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Sumo-November 2022 Grand Sumo Tournament Day 9 Results (11/21/22) (Top 2 Tiers)

Here are the quick results from today’s Day 9 of the November 2022 Grand Sumo Tournament in Fukuoka:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, J-Juryo:
Makuuchi (Top Tier):
Ichiyamamoto (M14) beat Okinoumi (M13)
Kotoeko (M12) beat Atamifuji (M15)
kagayaki (M15) beat Kotoshoho (M11)
Oho (M13) beat Onosho (M11)
Hiradoumi (M12) beat Aoiyama (M10)
Azumaryu (M14) beat Takarafuji (M8)
Myogiryu (M7) beat Chiyoshoma (M10)
Endo (M7) beat Terutsuyoshi (M16)
Ryuden (M6) beat Takanosho (M9)
Nishikigi (M6) beat Tochinoshin (M8)
Nishikifuji (M5) beat Abi (M9)
Hokutofuji (M5) beat Ichinojo (M2)
Meisei (M2) beat Takayasu (M1)
Kiribayama (K) beat Kotonowaka (M1)
Tamawashi (K) beat Ura (M3)
Hoshoryu (S) beat Sadanoumi (M4)
Midorifuji (M3) beat Wakatakakage (S)
Wakamotoharu (M4) beat Mitakeumi (S)
Daieisho (K) beat Shodai (O)
Tobizaru (K) beat Takakeisho (O)
Leader: Hoshoryu, Oho (8-1). Both are the first to clinch winning records this tournament. In Oho’s case that means a promotion. Hoshoryu will stay at Sekiwake in January and now will have a chance at Ozeki consideration-every win he gets the rest of the way will improve his odds as right now he would need to go 14-1 in January. With 6 days left getting that record this time could mean just needing a winning record next time.
Of note: Tamawashi won with a technique called gasshohineri that is among the rarest in sumo. The last time a match was won with it? 1967! Go find this match online.
Ozeki Watch: Mitakeumi’s margin for error to get back to the second-highest rank is now zero. At 4-5, he must win his final 6 matches or he starts all over on the path to promotion. Wakatakakage also has to win his last 6 to have any chance at Ozeki promotion this time. Shodai is now below .500, meaning the Kadoban Ozeki must finish 4-2 or better to avoid demotion.

Juryo:
Enho (J11) beat Roga (J13)
Shimazuumi (J13) beat Kaisho (J10)
Daishoho (J9) beat Gonoyama (J14)
Daiamami (J9) beat Tokushoryu (J12)
Kotokuzan (J8) beat Takakento (J11)
Tsushimanada (J14) beat Shimanoumi (J8)
Tochimusashi (J7) beat Chiyosakae (J10)
Hokuseiho (J6) beat Oshoma (J12)
Mitoryu (J3) beat Chiyonokuni (J5)
Tsurugisho (J3) beat Kinbozan (J7)
Akua (J5) beat Bushozan (J2)
Churanoumi (J2) beat Kitanowaka (J6)
Chiyomaru (J1) beat Yutakayama (J4)
Tohakuryu (J1) beat Hidenoumi (J4)
Leader: Akua (8-1). He is the first to earn a promotion this tournament and moves one step closer to a return to the top tier.

Asanoyama Watch: Another tough match for the former Ozeki in Makushita, but he pulled out a win over Shonannoumi to go to 5-0 for the 3rd straight tournament in his return and is one of the final 4 at 5-0 that will compete for the championship the rest of the way. One more win should definitely get him back to Juryo in January, as of right now 5 wins is a toss-up. No match tomorrow.

In the Sandanme, 6 sit at 5-0 after the first half of round 6. In the Jonidan, 5 are currently at 5-0 including September Jonokuchi champion Otani, looking for his second championship in just his second career tournament. In the Jonokuchi, Kyokutaisei and Takerufuji both won their matches today (Kyokutaisei was in the Jonidan) to improve to 5-0. Neither has a match on Day 10 (or had as the lowest two divisions have about finished their matches already).

New Japan 11/21/22 Results

New Japan kicked off the 2022 Super Jr. Tag League today, the first half of a year-ending tournament doubleheader including the annual World Tag League, which begins tomorrow. The spotlight today was on the Jr. Heavyweights ahead of their final tournament of the year.

Today’s event was held at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo and can be watched on demand on New Japan World in Japanese and English. And best of all, you can watch the entire event FOR FREE! The event also was streamed on ABEMA in Japan.

