News, results & more from Japanese Pro Wrestling & Sumo
Constant bad puns aside, GLEAT continues to get hit hard by constant injuries the last few months, today they reported Yu Iizuka is the latest casualty. Zygomatic fracture or, in simpler medical terms, face/facial trauma/fracture. Out a long time per their release, so likely several months or more. Upcoming card changes pending.
More as it becomes available.
Nikkan Sports reports the Nihon Sumo Kyokai (Japan Sumo Association) Yokozuna Deliberation Committee held a regular poat-tournament meeting today, here are some notes coming out:
Yokozuna Terunofuji is on the clock. According to comments from Chairman Masayuki Yamauchi (Professor Emeritus at the University Of Tokyo), Based on translation, he either must compete in January or the Council will take action. Any such action is non-binding but carries weight, starting with “encouragement” then “recommendation” and finally being all but forced to retire (Yokozuna can never be demoted to lower ranks). Terunofuji missed the last 3 tournaments including November despite participation in the October tour. Before the November Tournament it was reported by YouTuber Chris Sumo, a reliable English language source with inside connections, that per stablemaster Isegahama Terunofuji would compete in January.
Also, the Council reportedly is not happy with Hoshoryu, one of the 3 current Ozeki. In a late tournament match against Gonoyama (Margashira 4), Hoshoryu dragged the pre-match staredown/setup with a frozen stare lasting approximately 90 seconds, so long that NHK World Japan had to edit most of it out of their daily English language highlights program for time. While there is a little precedent given Hoshoryu is the nephew of bad boy Yokozuna Asashoryu, Yamauchi’s comments indicate that clearly hurt Hoshoryu’s chances of making Yokozuna, which may not happen anytime soon based on performance (he has 8 & 10 wins in 2 tournaments as Ozeki so far). Making Yokozuna is not just about winning tournaments, you also are expected to be of high moral character as a public face of sumo and being looked up to by all rikishi. Hoshoryu is known for his “stinky face” glare after some matches especially if he took pushes to the face. All indications ate he’ll be just like Asashoryu if he ever ascends to the highest rank as Chairman Hakkaku hopes for before he is forced to retire in a couple years (mandatory retirement age in sumo is 65) and ideally with healthy active Yokozuna.
While we wait for updated early ranking notes for January, it is being suggested that Ura, who finished 8-7 at M1, will be promoted to Komusubi for the first time in his career
Pro Wrestling NOAH ran the 4th and penultimate episode of MONDAY MAGIC today.
Today’s event was held at Shinjuku Face in Tokyo and can be watched on demand on WRESTLE UNIVERSE.
The paid attendance has not yet bern announced but it appears to be a legit advance sellout, which would mean 450-500. No same-day tickets.
Match 1: YO-HEY beat Dragon Bane & Alejandro in a 3-way by pinning Bane.
Match 2: Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr., Titus Alexander & Hajime Ohara beat Jack Morris, Anthony Greene & LJ Cleary. Alexander pinned Cleary after Big Ugly.
Match 3: Kaito Kiyomiya, Ryohei Oiwa, Masa Kitamiya & Daiki Inaba beat Saxon Huxley, Timothy Thatcher, Vinny Massaro & ?. Kiyomiya pinned Massaro after Transformed Shining Wizard.
Match 4: Nagisa Nozaki Return Match: Nagisa Nozaki beat Miyuki Takase.
Match 5: HAYATA & Rising Hayato (All-Japan) beat Shuji Kondo & Junta Miyawaki. Hayato pinned Miyawaki after Sid Vicious. (HAYATA & Hayato. The team we never knew we needed)
Match 6: Ninja Mack beat GHC Hardcore Champion Masato Tanaka and Super Crazy in a 3-way by pinning Tanaka to win the title. Mack becomes the 11th GHC Hardcore Champion. (NOAH apparently is not recognizing the title’s prior history, billing Mack as the second champion)
Main Event: Kenoh & Satoshi Kojima beat Manabu Soya & Go Shiozaki. Kojima pinned Shiozaki after a lariat.
