Author: Admin

Stardom 5/31/25 Results

Stardom wrapped up May with a special standalone event today celebrating the 10th anniversary of the debuts of Natsupoi & Saori Anou, which they largely put together.

Today’s event was held at Ota City General Gym in Tokyo and can be watched on demand as a PPV on Stardom World for 4620 Japanese yen (around $32 US) for the next week. It should be available without additional purchase shortly after that for monthly paying Stardom World subscribers.

The paid attendance has not yet been announced. (UPDATE: The announced paid attendance was 2387)

There was a last-minute change to the event due to Suzu Suzuki being pulled off the event. The always-vague poor health. She was to have been in a battle royal. There was no replacement announced.

There was an Actress Girls segment and match pre-show.

Match 1: Tae Honma & Yuna Manase beat Yuki Harima & Seika Ozaki. Honma pinned Harina after A New Era.

Match 2: Yumiko Hotta & Miku Kano beat Kaoru Ito & Rian. Kano pinned Rian.

Match 3: Shin Saori Anou won an 11 woman battle royal, last eliminating Kakeru Sekiguchi. Other entrants: Rina Amikura, Yuko Sakurai, AKINO, Sonoko Kato, Ryo Mizunami, Hiroyo Matsumoto, Salvation Ninja Ranmaru (?), Shin Natsupoi. One of the Shin women almost certainly was Sakura Hirota. This originally was to have been a 10 woman battle royal which became 9 without Suzuki. The Shin Anou & Shin Natsupoi adds were a surprise and unexpected.

Match 4: Mayumi Ozaki beat Sayaka Kurara.

Match 5: SAKI beat Yuna Mizumori.

Match 6: Starlight Kid & AZM vs. Hanan & Saya Iida went to a 15 minute time limit draw.

Match 7: Sareee beat Aya Sakura.

Main Event: Natsupoi & Saori Anou beat Chihiro Hashimoto & Mika Iwata. Natsupoi pinned Iwata after Fairy Magic. Which led to…
Impromptu Match: Natsupoi vs. Saori Anou went to a 5 minute time limit draw.

The next event is NEW BLOOD 22 Wednesday at Tokyo Square in Tokyo headlined by a New Blood Tag Team Championship match. Live streaming FOR FREE only on YouTube will begin at 3 AM PT/6 AM ET. It will also be available on demand for free immediately after the event ends. There will be no live or on demand broadcast on Stardom World.

BREAKING: Sumo-The Empire Defeats The G.O.A.T. (Updated x2)

Okay, that’s just my punny thinking but in a new YouTube update from reliable English-language sumo reporter Chris Sumo, that’s what has happened-the current stablemaster Miyagino aka ex-Yokozuna Hakuho, the greatest ever and then some, is done. He submitted his retirement papers today to the Japan Sumo Association, but they will not be accepted yet because this is a week of celebration in Japan because of the promotion of Onosato to Yokozuna. Chris Sumo reports a board meeting will happen Monday where the fate of Miyagino Beya may be settled along with Isegahama Beya possibly being handed over to fellow ex-Yokozuna Terunofuji who just retired in January (the current Isegahama must retire before the July tournament because he turns 65 before then, which is the mandatory retirement age in sumo). And Hakuho submits his retirement papers again. Cue the various sports comparisons…and me walking back my thoughts on Takarafuji perhaps retiring because it seems he’s not getting Isegahama after all. At least not until maybe next year.

More as it becomes available.

UPDATE: In an update posted after today’s Onosato Yokozuna debut ring-entering ceremony at Meiji Shrine in Tokyo (moved indoors and closed to the public due to rain but some fans did show up and watch from outside), it was reported Isegahama will submit Hakuho’s retirement papers on his behalf Monday and Hakuho reportedly said he would “never answer to/work under Terunofuji”. Considering it was Hakuho who introduced the man to sumo and recommended him to his stable before the future Yokozuna would move to Isegahama…clearly no love lost between the iconic Mongolians. And the rain today is thought to be a symbol of this split…when it rains it pours as they always say. This is far from over.

UPDATE 2: It’s now official. Accepted on 6/2 Japan time by the Japan Sumo Association. He possibly has already returned to his native Mongolia.

