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New Japan 11/26/23 Results

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.

Sumo-November 2023 Grand Sumo Tournament Day 15 (Final Day) Results (11/26/23) (Top 2 Tiers)

Here are the quick results from today’s Day 15-the Final Day-of the November 2023 Grand Sumo Tournament in Fukuoka:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, J-Juryo, Ms-Makushita, Sd-Sandanme, Jd-Jonidan, Jk-Jonokuchi

Makuuchi (Top Tier):
NIshikifuji (M16) beat Kagayaki (J3)
Hiradoumi (M11) beat Kitanowaka (M17)
Ryuden (M10) beat Tsurugisho (M13)
Oho (M12) beat Mitakeumi (M9)
Myogiryu (M9) beat Tomokaze (M14)
Roga (M16) beat Endo (M8)
Ichiyamamoto (M14) beat Kinbozan (M7)
Churanoumi (M15) beat Midorifuji (M5)
Gonoyama (M4) beat Shonannoumi (M6)
Sadanoumi (M11) beat Tobizaru (M3)
Takayasu (M3) beat Tamawashi (M12)
Meisei (M2) beat Tohakuryu (M15)
Shodai (M2) beat Takarafuji (M13)
Ura (M1) beat Hokuseiho (M7)
Nishikigi (M4) beat Hokutofuji (K)
Asanoyama (M1) beat Abi (K)
Wakamotoharu (K) beat Onosho (M5)
Kotonowaka (S) beat Atamifuji (M8). KIRISHIMA YUSHO!!! Settled before the final match. So close and yet so painfully far away for Atamifuji again, who lost his last 2 matches.
Hoshoryu (O) beat Daieisho (S)
Kirishima (O) beat Takakeisho (O)
CHAMPION: Kirishima (13-2). 2nd Emperor’s Cup this year and 4th overall championship. Nikkan Sports reports it also means Kirishima finishes 2023 with the most wins of any top-tier rikishi.

SPECIAL PRIZES:
Outstanding Performance (Maegashira with most wins against Yokozuna/Ozeki): None
Fighting Spirit (10+ wins with best display of fighting spirit): Atamifuji (2nd time, 2nd straight tournament), Kotonowaka, Ichiyamamoto
Technique (most different winning techniques): None

Final standings notes: The Sanyaku shakeup will see Wakamotoharu demoted from Sekiwake and both Komusubi (Abi & Hokutofuji) demoted, with Ura possibly breaking through to Komusubi thanks to an 8th win today. If there is a second Komusubi it could be a Sanyaku return for Takayasu, a former Ozeki. 6 wins probably drops Wakamotoharu to M1, but it could be Komusubi. We’re going to see at least 4 demotions to Juryo-Kitanowaka, Roga, Nishikifuji and Tohakuryu. The biggest tossup is Kotoeko at M10, due to missing the last 5 days (injury) he finishes the equivalent of 2-13. Despite the last 2 losses, Atamifuji will make another big move up the rankings. He could get as high as M1 but I’m going to slot him in at M3 for January with Sanyaku possible in March. Meanwhile, Asanoyama’s Day 8 return gamble to try and salvage Sanyaku ultimately backfired as he’ll suffer his first post-return demotion. A lot of demotions at the top do help him though along with being absent the first week, but I think he’ll still drop down to, at best, M5. More reasonably I’ll take him down to M8. Maybe Sanyaku again by May.
Yokozuna Watch: When one door closes, another door opens. Takakeisho’s maybe last best chance at promotion is gone after a good start when he slumped late to 9-6, but now it’s Kirishima’s chance. A repeat title in January, or a playoff with at least 12 wins, should allow him to take the mantle from the wearing-down Terunofuji and allow the current Yokozuna to retire on his own terms. We can hope Terunofuji does return in January as expected for perhaps a passing of the mantle, as was the case when he was promoted after a Final Day loss to Hakuho when the legend retired after a perfect tournament (Terunofuji was also 14-0 going into that final day). Then attention can turn to Hoshoryu, who managed 10 wins this time and perhaps…
Ozeki Watch: Kotonowaka probably won’t get there right now after finishing with 30 wins over his last 3 tournaments, but he will have a good chance after January as he will need 11 wins again to reach the unofficial benchmark of 33 wins over 3 consecutive tournaments. The son of the current Sadogatake is poised to eclipse his father, the former Kotonowaka, and assume a new name when he does (he will become Kotozakura when/if he is promoted). And by this time next year, we’re going to be talking about Atamifuji here. If he stays healthy he will be Yokozuna in 2-3 years.

