After last night’s AEW Dynamite, Ring Of Honor taped what is believed to be the 6/1 episode of their weekly TV show on HonorClub. Turns out there was another New Japan title match. The result is below (if you’re paying $9.99 a month to watch this will contain SPOILERS! The match also likely will be added to New Japan World at a later date).
Continue reading “New Japan News: Another Upcoming Title Match in ROH (SPOILERS!)”Category: Uncategorized
Injury Report: Late Mone Cash Out
Although they waited 4 days to do so, New Japan has finally confirmed what the world already knew-Mercedes Mone was injured at Resurgence. Right ankle. New Japan only said she underwent a “thorough appraisal immediately after her match and began treatment”. It happened in the main event when she lost to Willow Nightingale for the STRONG Women’s Championship. This cones amidst unconfirmed rumors Mone signed for more dates with NjPW and Stardom but is now out indefinitely amidst persistent rumors-and more hopes from the internet-that she could be headed to All Elite Wrestling.
More as it becomes available.
Tokyo Joshi Pro 5/24/23 Results
Tokyo Joshi Pro ran a Hyper Misao Produced mini-event today, the first time the promotion’s resident “hero” had her turn running things, and it was mostly comedy of course.
Today’s event was held at Kitazawa Town Hall in Tokyo and will be available on demand on WRESTLE UNIVERSE at a later date (probably Sunday or Monday). There was no live broadcast.
The announced paid attendance was 202, a full house/near sellout.
Match 1: A Hyper Misao 2 Audition Battle Royal technically had no winner. The match itself was won by Suzume, last eliminating Miu Watanabe, but Suzume declined to win.
Match 2: Yoshihiko (DDT) beat Shoko Nakajima. This is the match I’m waiting to see.
Main Event: Rika Tatsumi & Arisu Endo beat Yuki Aino & Mahiro Kiryu. Tatsumi beat Kiryu with a dragon sleeper. It was announced a couple days ago that Tatsumi would return for this event after missing about a week with the always-vague poor physical condition.
The next event is Saturday at Fujisawa City Shonandai Cultural Center in Kanagawa, back in Yuki Kamifuku’s hometown to continue the spring house show tour. Aja Kong participation is set for this event. There will be no live broadcast.
AEW Rampage 5/26/23 Results (SPOILERS!)
Click below for the quick results for this week’s TAPED AEW Rampage from Las Vegas, which will now air at REGULAR TIME-Friday at 10 PM ET/PT on TNT (SPOILERS!):
Continue reading “AEW Rampage 5/26/23 Results (SPOILERS!)”AEW Dynamite 5/24/23 Results
Here are the quick results from tonight’s AEW Dynamite in Las Vegas, NV:
AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy beat Kyle Fletcher (New Japan) to retain the title. Afterwards, AEW announced they have signed Aussie Open (Fletcher & Mark Davis).
AEW Trios Champions House Of Black beat AR Fox, Blake Christian & Metalik to retain the titles. Brody King beat Christian with a sleeper hold.
Taya Valkyrie beat Lady Frost.
Adam Cole-Chris Jericho contract signing for Sunday’s Unsanctioned Match. Cole has brought in Sabu as a special enforcer.
Tony Khan announced the Collision premiere on 6/17 will be in Chicago, IL. Not mentioned in any form: CM Punk, who is expected to return to AEW then. Reportedly the hold-up was Ace Steel, who apparently Punk has to have around for creative. We’ll see what happens.
Roderick Strong beat Daniel Garcia.
ROH Tag Team Champions Lucha Bros beat Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta to retain the titles.
It was okay for a PPV go-home. Matches were so-so but promos and video packages were excellent.
Rampage airtime is “check local listings” because it will depend on NHL and NBA Eastern Conference Finals Game 4/5 outcomes. As of this post NHL Game 4, with Florida leading Carolina 3-0 in the series, had 15 minutes to go and it was 3-2 Florida. If Carolina wins, Game 5 is Friday at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT. NBA Game 5 between Miami & Boston is Thursday and it’s now 3-1 Miami. If Boston wins, Game 6 would be Saturday at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT on TNT with Rampage originally rumored to follow NBA. Spoilers will be posted when available.
