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Dragon Gate 3/28/24 Results

Dragon Gate taped episode 3 of the PRIME ZONE+ TV series today.

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

The paid attendance has not yet been announced.

Match 1; Kzy, BIGBOSS Shimizu & U-T beat Problem Dragon, Ryu Fuda & Ryoya Tanaka. Kzy pinned Dragon after a running elbow smash.

Match 2: In a Banned Move Singles Match, Takashi Yoshida beat Genki Horiguchi by virtually immediate DQ. Just 2 seconds. Which led to…
Match 2 (again): In a Banned Move Singles Match, Genki Horiguchi beat Takashi Yoshida by DQ. Used the banned move.

Match 3: Jason Lee, JACKY “FUNKY” KAMEI & Ho Ho Lun beat YAMATO, Don Fujii & Punch Tominaga. KAMEI pinned Tominaga after JACKY Knife.

Main Event: Hyo & Ben-K beat Kota Minoura & Dragon Dia. Hyo pinned Minoura after Samson Driver.

The next episode date is TBA.

The next event is Saturday at Kobe Sambo Hall in Kobe to continue the Rey De Parejas. Live streaming on DRAGONGATE NETWORK will begin at 1 AM PT/4 AM ET.

Sumo-March 2024 Tournament Final Standings & Post-Tournament News

Now that everything seems to be settled post-tournament, here is the final wrap-up of the March 2024 Grand Sumo Tournament in Osaka:

Continue reading “Sumo-March 2024 Tournament Final Standings & Post-Tournament News”

Ganbare Pro 3/28/24 Results

Ganbare Pro ran their final event under the CyberFight banner today as they will leave and become independent this weekend, although they will remain under the WRESTLE UNIVERSE banner for broadcasts of events on demand.

Today’s event was held at Ueno Park Outdoor Stage in Tokyo and will be available on demand on WRESTLE UNIVERSE at a later date. There was no live broadcast.

The announced paid attendance was 205.

Match 1: Yuna Manase & Bunny Oikawa beat Yoshiko Hasegawa & Riara. Manase pinned Riara after Suzuki Dynamic. Hasegawa & Riara are now leaving the promotion.

Match 2: What was supposed to be Zhao Yunzilong (?) & YuuRI vs. Hartley Jackson & HARUKAZE was changed last-second due to Yunzilong & YuuRI being absent. Unknown for Yunzilong, personal reasons for YuuRI. Which led to…
Match 2: Hartley Jackson & HARUKAZE beat Hong Kong International Policeman & Policewoman. Jackson pinned Policeman after Death Valley Bomb.

Match 3: Yuko Miyamoto, Isami Kodaka & Munetatsu Nakamura beat Shota, Takao Soma & Shinichiro Tominaga. Nakamura pinned Shota with a German suplex hold.

Main Event: In an elimination tag match, Shuichiro Katsumura, Ken Ohka, Takuya Wada & Mizuki Watase beat Keisuke Ishii, Yumehito Imanari, Tyson Maeguchi & Takaaki Iwasaki. Katsumura & Ohka were the winners, last eliminating Imanari which left Ishii alone, and thus Ishii could not continue due to it being a tag match.

The first event for the “new” Ganbare as an independent promotion will be on 4/27 at Kitazawa Town Hall in Tokyo. It will be available on demand on WRESTLE UNIVERSE at a later date. Other upcoming events set are 5/18 at Shin-Kiba 1st Ring, 6/2 and 7/15 both at Takashimadaira Community Center.

AEW Dynamite 3/27/24 Results

Here are the quick results from tonight’s AEW Dynamite from Quebec City, Canada:

Match 1: Will Ospreay vs. Katsuyori Shibata
Result: Will Ospreay beat Katsuyori Shibata

Match 2: AEW Tag Team Championship Tournament Quarterfinals: The Young Bucks vs. Private Party
Result: The Young Bucks beat Private Party. Both Bucks pinned Marq Quen after EVP Trigger.

Match 3: Willow Nightingale vs. Kris Staltander, Anna Jay & Skye Blue in a 4-way for an AEW TBS Championship shot at the Dynasty PPV. Mercedes Mone on commentary
Result: Willow Nightingale beat Kris Statlander, Anna Jay & Skye Blue in a 4-way by pinning Jay. As a result, Nightingale will face AEW TBS Champion Julia Hart for the title at the Dynasty PPV in April. Hart laid out Nightingale with a belt shot immediately afterwards.

Match 4: AEW Tag Team Championship Tournament: Best Friends vs. Undisputed Kingdom
Result: Best Friends beat Undisputed Kingdom

Main Event: Konosuke Takeshita vs. Swerve Strickland
Result: Swerve Strickland beat Konosuke Takeshita. As a result, Strickland will be #1 in the updated Rankings coming out after tonight and will face AEW World Champion Samoa Joe for the title at Dynasty.