Juryo:
Takerufuji (Ms1) beat Hitoshi (J11)
Tenshoho (J10) beat Kitadaichi (Ms3)
Tsushimanada (Ms4) beat Takakento (J9)
Tamashoho (J7) beat Akua (J10)
Chiyosakae (J14) beat Daishoho (J7)
Chiyoshoma (J6) beat Yuma (J13)
Shishi (J5) beat Chiyomaru (J8)
Onosato (J5) beat Mitoryu (J4)
Daiamami (J4) beat Shiden (J12)
Oshoma (J3) beat Hidenoumi (J11)
Shimanoumi (J12) beat Shimazuumi (J2)
Bushozan (J2) beat Tokihayate (J8)
Kotoshoho (J1) beat Asakoryu (J13). PLAYOFF!!!
Aoiyama (J1) beat Takahashi (J9)
PLAYOFF: Kotoshoho (J1) beat Onosato (J5). KOTOSHOHO JURYO YUSHO!
CHAMPION: Kotoshoho (12-3). 3rd career Championship and 3rd Juryo Championship. He will join a handful promoted back to the top tier in January, to
Going up: At least 4 and potentially 5 promotions are on tap: Kotoshoho and Aoiyama will return to the top tier along with Bushozan and one of, if not both, Shimazuumi and Onosato. If only one makes it I think it’ll be Onosato because of the playoff loss, which would leave Shimazuumi at J1 despite 9 wins.
Going down: Azumaryu (withdrawal after 0-2 start, finished 0-15), Hitoshi (September Makushita Champion had a disastrous 2-13 Juryo debut) and Chiyosakae (demoted with 8th loss today) will be demoted to Makushita, and possibly Yuma again (big toss-up after a collapse to 7-8 following losing his last 4, Takakento (3-12 at J9), Tenshoho, Akua (both 5-10 at J10). Hidenoumi is a huge toss-up at 6-9 from J11 but he missed 3 days due to injury. I think he’ll be safe. Also going down is Hakuoho after another missed tournament due to injury, but he’ll almost certainly earn his way back right away when he returns in January. He should still reach Sanyaku by the end of 2024.

Makushita notes: Takerufuji will be Shin-Juryo in January after a 6-1 result at J1, needing just 8 tournaments to reach the second tier and becoming the latest Isegahama super-prospect to break through into salary ranks (he already has 2 lower tier championships). He has gone 43-6 so far in his career. Despite losing his last 3 after a 4-0 start, Hakuyozan will be Sai-Juryo, returning to the second tier in January. That’s probably it for Makushita promotions because of the numbers game, although Kayo will have a chance after going 6-1 at Ms6, and that means the biggest loser would be Wakatakakage-the former Sekiwake went 5-2 from Ms6 in his return from injury. But he probably came up one win short despite winning his last 4 after a 1-2 start.
Expect Champion Satorufuji to jump up from Ms42 to approximately Ms12 while Kitaharima’s title loss will keep him from a Juryo return after he just missed a second straight championship (he won the Sandanme in September), but he’ll be in position for a January promotion with a winning record after a 6-1 effort at Ms11. The veteran is hoping for more than another cup of sake in the top tier before retiring-he’s reached a career high rank of M15 for one tournament.

Jonidan:
PLAYOFF: Dairinzan (Jd61) beat Shiroma (Jd15). DAIRINZAN JONIDAN YUSHO! First career championship.

Tournament Champions:
Makuuchi (Kirishima (2nd Emperor’s Cup, 4th overall)
Juryo: Kotoshoho (3rd Juryo, 3rd overall)
Makushita: (Satorufuji (1st Makushita, 2nd overall)
Sandanme: Daishoryu (1st Sandanme, 1st overall)
Jonidan: Dairinzan (1st Jonidan, 1st overall)
Jonokuchi: Aonishiki (1st Jonokuchi, 1st overall in Debut tournament)

The next tournament is the January 2024 tournament scheduled from 1/14-1/28 at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo. Advance tickets will go on sale on 12/9. In the next couple days will be the usual final standings post and any major post-tournament breaking news. The Banzuke is scheduled to be announced on 12/25.

DEVELOPING: Death Threats Against TJPW Star (Updated)

This is the kind of stuff you never want to read about and never happen…while browsing socials just now, I discovered there were apparent death threats made against Tokyo Joshi Pro wrestler Wakana Uehara today (yesterday Japan time). The posts in Japanese and English were reported on by her official Twitter/X account. One post, in Japanese but also in English, stated the threats said someone was sent to Shinjuku (part of Tokyo) today to kill Uehara in front of her mother and her family. So far Uehara appears to be safe and unharmed and while this may have been a joke, she is wisely taking it very seriously and will be more aware of her surroundings. She closed by thanking the fans who have always supported her.