News: New Tiger Mask Introduced
Longtime puroresu fans (and New Japan fans in particular) may be familiar with Tiger Mask, the iconic masked wrestler based on classic Japanese comics that partially inspired fellow icon Jushin Liger and eternal nemesis Black Tiger (often portrayed the last two decades by Rocky Romero). Originally created by former wrestler Satoru Sayama, he unveiled the new Tiger Mask 7 today…but it’s not a wrestler. According to a Twitter post by Mark Pickering, who does English-language commentary for some Pro Wrestling NOAH events on WRESTLE UNIVERSE, TM 7 is actually kickboxing star Takeru Segawa, who will not be wrestling as the new Tiger Mask. Pickering indicates it’s a charity project as Sayama wants Segawa to continue his work and spread the TM name worldwide.
The current active Tiger Mask, TM 4, continues to compete in New Japan. Others to have been TM in the past include Sayama, Mitsuharu Misawa (TM 2) and Koji Kanemoto (TM 3).
The original Twitter source post is below.
Sumo-May 2023 Grand Sumo Tournament Day 11 Results (5/24/23) (Top 2 Tiers)
Here are the quick results from today’s Day 11 of the May 2023 Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, Y-Yokozuna, J-Juryo, Ms-Makushita
Makuuchi (top tier):
Daishoho (M11) beat Mitoryu (M16)
Kagayaki (M17) beat Takarafuji (M10)
Ryuden (M10) beat Aoiyama (M12)
Onosho (M9) beat Myogiryu (M14)
Takanosho (M8) beat Chiyoshoma (M13)
Oho (M16) beat Sadanoumi (M8)
Tamawashi (M7) beat Ichiyamamoto (M15)
Tsurugisho (M15) beat Mitakeumi (M6)
Asanoyama (M14) beat Neisei (M6)
Kotoeko (M13) beat Kinbozan (M5)
Nishikigi (M4) beat Hokutofuji (M7)
Ura (M4) beat Nishikifuji (M3)
Takayasu (M3) beat Abi (M1)
Shodai (K) beat Tobizaru (M3)
Kiribayama (S) beat Hiradoumi (M9)
Wakamotoharu (S) beat Hokuseiho (M11)
Takakeisho (O) beat Daieisho (S)
Terunofuji (Y) beat Hoshoryu (S)
Leader: Terunofuji, Asanoyama (10-1)
Of note: Takayasu was a surprise return today as a thigh injury suffered in morning practice before Day 1 began was expected to keep him out 3 weeks. He looked limited on his mobility but still quickly dispatched Abi. Any wins will reduce the drop he’ll take in July as he’s already got a demotion for missing 8+ days.
Ozeki Watch: It’s all but official for Kiribayama. Of course it’s up to the Japan Sumo Association to decide, but to meet the minimum 33 wins over 3 consecutive tournaments in Sanyaku eligibility criteria Kiribayama now needs just one more win the rest of the way. That or win the championship again. The other Sekiwake have pretty much been mathematically eliminated from consideration this time unless 11-4 winds up winning the championship (or 12-3 if Wakamotoharu wins out). Only Wakamotoharu seems to have any championship chance now.
Key matches tomorrow: Terunofuji-Wakamotoharu, Asanoyama-Daieisho, Kiribayama-Talakeisho. A lot on the line in that last one because Takakeisho needs one more win to get out of kadoban status and remain Ozeki. If he gets it before the final day, anticipate an immediate withdrawal to get his knees some rest and treatment.
Juryo:
Yuma (Ms5) beat Shimanoumi (J13)
Tonokaze (J12) beat Tokihayate (J14)
Hidenoumi (J11) beat Fujiseiun (J13)
Kitanowaka (J10) beat Tsushimanada (J14)
Chiyosakae (J12) beat Shimazuumi (J8)
Tamashoho (J11) beat Hakuyozan (J6)
Akua (J5) beat Chiyomaru (J10)
Atamifuji (J8) beat Oshoma (J4)
Roga (J4) beat Bushozan (J3)
Tohakuryu (J2) beat Daiamami (J9)
Takakento (J7) beat Azumaryu (J2)
Shonannoumi (J1) beat Churanoumi (J7
Gonoyama (J1) beat Ochiai (J8)
Leader: Gonoyama, Ochiai (10-1)
Of note: If Ochiai doesn’t reach the top tier in July, today may be why. For comparison, Asanoyama was at this spot in January, finished 14-1 and won the championship at J12 and was promoted to J1. Ochiai may be in a better place to make the leap at J8 but we’ll have to see what happens over the last 4 days.
Shiden, who has earned promotion back to Juryo in July with a 4-2 record at Makishita 1, gets the Makushita man spot tomorrow although if he loses, he could be in an odd spot as he should have one more Makushita match and could wind up 4-4.