At some point The Great Muta also showed up and did weird Muta things…
The next event is NOAH THE BEST 2023 Saturday at Yokohama Budokan in Yokohama. Live streaming on WRESTLE UNIVERSE in English ONLY will begin Friday at 11 PM PT/Saturday at 2 AM ET. This is an ABEMA-exclusive broadcast in Japan.
Pro Wrestling NOAH has announced two injury absences, although one is an update to a prior issue…but the new one could have major implications because it’s GHC Jr. Heavyweight Champion Daga. Left knee sprain. Out indefinitely. It most likely happened Friday in his successful title defense against Shuji Kondo. Unless he’ll be out more than a month his title reign probably isn’t in jeopardy (the next scheduled title match is 1/2/24, and as of now it’s still on)
The other absence is an extension of Yoshinari Ogawa’s time out. Now out until at least after the 12/10 event. He has been out since last week as a precaution due to dizziness.
More as it becomes available.
UPDATE: NOAH now says Daga will miss “several events” so this will mean at least a couple weeks.
All-Japan ran Day 6 of the Real World Tag League today, beginning the second half of the tournament.
Today’s event was held at Shonan Fujisawa Market Special Ring in Kanagawa and will be available on demand on AJPW.TV later today. There was no live broadcast.
The announced paid attendance was 815, a legit sellout.
Jr. Battle Of Glory:
Match 1: Fuminori Abe beat Ryo Inoue.
Match 2: Rising Hayato vs. Koji Iwamoto went to a 10 minute time limit draw.
Match 3; Evolution Women’s Match: ChiChi beat ZONES.
Match 4: Giant Enoshima Man Bashin “Ichi” & Shiryu beat Black Menso-re, Yuma Aoyagi & Kento Miyahara. Bashin pinned Menso-re after Romero Special.
Real World Tag League:
Match 5: Yukio Sakaguchi & Hideki Okatani beat Hayato Tamura & Galeno Del Mal. Sakaguchi beat Del Mal with a triangle.
Match 6: Cyrus & Ryan Danielson beat Ryuki Honda & Yuma Anzai. Cyrus pinned Honda after a reverse splash.
Match 7: Katsuhiko Nakajima & Hokuto Omori beat Kuroshio TOKYO Japan & Seigo Tachibana. Nakajima pinned Tachibana after Northern Lights Bomb.
Jr. Battle Of Glory:
Match 8: Dan Tamura vs. Naruki Doi went to a 10 minute time limit draw.
Match 9: Hikaru Sato beat Atsuki Aoyagi. With 3 seconds left.
Main Event: Real World Tag League: Suwama & Hideki Suzuki beat Jun & Rei Saito. Suwama pinned Jun Saito after a backdrop.
Nakajima/Omori now lead at 5-0, 10 points. Saito Bros. still second at 4-2, 8 points.
The next event is Wednesday at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo. Live streaming on AJPW.TV will begin at 1:30 AM PT/4:30 AM ET.
Tokyo Joshi Pro continued the CITY CIRCUIT Tour today with the final event before their 10th Anniversary event.
Today’s event was held at NGK Sports Plaza Stadium 3 in Aichi and will be available on demand on WRESTLE UNIVERSE at a later date. There was no live broadcast.
The announced paid attendance was 403, a full house/near sellout.
Match 1: Arisu Endo beat Runa Okubo by submission.
Match 2: Suzume beat Haru Kazashiro.
Match 3: In a match where each wrestler could bring in a weapon that could be legally exchanged and used without DQ, Hyper Misao beat Raku.
Match 4: VIVA VAN & Yuki Kamifuku beat Shoko Nakajima & Kaya Toribami. VAN pinned Toribami after Helevator.
Match 5: Rika Tatsumi, Miu Watanabe & HIMAWARI beat Miyu Yamashita, Mahiro Kiryu & Toga. Tatsumi pinned Toga after Twist OF Fate.
Match 6: Max The Impaler, Yuki Aino & Pom Harajuku beat Hikari Noa, Nao Kakuta & Shino Suzuki. Harajuku pinned Suzuki after Pomu. Do. Justis.