Aside from Best Friends-Undisputed Kingdom, which I didn’t care about because Orange Cassidy, this was a very good show. Fewer matches because of no in action/squash stuff meant more time for everything else and it showed in how good they were for the most part. Takeshita-Strickland is must-see and check out Ospreay-Shibata. Episodes like this are ones I want to see more of.

Friday on Rampage: TBA.

Saturday on Collision: Ricky Starks & Big Bill vs. Top Flight and FTR vs. The Infantry in the Tournament Quarterfinals and NEW AEW TNT Champion Adam Copeland with the usual open challenge for the title.

Injury Report: All-Japan Veteran Feeling Down

All-Japan has announced an injury change to their major event Saturday: Osamu Nishimura is now off. The always-vague poor physical condition/ill health. He was to have teamed with Takao Omori to face KONO & Toshizo. Kumaarashi is the replacement. Nishimura probably won’t miss any more time beyond this.

News: UJPW Press Conference-ALL TOGETHER Returning (Updated)

At a press conference on Tokyo today, several promotions including New Japan, Pro Wrestling NOAH, DDT, Tokyo Joshi Pro and Stardom came together under the new United Japan Pro Wrestling banner. The biggest item coning out of this was the return of ALL TOGETHER, the joint event between multiple promotions held twice in the past as a charity fundraiser effort. To be held on 5/6 at Nippon Budokan in Tokyo, the event will be a fundraiser for Noto Peninsula disaster recovery efforts and include New Japan, NOAH, DDT, Dragon Gate, Big Japan and Stardom participation. The event will be a live PPV worldwide, streaming on ABEMA on Japan and TBA elsewhere.

A second UJPW event will be held on 6/16 in Hokkaido and will focus on other promotions not able to participate in the 5/6 event.

It should be noted that, at this time, the only major Japanese promotion that does not appear to be part of the UJPW is All-Japan. No presence at the presser and no mentions on their website.

One match for 5:6 has already been announced by NOAH: Daisuke Sekimoto & Tomohiro Ishii vs. Jeff Cobb & Masa Kitamiya. HOSS FIGHT ALERT!!!

More as it becomes available.

UPDATE: Second match announced: Naomichi Marufuji, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Sanshiro Takagi vs. EVIL, Ren Narita & Yujiro Takahashi.

And a third match: Yuki Ueno, Kaito Kiyomiya & Shota Umino vs. Yuya Uemura, Konosuke Takeshita & Shun Skywalker.

Stardom 3/24/24 Results

Stardom ran the second half of a weekend house show doubleheader today, serving as the second of two events that were used to test live streaming on their Stardom World streaming service.

Today’s event was held at Kyoto KBS Hall in Kyoto and can be watched on demand on Stardom World. It may also be available on YouTube as it was also live streamed there.

The announced paid attendance was 511, a full house/near sellout.

Match 1: Yuna Mizumori beat Aya Sakura.

Match 2: Starlight Kid & Rina beat Yuzuki & Mayu Iwatani. Rina pinned Yuzuki after Pink Devil.

Match 3: Momo Watanabe, Ruaka & Natsuko Tora beat Lady C, Saya Kamitani & AZM. Watanabe pinned Kamitani after Peach Sunrise.

Match 4: Mei Seira & Suzu Suzuki beat Gina & Mina Shirakawa and Koguma & Hazuki in a 3-way when Suzuki pinned Gina.

Match 5: Mai Sakurai, Natsupoi, MIWRAI, Syuri, Maika & Giulia beat Saori Anou, Sayaka Kurara, Ranna Yagami, Saki Kashima, Tam Nakano & Ami Sohrei. Natsupoi pinned Kurara.

Match 6: Utami Hayashishita beat Miyu Amasaki.

Main Event: New Blood Tag Team Champions Hanan & Saya Iida beat HANAKO & Waka Tsukiyama to retain the titles. Iida pinned HANAKO after Giant Killer. V3 for the champs.

The next event is Saturday (Friday night US time) at Sendai Pit in Sendai. Broadcast plans TBA.

