Author: Admin

DEVELOPING: TJPW Excursion End Dates Set, Injury

Tokyo Joshi Pro announced on Twitter that Miyu Yamashita’s current overseas excursion will end on 6/24, and she will return to the promotion that day. Yuka Sakazaki, currently overseas as well, and Maki Itoh, who is also heading overseas for a month, will both return on that date as well and all will participate in a 6/25 event in Fukuoka.

In unfortunate news, SKE48 announced in a press release that Yuki Arai will miss some upcoming performances and that includes TJPW’s Saturday event in Tokyo. Hospitalized for a leg injury. Based on SKE48’s release, out at least 2 weeks. That means she would miss the 5/26 Yokohama Radiant Hall event if scheduled and maybe 6/3 at Ryogoku KFC Hall, and would be questionable for 6/10 at Korakuen Hall due to still being scheduled for an SKE48 event.

More as it becomes available.

Sumo-May 2023 Grand Sumo Tournament Day 2 Results (5/14/23) (Top 2 Tiers)

Here are the quick results from today’s Day 2 of the May 2023 Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, Y-Yokozuna, J-Juryo, Ms-Makushita

Makuuchi (Top tier):
Gonoyama (J1) beat Kagayaki (M17)
Mitoryu (M16) beat Oho (M16)
Ichiyamamoto (M15) beat Tsurugisho (M15)
Asanoyama (M14) beat Myogiryu (M14)
Kotoeko (M12) beat Chiyoshoma (M13)
Aoiyama (M13) beat Daishoho (M11)
Takarafuji (M10) beat Hokuseiho (M11)
Ryuden (M10) beat Hiradoumi (M9)
Onosho (M9) beat Takanosho (M8)
Tamawashi (M7) beat Sadanoumi (M8)
Mitakeumi (M6) beat Hokutofuji (M7)
Meisei (M6) beat Kotoshoho (M5)
Kinbozan (M5) beat Nishikigi (M4)
Shodai (K) beat Nishikifuji (M3)
Kiribayama (S) beat Endo (M2)
Wakamotoharu (S) beat Tobizaru (M3)
Daieisho (S) beat Ura (M4)
Hoshoryu (S) beat Midorifuji (M1)
Kotonowaka (K) beat Takakeisho (O)
Terunofuji (Y) beat Abi (M1)
Leader: 10 at 2-0
Of note: Takakeisho concerns raised today as his knees were tightly taped and it clearly affected him against Kotonowaka. It may be a struggle just to get out of kadoban status with 8 wins. The good news for the Kyokai is Kiribayama, who needs 10 wins to meet criteria for Ozeki promotion (or another championship, the criteria is 2 straight championships or 33 wins over 3 consecutive tournaments in Sanyaku, meaning at Komusubi and Sekiwake) is off to a perfect 2-0 start and now only sits 8 wins from potential promotion. Wakamotoharu is also in Ozeki consideration but probably needs a championship unless he can manage 13 wins, but all the Sekiwake are 2-0 which is a good sign. Also 2-0 is Asanoyama after another easy win, and Terunofuji who maybe caught a break when Abi had his right knee/leg go out in their match. Hopefully not an injury, it looked to me like Abi just slipped and lost his footing. For now Abi is still in the tournament but we’ll see. No Takayasu return yet, NHK World Japan made it sound like he’s out for the tournament after his Opening Day last-minute withdrawal. After Gonoyama won today, Shonannoumi gets the Juryo man spot tomorrow and will face Oho. Shonannoumi is currently 1-1 at Juryo 1.

Juryo:
Shiden (Ms1) beat Tsushimanada (J14)
Shimanoumi (J13) beat Tokihayate (J14)
Chiyosakae (J12) beat Fujiseiun (J13)
Tamashoho (J11) beat Tomokaze (J12)
Chiyomaru (J10) beat Hidenoumi (J11)
Kitanowaka (J10) beat Chiyonokuni (J9)
Ochiai (J8) beat Daiamami (J9)
Atamifuji (J9) beat Churanoumi (J7)
Shimazuumi (J6) beat Takakento (J7)
Hakuyozan (J6) beat Akua (J5)
Roga (J4) beat Tochinoshin (J5)
Oshoma (J4) beat Enho (J3)
Bushozan (J3) beat Tohakuryu (J2)
Shonannoumi (J1) beat Azumaryu (J2)
Leader: 7 at 2-0
Of note: Shiden, looking to get a second chance at Juryo after being forced to miss his debut tournament, is halfway there as he picked up the Makushita man win to go to 2-0 and probably get a couple days off bow as the lower tiers just finished their first matches today. Gonoyama was in the top tier and won tiday. Azumaryu is an early struggler again as he’s a quick 0-2 after his latest demotion from the top tier and Enho is also 0-2, but his pattern the last year has been alternating winning and losing tournaments. Unfortunately that means’s he’a due for a demotion. And despite strong fan support for the former Ozeki it’s another 0-2 start for Tochinoshin.
Kawazoe, the fan-favorite human slinky at Ms1, gets to be the Makushita man tomorrow for his first chance in Juryo. He lost his first match and will try to get to 1-1 against Tokihayate.