Main Event: Yuka Sakazaki & Mizuki beat Yuki Arai & Moka Miyamoto. Sakazaki pinned Miyamoto after Toy Story 4. This is the last time Sakazaki & Mizuki team up in a regular tag match as Sakazaki is leaving TJPW after the next event to continue her 10-year career overseas (probably returning to All Elite Wrestling).
The next event is the Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling 10th Anniversary Event-We Are TJPW-Friday at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo. There has been one change announced to the card-because Yuki Kamifuku recently won the Queen Of Asia Championship in Singapore, her scheduled match against VIVA VAN will now be for the title. There also will be a Princess Tag Team Championship match as the popular Wasteland Pom Party (Max The Impaler & Pom Harajuku) challenge Hikari Noa & Nao Kakuta for the titles, and the main event will be a TJPW 10th Anniversary 10-woman tag with Sakazaki’s final match in the promotion and perhaps a ceremonial passing of the torch to the next generation: Miyu Yamashita, Shoko Nakajima, Yuka Sakazaki, Mizuki & Rika Tatsumi vs. Miu Watanabe, Yuki Arai, Suzume, Moka Miyamoto & Arisu Endo. (No Maki Itoh, you ask? Nope. Overseas again) Live streaming on WRESTLE UNIVERSE will begin at 1 AM PT/4 AM ET.
New Japan ran Day 6 of the World Tag League today, the third day of Block B.
Today’s event was held at Big Palette Fukushima Multipurpose Exhibition Hall A in Fukushima and can be watched on demand on New Japan World.
The announced paid attendance was 888.
Match 1: Gedo, Taiji Ishimori, Gabriel Kidd & Alex Coughlin beat Yuto Nakashima, Tomoaki Honma, Toa Liona & Bishop Kaun. Ishimori beat Nakashima with Bone Lock.
Match 2: Callum Newman, HENARE & Great-O-Khan beat Dick Togo, Yujiro Takahashi & EVIL. HENARE beat Togo with Ultima.
Match 3; Yoh, Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii beat Kosei Fujita, Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls. Yoh pinned Fujita after Direct Drive.
Match 4: Boltin Oleg, Ryohei Oiwa & Kaito Kiyomya beat Oskar Leube, Ren Narita & Shota Umino. Kiyomiya pinned Leube after Variant Shining Wizard.
World Tag League:
Match 5: Alex Zayne & Lance Archer beat Soberano Jr. & Atlantis Jr. Zayne pinned Soberano after Taco Driver.
Match 6: YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto beat Jack Bonza & Bad Luck Fale. Goto pinned Bonza after Shoto.
Match 7: Yuya Uemura & Taichi beat Minoru Suzuki & Yuji Nagata. Uemura pinned Nagata with a Kannuki suplex hold.
Main Event: Zandokan Jr. & Yota Tsuji beat El Phantasmo & Hikuleo. Tsuji pinned Hikuleo after Gene Blaster.
After 3 days in Block B it’s Uemura/Taichi and Zayne/Archer tied for the lead at 3-0, 6 points. Suzuki/Nagata unsurprisingly can’t get alone and it has them almost out now at 0-3, 0 points and headed to a grumpy old men post-tournament showdown.
The next event is Tuesday at Nagoya International Conference Center Event Hall in Nagoya with Day 4 of Block A. Live streaming on New Japan World will begin at 1 AM PT/4 AM ET.