Sumo-March 2024 Grand Sumo Tournament Day 15 Results (Final Day) (3/24/24)

Here are the quick results from today’s Day 15-the Final Day-of the March 2024 Grand Sumo Tournament in Osaka:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, J-Juryo, Ms-Makushita, Sd-Sandanme, Jd-Jonidan, Jk-Jonokuchi

Makuuchi (top tier):
Churanoumi (M13) beat Kitanowaka (M14)
Ichiyamamoto (M11) beat Ryuden (M13)
Mitakeumi (M10) beat Endo (M16)
Shodai (M10) beat Nishikifuji (M14)
Kotoshoho (M9) beat Roga (M15)
Hokutofuji (M9) beat Shonannoumi (M12)
Takayasu (M8) beat Daiamami (M16)
Tamawashi (M7) beat Myogiryu (M15)
Takerufuji (M17) beat Gonoyama (M6). TAKERUFUJI YUSHO!!!
Sadanoumi (M11) beat Midorifuji (M5)
Onosho (M8) beat Tobizaru (M4)
Meisei (M2) beat Takanosho (M3)
Oho (M3) beat Ura (M1)
Nishikigi (K) beat Kinbozan (M7)
Abi (K) beat Atamifuji (M2)
Wakamotoharu (S) beat Asanoyama (M1)
Hiradoumi (M4) beat Daieisho (S)
Hoshoryu (O) beat Onosato (M5)
Kirishima (O) beat Kotonowaka (O)
CHAMPION: Takerufuji (13-2). 1st career Emperor’s Cup, 4th career championship and second straight after winning Juryo in January. His career mark through 10 tournaments is now an astounding 69-10. He also becomes the first top tier rookie in 110 years to win his debut tournament in Makuuchi.
Of note: Elsewhere…RARE KIMARITE ALERT! There was good stuff on the undercard today too, including Kotoshoho winning with a rare technique I’ve never seen before-amiuchi-the fisherman’s throw. It looked like a middle-range arm throw as Roga was already losing his balance and falling down. That fishing effort netted Kotoshoho a promotion. That aside, for all the concerns about dwindling ranks and fewer newcomers in sumo, at the top the time is now for the youth movement. Hakkaku may be very worried about a Yokozuna-less time around the corner but with Takerufuji, Atamifuji and Onosato the future is very bright with 3 wrestlers who should be Yokozuna and Ozeki before too long. And Takerufuji came back from a right ankle injury yesterday to gut it out and show true heart of a champion by returning to compete today. He would have won anyway after Onosato lost to Hoshoryu, but back-to-back runner-up finishes for the top-tier sophomore may see him in Sanyaku in May. The final match saw the chief referee clearly blow another call as he ruled Kotonowaka the winner but replays show he clearly went out before Kirishima and the judges overturned the call. Kirishima will still be kadoban in May while the Sanyaku shakeup will see Daieisho demoted from Sekiwake for the first time in over a year, Wakamotoharu will stay Sekiwake, Abi may be promoted to Sekiwake, Asanoyama should return to Komusubi will Nishikigi will be demoted big-time.

SPECIAL PRIZES:
Outstanding Performance (best record with most wins against Yokozuna and/or Ozeki): Takerufuji
Fighting Spirit (winning record with judged to show best fighting spirit): Takerufuji, Onosato
Technique (winning record with best technique and/or most different winning techniques): Takerutufji, Onosato

Juryo:
Chiyosakae (J14) beat Nabatame (Ms5)
Tenshoho (Ms1) beat Kitaharima (J14)
Tsukahara (Ms4) beat Akua (J13)
Shishi (J8) beat Wakatakakage (J10)
Hidenoumi (J7) beat Kotowko (J12)
Chiyoshoma (J6) beat Hakuoho (J13)
Hakuyozan (J6) beat Tamashoho (J9)
Bushozan (J4) beat Asakoryu (J8)
Oshoma (J4) beat Tsushimanada (J12)
Kagayaki (J3) beat Shimanoumi (J9)
Tomokaze (J3) beat Daishoho (J7)
Mitoryu (J2) beat Aoiyama (J11). MITORYU JURYO YUSHO!!!
Tohakuryu (J2) beat Oshoumi (J11)
Takarafuji (J1) beat Shiden (J10)
Tokihayate (J1) beat Shirokuma (J5)
CHAMPION: Mitoryu (12-3). 2nd career championship, both in Juryo

Jonidan:
Playoff: Tochimaru (Jd47) beat Ryuo (Jd6). TOCHIMARU JONIDAN YUSHO!!! The 2nd career championship and first Jonidan for the popular machine-gun-thruster veteran, who was demoted from Makushita to Jonidan after missing the last 3 tournaments due to injuries.

TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS:
Makuuchi-Takerufuji (M17). 1st Emperor’s Cup, 4th career championship
Juryo-Mitoryu (J2). 2nd career championship, 2nd Juryo championship
Makushita-Kazekeno (Ms13). 2nd career championship, 1st Makushita championship
Sandanme-Nagamura (Sd3). 1st career championship
Jonidan-Tochimaru (Jd47). 2nd career championship, 1st Jonidan championship
Jonokuchi-Chiyooga (Jk3). 1st career championship

The next tournament is May 12-26 at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo. Advance tickets go on sale April 8. Before then, in April there will be a special exhibition tournament held as a fundraiser for Noto Peninsula Earthquake relief efforts. The final wrap-up post with hopefully details on early promotions/demotions and more will come later this week.