Uehara had a stage performance scheduled today and, as a result, is not at today’s TJPW event (in progress at the time of this post, there is no live WRESTLE UNIVERSE broadcast) in Aichi.

More as it becomes available.

UPDATE: Yahoo Japan via Nikkan Sports reports the social media account in question has been identified and shut down, and Uehara posted on social media post-event today, all went well and she is okay but will continue to be careful going forward. Probably will be little to no criminal action because of lax/weak laws against this sort of behavior online in Japan, as sadly is still the case following the tragic Hana Kimura suicide caused by cyberbullying. Hopefully an incident like this lends more fuel to the fire and helps the neverending push by Hana’s mother, former wrestler Kyoko Kimura, to toughen the laws in Japan about this.

AEW Rampage & Collision 11/25/23 Results

Here are the quick results from tonight’s LIVE AEW Rampage & Collision from Pittsburgh, PA:

Rampage:
Match 1: FTW Champion Hook vs. Rocky Romero in a NON-TITLE match
Result: Hook beat Rocky Romero by ref stoppage (technical submission)

Match 2: Kris Statlander vs. Diamante
Result: Kris Statlander beat Diamante. Mercedes Martinez came to ringside during the match and joined in post-match for a heel beatdown on Statlander until Willow Nightingale made the save.

Match 3: The Kingdom vs. 2 jobbers
Result: The Kingdom beat 2 jobbers. Squash. They also issued an ROH Tag Team Title challenge.

Main Event: ROH Pure Champion Wheeler Yuta vs. Katsuyori Shibata in a Pure Rules Match for the title
Result: Wheeler Yuta beat ROH Pure Champion Katsuyori Shibata to become THE NEW ROH PURE CHAMPION!

Collision:
Match 1: Continental Classic Blue Block: Claudio Castagnoli vs. Daniel Garcia
Result: Claudio Castagnoli beat Daniel Garcia
Castagnoli is 1-0, 3 points. Garcia is 0-1, 0 points

Match 2; Killswitch (Luchasaurus) vs. The Boys in a handicap match
Result: Killswitch beat The Boys. Squash. Post-match beatdown until Adam Copeland made the save.

Copeland promo backstage. He challenges Christian Cage for the AEW TNT Championship on 12/6 at Dynamite in Montreal, Canada.

Match 3: Malakai Black & Buddy Matthews vs. Komander & Gravity
Result: Malakai Black & Buddy Matthews beat Komander & Gravity. Matthews pinned Komander.

Match 4: AEW TBS Champion Julia Hart vs. Lady Frost in a House Rules Match for the title. House Rules means the challenger can choose a stip, and commentary indicates that stip will be No Countouts
Result: AEW TBS Champion Julia Hart beat Lady Frost by submission to retain the title.

Match 5: FTR vs. The Righteous
Result: FTR beat The Righteous. House Of Black interrupted post-match immediately.
After the match, a Dante Martin comeback promo was to be replayed in its entirety. They started to show it earlier but TNT cut away for commercial too early during it.

Big Bill & Ricky Starks interviewed.

Match 6: Keith Lee vs. Lee Moriarty
Result: Keith Lee beat Lee Moriarty

Main Event: Continental Classic: Eddie Kingston vs. Brody King
Result: Brody King beat Eddie Kingston

Wednesday on Dynamite: Mark Briscoe vs. Rush, Jon Moxley vs. Jay Lethal and Jay White vs. Swerve Strickland.

Next week on Collision: 3 more tournament matches.

End Shows.

POST-SHOW UPDATE: It’s now official…CM Punk is truly, absolutely, definitely done for good, or for a long time at least, with AEW. He returned to WWE tonight at the Survivor Series PPV.

DDT Pro Wrestling 11/26/23 Results (Updated x2)

DDT kicks off the annual D KING GP today, the second of their 2 yearly singles tournaments, but unlike KING OF DDT this is a traditional round-robin format rather than a single-elimination bracket. This year there are 12 wrestlers in 2 blocks, with the winner of each block advancing to the Finals at DDT’s first event of 2024 on January 3. The most notable participant here is All-Japan Pro Wrestling’s Rei Saito, half of the Saito Brothers with brother Jun Saito, who are the current All-Japan World Tag Team Champions and GLEAT G INFINITY Champions. This continues a crossover between the promotions as DDT has Yukio Sakaguchi & Hideki Okatani competing in All-Japan’s Real World Tag League. All of Block B including Saito and 2/3 of Block A will be in tournament action today. The legendary Kenta Kobashi will once again be executive chairman of the tournament committee and will be in attendance-in predictions of who will win he is putting a lot of pressure on defending tournament winner Yuki Ueno, the NEW KO-D Openweight Champion, to go back-to-back. We’ll see if Ueno can ride the WER! to victory again beginning today.