Here are the quick results from today’s Day 15-the Final Day-of the November 2023 Grand Sumo Tournament in Fukuoka:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, J-Juryo, Ms-Makushita, Sd-Sandanme, Jd-Jonidan, Jk-Jonokuchi
Makuuchi (Top Tier):
NIshikifuji (M16) beat Kagayaki (J3)
Hiradoumi (M11) beat Kitanowaka (M17)
Ryuden (M10) beat Tsurugisho (M13)
Oho (M12) beat Mitakeumi (M9)
Myogiryu (M9) beat Tomokaze (M14)
Roga (M16) beat Endo (M8)
Ichiyamamoto (M14) beat Kinbozan (M7)
Churanoumi (M15) beat Midorifuji (M5)
Gonoyama (M4) beat Shonannoumi (M6)
Sadanoumi (M11) beat Tobizaru (M3)
Takayasu (M3) beat Tamawashi (M12)
Meisei (M2) beat Tohakuryu (M15)
Shodai (M2) beat Takarafuji (M13)
Ura (M1) beat Hokuseiho (M7)
Nishikigi (M4) beat Hokutofuji (K)
Asanoyama (M1) beat Abi (K)
Wakamotoharu (K) beat Onosho (M5)
Kotonowaka (S) beat Atamifuji (M8). KIRISHIMA YUSHO!!! Settled before the final match. So close and yet so painfully far away for Atamifuji again, who lost his last 2 matches.
Hoshoryu (O) beat Daieisho (S)
Kirishima (O) beat Takakeisho (O)
CHAMPION: Kirishima (13-2). 2nd Emperor’s Cup this year and 4th overall championship. Nikkan Sports reports it also means Kirishima finishes 2023 with the most wins of any top-tier rikishi.
SPECIAL PRIZES:
Outstanding Performance (Maegashira with most wins against Yokozuna/Ozeki): None
Fighting Spirit (10+ wins with best display of fighting spirit): Atamifuji (2nd time, 2nd straight tournament), Kotonowaka, Ichiyamamoto
Technique (most different winning techniques): None
Final standings notes: The Sanyaku shakeup will see Wakamotoharu demoted from Sekiwake and both Komusubi (Abi & Hokutofuji) demoted, with Ura possibly breaking through to Komusubi thanks to an 8th win today. If there is a second Komusubi it could be a Sanyaku return for Takayasu, a former Ozeki. 6 wins probably drops Wakamotoharu to M1, but it could be Komusubi. We’re going to see at least 4 demotions to Juryo-Kitanowaka, Roga, Nishikifuji and Tohakuryu. The biggest tossup is Kotoeko at M10, due to missing the last 5 days (injury) he finishes the equivalent of 2-13. Despite the last 2 losses, Atamifuji will make another big move up the rankings. He could get as high as M1 but I’m going to slot him in at M3 for January with Sanyaku possible in March. Meanwhile, Asanoyama’s Day 8 return gamble to try and salvage Sanyaku ultimately backfired as he’ll suffer his first post-return demotion. A lot of demotions at the top do help him though along with being absent the first week, but I think he’ll still drop down to, at best, M5. More reasonably I’ll take him down to M8. Maybe Sanyaku again by May.
Yokozuna Watch: When one door closes, another door opens. Takakeisho’s maybe last best chance at promotion is gone after a good start when he slumped late to 9-6, but now it’s Kirishima’s chance. A repeat title in January, or a playoff with at least 12 wins, should allow him to take the mantle from the wearing-down Terunofuji and allow the current Yokozuna to retire on his own terms. We can hope Terunofuji does return in January as expected for perhaps a passing of the mantle, as was the case when he was promoted after a Final Day loss to Hakuho when the legend retired after a perfect tournament (Terunofuji was also 14-0 going into that final day). Then attention can turn to Hoshoryu, who managed 10 wins this time and perhaps…
Ozeki Watch: Kotonowaka probably won’t get there right now after finishing with 30 wins over his last 3 tournaments, but he will have a good chance after January as he will need 11 wins again to reach the unofficial benchmark of 33 wins over 3 consecutive tournaments. The son of the current Sadogatake is poised to eclipse his father, the former Kotonowaka, and assume a new name when he does (he will become Kotozakura when/if he is promoted). And by this time next year, we’re going to be talking about Atamifuji here. If he stays healthy he will be Yokozuna in 2-3 years.