Click below to watch in Japanese: https://njpwworld.com/p/s_00629_1_1

Click below to watch in English: https://njpwworld.com/p/s_00629_2_1

The announced paid attendance was 700, a legit advance sellout. Vocal cheering was allowed today and will be allowed tomorrow.

Match 1: Kosei Fujita beat Yuto Nakshima by submission.

Match 2: Great-O-Khan, Aaron Henare & Aussie Open beat Oskar Leube, Ryohei Oiwa, Tomoaki Honma & Togi Makabe. Kyle Fletcher pinned Leube after Corealis.

Match 3: Hiromu Takahashi, Shingo Takagi & Tetsuya Naito vs. El Desperado, Taichi & Minoru Suzuki went to a Double Countout. Afterwards, a KOPW 2022 Trophy match may have been made for 12/19.

Super Jr. Tag League:
Match 4: El Lindaman (GLEAT) & Alex Zayne beat Kevin Knight & KUSHIDA. Zayne pinned Knight after Cinnamon Twist.
Match 5: Clark Connors & Ryusuke Taguchi beat DOUKI & Yoshinobu Kanemaru. Connors pinned DOUKI after Trophy Kill.
Match 6: Robbie Eagles & Tiger Mask beat Dick Togo & Sho. Eagles beat Togo with Ron Miller Special.
Match 7: Chris Bey & Ace Austin beat Titan & BUSHI. Bey pinned BUSHI after 1. 2. Sweet.
Main Event: Francesco Akira & TJP beat Lio Rush & Yoh. TJP pinned Yoh.

The tournament continues Wednesday. The next event is tomorrow with the start of the World Tag League. It is a legit advance sellout. Live streaming on New Japan World will begin at 1;30 AM PT/4:30 AM ET.

Sumo-November 2022 Grand Sumo Tournament Day 8 Results (11/20/22) (Halfway Point) (Top 2 Tiers)

Here are the quick results from today’s Day 8 of the November 2022 Grand Sumo Tournament in Fukuoka, the halfway point of the tournament:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, J-Juryo, Ms-Makushita
Makuuchi (Top Tier):
Okinoumi (M13) beat Yutakayama (J4)
Oho (M13) beat Atamifuji (M15)
Hiradoumi (M16) beat Kotoeko (M12)
Kagayaki (M15) beat Chiyotairyu (M12) by default/withdrawal
Onosho (M11) beat Terutsuyoshi (M16)
Kotoshoho (M11) beat Ichiyamamoto (M14)
Azumaryu (M14) beat Chiyoshoma (M10)
Aoiyama (M10) beat Takarafuji (M8)
Abi (M9) beat Endo (M7)
Ryuden (M6) beat Tochinoshin (M8)
Hokutofuji (M5) beat Myogiryu (M7)
Nishikifuji (M5) beat Takanosho (M9)
Midorifuji (M3) beat NIshikigi (M6)
Ura (M3) beat Ichinojo (M2)
Takayasu (M1) beat Kiribayama (K)
Meisei (M2) beat Tamawashi (K)
Wakatakakage (S) beat Daieisho (K)
Kotonowaka (M1) beat Mitakeumi (S)
Hoshoryu (S) beat Tobizaru (K)
Takakeisho (O) beat Wakamotoharu (M4)
Sadanoumi (M4) beat Shodai (O)
WITHDRAWAL: Chiyotairyu (M12). RETIRED. Reportedly wants to open his own restaurant in Tokyo. He will finish the tournament with a final record of 2-6-7.
Leader: Hoshoryu, Takayasu, Abi, Oho (7-1)
On the flip side, there have been 2 demotions officially handed out today, both Takarafuji & Terutsuyoshi are now 0-8 and are assured losing records. Enjoy those last few top-tier epic salt throws because Terutsuyoshi will be demoted to Juryo in January. Ura staved off demotion today but must win out to avoid it.
Halfway observations: Watch Oho the rest of the way, his fast starts have generally followed by severe second half slumps. Abi & Takayasu have both been here before and look to be in top form. Hoshoryu is the wild card, but if he can keep this up the grandson of former Yokozuna Asashoryu may be positioning himself for not only his first championship, but a chance at Ozeki promotion by March. On the flip side, the recent championship curse continues-September champion Tamawashi is now 1-7.
Ozeki Watch: Takakeisho is in great shape, just one win off the lead, while Shodar will have to finish 4-3 or better to get out of Kadoban status and avoid demotion. At Sekiwake, Mitakeumi must finish 6-1 or 7-0 to get back to Ozeki, while Wakatakakage will need the same for a promotion chance (Wakatakakage needs at least 11 wins for the minimum 30 over the last 3 tournaments required).