Today’s event will be held at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo and can be watched LIVE on WRESTLE UNIVERSE in Japanese. Kobashi will be a special guest on commentary. There is a pre-show match scheduled for about 15 minutes before event time. All matches except the pre-show have 30 minute time limits so this won’t be a marathon event, I’m predicting it will probably go just under 3 hours total.

Today’s lineup (in order):
Pre-show: Yuni & Yuya Koroku vs. Kazuma Sumi & Rukiya
Tetsuya Endo, Jun Akiyama & Yusuke Okada vs. Daisuke Sasaki, MJ Paul & Demus
Danshoku Dieno, Makoto Oishi & Toi Kojima vs. Masa Takanashi, Antonio Honda & Takeshi Masada
D KING GP:
Block B: MAO vs. Rei Saito
Block B: KANON vs. Kazuki Hirata
Block A: HARASHIMA vs. Yuki Iino
Block B: Chris Brookes vs. Yukio Naya
Block A: Yuki Ueno vs. Kazusada Higuchi

Refresh this page occasionally for the latest results.

Updates below will begin at 6 PM PT/9 PM ET. The pre-show match is scheduled to begin at 6:15 PM PT/9:15 PM ET.

6 PM PT UPDATE: The live stream has started. We should be going to the venue in about 15 minutes.

6:15 PM PT UPDATE: Live updates begin now.

We are LIVE from Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan. Your hosts are Ken Kato & Kagehiro Osano.

The paid attendance will be announced after the event. It’s still pre-show and the crowd is still coming in, but as usual they have the smaller opposite-hard-camera bleacher setup. Early ticket availability today suggests maybe it’ll be in the 600s. (UPDATE: The announced paid attendance was 678)

Pre-show Match: Yuni & Yuya Koroku vs. Kazuma Sumi & Rukiya. 15 minute time limit
Result: Yuni & Yuya Koroku beat Kazuma Sumi & Rukiya. Koroku beat Rukiya with an armbar.

The main show will begin in a few minutes (as of 6:27 PM PT).

Main show:
The matches begin at 6:35 PM PT. Your hosts are Haruo Murata & Kagehiro Osano.

Match 1: Tetsuya Endo, Jun Akiyama & Yusuke Okada vs. Daisuke Sasaki, MJ Paul & Demus. 30 minute timit
Result: Tetsuya Endo, Jun Akiyama & Yusuke Okada beat Daisuke Sasaki, MJ Paul & Demus. Endo pinned Demus after Burning Star Press.

Match 2: Danshoku Dieno, Makoto Oishi & Toi Kojima vs. Masa Takanashi, Antonio Honda & Takeshi Masada. 30 minute time limit
Result: Masa Takanashi, Antonio Honda & Takeshi Masada beat Danshoku Dieno, Makoto Oishi & Toi Kojima. Masada pinned Oishi after a sitout powerslam.
Afterwards, Masada with microphone to issue a KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Championship challenge. The next such match was already set for 1/6 but Oishi accepted and now there may be a title match on 12/24. (UPDATE 2: It’s now official)

D KINP GP promo video. When we return the trophy is in the ring and…that means…GRAND SWORD!!! KENTA KOBASHI!!! The Executive Chairman of the tournament committee is in the ring as the entrants are introduced. Kobashi gives the opening start shout to begin the tournament.

Kobashi joins commentary as a special guest along with Ken Kato as your new host for now.

Match 3: D KING GP 2023 Block B: MAO vs. Rei Saito (All-Japan Pro Wrestling). 30 minute time limit
Result: Rei Saito beat MAO

Match 4: D KING GP 2023 Block B: KANON vs. Kazuki Hirata. 30 minute time limit
Result: KANON beat Kazuki Hirata by submission. Mostly comedy match.

Quick break for announcements. Toru Owashi joins GM Imabayashi in the ring, then during this The Great Koji suddenly appears. He sprayed red mist in Imabayashi’s face as Owashi watched with a funny look on his face before running away.

Match 5: D KING GP 2023 Block A: HARASHIMA vs. Yuki Iino. 30 minute time limit
Result: Yuki Iino beat HARASHIMA

Your host is Haruo Murata again the rest of the way.

Match 6: D KING GP 2023 Block B: Chris Brookes vs. Yukio Naya. 30 minute time limit
Result: Yukio Naya beat Chris Brookes

Main Event: D KING GP 2023 Block A: Yuki Ueno vs. Kazusada Higuchi. 30 minute time limit
Result: Yuki Ueno beat Kazusada Higuchi

This was a shorter event than I expected, including pre-show it only went 2 1/2 hours.