Juryo:
Takerufuji (Ms1) beat Hitoshi (J11)
Tenshoho (J10) beat Kitadaichi (Ms3)
Tsushimanada (Ms4) beat Takakento (J9)
Tamashoho (J7) beat Akua (J10)
Chiyosakae (J14) beat Daishoho (J7)
Chiyoshoma (J6) beat Yuma (J13)
Shishi (J5) beat Chiyomaru (J8)
Onosato (J5) beat Mitoryu (J4)
Daiamami (J4) beat Shiden (J12)
Oshoma (J3) beat Hidenoumi (J11)
Shimanoumi (J12) beat Shimazuumi (J2)
Bushozan (J2) beat Tokihayate (J8)
Kotoshoho (J1) beat Asakoryu (J13). PLAYOFF!!!
Aoiyama (J1) beat Takahashi (J9)
PLAYOFF: Kotoshoho (J1) beat Onosato (J5). KOTOSHOHO JURYO YUSHO!
CHAMPION: Kotoshoho (12-3). 3rd career Championship and 3rd Juryo Championship. He will join a handful promoted back to the top tier in January, to
Going up: At least 4 and potentially 5 promotions are on tap: Kotoshoho and Aoiyama will return to the top tier along with Bushozan and one of, if not both, Shimazuumi and Onosato. If only one makes it I think it’ll be Onosato because of the playoff loss, which would leave Shimazuumi at J1 despite 9 wins.
Going down: Azumaryu (withdrawal after 0-2 start, finished 0-15), Hitoshi (September Makushita Champion had a disastrous 2-13 Juryo debut) and Chiyosakae (demoted with 8th loss today) will be demoted to Makushita, and possibly Yuma again (big toss-up after a collapse to 7-8 following losing his last 4, Takakento (3-12 at J9), Tenshoho, Akua (both 5-10 at J10). Hidenoumi is a huge toss-up at 6-9 from J11 but he missed 3 days due to injury. I think he’ll be safe. Also going down is Hakuoho after another missed tournament due to injury, but he’ll almost certainly earn his way back right away when he returns in January. He should still reach Sanyaku by the end of 2024.
Makushita notes: Takerufuji will be Shin-Juryo in January after a 6-1 result at J1, needing just 8 tournaments to reach the second tier and becoming the latest Isegahama super-prospect to break through into salary ranks (he already has 2 lower tier championships). He has gone 43-6 so far in his career. Despite losing his last 3 after a 4-0 start, Hakuyozan will be Sai-Juryo, returning to the second tier in January. That’s probably it for Makushita promotions because of the numbers game, although Kayo will have a chance after going 6-1 at Ms6, and that means the biggest loser would be Wakatakakage-the former Sekiwake went 5-2 from Ms6 in his return from injury. But he probably came up one win short despite winning his last 4 after a 1-2 start.
Expect Champion Satorufuji to jump up from Ms42 to approximately Ms12 while Kitaharima’s title loss will keep him from a Juryo return after he just missed a second straight championship (he won the Sandanme in September), but he’ll be in position for a January promotion with a winning record after a 6-1 effort at Ms11. The veteran is hoping for more than another cup of sake in the top tier before retiring-he’s reached a career high rank of M15 for one tournament.
Jonidan:
PLAYOFF: Dairinzan (Jd61) beat Shiroma (Jd15). DAIRINZAN JONIDAN YUSHO! First career championship.
Tournament Champions:
Makuuchi (Kirishima (2nd Emperor’s Cup, 4th overall)
Juryo: Kotoshoho (3rd Juryo, 3rd overall)
Makushita: (Satorufuji (1st Makushita, 2nd overall)
Sandanme: Daishoryu (1st Sandanme, 1st overall)
Jonidan: Dairinzan (1st Jonidan, 1st overall)
Jonokuchi: Aonishiki (1st Jonokuchi, 1st overall in Debut tournament)
The next tournament is the January 2024 tournament scheduled from 1/14-1/28 at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo. Advance tickets will go on sale on 12/9. In the next couple days will be the usual final standings post and any major post-tournament breaking news. The Banzuke is scheduled to be announced on 12/25.