Juryo:
Tsushimanada (J14) beat Shiden (Ms1)
Chiyosakae (J10) beat Shimazuumi (J13)
Oshoma (J12) beat Kaisho (J10)
Daishoho (J9) beat Roga (J13)
Gonoyama (J14) beat Shimanoumi (J8)
Kotokuzan (J8) beat Tokushoryu (J12)
Tochimusashi (J7) beat Takakento (J11)
Kinbozan (J7) beat Enho (J11)
Kitanowaka (J6) beat Daiamami (J9)
Hokuseiho (J6) beat Tsurugisho (J3)
Churanoumi (J2) beat Mitoryu (J3)
Bushozan (J2) beat Chiyonokuni (J5)
Akua (J5) beat Tohakuryu (J1)
Hidenoumi (J4) beat Chiyomaru (J1)
Leader: Akua (7-1). No more Juryo man appearances in the top tier for now following Chiyotairyu’s retirement unless there is another withdrawal before the final day.

Asanoyama Watch: As expected, no match today. The former Ozeki is one of 8 Makushita men at 5-0 and will face fellow unbeaten Shonannoumi, who at Makushita 1 will be promoted to Juryo in January for the first time in his career, tomorrow. A win may be enough for Asanoyama to return to Juryo in January, at worst he would be Makushita 1. I still believe he will need at least 2 more wins.
In the Sandanme, 11 are at 4-0 going into the second half of the tournament. In the Jonidan, 12 are 4-0 while in the Jonokuchi, former Maegashira 8 Kyokutaisei is tied with Takerufuji, who is also 4-0 in his Debut tournament, at the top. Takerufuji competes tomorrow while Kyokutaisei is in the Jonidan. At this point it’s virtually guaranteed Kyokutaisei will be promoted back to Jonidan in January, a pace that could put him back in Makushita in May and Juryo by September.

Ganbare Pro 11/20/22 Results

Ganbare Pro ran their second event of the month today, continuing the build to their year-end major event at the end of December.

Today’s event was held at 2AW Square in Chiba and will be available on demand on WRESTLE UNIVERSE at a later date. There was no live broadcast.

The announced paid attendance was 84.

Match 1; Moeka Haruhi beat Yoshiko Hasegawa.

Match 2: YuuRI beat HARUKAZE.

Match 3: Takao Soma & Tyson Maeguchi beat Shuichiro Katsumura & Shinichiro Tominaga. Soma pinned Tominaga with a rollup.

Match 4: Yuna Manase beat Echika Miyabi.

Sotatsu Nakamura, a trainee in the DDTeeeeeen project for teenage (under-18) prospective wrestlers, was introduced. He will debut on 12/27 at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.

Match 5: Keisuke Ishii & Takaaki Iwasaki beat Ken Ohka & Yumehito Imanari. Ishii pinned Imanari after a double handed TURBO driver.

Main Event: Hartley Jackson & Seiya Morohashi beat Tatsuhito Takaiwa & Mizuki Watase. Jackson pinned Watase after a jumping piledriver.

The next event is “Death to Tokimeki 2022” on 12/3 at Yokohama Radiant Hall in Yokohama .Live streaming on WRESTLE UNIVERSE will begin at 3 AM ET/midnight PT.

Tokyo Joshi Pro 11/20/22 Results

Tokyo Joshi Pro continued the Fall 2022 house show tour today with a final preview of their next major event coming up next weekend.

Today’s event was held at Shinjuku Face in Tokyo and can be watched on demand on WRESTLE UNIVERSE.

The announced paid attendance was 215. Interestingly, this was a late day event that ran opposite the New Japan/Stardom joint event and not the usual midday matinee.

Before the event, a public signing ceremony for next weekend’s title matches was held.

There were apparently some unannounced last-second changes to the card as, based on the Up Up Girls performance and 3rd match, no Hikari Noa. New Up Up Girls member-in-training Shino took part in today’s performance in her place. It’s not known what happened to Noa. She was to have faced Mizuki & Mahiro Kiryu in a 3-way. It became a single match instead.

Match 1: Miu Watanabe beat Kaya Toribami.

Match 2: Hyper Misao beat Pom Harajuku.

