News, results & more from Japanese Pro Wrestling & Sumo
Another longtime legend of New Japan is calling it a career…at a press conference earlier today, Hiroyoshi Tenzan announced his upcoming retirement due to injuries. His retirement match will be at the G1 CLIMAX 36 Finals on 8/15 at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo, and he may remain with the promotion in a supporting role but intends to support them in any way he can.
More as it becomes available.
Here are the quick results from today’s Day 1-Opening Day-of the May 2026 Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, Y-Yokozuna, J-Juryo
Makuuchi (top tier):
Fujiryoga (M17) beat Ryuden (M16)
Wakanosho (M16) beat Oshoumi (M`15)
Tobizaru (M15) beat Roga (M14)
Mitakeumi (M14) beat Tamawashi (M13)
Kotoeiho (M13) beat Tokihayate (M12)
Kinbozan (M11) beat Shishi (M12)
Ura (M11) beat Hakunofuji (M10)
Asanoyama (M10) beat Nishikifuji (M9)
Abi (M9) beat Asahakuryu (M8)
Asakoryu (M7) beat Oshoma (M8)
Fujiseiun (M6) beat Chiyoshoma (M7)
Churanoumi (M6) beat Shodai (M5)
Gonoyama (M4) beat Wakamotoharu (M5)
Daieisho (M4) beat Oho (M3)
Wakatakakage (K) beat Hiradoumi (M3)
Yoshinofuji (M2) beat Kotoshoho (S)
Ichiyamamoto (M2) beat Atamifuji (S)
Kirishima (O) beat Takanosho (M1)
Fujinokawa (M1) beat Kotozakura (O)
Takayasu (K) beat Hoshoryu (Y)
WITHDRAWALS (Pre-Tournament), Aonishiki (O), Onosato (Y). Aonishiki-left ankle. Status uncertain. Potentially out 3 weeks according to Hochi Sports. But if he can’t return before halfway or get 8+ wins he will be demoted to Sekiwake. Per stablemaster Ajigawa the earliest possible return is Tuesday for Day 3. Onosato-left shoulder. Will not participate this tournament. This would be the first time he misses an entire tournament. Still no surgery per stablemaster Nishonoseki. According to NHK World Japan’s English language highlights program, rotator cuff. Out at least another month.
Of note: Not a good start for Sanyaku except for Kirishima, going for 2 straight championships, and Takayasu. Everyone else lost, notably Hoshoryu to Takayasu. Both new Sekiwake also started with losses too. Only Day 1 but for Hoshoryu, considering no Aonishiki perhaps and no Onosato, panic already. And…oh no, Hoshoryu may be hurt too. Favoring his right leg/thighas he went down awkwardly in the loss. Updates to hopefully follow later today.
Juryo:
Enho (J14) beat Tochitaikai (J14)
Okaryu (J13) beat Hakuyozan (J13)
Tamashoho (J12) beat Hitoshi (J12)
Kazekeno (J11) beat Nishikigi (J11)
Tohakuryu (M10) beat Midorifuji (J10)
Nishinoryu (J9) beat Kayo (J9)
Shirokuma (J8) beat Shonannoumi (J8)
Toshinofuji (J7) beat Kagayaki (J7)
Kazuma (J6) beat Meisei (J6)
Kitanowaka (J5) beat Tomokaze (J5)
Kyokukaiyu (J4) beat Asasuiryu (J4)
Hatsuyama (J3) beat Dewanoryu (J3)
Takerufuji (J2) beat Sadanoumi (J2)
Daiseizan (J1) beat Onokatsu (J1)
Of note: Enho’s return to the top 2 tiers after 3 years was triumphant as he won his return match against fellow Juryo return Tochitaikai. He also set a new record for a former top tier wrestler falling all the way down the rankings then returning to Juryo-the first man to be demoted down to Jonokuchi and make his way back up. For those thinking “What about Terunofuji?”, he fell from Ozeki to Jonidan before climbing back up to Yokozuna but Enho broke his prior record. For those curious or unfamiliar, Enho’s highest career rank is M4 and he has spent 9 tournaments in the top tier. Tomorrow he’ll face Hakuyozan. Newcomer Okaryu was victorious in his Juryo debut today as well. And despite a loss today it’s good to see Midorifuji back in action after sitting out March due to heart failure, his condition reportedly is much better with medications and diet changes (namely not drinking as much).