Sumo-March 2023 Grand Sumo Tournament Day 14 Results (3/23/24) (Top 2 Tiers)

Here are the quick results from today’s Day 14-the penultimate day-of the March 2024 Grand Sumo Tournament in Osaka:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, J-Juryo, Ms-Makushita

Makuuchi (top tier):
Myogiryu (M15) beat Tokihayate (J1)
Endo (M16) beat Sadanoumi (M11)
Shonannoumi (M12) beat Shodai (M10)
Mitakeumi (M10) beat Ryuden (M13)
Hokutofuji (M9) beat Daiamami (M16)
Kotoshoho (M9) beat Churanoumi (M13)
Takayasu (M8) beat Roga (M15)
Tamawashi (M7) beat Kitanowaka (M14)
Gonoyama (M6) beat Nishikifuji (M14)
Onosho (M8) beat Midorifuji (M5)
Tobizaru (M4) beat Kinbozan (M7)
Meisei (M2) beat Ichiyamamoto (M11)
Hiradoumi (M4) beat Ura (M1) by foul/judges reversal…HANSOKU!!! Ura originally won but grabbed the topknot/hair of Hiradoumi in the process of doing so, which is illegal whether intentional or not. So that’s a disqualification and the result was overturned much to the pro-Ura crowd’s dismay.
Asanoyama (M1) beat Takerufuji (M17)
Onosato (M5) beat Abi (K)
Oho (M3) beat Nishikigi (K)
Daieisho (S) beat Takanosho (M3)
Wakamotoharu (S) beat Atamifuji (M2)
Kirishima (O) beat Takakeisho (O) by default/withdrawal
Kotonowaka (O) beat Hoshoryu (O)
Leader: Takerufuji (12-2)
WITHDRAWAL: Takakeisho (O). Right pectoral muscle. Tournament over. Thankfully he just got his 8th win so he keeps his Ozeki rank in May.
Of note: Not today, but…the crowd was holding its collective breath because after the loss Takerufuji came up almost limping and moving very slowly. Possibly a foot injury but hopefully he can make it through the Final Day. The championship is down to Takerufuji & Onosato (11-3). Takerufuji is to face Gonoyama tomorrow, Onosato is to face Hoshoryu. If Takerufuji wins or Onosato loses, Takerufuji is the champion. If Takerufuji loses and Onosato wins, there will be a playoff. If Takerufuji withdraws and can’t compete, Onosato still must win otherwise Takerufuji would still be champion.
(Quick Takerufuji update: Nikkan Sports reports he was hospitalized right away for examination. Right ankle. In a cast from the knee down. At this moment he remains in for tomorrow)

Juryo:
Kayo (Ms3) beat Chiyosakae (J14)
Chiyomaru (Ms1) beat Akua (J13)
Shimanoumi (J9) beat Kitaharima (J14)
Tamashoho (J9) beat Shishi (J8)
Tsushimanada (J12) beat Hakuyozan (J6)
Chiyoshoma (J6) beat Shiden (J10)
Bushozan (J5) beat Hidenoumi (J7)
Shirokuma (J5) beat Oshoumi (J11)
Kagayaki (J3) beat Kotoeko (J12)
Oshoma (J4) beat Asakoryu (J8)
Wakatakakage (J10) beat Tomokaze (J3)
Aoiyama (J11) beat Tohakuryu (J2)
Mitoryu (J2) beat Hakuoho (J13)
Daishoho (J7) beat Takarafuji (J1)
Leader: Mitoryu (11-3)
Of note: Well, it’s a Mongolian winning no matter what. Here’s how it looks: With Daishoho and Oshoma at 10-4, both are up first. Oshoma is first and will face Tsushimanada (7-7), then Daishoho will face Tomokaze (8-6). If both lose, Mitoryu is the champion. If one or both win, Mitoryu is still the champion if he beats Aoiyama. If Miroryu loses and one or both Daishoho and/or Oshoma win, there will be a playoff and it could be a 3-way playoff. Mitoryu will be promoted back to the top tier in May, any others come down to tomorrow as Takarafuji & Tokihayate-both J1-are 7-7 so win and they go up, lose and they get demoted. As for Aoiyama, he is 7-7 at J11 so win or lose he’ll stay in Juryo. Elsewhere, Akua may be demoted to Makushita depending on tomorrow while, with his 4th win today, Chiyomaru will be promoted back to Juryo in May.

Reminder: NHK World Japan will have 90 minutes of LIVE top tier coverage of the Final Day, including the likely championship deciding matches, playoff if needed, awards ceremony and champion’s interview, tomorrow beginning at 12:30 AM PT/3:30 AM ET.