News, results & more from Japanese Pro Wrestling & Sumo
And the injury pileup sadly continues…this time it’s Stardom with another casualty as they announced, during a full week of events last week including at Bushiroad Expo Asia in Singapore, Lady C was injured. Neck. Out at least 2 weeks including all events from today through 12/10 (8 total events). A tag match she was in today was changed to a 3-way, other changes pending.
More as it becomes available.
New Japan ran Day 7 of the World Tag League today, beginning the halfway point of the tournament as Block A starts their second half.
Today’s event was held at Nagoya International Conference Center Event Hall in Nagoya and can be watched on demand on New Japan World.
The announced paid attendance was 960.
Pre-show Match: Callum Newman beat Katsuya Murashima.
Match 1: BUSHI, Zandokan Jr., Yota Tsuji & Shingo Takagi beat Gedo, Taiji Ishimori, Jack Bonza & Bad Luck Fale. Takagi pinned Gedo after Pumping Bomber.
Match 2: Master Wato, Minoru Suzuki & Yuji Nagata beat Jado, El Phantasmo & Hikuleo. Nagata beat Jado with Nagata Lock 2.
Match 3: DOUKI, Yuya Uemura & Taichi beat Ryusuke Taguchi, Alrx Zayne & Lance Archer. Uemura pinned Taguchi with a Kannuki Suplex Hold.
Match 4: Yoh, YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto beat Tiger Mask, Soberano Jr. & Atlantis Jr. Yoh pinned TM 4 after Toras Kick.
World Tag League:
Match 5: Toa Liona & Bishop Kaun beat Gabriel Kidd & Alex Coughlin. Kaun pinned Kidd.
Match 6: HENARE & Great-O-Khan beat Yujiro Takahashi & EVIL. Khan pinned Takahashi after Eliminator.
Match 7: Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii beat Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls. Yano pinned Haste.
Main Event: Ren Narita & Shota Umino beat Ryohei Oiwa & Kaito Kiyomiya. Umino pinned Oiwa after Death Rider. This match went 27 1/2 minutes (30 minute time limit).
Standing (Block A):
1-Narita/Umino, 3-1, 6 pts
2-Haste/Nicholls, 3-1, 6 pts
3-Yano/Ishii, 2-2, 4 pts
4-HENARE/Khan, 2-2, 4 pts
5-Coughlin/Kidd, 2-2, 4 pts
6-Kiyomiya/Oiwa, 2-2, 4 pts
7-Liona/Kaun, 1-3, 2 pts
8-Takahashi/EVIL, 1-3, 2 pts
The next event is tomorrow at Twin Messe Shizuoka North Building in Shizuoka. Live streaming on New Japan World will begin at 1:30 AM PT/4:30 AM ET.
The injuries in Japan keep piling up, including for DDT, and unfortunately they’ve just lost another wrestler. This time it’s Yuya Koroku. Left tricep and elbow. Happened at Sunday’s Korakuen Hall event. Out indefinitely but going to be long-term. This means he will be out of an upcoming All-Asia Tag Team Title challenge. DDT is consulting with the PWF (All-Japan Pro Wrestling) on what to do.
More as it becomes available.
UPDATE: For the All-Asia title match where Koroku was teaming with Yusuke Okada, DDT made the announcement today: Jun Akiyama is the replacement. That match is scheduled for 12/9 at Osaka Azalea Taisho in Osaka.
Constant bad puns aside, GLEAT continues to get hit hard by constant injuries the last few months, today they reported Yu Iizuka is the latest casualty. Zygomatic fracture or, in simpler medical terms, face/facial trauma/fracture. Out a long time per their release, so likely several months or more. Upcoming card changes pending.
More as it becomes available.
Nikkan Sports reports the Nihon Sumo Kyokai (Japan Sumo Association) Yokozuna Deliberation Committee held a regular poat-tournament meeting today, here are some notes coming out:
Yokozuna Terunofuji is on the clock. According to comments from Chairman Masayuki Yamauchi (Professor Emeritus at the University Of Tokyo), Based on translation, he either must compete in January or the Council will take action. Any such action is non-binding but carries weight, starting with “encouragement” then “recommendation” and finally being all but forced to retire (Yokozuna can never be demoted to lower ranks). Terunofuji missed the last 3 tournaments including November despite participation in the October tour. Before the November Tournament it was reported by YouTuber Chris Sumo, a reliable English language source with inside connections, that per stablemaster Isegahama Terunofuji would compete in January.