The next event is 12/2 at Shinjuku Face. This will be a doubleheader on US time as the events are 12/2 & 12/3 in Japan but the 12/3 event is a matinee. Live streaming on WRESTLE UNIVERSE will begin at 1:15 AM PT/4:15 AM ET for the first event and 6:45 PM PT/9:45 PM ET for the second event. Live results are scheduled for the second event.

UPDATE: After the event, it was announced that Shunma Katsumata will return on 1/3. He has been out since late spring due to injury.

Also, the promotion will return to the US on 4/4/24 with an event in Philadelphia, PA as part of The Collective 2024, a series of independent events held during and around WWE WrestleMania weekend.

New Japan 11/25/23 Results

New Japan ran Day 5 of the World Tag League today, with Day 3 of Block A action.

Today’s event was held at Akibadai Cultural Gym in Kanagawa and can be watched on demand on New Japan World.

The announced paid attendance was 1342.

Pre-show Match; Yuto Nakashima beat Katsuya Murashima.

Match 1: Boltin Oleg, Soberano Jr. & Atlantis Jr. beat Oskar Leube, Alex Zayne & Lance Archer. Soberano pinned Leube after a diving guillotine drop.

Match 2: Ryusuke Taguchi, Yoh, YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto beat Gedo, Taiji Ishimori, Jack Bonza & Bad Luck Fale. Yoh pinned Gedo after Toras Kick.

Match 3: DOUKI, Yuya Uemura, Taichi & SANADA beat Master Wato, Tomoaki Honma, Minoru Suzuki & Yuji Nagata. Taichi pinned Honma after Holy Emperor’s Cross Mausoleum.

Match 4: BUSHI, Zandokan Jr. & Yota Tsuji beat Jado, El Phantasmo & Hikuleo. Tsuji pinned Jado after Vamos Amigo.

World Tag League:
Match 5: Ren Narita & Shota Umino beat Toa Liona & Bishop Kaun. Umino pinned Kaun after Death Rider.
Match 6: Gabriel Kidd & Alex Coughlin beat Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii. Kidd pinned Yano after a piledriver.
Match 7: Ryohei Oiwa & Kaito Kiyomiya beat Yujiro Takahashi & EVIL. Kiyomiya pinned Takahashi after a Frankensteiner.
Main Event: Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls beat HENARE & Great-O-Khan. Haste pinned Khan after Tank Buster.

After 3 days Haste/Nicholls are the block leaders at 3-0, 6 points. Liona/Kaun are about out of it at 0-3, 0 points.

The next event is tomorrow at Big Palette Fukushima Multipurpose Exhibition Hall A in Fukushima. Live streaming on New Japan World will begin TONIGHT at 11 PM PT/2 AM ET. If I stay up long enough to watch the sumo finals there may be live results.

Sumo-November 2023 Grand Sumo Tournament Day 14 (11/25/23) Results (Top 2 Tiers) (Updated)

Here are the quick results from today’s Day 14 of the November 2023 Grand Sumo Tournament in Fukuoka:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, J-Juryo, Ms-Makushita

Makuuchi (Top Tier):
Daiamami (J4) beat Tohakuryu (M15)
Oho (M12) beat Churanoumi (M15)
Sadanoumi (M11) beat Roga (M16)
Nishikifuji (M16) beat Hiradoumi (M11)
Myogiryu (M9) beat Kitanowaka (M17)
Tsurugisho (M13) beat Mitakeumi (M9)
Takarafuji (M13) beat Endo (M8)
Hokuseiho (M7) beat Tomokaze (M14)
Takayasu (M3) beat Kinbozan (M7)
Tamawashi (M12) beat Meisei (M2)
Asanoyama (M1) beat Shodai (M2)
Ura (M1) beat Gonoyama (M4)
Tobizaru (M3) beat Abi (K)
Hokutofuji (K) beat Onosho (M5)
Kotonowaka (S) beat Shonannoumi (M6)
Wakamotoharu (S) beat Nishikigi (M4)
Daieisho (S) beat Takakeisho (O)
Hoshoryu (O) beat Midorifuji (M5)
Kirishima (O) beat Atamifuji (M8)
Leader: Kirishima (12-2)
Of note: It’s not over yet but we’re going to have another Yokozuna Watch in January. Here’s how tomorrow will go: If both Atamifuji & Kirishima win, both lose,, Atamifuji loses (Kotonowaka) or Kirishima wins (Takakeisho), Kisishima is the champion for the second time this year. If Atamifuji wins and Kirishima loses, there will be a playoff rematch and Atamifuji gets a second chance for the second time in a row. Will this be the time after that heartbreaking playoff loss to Takakeisho in September for Atamifuji or will this be the start of Yokozuna for Kirishima? Either way, Kirishima is halfway there because he’ll either win or have a win total equivalent to the championship, although the former is more ideal. At the pace he’s on, Atamifuji isn’t far off. This will be his 3rd straight 11-win effort and should put him on the edge of Sanyaku. I think he’ll be at M1 in January, but if he gets the second chance and wins the championship I’ll move him up to Komusubi. But by this time next year he’s an Ozeki candidate as long as he stays healthy. At the bottom we’re now looking at a minimum of 4 demotions (Kitanowaka, Roga, Nishikifuji, Tohakuryu).

