 minutes of LIVE top tier coverage, including the championship matches, playoffs if necessary, Emperor’s Cup award ceremony and champion’s interview, beginning tonight at 11:30 PM PT/2:30 AM ET.
Dragon Gate’s first blowout event of 2024, THE GATE OF BAYSIDE 2024, is now in the books.
Today’s event was held at Yokohama Budokan in Yokohama and can be watched on demand on DRAGONGATE NETWORK.
The paid attendance has not yet been announced. (UPDATE: The announced paid attendance was 2086, a full house/near sellout)
Match 1: Madoka Kikuta, Dragon Dia & Ryoya Tanaka beat Don Fujii, Genki Horiguchi & Daiki Yanagiuchi. Kikuta pinned Yanagiuchi after a hip drop.
Match 2: Gianni Valetta beat U-T. Potential squash yet again, it didn’t even go 2 minutes.
Match 3; Mochizki Jr. Return Match: Masaaki Mochizuki, Susumu Mochizuki, Mochizuki Jr. & Yasushi Kanda vs. Dragon Kid, BxB Hulk, Takashi Yoshida & Punch Tominaga went to a double countout. Jr. has been out of action for several months due to injuries and is preparing to leave the promotion soon for an international training excursion, which will be to Europe.
Match 4: YAMATO & Shuji Kondo beat Kota Minoura & Ben-K. YAMATO beat Minoura with a body scissor sleeper hold.
Match 5: Open The Brave Gate Champion Hyo beat Kagetora to retain the title. V3 for Hyo.
Match 6: Open The Twin Gate Champions Kaito Kiyomiya & Alejandro (Pro Wrestling NOAH) beat Jason Lee & JACKY “FUNKY” KAMEI to retain the titles. Kiyomiya pinned KAMEI after Transformed Shining Wizard. V1 for the champs.
Match 7: Open The Triangle Gate Champions KAI, ISHIN & Yoshiki Kato beat Kzy, Strong Machine J & BIGBOSS Shimizu to retain the titles. KAI pinned J after Meteo Impact KAI. V2 for the champs.
Main Event: Open The Dream Gate Champion Luis Mante beat Shun Skywalker to retain the title. V1 for Mante.
The next event is tomorrow at Fujisan Messe in Shizuoka. There will be no live or on demand broadcast.
Tokyo Joshi Pro continued the Futari-wa Princess Max Heart Tournament today with the Semifinals.
Today’s event was held at Ryogoku KFC Hall in Tokyo and can be watched on demand on WRESTLE UNIVERSE.
The announced paid attendance was 307, a full house/near sellout.
Match 1; Mahiro Kiryu beat Haru Kazashiro.
Match 2: Yuki Aino & Toga beat Shoko Nakajima & Kaya Toribami. Aino pinned Toribami after Venus DDT.
Match 3: In what can be best described as a ridiculous comedy match, Hyper Misao beat Pom Harajuku. Something involving warding off evil spirits and 2 count falls after turning hearts into demons.
Match 4: Miyu Yamashita, Yuki Kamifuku & HIMAWARI beat Mizuki, Raku & Shino Suzuki. Yamashita pinned Suzuki after Attitude Adjustment.
Tournament Semifinals: Match 5: Suzume & Arisu Endo beat Moka Miyamoto & Juria Nagano. Endo beat Nagano with a camel clutch. Main Event: Rika Tatsumi & Miu Watanabe beat Yuki Arai & Wakana Uehara. Watanabe pinned Uehara after Teardrop. As a result, the Finals will be Suzume/Endo vs. Tatsumi/Watanabe.
The Finals are on 2/10 at Korakuen Hall. Live streaming on WRESTLE UNIVERSE will begin on 2/9 at 6:30 PM PT/9:30 PM ET.
UPDATE: From post-match backstage comments, it’s being reported that Juria Nagano has challenged Yuki Arai for the International Princess Championship. We’ll see if that happens considering Nagano doesn’t have many dates left before retiring from wrestling. The promotion also announced Zara Zucker for 2/10. Zucker, a rookie from the USA (California), will be making her Japan debut. Very little is known about her but TJPW notes she was chosen to visit Japan because of her talent and potential, which made her a breakout candidate.