Match 3: Mizuki beat Mahiro Kiryu.

Match 4: Yuki Aino & Raku beat Shoko Nakajima & Neko Haruna. Raku pinned Haruna after Sunrise.

Match 5: Rika Tatsumi, Yuki Kamifuku & Nao Kakuta beat Suzume, Moka Miyamoto & Arisu Endo. Kakuta pinned Edno after Shiden Kai.

Main Event: Billie Starkz & Millie McKenzie beat Yuka Sakazaki & Miyu Yamashita. McKenzie pinned Yamashita with an arm-mounted Saito suplex.

The next event is “ALL RISE ’22” on 11/27 at Korakuen Hall. Live streaming on WRESTLE UNIVERSE will begin Saturday at 9 PM ET/6 PM PT.

New Japan/Stardom 11/20/22 Results

HISTORIC X-OVER, the first joint New Japan & Stardom event, is now in the books. The two promotions, both owned by Bushiroad Corporation, put on a dream card today although it was tempered somewhat by the rules not allowing true intergender matches-in the mixed tag matches the men could only wrestle against the men and the women against the women-when one team tagged out, the other side had to do the same, so nothing like we see in DDT (with Saki Akai matches) and on the US independent scene.

Today’s event was held at Ariake Arena in Tokyo and currently can be watched on demand as a PPV on New Japan World in English (additional purchase required). It will be a PPV only replay for the next week. It will be available on demand without additional purchase to all New Japan World subscribers at a later date. There was also a 1 hour pre-show that, for now, can be watched FOR FREE on YouTube.

The announced paid attendance was 7102. No vocal cheering allowed. Depending on the layout, this probably was just short of 80% capacity (the venue’s normal capacity is 12,000 but I’m guessing the setup cut it down closer to 9000).

Pre-show Match 1: Oskar Leube Debut Match: Gabriel Kidd, Clark Connors, Kevin Knight & Alex Coughlin beat Oskar Leube, Kosei Fujita, Ryohei Oiwa & Yuto Nakashima. Coughlin pinned Leube after DPD. Leube is a new Young Lion from Europe (I don’t remember which country but I want to say Germany) who has been trained/mentored by Yuji Nagata.

Pre-show Match 2: MIRAI won a 15-woman Stardom Battle Royal, last eliminating Super Strong Stardom Machine.

PPV:
Match 1: Lio Rush, Yoh, YOSHI-HASHI & Tomohiso Ishii beat Dick Togo, Sho, Yujiro Takahashi & EVIL. Rush pinned Togo after 3K.

Match 2; Saya Kamitani, Lady C & AZM Beat Himeka, Thekla & Mai Sakurai. Kamitani pinned Sakurai after Firebird Splash.

Match 3: Giulia & Zack Sabre Jr. beat Syuri & Tom Lawlor. Sabre beat Lawlor with a European Clutch.

Match 4: Natsupoi, Tam Nakano, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Taichi beat Momo Watanabe, Starlight Kid, El Desperado & DOUKI. Taichi pinned DOUKI after Black Mephisto.

Match 5: Utami Hayashishita & Hiroshi Tanahashi beat Maika & Hirooki Goto. Hayashishita pinned Maika after Hijack Bomb.

Match 6: Gideon Gray, Francesco Akira, TJP & Aussie Open beat BUSHI, Hiromu Takahashi, SANADA, Shingo Takagi & Tetsuya Naito. Kyle Fletcher pinned BUSHI after Corealis.

Match 7: The Great Muta Final New Japan Match: The Great Muta (Keiji Muto), Kazuchika Okada & Toru Yano beat Great-O-Khan, Jeff Cobb & Aaron Henare. Okada pinned Henare after Rainmaker.

Match 8: IWGP US Heavyweight Champion Will Ospreay beat Shota Umino to retain the title. V4 for Ospreay. Next up: Possibly Kenny Omega, who issued a recorded challenge for Tokyo Dome on 1/4. That’s a big if because 1/4 is a Wednesday next year and All Elite Wrestling will be making their Seattle, WA debut that night. When asked about Tokyo Dome last night at the post-PPV media scrum, AEW President/Owner Tony Khan indicated he wanted most, if not all the AEW roster present for this event. So either he OK’d this or Omega, an Executive Vice-President of AEW, is already getting himself back into potential hot water just hours after returning from an indefinite suspension following AEW’s prior PPV in September (a reported post-PPV altercation backstage involving The Young Bucks, who also returned last night, and CM Punk, who is not expected to return to AEW).