Injury Report: Another Major Scare Today (Updated)

At today’s Big Japan Pro Wrestling event at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, there was a major scare as Daisuke Sekimoto, a veteran who is a “pure” wrestler in the mostly hardcore/deathmatch-oriented promotion and appears regularly in other promotions, was injured after hitting a swinging DDT in a tag match and he went down and did not move. The match was immediately stopped and Sekimoto was rushed to an emergency room, where he was examined and reported numbness in his arms & neck. Fortunately initial scans revealed no abnormalities, paralysis or serious neck/spinal cord injuries and, according to a social media post by Big Japan, Sekimoto reportedly has been or will be discharged today and will visit a hospital in Yokohama for further examination. The numbness was mild and should go away in time and he had movement in all extremities.

I join other wrestlers and fans in sending prayers and beat wishes to Sekimoto for a full and speedy recovery.

UPDATE: Big Japan’s latest update as of 5/31/25: Sekimoto is home and will undergo further examinations at a hospital in Yokohama on 6/2 (Monday) Japan time. He will be out at least a month and they will consult with doctors regarding his status for July and beyond, with his health a top priority.

New Japan 5/29/25 Results

New Japan ran the penultimate event of Best Of The Super Junior today, finishing up Block B.

Today’s event was held at Region Plaza Joetsu in Niigata and can be watched on demand on New Japan World.

The paid attendance has not been announced.

Match 1: Dragon Dia, Ninja Mack & KUSHIDA beat Daiki Nagai, Masatora Yasuda & Shoma Kato. KUSHIDA beat Yasuda with a hoverboard lock.

Match 2: Yujiro Takahashi, Ren Narita & Yoshinobu Kanemaru beat Katsuya Murashima, Toru Yano & Master Wato. Narita beat Murashima with a knee lock.

Match 3: Yota Tsuji & Hiromu Takahashi beat Jacob Austin Young & Francesco Akira. Tsuji pinned Young after Gene Blaster.

Match 4: Hartley Jackson, Ryohei Oiwa & Kosei Fujita beat Gedo, Robbie X & Clark Connors. Fujita pinned Gedo with Neshin Special.

Beat Of The Super Junior Block B:
Match 5: Kevin Knight beat Ryusuke Taguchi.
Match 6: Titan beat Nick Wayne.
Match 7: MAO beat Sho.
Match 8: El Desperado beat Robbie Eagles by submission.
Main Event: Yoh beat Taiji Ishimori. As a result, Yoh wins Block B on tiebreakers (he beat both MAO and Desperado) and advances to the Finals to face Fujita.

The Final is Sunday at Ota City General Gym in Tokyo. Live streaming on New Japan World will begin at 2:30 AM PT/5:30 AM ET.

Injury Report: TJPW Triple Whammy (Updated)

Tokyo Joshi Pro has announced a trio of injury issues but one is actually an update from prior news-first the update: Kira Summer has not been recovering as well as hoped for from a left thigh bruise, or a henatoma in her words. Out another 4 weeks. Expected back in late June. Also now out of action is the most concerning-Hyper Misao, half of the Princess Tag Team Champions. Right elbow. Out at least a month. Also expected back in late June. Finally, Neko Haruna is out of action again. Knee. Out indefinitely. Changes for this weekend’s events have been announced. Summer’s absence means her Tokyo Princess Cup Qualifier match this weekend against Wakana Uehara has been POSTPONED. But if she can’t return in a certain timeframe Uehara would win by forfeit. Also off this weekend’s events are Raku (competing in Thailand) and Yuki Kamifuku (off Saturday only-appearance in Singapore).

More as it becomes available.

Also in unrelated TJPW news, it was decided that Konatsu, who will debut Sunday vs. Suzume, will have the ring name Ren Konatsu. For this weekend there is no live broadcast Saturday but WRESTLE UNIVERSE will have a live broadcast Sunday (starts Saturday at 8 PM PT/11 PM ET.

UPDATE: It was just announced by TJPW that you will also be able to watch Sunday’s live broadcast FOR FREE on YouTube. This will be for the live event only, on demand will only be available on WRESTLE UNIVERSE.

Sumo-May 2025 Grand Sumo Tournament Final Standings & Post-Event News (Updated x2)

With the May Grand Sumo Tournament and post-event rankings meetings and more now in the books, here is the final recap and post-tournament news:

Continue reading “Sumo-May 2025 Grand Sumo Tournament Final Standings & Post-Event News (Updated x2)”

BREAKING: Sumo-A New Yokozuna Is Born!