Lower tier notes: The unbeaten career start for Isegahama super-prospect Asahifuji continues as he won his first Sandanme match, with promotion to Makushita likely if he finishes with a winning record. Also setting a record this tournament was the man he beat for the Jonidan championship in a March playoff-Kiryuko. The former Juryo man, demoted to Jonokuchi after an extended injury absence, made-in terms of total rankings improved-the biggest jump ever up the charts this time as he went from Jonidan 100 (the bottom) to Sandanme 77. His first match this time is tomorrow.
UPDATE: Hoshoryu has WITHDRAWN. Fujinokawa will get the fusen tomorrow as a result.
UPDATE 2: More on Hoshoryu…if I read a Hochi Sports article translation correct, tournament over. Questionable for the Paris, France event in June.
UPDATE 3: New Hoshoryu update via Hochi Sports…right hamstring. Out about 2 weeks.
DDT continued the KING OF DDT 2026 Tournament today with the Quarterfinals.
Today’s event was held at Shinjuku Face in Tokyo and can be watched on demand on WRESTLE UNIVERSE.
The paid attendance was not announced.
Match 1: Daisuke Sasaki, MJ Paul & Illusion beat O-MENZ Kumadori, Masami Inahata & Hinata Kasai. Sasaki beat Kasai with a crossface.
Match 2: Yuya Koroku, Daichi Sato & Yuki Ishida beat Kazuki Hirata, Antonio Honda & Yuni. Koroku pinned Hirata.
Match 3: Yuki Ueno, Shunma Katsumata & To-y beat Kazuma Sumi, Junta Miyawaki & Rukiya and KANON, Yukio Naya & Viente Maligno in a 3way when Katsumata pinned Maligno.
KING OF DDT Quarterfinals:
Match 4: MAO beat Hideki Okatani.
Match 5: Danshoku Dieno beat Takeshi Masada.
Match 6: Minoru Suzuki beat Chris Brookes by submission.
Main Event: Shinya Aoki beat HARASHIMA.
As a result, the Semifinals will be Aoki vs. Suzuki and Dieno vs. MAO.
The Semifinals & Finals are 5/31 at Korakuen Hall.
The next event is tomorrow at Imaike Gas Hall in Nagoya. There will be no live broadcast. On demand Thursday
As is tradition before each Grand Sumo Tournament, a ring-purifying ceremony will be held 24 hours before the matches begin. This is open to the public to attend at the venue (since this is May it will be at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo) for free but it is also streamed FOR FREE on YouTube. You can watch the livestream below beginning at 6 PM PT/9 PM ET (it typically runs about 25 minutes), replays will also be available a few minutes after it ends:
If the above embedded video does not work, click the link below:
https://www.youtube.com/live/J7hzYNTlmnE?si=07cxq2Y-XrzMHPdG
(Video courtesy of the Japan Sumo Association official YouTube channel)
It won’t be for some time but it’s possible because Sendai Girls has announced that DASH Chisako, about to celebrate her 20th Anniversary, will be out long-term because they’ve learned she is pregnant. The decision was made that she will not compete any more for now to protect her and the baby’s health. A 20th Anniversary event planned on 7/20 will now be a promotion 20th Anniversary event, for now New Japan wrestler El Desperado-who was previously announced for the event-will still participate but this is subject to change. The promotion will also offer refunds to ticket holders for events.