Juryo:
Tochimusashi (Ms3) beat Chiyosakae (J14)
Chiyomaru (J8) beat Daishoho (J7)
Tamashoho (J7) beat Yuma (J13)
Shimanoumi (J12) beat Chiyoshoma (J6)
Onosato (J5) beat Asakoryu (J13)
Shishi (J5) beat Takakento (J9)
Mitoryu (J4) beat Tenshoho (J10)
Kagayaki (J3) beat Akua (J10)
Oshoma (J3) beat Hitoshi (J11)
Bushozan (J2) beat Takahashi (J9)
Shimazuumi (J2) beat Hidenoumi (J11)
Tokihayate (J8) beat Aoiyama (J1)
Kotoshoho (J1) beat Shiden (J12)
Leader: Kotoshoho, Onosato (11-3)
Of note: The co-leaders already met on Day 8 (Kotoshoho won) so they will only meet again if a playoff is needed, and it may well be. Onosato is up first and gets Mitoryu while Kotoshoho faces Asakoryu. If both win or both lose, there will be a playoff. If one loses and the other wins, the winner is the champion. A win probably promotes Onosato to the top tier in January, a championship definitely will, it’s gonna be 50-50 with a loss. Ultimately it may depend on Aoiyama, who must win tomorrow for promotion (Takahashi in the final match). Shimazuumi should be promoted as well with 9 wins, but a 10th win makes it definite. The way top-tier demotions look right now, I think all 3-all 4 if Aoiyama wins-are going up.
As usual on the final day, a handful of Makushita men will be up for Juryo matches, led by Takerufuji who at 5-1 from Ms1 will make his de facto Juryo debut before being promoted in January. Also up will be Kitadaichi, 3-3 at Ms3 and going for promotion, and former Juryo champion Tochimusashi (Kanno), who made dubious history as the first Juryo winner to be demoted to Makushita before reaching the top tier after doing so. Makushita September Champion Hitoshi is going back down after a tough 2-12 so far debut, as is Chiyosakae. Yuma could be a toss-up if he loses tomorrow to finish 7-8. Even though he will be demoted after today, I think Hidenoumi is safe as he has managed 6 wins with missing 2 days due to injury. With 4 wins since returning after starting 0-8 (missing 4 days due to injury), Chiyomaru is safe too. Who won’t be coming back up this time is Wakatakakage-the former Sekiwake had a solid 5-2 effort in his return from injury at Ms6, but that’s not going to be enough. But another promotion effort in January should do it.

Reminder: NHK World Japan will have 90 minutes of LIVE top tier coverage, including the final matches & potential playoff rematch, awards presentation and champion’s interview with English translation, beginning tonight at 11:30 PM PT/2:30 AM ET. Who will second time be the charm for? Don’t miss it!

UPDATE: Once Day 15 got underway, it was announced that, for the second straight tournament, Atamifuji will win the Fighting Spirit Special Prize regardless of the final results. That may be the only Special Prize awarded again but we’ll see.

New Japan 11/24/23 Results

New Japan ran Day 4 of the World Tag League today, the second day of Block B action.

Today’s event was held at Aimesse Yamanashi in Yamanashi and can be watched on demand on New Japan World. It was supposed to be at a later date with no live broadcast but plans may have changed (this was per their Japanese website).

The announced paid attendance was 610.

Pre-show Match: Oskar Leube beat Katsuya Murashima.

Match 1: Master Wato, Ren Narita & Shota Umino beat Yuto Nakahsima, Toa Liona & Bishop Kaun. Narita beat Nakashima with a cobra twist.

Match 2: Ryusuke Taguchi, Yoh, Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii beat Gedo, Taiji Ishimori, Gabriel Kidd & Alex Coughlin. Taguchi pinned Gedo after, according to translation in Edge browser, Sliding Ass. Don’t believe me? Look below!