Also, the Council reportedly is not happy with Hoshoryu, one of the 3 current Ozeki. In a late tournament match against Gonoyama (Margashira 4), Hoshoryu dragged the pre-match staredown/setup with a frozen stare lasting approximately 90 seconds, so long that NHK World Japan had to edit most of it out of their daily English language highlights program for time. While there is a little precedent given Hoshoryu is the nephew of bad boy Yokozuna Asashoryu, Yamauchi’s comments indicate that clearly hurt Hoshoryu’s chances of making Yokozuna, which may not happen anytime soon based on performance (he has 8 & 10 wins in 2 tournaments as Ozeki so far). Making Yokozuna is not just about winning tournaments, you also are expected to be of high moral character as a public face of sumo and being looked up to by all rikishi. Hoshoryu is known for his “stinky face” glare after some matches especially if he took pushes to the face. All indications ate he’ll be just like Asashoryu if he ever ascends to the highest rank as Chairman Hakkaku hopes for before he is forced to retire in a couple years (mandatory retirement age in sumo is 65) and ideally with healthy active Yokozuna.
While we wait for updated early ranking notes for January, it is being suggested that Ura, who finished 8-7 at M1, will be promoted to Komusubi for the first time in his career
Pro Wrestling NOAH ran the 4th and penultimate episode of MONDAY MAGIC today.
Today’s event was held at Shinjuku Face in Tokyo and can be watched on demand on WRESTLE UNIVERSE.
The paid attendance has not yet bern announced but it appears to be a legit advance sellout, which would mean 450-500. No same-day tickets.
Match 1: YO-HEY beat Dragon Bane & Alejandro in a 3-way by pinning Bane.
Match 2: Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr., Titus Alexander & Hajime Ohara beat Jack Morris, Anthony Greene & LJ Cleary. Alexander pinned Cleary after Big Ugly.
Match 3: Kaito Kiyomiya, Ryohei Oiwa, Masa Kitamiya & Daiki Inaba beat Saxon Huxley, Timothy Thatcher, Vinny Massaro & ?. Kiyomiya pinned Massaro after Transformed Shining Wizard.
Match 4: Nagisa Nozaki Return Match: Nagisa Nozaki beat Miyuki Takase.
Match 5: HAYATA & Rising Hayato (All-Japan) beat Shuji Kondo & Junta Miyawaki. Hayato pinned Miyawaki after Sid Vicious. (HAYATA & Hayato. The team we never knew we needed)
Match 6: Ninja Mack beat GHC Hardcore Champion Masato Tanaka and Super Crazy in a 3-way by pinning Tanaka to win the title. Mack becomes the 11th GHC Hardcore Champion. (NOAH apparently is not recognizing the title’s prior history, billing Mack as the second champion)
Main Event: Kenoh & Satoshi Kojima beat Manabu Soya & Go Shiozaki. Kojima pinned Shiozaki after a lariat.
At some point The Great Muta also showed up and did weird Muta things…
The next event is NOAH THE BEST 2023 Saturday at Yokohama Budokan in Yokohama. Live streaming on WRESTLE UNIVERSE in English ONLY will begin Friday at 11 PM PT/Saturday at 2 AM ET. This is an ABEMA-exclusive broadcast in Japan.
Pro Wrestling NOAH has announced two injury absences, although one is an update to a prior issue…but the new one could have major implications because it’s GHC Jr. Heavyweight Champion Daga. Left knee sprain. Out indefinitely. It most likely happened Friday in his successful title defense against Shuji Kondo. Unless he’ll be out more than a month his title reign probably isn’t in jeopardy (the next scheduled title match is 1/2/24, and as of now it’s still on)
The other absence is an extension of Yoshinari Ogawa’s time out. Now out until at least after the 12/10 event. He has been out since last week as a precaution due to dizziness.
More as it becomes available.
UPDATE: NOAH now says Daga will miss “several events” so this will mean at least a couple weeks.
All-Japan ran Day 6 of the Real World Tag League today, beginning the second half of the tournament.
Today’s event was held at Shonan Fujisawa Market Special Ring in Kanagawa and will be available on demand on AJPW.TV later today. There was no live broadcast.
The announced paid attendance was 815, a legit sellout.
Jr. Battle Of Glory:
Match 1: Fuminori Abe beat Ryo Inoue.
Match 2: Rising Hayato vs. Koji Iwamoto went to a 10 minute time limit draw.
Match 3; Evolution Women’s Match: ChiChi beat ZONES.
Match 4: Giant Enoshima Man Bashin “Ichi” & Shiryu beat Black Menso-re, Yuma Aoyagi & Kento Miyahara. Bashin pinned Menso-re after Romero Special.
Real World Tag League:
Match 5: Yukio Sakaguchi & Hideki Okatani beat Hayato Tamura & Galeno Del Mal. Sakaguchi beat Del Mal with a triangle.
Match 6: Cyrus & Ryan Danielson beat Ryuki Honda & Yuma Anzai. Cyrus pinned Honda after a reverse splash.
Match 7: Katsuhiko Nakajima & Hokuto Omori beat Kuroshio TOKYO Japan & Seigo Tachibana. Nakajima pinned Tachibana after Northern Lights Bomb.
Jr. Battle Of Glory:
Match 8: Dan Tamura vs. Naruki Doi went to a 10 minute time limit draw.
Match 9: Hikaru Sato beat Atsuki Aoyagi. With 3 seconds left.