Sendai Girls also offers their heartfelt congratulations to Chisako and will fully support her during this time. It’s safe to say she won’t return to the ring until at least 2027. Chisako posted a photo of her ultrasound on social media showing the baby holding a chair, which clearly has to be fake (the chair), and many top wrestlers including Desperado, Naomichi Marufuji, Yuji Nagata and former wrestler Saki Akai have posted congratulatory messages. I join in congratulating Chisako and sending best wishes for good health for mother and baby in the future.
(As a reminder, Sendai Girls events can be watched on demand, and sometimes live, on WRESTLE UNIVERSE)
Dragon Gate continued the Hopeful Gate 2026 Tour, the May tour, today with the monthly Tokyo event.
Today’s event was held at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo and can be watched on demand on DRAGONGATE NETWORK. You can also watch the first match FOR FREE on YouTube.
The paid attendance has not yet been announced.
Match 1: Strong Machine J, Kzy, U-T, @KEY & GuC beat BxB Hulk, KAGETORA, Toru Owashi (DDT), Punch Tominaga & Takashi. Kzy pinned Tominaga after a running elbow smash.
Match 2: Munenori Sawa beat Jiro Shinbashi.
Match 3: Madoka Kikuta, Jason Lee, Kota Minoura & KAI beat Genki Horiguchi, Yasushi Kanda, Masaaki Mochizuki & Don Fujii. Kikuta pinned Fujii after a rolling lariat.
Match 4: El Cielo beat Dragon Kid & Luis Mante in a 3-way by pinning Mante.
Match 5: Hyo beat Homare.
Match 6: YAMATO, Susumu Yokosuka & Naruki Doi (Independent/Freelancer) beat Yuki Yoshioka, Ryoya Tanaka & Kazuma Kimura. Doi pinned Kimura after Bakatare Sliding Kick. Afterwards, it appeared Doi made an Open The Brave Gate Championship challenge to Tanaka, which was accepted. UPDATE: It’s now official. That match will happen on 6/5.
Main Event: ISHIN & Yoshiki Kato beat JACKY KAMEI & Riiita. ISHIN pinned Riiita. As a result, ISHIN & Kato will get the next All-Asia Tag Team Championship shot.
The next event is tomorrow at Yokohama Radiant Hall in Yokohama. There will be no live or on demand broadcast. Next broadcast is in 2 weeks for a Hokkaido tripleheader.
UPDATE: After the event, Tiger Mask 4 participation was announced for 6/4, the final Dragon Gate appearance for the retiring New Japan icon. TM 4 will team with Ultimo Dragon & The Great Sasuke to face Masaaki Mochizuki, Don Fujii & Dragon Kid.
Pro Wrestling NOAH today announced the full field for the next tournament, the NEO GLOBAL TAG LEAGUE, coming up in about 2 weeks. This will be a round-robin format tournament with 2 blocks of 6 teams and standard scoring, with the winners of each block advancing to the Finals. Tiebreaker if needed will be head-to-head result.
Participating teams:
Block A: Tetsuya Naito & BUSHI, Kaito Kiyomiya & Harutoki, Tetsuya Endo & HAYATA, Katl Anderson & Doc Gallows, Kid Lykos 1 & 2, Masa Kitamiya & Takashi Sugiura
Block B: Naomichi Marufuji & Kenoh, Yoshiki Inamura & Stallion Rogers, Kazuyuki Fujita & Mohammed Yone, KENTA & Katsumi Inahata, Manabu Soya & Yuki Iino, OZAWA & Tadasuke
On paper Block A looks tough to call, I don’t see the Lykoses having a chance but anyone else can win. Block B looks 50-50 between Marufuji/Kenoh, Soya/Iino and OZAWA/Tadasuke. I would expect the winners to get a GHC Heavyweight Tag Team Championship match afterwards unless Naito/BUSHI win as the current champions.