This is the kind of stuff you never want to read about and never happen…while browsing socials just now, I discovered there were apparent death threats made against Tokyo Joshi Pro wrestler Wakana Uehara today (yesterday Japan time). The posts in Japanese and English were reported on by her official Twitter/X account. One post, in Japanese but also in English, stated the threats said someone was sent to Shinjuku (part of Tokyo) today to kill Uehara in front of her mother and her family. So far Uehara appears to be safe and unharmed and while this may have been a joke, she is wisely taking it very seriously and will be more aware of her surroundings. She closed by thanking the fans who have always supported her.
Uehara had a stage performance scheduled today and, as a result, is not at today’s TJPW event (in progress at the time of this post, there is no live WRESTLE UNIVERSE broadcast) in Aichi.
More as it becomes available.
UPDATE: Yahoo Japan via Nikkan Sports reports the social media account in question has been identified and shut down, and Uehara posted on social media post-event today, all went well and she is okay but will continue to be careful going forward. Probably will be little to no criminal action because of lax/weak laws against this sort of behavior online in Japan, as sadly is still the case following the tragic Hana Kimura suicide caused by cyberbullying. Hopefully an incident like this lends more fuel to the fire and helps the neverending push by Hana’s mother, former wrestler Kyoko Kimura, to toughen the laws in Japan about this.
Here are the quick results from tonight’s LIVE AEW Rampage & Collision from Pittsburgh, PA:
Rampage:
Match 1: FTW Champion Hook vs. Rocky Romero in a NON-TITLE match
Result: Hook beat Rocky Romero by ref stoppage (technical submission)
Match 2: Kris Statlander vs. Diamante
Result: Kris Statlander beat Diamante. Mercedes Martinez came to ringside during the match and joined in post-match for a heel beatdown on Statlander until Willow Nightingale made the save.
Match 3: The Kingdom vs. 2 jobbers
Result: The Kingdom beat 2 jobbers. Squash. They also issued an ROH Tag Team Title challenge.
Main Event: ROH Pure Champion Wheeler Yuta vs. Katsuyori Shibata in a Pure Rules Match for the title
Result: Wheeler Yuta beat ROH Pure Champion Katsuyori Shibata to become THE NEW ROH PURE CHAMPION!
Collision:
Match 1: Continental Classic Blue Block: Claudio Castagnoli vs. Daniel Garcia
Result: Claudio Castagnoli beat Daniel Garcia
Castagnoli is 1-0, 3 points. Garcia is 0-1, 0 points
Match 2; Killswitch (Luchasaurus) vs. The Boys in a handicap match
Result: Killswitch beat The Boys. Squash. Post-match beatdown until Adam Copeland made the save.
Copeland promo backstage. He challenges Christian Cage for the AEW TNT Championship on 12/6 at Dynamite in Montreal, Canada.
Match 3: Malakai Black & Buddy Matthews vs. Komander & Gravity
Result: Malakai Black & Buddy Matthews beat Komander & Gravity. Matthews pinned Komander.
Match 4: AEW TBS Champion Julia Hart vs. Lady Frost in a House Rules Match for the title. House Rules means the challenger can choose a stip, and commentary indicates that stip will be No Countouts
Result: AEW TBS Champion Julia Hart beat Lady Frost by submission to retain the title.
Match 5: FTR vs. The Righteous
Result: FTR beat The Righteous. House Of Black interrupted post-match immediately.
After the match, a Dante Martin comeback promo was to be replayed in its entirety. They started to show it earlier but TNT cut away for commercial too early during it.
Big Bill & Ricky Starks interviewed.
Match 6: Keith Lee vs. Lee Moriarty
Result: Keith Lee beat Lee Moriarty
Main Event: Continental Classic: Eddie Kingston vs. Brody King
Result: Brody King beat Eddie Kingston
Wednesday on Dynamite: Mark Briscoe vs. Rush, Jon Moxley vs. Jay Lethal and Jay White vs. Swerve Strickland.
Next week on Collision: 3 more tournament matches.
End Shows.
POST-SHOW UPDATE: It’s now official…CM Punk is truly, absolutely, definitely done for good, or for a long time at least, with AEW. He returned to WWE tonight at the Survivor Series PPV.