Main Event: Real World Tag League: Suwama & Hideki Suzuki beat Jun & Rei Saito. Suwama pinned Jun Saito after a backdrop.
Nakajima/Omori now lead at 5-0, 10 points. Saito Bros. still second at 4-2, 8 points.
The next event is Wednesday at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo. Live streaming on AJPW.TV will begin at 1:30 AM PT/4:30 AM ET.
Tokyo Joshi Pro continued the CITY CIRCUIT Tour today with the final event before their 10th Anniversary event.
Today’s event was held at NGK Sports Plaza Stadium 3 in Aichi and will be available on demand on WRESTLE UNIVERSE at a later date. There was no live broadcast.
The announced paid attendance was 403, a full house/near sellout.
Match 1: Arisu Endo beat Runa Okubo by submission.
Match 2: Suzume beat Haru Kazashiro.
Match 3: In a match where each wrestler could bring in a weapon that could be legally exchanged and used without DQ, Hyper Misao beat Raku.
Match 4: VIVA VAN & Yuki Kamifuku beat Shoko Nakajima & Kaya Toribami. VAN pinned Toribami after Helevator.
Match 5: Rika Tatsumi, Miu Watanabe & HIMAWARI beat Miyu Yamashita, Mahiro Kiryu & Toga. Tatsumi pinned Toga after Twist OF Fate.
Match 6: Max The Impaler, Yuki Aino & Pom Harajuku beat Hikari Noa, Nao Kakuta & Shino Suzuki. Harajuku pinned Suzuki after Pomu. Do. Justis.
Main Event: Yuka Sakazaki & Mizuki beat Yuki Arai & Moka Miyamoto. Sakazaki pinned Miyamoto after Toy Story 4. This is the last time Sakazaki & Mizuki team up in a regular tag match as Sakazaki is leaving TJPW after the next event to continue her 10-year career overseas (probably returning to All Elite Wrestling).
The next event is the Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling 10th Anniversary Event-We Are TJPW-Friday at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo. There has been one change announced to the card-because Yuki Kamifuku recently won the Queen Of Asia Championship in Singapore, her scheduled match against VIVA VAN will now be for the title. There also will be a Princess Tag Team Championship match as the popular Wasteland Pom Party (Max The Impaler & Pom Harajuku) challenge Hikari Noa & Nao Kakuta for the titles, and the main event will be a TJPW 10th Anniversary 10-woman tag with Sakazaki’s final match in the promotion and perhaps a ceremonial passing of the torch to the next generation: Miyu Yamashita, Shoko Nakajima, Yuka Sakazaki, Mizuki & Rika Tatsumi vs. Miu Watanabe, Yuki Arai, Suzume, Moka Miyamoto & Arisu Endo. (No Maki Itoh, you ask? Nope. Overseas again) Live streaming on WRESTLE UNIVERSE will begin at 1 AM PT/4 AM ET.
New Japan ran Day 6 of the World Tag League today, the third day of Block B.
Today’s event was held at Big Palette Fukushima Multipurpose Exhibition Hall A in Fukushima and can be watched on demand on New Japan World.
The announced paid attendance was 888.
Match 1: Gedo, Taiji Ishimori, Gabriel Kidd & Alex Coughlin beat Yuto Nakashima, Tomoaki Honma, Toa Liona & Bishop Kaun. Ishimori beat Nakashima with Bone Lock.
Match 2: Callum Newman, HENARE & Great-O-Khan beat Dick Togo, Yujiro Takahashi & EVIL. HENARE beat Togo with Ultima.
Match 3; Yoh, Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii beat Kosei Fujita, Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls. Yoh pinned Fujita after Direct Drive.
Match 4: Boltin Oleg, Ryohei Oiwa & Kaito Kiyomya beat Oskar Leube, Ren Narita & Shota Umino. Kiyomiya pinned Leube after Variant Shining Wizard.
World Tag League:
Match 5: Alex Zayne & Lance Archer beat Soberano Jr. & Atlantis Jr. Zayne pinned Soberano after Taco Driver.
Match 6: YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto beat Jack Bonza & Bad Luck Fale. Goto pinned Bonza after Shoto.
Match 7: Yuya Uemura & Taichi beat Minoru Suzuki & Yuji Nagata. Uemura pinned Nagata with a Kannuki suplex hold.
Main Event: Zandokan Jr. & Yota Tsuji beat El Phantasmo & Hikuleo. Tsuji pinned Hikuleo after Gene Blaster.
After 3 days in Block B it’s Uemura/Taichi and Zayne/Archer tied for the lead at 3-0, 6 points. Suzuki/Nagata unsurprisingly can’t get alone and it has them almost out now at 0-3, 0 points and headed to a grumpy old men post-tournament showdown.
The next event is Tuesday at Nagoya International Conference Center Event Hall in Nagoya with Day 4 of Block A. Live streaming on New Japan World will begin at 1 AM PT/4 AM ET.