Match 3: Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Yujiro Takahashi & EVIL beat BUSHI, Hiromu Takahashi & Shingo Takagi. Kanemaru pinned BUSHI with a Samson clutch.

Match 4: Kosei Fujita, Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls beat Callum Newman, HENARE & Great-O-Khan. Haste pinned Newman after Dynamic Bomb.

World Tag League:
Match 5: Soberano Jr. & Atlantis Jr. beat Jack Bonza & Bad Luck Fale. Atlantis pinned Bonza after a diving body press.
Match 6: Zandokan Jr. & Yota Tsuji beat Minoru Suzuki & Yuji Nagata. Tsuji pinned Nagata after Vamos Amigo.
Match 7: Alex Zayne & Lance Archer beat YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto. Archer pinned Goto after Blackout.
Main Event: Yuya Uemura & Taichi beat El Phantasmo & Hikuleo. Taichi pinned Phantasmo after Black Mephisto.

The next event is tomorrow at Akibadai Cultural Gym in Kanagawa. Live streaming on New Japan World will begin at 1 AM PT/4 AM ET.

Sumo-November 2023 Grand Sumo Tournament Day 13 (11/24/23) Results

Here are the quick results from today’s Day 13-Championship Day 1-of the November 2023 Grand Sumo Tournament in Fukuoka:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, J-Juryo, Ms-Makushita, Sd-Sandanme, Jd-Jonidan, Jk-Jonokuchi

Makuuchi (Top Tier):
Kitanowaka (M17) beat Oshoma (J3)
Tohakuryu (M15) beat Oho (M12)
Tomokaze (M14) beat Hiradoumi (M11)
Churanoumi (M15) beat Sadanoumi (M11)
Mitakeumi (M9) beat Tamawashi (M12)
Roga (M16) beat Myogiryu (M9)
Endo (M8) beat Nishikifuji (M16)
Midorifuji (M5) beat Ichiyamamoto (M14)
Tsurugisho (M13) beat NIshikigi (M4)
Tobizaru (M3) beat Hokuseiho (M7)
Atamifuji (M8) beat Takayasu (M3)
Takarafuji (M13) beat Meisei (M2)
Kinbozan (M7) beat Shodai (M2)
Ura (M1) beat Onosho (M5)
Gonoyama (M4) beat Hokutofuji (K)
Abi (K) beat Shonannoumi (M6)
Ryuden (M10) beat Kotonowaka (S)
Asanoyama (M1) beat Wakamotoharu (S)
Kirishima (O) beat Daieisho (S)
Takakeisho (O) beat Hoshoryu (O)
Leader: Kirishima, Atamifuji (11-2)
Of note: The championship can’t be officially decided until the final day, but Kirishima-Atamifuji is the last match tomorrow. That means the winner only needs to win on the final day or have the loser lose again for the championship, but there could also very well be a playoff rematch. It will be the first ever meeting between the two. It’s also down to those two as it means anyone at 9-4 now can’t force a playoff. That includes Takakeisho so Yokozuna hopes are officially dead, and Ichiyamamoto who fell to a HENKA! by Midorifuji. But if Kirishima wins the championship, he goes on the radar in January and will have a chance at promotion if he goes back-to-back. Atamifuji will be looking for a second straight championship chance after losing to Takakeisho in a playoff in September. If he stays healthy, he could be in Ozeki contention by this time next year.
Ozeki Watch: Since he can’t win the championship now, Kotonowaka probably can’t be promoted. 30 wins will now be the best he can do. If he gets there, that starts him at 22 in January, meaning 11 again can do it. One more win should clinch a Special Prize though, likely Outstanding Performance as he did go 2-1 against Ozeki.

Juryo:
Chiyosakae (J14) beat Hitoshi (J11)
Tenshoho (J10) beat Hakuyozan (Ms1)
Takahashi (J9) beat Yuma (J13)
Tokihayate (J8) beat Hidenoumi (J11)
Takakenoto (J9) beat Chiyomaru (J8)
Shiden (J12) beat Chiyoshoma (J6)
Asakoryu (J13) beat Mitoryu (J4)
Onosato (J5) beat Daiamami (J4)
Kagayaki (J3) beat Shishi (J5)
Shimazuumi (J2) beat Akua (J10)
Bushozan (J2) beat Tamashoho (J7)
Kotoshoho (J1) beat Daishoho (J7)
Aoiyama (J1) beat Shimanoumi (J12)
Leader: Kotoshoho, Onosato (10-3)
Of note: While 4 at 8-5 still have playoff hopes, reasonably it’s down to 4. And the top 4 all face off tomorrow as both Kotoshoho and Onosato face the two who are one win back. But if Asakoryu and Shiden both win, the 8-5s are back in it with wins and could force up to a 7-WAY PLAYOFF! It can’t be 8-way because two of the 8-5s, Bushozan & Takahashi, face each other tomorrow. Elsewhere, with his win today, Aoiyama now just needs to win 1 of his last 2 matches for promotion back to the top tier. With 8 wins and promotion clinched at J2, Shimazuumi also will have a chance at a top tier debut in January (I think he needs one more win to make it definite). Fellow J2 Bushozan is a toss-up now to return to the top tier as well with promotion secured, again he also probably needs one more win. And despite his loss today, 4 wins at Ms1 means Hakuyozan will be back in Juryo in January. At this point, Onosato is going to have a chance at the top tier regardless of what happens. One more win makes it likely, 2 wins and/or the championship makes it definite.