All the lower tiers have finished their first matches but in Makushita Shiden is the early 2-0 leader because of an early second match today. The lower tiers also had their usual slate of Day 1 withdrawals, only one in Makushita, among the notable names is Kironofuji in the Sandanme. He reportedly has been forced to retire due to involvement in a bullying scandal that engulfed Isegahama Beya earlier this year that also caused stablemaster Isegahama to resign from his position as chief judge. Apparently not involved was Terunofuji, a member of the stable.

GLEAT 5/14/23 Results

GLEAT ran the latest G PROWRESTLING event yesterday, featuring a G REX Championship defense by new champion T-Hawk.

Yesterday’s event was held at Sapporo E-One Stadium in Hokkaido and will be available on demand on YouTube tomorrow beginning at 4:30 AM PT/7:30 AM ET. There was no live broadcast.

The announced paid attendance was 278, a legit sellout.

Match 1: Minoru Tanaka, Kaz Hayashi & Noriyuki Yoshida beat Yuya Susumu, Takanori Ito & Yusuke Kodama. Tanaka beat Kodama with HEAT Clutch.

Match 2: Quiet Storm beat Yu Iizuka.

Match 3: Issei Onitsuka beat Yutani.

Match 4: El Lindaman & Soma Watanabe beat Tetsuya Izuchi & Jun Tonsho. Watanabe pinned Tonsho after a dropkick.

Match 5: Kaito Ishida, Kotaro Suzuki & Hartley Jackson beat Ryuichi Kawakami, Hayato Tamura & KAZMA SAKAMOTO. Suzuki pinned Kawakami after a tiger driver.

Main Event: G-REX Champion T-Hawk beat Check Shimatani to retain the title. V1 for T-Hawk. Next up: Soma Watanabe or Tetsuya Izuchi. Determination match to decide which one will happen on 6/7 at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.

The next event is Sunday at Umeda Sky Building Stellar Hall in Osaka. Broadcast plans TBA but there likely will be no live broadcast.

Dragon Gate 5/14/23 Results (Updated)

Dragon Gate continued the Hopeful Gate 2023 Tour today with a house show in Kobe, featuring a main event battle royal sponsored by a popular mobile game (played worldwide but very popular in Japan).

Today’s event was held at Kobe Sambo Hall in Kobe and can be watched on demand on DRAGONGATE NETWORK.

The announced paid attendance was 404, a super full house/very near sellout.

Match 1: Don Fujii, Genki Horiguchi, La Estrella & Punch Tominaga beat Jason Lee, JACKY “FUNKY” KAMEI, Ho Ho Lun & Super Shinryu 2. Estrella pinned Shinryu.

Match 2: Madoka Kikuta beat Ichikawa in 9 seconds. Which led to…
Match 2 (again): Madoka Kikura beat Ichikawa.

Match 3: BxB Hulk & Ben-K beat BIGBOSS Shimizu & Strong Machine J. Ben-K pinned J.

Match 4: Masaaki Mochizuki, Yasushi Kanda & Kaito Nagano beat Naruki DOi, Daiki Yanagiuchi & Shuji Kondo. Kanda pinned Yanagiuchi after Ryu’s.

Match 5: Shun Skywalker, Diamante & KAI beat Ultimo Dragon, YAMATO & Takashi Yoshida by DQ. Dragon DQ’d. Mask removal from Diamante.

Main Event: Kzy won an 11 man KING OF LORDS MOBILE “Special Royal Sambo” Battle Royal, last eliminating Kota Minoura. Order of elimination: Susumu Mochizuki, Dragon Kid, Shachihoko BOY, U-T, H.Y.O., ISHIN, Minorita, Yuki Yoshioka, Dragon Dia, Minoura.