Main Event: IWGP Women’s Championship Tournament Finals: KAIRI (Independent/Freelancer) beat Mayu Iwatani to win the tournament and the title and become the inaugural IWGP Women’s Champion. KAIRI is Kairi Hojo, who began her career in Stardom before leaving in the 2010s for WWE, where she became Kairi Sane, then returned to Japan after being released and changed her name back to just her first name. The first challenger: Tam Nakano. That will happen on 1/4 at Tokyo Dome.

Next up is the World Tag League and Super Jr. Tag League 2022, beginning tomorrow at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo. The tournaments will alternate dates through most of the tour, with the Super Jr. Tag League starting first then the World Tag League following on Tuesday. Live streaming on New Japan World will begin at 1:30 AM PT/4:30 AM ET, and even better, you can watch tomorrow’s event FOR FREE! Also, every remaining New Japan event this year will be live on New Japan World.

All-Japan 11/20/22 Results

All-Japan ran the 4th day of the World’s Strongest Tag League today, nearing the halfway point of the tournament and heading into the home stretch of the Jr. Battle Of Glory tournament.

Today’s event was held at Hotel Epinard Nasu in Tochigi and will be available on demand on AJPW.TV tomorrow. There was no live broadcast.

The announced paid attendance was 368.

Match 1: Yoshitatsu, TAJIRI & Atsuki Aoyagi beat Takao Omori, Black Menso-re & Dan Tamura. Yoshitatsu pinned Menso-re after Cockroach Driver 2022.

Match 2: Jr. Battle Of Glory: Ryo Inoue beat Hokuto Omori.

Match 3: Jr. Battle Of Glory: Rising Hayato beat Hikaru Sato.

Match 4: World’s Strongest Tag League: Koji Doi & Kuma Arashi beat Yuji Nagata & Yuma Anzai. Arashi pinned Anzai after Argentine Backbreaker.

Match 5: World’s Strongest Tag League: Jake Lee & Yuma Aoyagi beat Jun & Rei Saito. Lee pinned Jun Saito after D4C.

Match 6: World’s Strongest Tag League: Shuji Ishikawa & Cyrus beat Suwama & KONO. Cyrus pinned KONO after a reverse splash.

Main Event: World’s Strongest Tag League: Shotaro Ashino & Ryuki Honda beat Kento Miyahara & Takuya Nomura. Ashino beat Miyahara with an ankle lock.

The next event is Wednesday at Nagoya Congress Center in Nagoya. Live streaming on AJPW.TV will begin at 1 AM PT/4 AM ET.

AEW Full Gear 2022 Results (11/19/22)

Here are the quick results from tonight’s AEW Full Gear 2022 PPV from Newark, NJ:
Pre-show:
Best Friends beat The Factory. Danhausen pinned Nick Comoroto.
World Title Eliminator Tournament: Ricky Starks beat Brian Cage.
Eddie Kingston beat Jun Akiyama.

PPV:
In a Steel Cage match, Jungle Boy beat Luchasaurus by submission.

AEW Trios Champions Death Triangle beat The Elite to retain the titles. Rey Fenix pinned Kenny Omega after a cheap shot using the timekeeper’s bell hammer.

AEW TBS Champion Jade Cargill beat Nyla Rose to retain the title.

ROH World Champion Chris Jericho beat Bryan Danielson, Claudio Castagnoli & Sammy Guevara in a 4-way by pinning Castagnoli to retain the title.

Saraya beat Britt Baker.

Samoe Joe beat AEW TNT Champion Wardlow & Powerhouse Hobbs in a 3-way by beating Hobbs to become THE NEW AEW TNT CHAMPION!

In a No DQ match, Darby Allin & Sting beat Jeff Jarrett & Jay Lethal. Allin pinned Lethal after Coffin Drop.

Jamie Hayter beat AEW Interim Women’s Champion Toni Storm to become THE NEW AEW INTERIM WOMEN’S CHAMPION!

AEW Tag Team Champions The Acclaimed beat Keith Lee & Swerve Strickland to retain the titles. Max Caster pinned Strickland after an assisted Michinoku Driver.

MJF beat AEW World Champion Jon Moxley to become THE NEW AEW WORLD CHAMPION! William Regal talked MJF out of using the Dynamite Diamond Ring…then gave MJF brass knuckles for the cheap shot feel finish. Perfection.