Makushita:
Satorufuji (Ms42) beat Kitaharima (Ms11). SATORUFUJI MAKUSHITA YUSHO! 2nd career championship (1st Makushita) in 5 career tournaments for the Isegahama prospect who is an impressive 30-5 to date. He’ll probably go up to Ms12 in January. Kitaharima probably gets denied a January Juryo return as a result.

Sandanme:
Daishoryu (Sd62) beat Nishida (Sd37). DAISHORYU SANDANME YUSHO! First career championship. Will almost certainly return to Makushita after being demoted after July (Absent in September).

Jonidan:
Dairinzan (Jd61) beat Kototaiga (Jd40). PLAYOFF!
Shiroma (Jd15) beat Higonoumi (Jd45)
That means Dairinzan vs. Shiroma on Day 15 Sunday for the championship.

Jonokuchi:
Aonishiki (Jk14) beat Hatachijo (Jd96). AONISHIKI JONOKUCHI YUSHO! First championship in his debut tournament for the rikishi from Ukraine (interestingly he is not a stablemate of Shishi, not right now anyway), and it avoids what would have been a 3-way playoff if he lost as both other Jonokuchi wrestlers who were 5-1 won today, both also in Jonidan.

Reminder: NHK World Japan will have 50 minutes of LIVE top tier coverage, including the important Kirishima-Atamifuji match, tomorrow beginning at 12:10 AM PT/3:10 AM ET. The network is available on participating cable/satellite providers and FREE WORLDWIDE on their website and mobile/tablet/smart TV apps with no account/signup needed and no restrictions.

Pro Wrestling NOAH 11/24/23 Results

Pro Wrestling NOAH ran their monthly STAR NAVIGATION 2023 Tour event today.

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 English only due to being ABEMA exclusive in Japan. You can also watch the first 3 matches FOR FREE on YouTube.

The announced paid attendance was 801.

The 1st and 4th matches were changed from original plans due to Yoshinari Ogawa being off the event. Precaution due to dizziness earlier in the week.

Match 1: Junta Miyawaki beat Taishi Ozawa.

Match 2: Ninja Mack, Alejandro, Terry Yaki & Hajime Ohara beat Dragon Bane, Alpha Wolf, Extreme Tiger & Super Crazy. Mack pinned Wolf after Shooting Star Press.

Match 3: Takashi Sugiura, Go Shiozaki & Kazuyuki Fujita beat Saxon Huxley, Timothy Thatcher & Shuhei Taniguchi. Fujita pinned Taniguchi after a powerbomb.

Match 4: HAYATA & Eita beat LEONA (Dradition) & Kai Fujimura. Eita pinned Fujimura after a dropkick. Fujimura was the replacement for Ogawa here.

Match 5: Jake Lee, LJ Cleary, YO-HEY & Tadasuke beat Naomichi Marufuji, Titus Alexander, Atsushi Kotoge & Hi69. Cleary pinned Kotoge after Cattle Killing.

Match 6: Manabu Soya, Kaito Kiyomiya & Ryohei Oiwa beat Kenoh, Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. & Stallion Rogers. Soya pinned Rogers after a jumping DDT.

Match 7: GHC Heavyweight Tag Team Champions Jack Morris & Anthony Greene beat Masa Kitamiya & Daiki Inaba to retain the titles. Greene pinned Inaba after a 450 splash. V2 for the champs.

Main Event: GHC Junior Heavyweight Champion Daga beat Shuji Kondo to retain the title. V1 for Daga. Next up: Eita. That match will happen on 1/2 at Ariake Arena.

Also added to 1/2: A blockbuster crossover tag match-Zack Sabre Jr. (New Japan) & Yoshinari Ogawa vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi (New Japan) & HAYATA.

The next event is MONDAY MAGIC Episode 4 Monday at Shinjuku Face. Live streaming on WRESTLE UNIVERSE will begin at 2 AM PT/5 AM ET.