The next event is Wednesday at Yokohama Radiant Hall in Yokohama. There will be no live broadcast.

UPDATE: Ultimo Dragon has been SUSPENDED INDEFINITELY and merchandise sales discontinued by GM Ryo Saito. Continued refusal to have a single match against Diamante. The GM doing this to the founder of the promotion…geez…

Also, Ryoya Tanaka, a new trainee, will have his Debut Match on 5/28 at Osaka Prefectural Gym 2.

DDT 5/14/23 Results

DDT returned to Chiba for another ONLY WE event today, this one a special Yuji Hino 20th Anniversary event.

Today’s event was held at TKP Garden City Chiba 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 241, a super full house/very near sellout.

Before the event, a public signing ceremony for the next DDT Extreme Championship match between Shunma Katsumata & Hideki Okatani was held. It was announced the match would be a Piercing/Stabbing Weapons Death Match and in addition to normal methods, winning can also be by piercing the opponent’s ears with weapons 3 times.

Nick Wayne, a 17-year-old wrestler who was supposed to come to Japan earlier this year but was unable to due to visa issues, will try again to come to DDT in June & July. Wayne has already signed with All Elite Wrestling but can’t join them until he turns 18.

Match 1: Hideki Okatani beat Rukiya.

Match 2: Yuki Iino & Danshoku Dieno beat Toru Owashi & Kazuki Hirata. Iino pinned Hirata.

Match 3: Daisuke Sasaki, MJ Paul & KANON beat Shunma Katsumata, Yusuke Okada & Kazuma Sumi. KANON beat Sumi with a cobra twist.

Match 4: Chris Brookes & Takeshi Masada beat Hiroshi Yamato & Yuya Koroku. Brookes beat Koroku with a ground octopus stretch.

Match 5: Kazusada Higuchi, Ryota Nakatsu & Yuki Ishida beat KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Champions Shinya Aoki, Yuki Ueno & Super Sasadango Machine to win the titles. Higuchi, Nakatsu & Ishida become the 51st KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Champions. Ishida pinned Machine after Flame Palm.

Match 6: Makoto Oishi & Shiori Asahi beat MAO & Toui Kojima. Oishi pinned Kojima.

Main Event: Yuji Hino 20th Anniversary Match: Yuji Hino, Jun Akiyama & Yukio Sakaguchi beat Tetsuya Endo, HARASHIMA & Yuji Okabayashi. Hino pinned HARASHIMA after Fuckin’ BOMB.

The next event is KING OF DDT 2023 FINAL!! on 5/21 at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo. Live streaming on WRESTLE UNIVERSE will begin Saturday at 7 PM PT/10 PM ET. The start time may be moved up further due to 2 pre-show matches scheduled.

Pro Wrestling NOAH 5/14/23 Results

Pro Wrestling NOAH continued the never-ending STAR NAVIGATION 2023 Tour today with their latest Tokyo event, headlined by the reunited Axiz team of Go Shiozaki & Katsuhiko Nakajima after the latter defected from Kongo.

Today’s event was held at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo and can be watched on demand on WRESTLE UNIVERSE in Japanese and English. The live broadcast was only in English due to being an ABEMA exclusive.

The announced paid attendance was 935.

Match 1: Dragon Bane, Alpha Wolf, Extreme Tiger & Super Crazy beat AMAKUSA, Junta Miyawaki, Alejandro & Lancelot. Wolf pinned Miyawaki after Wolf Driver.

Match 2: Shuhei Taniguchi beat Stallion Rogers.

Match 3: Chris Ridgeway & Daga beat Hajime Ohara & Hi69. Daga pinned Hi69 after a piledriver.

Match 4: Masa Kitamiya, Daiki Inaba & Yoshiki Inamura beat Saxon Huxley, Timothy Thatcher & Hideki Suzuki. Inamura pinned Huxley after Musou.

Match 5: Naomichi Marufuji & HAYATA beat Sean Legacy & Dante Leon. HAYATA pinned Legacy.

Match 6: Yoshinari Ogawa vs. Eita went to a no contest. HAYATA interference.

Match 7: Kaito Kiyomiya, Takashi Sugiura, Atsushi Kotoge & Seiki Yoshioka beat Jake Lee, Anthony Greene, YO-HEY & Tadasuke. Kotoge pinned YO-HEY after Kill Switch.

Main Event: Kenoh & Manabu Soya beat Go Shiozaki & Katsuhiko Nakajima. Kenoh pinned Shiozaki after PFS.