Announced or expected for Wednesday’s Dynamite based on events tonight:
World Title Eliminator Tournament Finals: Ethan Page vs. Ricky Starks
ROH World Champion Chris Jericho vs. Tomohiro Ishii for the title
AEW All-Atlantic Champion Orange Cassidy vs. Jake Hager for the title

When the media scrum began, it was hard to hear due to lack of microphones but it sounds like Revolution will happen in March 2023, possibly in San Francisco, CA.

Sumo-November 2022 Grand Sumo Tournament Day 7 Results (11/19/22) (Top 2 Tiers) (Updated)

Here are the quick results from today’s Day 7 of the November 2022 Grand Sumo Tournament from Fukuoka:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, J-Juryo, Ms-Makushita
Makuuchi (Top Tier):
Azumaryu (M14) beat Atamifuji (M15)
Ichiyamamoto (M14) beat Terutsuyoshi (M16)
Oho (M13) beat Hidenoumi (J4)
Hiradoumi (M16) beat Okinoumi (M13)
Kagayaki (M15) beat Onosho (M11)
Chiyoshoma (M10) beat Kotoeko (M12)
Aoiyama (M10) beat Chiyotairyu (M12)
Kotoshoho (M11) beat Takanosho (M9)
Abi (M9) beat Takarafuji (M8)
Myogiryu (M7) beat Nishikigi (M6)
Nishikifuji (M5) beat Tochinoshin (M8)
Hokutofuji (M5) beat Ryuden (M6)
Endo (M7) beat Sadanoumi (M4)
Meisei (M2) beat Ichinojo (M2)
Kotonowaka (M1) beat Tamawashi (K)
Takayasu (M1) beat Daieisho (K)
Kiribayama (K) beat Mitakeumi (S)
Hoshoryu (S) beat Wakamotoharu (M4)
Tobizaru (K) beat Wakatakakage (S)
Shodai (O) beat Ura (M3)
Takakeisho (O) beat Midorifuji (M3)
Leader: Takayasu, Abi, Hoshoryu, Oho (6-1)
On the flip side, 3 are now 0-7 after Week 1-Takatafuji, Terutsuyoshi, Ura. Any more losses and they are demoted, and if he doesn’t win out Terutsuyoshi will be demoted to Juryo in January. 7-8 MAY keep him in the top tier. And there is pretty much guaranteed to be no repeat champion this time as Tamawashi, the September winner, now is 1-6.

Juryo:
Gonoyama (J14) beat Daiseiryu (Ms3)
Tsushimanada (J14) beat Tokushoryu (J12)
Enho (J11) beat Takakento (J11)
Chiyosakae (J10) beat Roga (J13)
Shimazuumi (J13) beat Daishoho (J9)
Oshoma (J12) beat Shimanoumi (J8)
Kinbozan (J7) beat Kaisho (J10)
Daiamami (J9) beat Tochimusashi (J7)
Kotokuzan (J8) beat Kitanowaka (J6)
Mitoryu (J3) beat Hokuseiho (J6)
Chiyonokuni (J5) beat Tsurugisho (J3)
Churanoumi (J2) beat Bushozan (J2)
Chiyomaru (J1) beat Akua (J5)
Yutakayama (J4) beat Tohakuryu (J1)
Leader: Tsurugisho, Akua (6-1). But both losing cost them each a potential 3-win advantage over the field.

Asanoyama Watch: As expected, no match today. The former Ozeki is one of 7 Makushita men at 4-0, with a promotion and winning record secured. There could be as many as 9 total at 4-0 after tomorrow. No match tomorrow but we will know his Day 9 opponent after Day 8 wraps up.

Reminder: There will be 50 minutes of LIVE top-tier matches tomorrow at 3:10 AM ET/12:10 AM PT in English on NHK World Japan.

UPDATE: There are reports that Chiyotairyu retired after his loss to Aoiyama today. If this is true he finishes his career with one championship in Juryo, 3 Kinboshi (Gold Star Victories), a highest rank of Komusubi and a career record of 463-483-57 and would have a 2-6-7 record this tournament. More to come…

BREAKING: Konosuke Takeshita Signs With AEW

All Elite Wrestling just announced that DDT star Konosuke Takeshita has signed with AEW. The deal became official just before last night’s AEW Rampage. Nothing yet from DDT and his future there is uncertain but I imagine Takeshita will still compete in Japan from time to time. He will make a brief appearance tonight on the Full Gear PPV pre-show on YouTube.

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