The worst-kept secret in sumo is now official-Onosato has been promoted and is now The 75th Yokozuna in history! It was a foregone conclusion after winning the May Tournament this past weekend for his second straight championship with records of 12-3 in March and 14-1 in May. Onosato, real name Daiki Nakamura, 24 (he turns 25 on June 7), went from debut at Makushita 10 to Grand Champion in a record-fast 13 tournaments, winning 4 Emperor’s Cups so far and 8 Special Prizes in just 9 top tier tournaments, and a career record of 135-44, 101-34 in the top tier, and has yet to have a losing tournament.

News: Another Tag Team For Eternity! (Updated)

And an interesting one at that-according to social media posts in Japanese & English by DDT, and subsequent reactions from fellow wrestlers, wrestling’s newest married couple is a really interesting pairing-Yuka Sakazaki & Konosuke Takeshita have tied the knot. Neither has posted about it but both shared posts from DDT’s Japanese account and Takeshita replied to comments by fellow DDT wrestler Jun Akiyama sending congratulations to the new couple. Both currently are in All Elite Wrestling but Takeshita also continues to compete in New Japan and occasionally DDT. It’s not yet known how long they were together before tying the knot.

Congratulations and best wishes to the new couple for a long and happy life together, both inside and outside the ring. Now to think of cleverly bad tag team names for them…and hope the Magical Girl stays out of the clutches of The Callous Hand Of Don too…

UPDATE: Japanese wrestling news site Puroresu Today has posted an article that includes Instagram posts from both Takeshita and Sakazaki announcing their marriage. Each posted a different photo of them together with Takeshita’s (I think) pet dog and the same photo of them making handprints in wet sand on the beach. Check out the article below (in Japanese):

KONOSUKE TAKESHITAが坂崎ユカとの結婚を報告

New Japan 5/27/25 Results (Updated)

New Japan continued the Best Of The Super Junior today with the final day of Block A., which would determine who advanced to the Finals. (I previously stated the top 2 in each block would make the Finals. That was incorrect as I found out today only the winner of each block advances this year)

Today’s event was held at Kira Messe Numazu in Shizuoka and can be watched on demand on New Japan World.

The announced paid attendance was 668.

Match 1: Yota Tsuji & Titan beat Daiki Nagai & Nick Wayne. Tsuji pinned Nagai after Gene Blaster.

Match 2: Yujiro Takahashi & Sho beat Shoma Kato & MAO. Takahashi pinned Kato after Pimp Juice.

Match 3: Toru Yano & El Desperado beat Hartley Jackson & Robbie Eagles. Yano pinned Jackson.

Match 4: Tiger Mask & Yoh beat Gedo & Taiji Ishimori. Yoh beat Gedo with Anaconda Vice.

Best Of The Super Junior Block A:
Match 5: Ninja Mack beat Dragon Dia.
Match 6: Francesco Akira beat KUSHIDA.
Match 7: Yoshinobu Kanemaru beat Master Wato by submission.
Match 8: Kosei Fujita beat Clark Connors.
Main Event: Robbie X beat Hiromu Takahashi. As a result, Fujita wins Block A on tiebreakers and advances to the Finals. It was a 5-way tie but he beat everyone in the tie.

The final day of Block B, with a potentially similar tiebreaker scenario, is Thursday at Region Plaza Joetsu in Niigata. Live streaming on New Japan World will begin at 2:30 AM PT/5:30 AM ET.

UPDATE: In post-event comments via New Japan’s English website, Robbie X announced he wants to be the first challenger to Fujita if he wins the BOSJ and, subsequently, the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship. We’ll see. When the winner gets the title shot is TBA but I’m thinking DOMINION on 6/15.

BREAKING: New Japan TAMASHII Gets First Titles

In a news post a short tome ago, New Japan announced the first title for its TAMASHII sub-brand based in and focused on Australia, New Zealand and the Oceania region. The TAMASHII Tag Team Championship will be first awarded at the next event on 7/4 in Mangere, New Zealand via a one-night tournament to crown inaugural champions. Participants TBA but the event poster suggests at least a 4-team tournament.

More as it becomes available.