Lots of post-event news:
GHC Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Champions YO-HEY & Tadasuke vs. Atsushi Kotoge & Seiki Yoshioka for the titles has been added to 5/31 at Shinjuku Face.
GHC Heavyweight Champion Jake Lee vs. Takashi Sugiura for the title and GHC Heavyweight Tag Team Champions Saxon Huxley & Timothy Thatcher vs. Masa Kitamiya & Yoshiki Inamura for the titles have been added to GREEN JOURNEY 2023 in NAGOYA on 6/17 at Nagoya Congress Center Event Hall in Nagoya.
Masakatsu Funaki vs. Josh Barnett in a GHC Martial Arts Rules Match has been announced for 9/3 at Osaka Prefectural Gym in Osaka.

The next event is 5/21 at Kobe Sambo Hall in Kobe (back to the SUNNY VOYAGE 2023 Tour). There will be no live broadcast.

All-Japan 5/14/23 Results

All-Japan continued the Super Power Series today with the halfway point of the 4-event tour. The main event featured the Aoyagi brothers facing off in a special single match.

Today’s event was held at Kissei Culture Hall Naka Hall in Nagano and can be watched on demand on AJPW.TV.

The announced paid attendance was 619.

Match 1: Ryo Inoue beat Black Menso-re.

Match 2: Takao Omori beat Masao Hanabata.

Match 3: Satoshi Kojima beat Dan Tamura.

Match 4: Suwama, Jun & Rei Saito beat Shuji Ishikawa, Yoshitatsu & Yuma Anzai. Suwama pinned Yoshitatsu after a backdrop.

Match 5: Ryuki Honda beat Hokuto Omori.

Match 6: Yuji Nagata & Hikaru Sato beat Kento Miyahara & Rising Hayato. Nagata pinned Hayato with a backdrop hold.

Main Event: Yuma Aoyagi beat Atsuki Aoyagi.

The next event is Thursday at Shin-Kiba 1st Ring in Tokyo with Honda vs. T-Hawk to determine who will get the next Triple Crown shot due to Shotaro Ashino being out with injury. Live streaming on AJPW.TV will begin at 2:30 AM PT/5:30 AM ET.

New Japan 5/14/23 Results

New Japan ran Day 3 of Best Of The Super Junior 30 today, with upsets looking to continue and unlikely leaders trying to stay atop the standings.

Today’s event was held at Nagoya Congress Center Event Hall in Nagoya and can be watched on demand on New Japan World in Japanese and English.

The announced paid attendance was 1599.

All matches were Best Of The Super Junior Matches, 30 minute time limit.

Match 1: Block B: Kevin Knight beat Yoshinobu Kanemaru.
Match 2: Block A: Sho beat Ryusuke Taguchi.
Match 3: Block B: Clark Connors beat BUSHI.
Match 4: Block A: Taiji Ishimori beat DOUKI by submission.
Match 5: Block B: Francesco Akira beat Robbie Eagles.
Match 6: Block A: Titan beat KUSHIDA.
Match 7: Block B: Dan Moloney beat Yoh.
Match 8: Block A: Mike Bailey beat TJP.
Match 9: Block B: El Desperado beat Master Wato.
Main Event: Block A: Lio Rush beat Hiromu Takahashi.

Standings:
Block A:
1-Bailey, 3-0, 6 pts
2-Rush, 3-0, 6 pts
3-Ishimori, 3-0, 6 pts
4-Titan, 2-1, 4 pts
5-Takahashi, 1-2, 2 pts
6-DOUKI, 1-2, 2 pts
7-TJP, 1-2, 2 pts
8-Sho, 1-2, 2 pts
9-Taguchi, 0-3, 0 pts
10-KUSHIDA, 0-3, 0 pts
Day 4 note: At least one of the 3 unbeatens will go down because of Rush-Ishimori. Bailey draws fellow Impact star KUSHIDA. A loss already puts KUSHIDA all but out of it, same for Taguchi who gets Titan.

Block B:
1-Desperado, 2-1, 4 pts
2-Kanemaru, 2-1, 4 pts
3-Eagles, 2-1, 4 pts
4-Akira, 2-1, 4 pts
5-Moloney, 2-1, 4 pts
6-Connors, 2-1, 4 pts
7-Yoh, 1-2, 2 pts
8-Wato, 1-2, 2 pts
9-Knight, 1-2, 2 pts
10-BUSHI, 0-3, 0 pts
Day 4 notes: It’s wide open but the logjam at the top will ease a little with a United Empire showcase between Akira & Moloney.