The tournament begins on 5/23 at Kyoto KBS Hall in Kyoto and runs over 12 events through 6/16 (Finals at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo). All events will be streamed LIVE and on demand on WRESTLE UNIVERSE but 6/16 is listed as an ABEMA live broadcast so we should get an English-only UNIVERSE stream there.
Ganbare Pro ran their latest house show today in Tokyo.
Today’s event was held at Takashimadaira Community Center in Tokyo and will be available on demand on WRESTLE UNIVERSE Friday.
The paid attendance has not yet been announced.
Match 1: Moeka Haruhi beat Chie Ozora.
Match 2: Yuya Susumu & Reiya Igarashi beat Keisuke Ishii & Sentaro Motojima. Igarashi pinned Motojima with a fisherman’s suplex hold.
Match 3: Shuichiro Katsumura & YuuRI beat Munetatsu Nakamuta & Soy. YuuRI beat Soy.
Match 4: Yunehito Imanari & Rekka beat Mizuki Watase & Shota Kawakami. Imanari beat Kawakami with a headlock.
Main Event: Ken Ohka, Akira Koji & Shinichiro Tomonaga beat Takuya Wada, Tyson Maeguchi & Fuminori Abe. Koji pinned Maeguchi after Toriyama Black Driver.
The next event is 5/31 at Yokohama Trade Hall in Yokohama. On demand 6/2.
Not good news ahead of the May Grand Sumo Tournament-Nikkan Sports reports Ozeki Aonishiki, who is in danger of demotion after his first losing tournament following 2 straight championships and being in Yokozuna contention, was injured in practice today (yesterday Japan time). Left ankle. It happened during practice at Arashio Beya in Tokyo, which the Ajigawa Beya-based Aonishiki was visiting, and possibly happened during a practice bout with Wakamotoharu. Stablemaster Ajigawa said he will make a decision on Aonishiki’s tournament participation in the next day or two (the deadline for pre-tournament withdrawals is Friday) but if Aonishiki can’t compete or can’t win at least 8 matches he will be demoted to Sekiwake in July.
More as it becomes available.
UPDATE: Aonishiki is OUT. At least for the first day, maybe two days. But right now it does not look like he will miss the entire tournament, meaning he must return and get 8+ wins to avoid demotion. Also, Yokozuna Onosato is also OUT. Left shoulder. Sounds like he will not compete at all.
Stardom wrapped up their Golden Week tour today in Fukuoka.
Today’s event was held at Acros Fukuoka in Fukuoka and can be watched on demand on Stardom World. You can also watch the first 3 matches FOR FREE on YouTube.
The announced paid attendance was 672, a legit sellout.
Match 1: New Blood Tag Team Champions Aya Sakura & Sayaka Kurara beat Matoi Hamabe & Anne Kanaya to retain the titles. Sakura beat Hamabe with a triangle choke. V2 for the champs.
Match 2: Xena beat Ema Maishima.
Match 3: Natsuko Tora, Ruaka & Rina beat Suzu Suzuki, Saori Anou & Waka Tsukiyama. Tora pinned Suzuki after Death Valley Bomb.
Match 4: Tomoka Inaba beat Akira Kurogame.
Match 5: Syuri beat Tabata (CMLL).
Match 6: AZM, Miyu Amasaki & Starlight Kid beat Natsupoi, Yuna Mizumori & Rian. Kid beat Rian with Black Tiger Leg Murder.
Match 7: Hanan, Saya Iida, Momo Kohgo, Ami Sohrei & Lady C beat Konami, Saya Kamitani, Rina, Fukigen & Bea Priestley. Hanan pinned Priestley after 17.
Main Event: Hazuki, Koguma, Maika & Maki Itoh beat Ranna Yagani, HANAKO, Fuwa-chan & Kikyo Furusawa. Hazuki pinned Fuwa-chan after Emerald Flow. This went over 25 minutes.
The next event is 5/16 at G Messe Gunma in Ginma. There will be no live broadcast.