The top 2 in each block advance to the semifinals.

Day 4 is Tuesday at Akita Prefectural Budokan in Akita. Live streaming on New Japan World will begin at 2:30 AM PT/5:30 AM ET.

Sumo-May 2023 Grand Sumo Tournament Day 1 (Opening Day) Results (5/14/23) (Top 2 Tiers)

Here are the quick results from today’s Day 1-Opening Day-of the May 2023 Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, Y-Yokozuna, J-Juryo

Makuuchi (Top Tier):
Oho (M16) beat Kagayaki (M17)
Tsurugisho (M15) beat Mitoryu (M16)
Myogiryu (M14) beat Ichiyamamoto (M15)
Asanoyama (M14) beat Chiyoshoma (M13)
Aoiyama (M12) beat Kotoeko (M12)
Hokuseiho (M11) beat Daishoho (M11). This match went 3 minutes (marathon in sumo)
Takarafuji (M10) beat Ryuden (M10)
Hiradoumi (M9) beat Onosho (M9)
Sadanoumi (M8) beat Takanosho (M8)
Hokutofuji (M7) beat Tamawashi (M7)
Meisei (M6) beat Mitakeumi (M6)
Kotoshoho (M5) beat Kinbozan (M5)
Ura (M4) beat NIshikigi (M4)
Kotonowaka (K) beat Tobizaru (M3)
Wakamotoharu (S) beat Endo (M2)
Daieisho (S) beat Nishikifuji (M3)
Hoshoryu (S) beat Takayasu (M2) by default/withdrawal
Kiribayama (S) beat Midorifuji (M1)
Takakeisho (O) beat Abi (M1)
Terunofuji (Y) beat Shodai (K)
WITHDRAWAL: Takayasu (M2), Thigh injury suffered in training this morning. Out indefinitely. Not known if he will return this tournament but will not return tomorrow. Gonoyama will be the Juryo man coming up tomorrow and will face Kagayaki. Wakatakakage was a pre-tournament withdrawal as expected due to knee surgery (torn MCL and ACL). Out 6-12 months. Given the surgery was after the March tournament when he withdrew on Day 14, he definitely will miss July and will be questionable at best for September.

Juryo:
Tokihayate (J14) beat Tsushimanada (J14)
Fujiseiun (J13) beat Shimanoumi (J13)
Chiyosakae (J12) beat Tomokaze (J12)
Tamashoho (J11) beat Hidenoumi (J11)
Kitanowaka (J10) beat Chiyomaru (J10)
Daiamami (J9) beat Chiyonokuni (J9)
Ochiai (J8) beat Atamifuji (J8)
Churanoumi (J7) beat Takakento (J7)
Shimazuumi (J6) beat Hakuyozan (J6)
Akua (J5) beat Tochinoshin (J5)
Oshoma (J4) beat Roga (J4)
Tohakuryu (J2) beat Enho (J3)
Bushozan (J3) beat Azumaryu (J2)
Gonoyama (J1) beat Shonannoumi (J1)
With Gonoyama in the top tier tomorrow, Shiden will be the Makushita man up for the day and will face Tsushimanada.

Dragon Gate 5/13/23 Results

Dragon Gate continued the Hopeful Gate 2023 tour today with a non-televised house show.

Today’s event was held at Kiriya Aioi Hall in Aichi. There was no live broadcast.

The announced paid attendance was 322.

Match 1: Kota Minoura, BxB Hulk, Ben-K & Minorita beat YAMATO, Susumu Mochizuki, Yasushi Kanda & Genki Horiguchi. Minoura pinned Horiguchi after R-301.

Match 2: BIGBOSS Shimizu beat Ho Ho Lun.

Match 3: Ultimo Dragon Dragon Kid & Kagetora beat KAI, Diamante & H-Y-O. Kid pinned H-Y-O after Bible.

Match 4: Shun Skywalker & ISHIN beat U-T & Strong Machine J. Skywalker beat U-T with a Boston Crab.

Main Event: Madoka Kikuta. Yuki Yoshioka & Dragon Dia beat Kzy, Jason Lee & JACKY “FUNKY” KAMEI. Kikuta pinned KAMEI after a rolling lariat.

The next event is tomorrow at Kobe Sambo Hall in Kobe. Live streaming on DRAGONGATE NETWORK will begin at 1 AM PT/4 AM ET.