Key matches tomorrow: Ochiai-Tamashoho, Gonoyama-Hakuyozan, Atamifuji-Shonannoumi. If both leaders lose, the Atamifuji-Shonannoumi winner will be in a 3-way tie for the lead.
Lower tier notes:
As is typically the case after Day 12, the Makushita Championship is now set for what should be Day 13: Daishomaru vs. Kiryuko. Daishomaru beat Okinohama and Kiryuko beat Shishi to set it up. Neither will be promoted to Juryo as Daishomart is at Ms42 and Kiryuko is at Ms26. But who will be promoted is Kawazoe, who got his 4th win today at Ms1 so he will be Shin-Juryo in July while despite a loss today Shiden will be Sai-Juryo, getting a second chance after being forced to moss his forst Juryo tournament.
In the Sandanme, the championship match will be Yutakasho vs. Sazanami as the last 2 at 6-0. In the Jonidan, 3 are still at 6-0 so a playoff may be needed. In the Jonokuchi, Reonmaru is the sole leader at 6-0 but 5-0 Haruyama has his 6th match tomorrow, so if Haruyama wins theu probably would face off on Day 14 as usually the lower tier wrestlers won’t conpete 3 days on a row.
New Japan 5/24/23 Results
New Japan ran Day 10 of Best Of The Super Junior today, finishing up Block B and setting the second half of the Semifinals. Whoever came out on top today get Mike Bailey & Titan next.
Today’s event was held at Osaka Prefectural Gym 2 in Osaka and can be watched on demand on New Japan World in Japanese and English.
The announced paid attendance was 819, a full house/near sellout.
Match 1: Oskar Leube & Mike Bailey beat Yuto Nakashima & Lio Rush. Leube pinned Nakashima after a flying body attack.
Match 2: Sho, Yujiro Takahashi & EVIL beat TAKA Michinoku, DOUKI & Taichi. EVIL pinned TAKA after EVIL.
Match 3: Titan & Hiromu Takahashi beat Ryusuke Taguchi & KUSHIDA. Titan pinned Taguchi after a swan dive foot stomp.
Best Of The Super Junior Block B:
Match 4: BUSHI beat Francesco Akira.
Match 5: Dan Moloney beat Clark Connors by countout.
Match 6: Master Wato beat Kevin Knight.
Match 7: Yoshinobu Kanemaru beat Yoh by submission. As a result, Wato advances to the Semifinals.
Main Event: El Desperado beat Robbie Eagles by submission. As a result, Desperado advances to the Semifinals.
Because both finished tied at the top, Desperado wins Block B on tiebreaker over Wato, which was head-to-head result. That means the Semifinals will be Wato vs. Bailey and Desperado vs. Titan.
The Semifinals are Friday at Yoyogi National Stadium Gym 2 in Tokyo. Live streaming on New Japan World and ABEMA will begin at 2:30 AM PT/5:30 AM ET, and even better, everyone will be able to watch the entire event FOR FREE! No account or login required!
BREAKING: Saki Akai Retiring
Shocking news from DDT: Just a day after announcing her next 10th Anniversary event, Saki Akai announced she is retiring in November. Her final event will be November 12 at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo.
More as it becomes available.
Notes from her press conference with Sanshiro Takagi: it’s a personal decision to retire but she also wants to focus more on modeling and her beauty salon, plus she’s managed to stay healthy and doesn’t want to overstay her welcome. Takagi says she’ll always have a place in DDT and could stay on in a non-wrestling role. He did grant one request Akai had-a KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Title match as she has a deep affection for the title. So at WRESTLE PETER PAN on 7/23 it will be Champions Kazusada Higuchi, Yuki Ishida & Ryota Nakatsu vs. Akai, Yukio Sakaguchi & Hideki Okatani for the titles.
Among wrestlers commenting and sending well-wishes on social media is Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestler and SKE48 member Yuki Arai. Saki helped Arai win her first championship last year as they spent several months as Princess Tag Team Champions. Saki made semi-regular appearances in TJPW as both herself and her French-themed alter-ego Sakisama, a darker, sexier version of herself who teamed with independent fan favorite Mei Suruga, who became loyal maid/servant May Saint-Michel as part of Neo-Bishiki-Gun. Sometimes Yukio Sakaguchi joined them in TJPW.
Below is video of the presser in Japanese courtesy of the DDT Official YouTube channel:
Sumo-May 2023 Grand Sumo Tournament Day 10 Results (5/23/23) (Top 2 Tiers)
Here are the quick results from today’s Day 10 of the May 2023 Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, Y-Yokozuna, J-Juryo, Ms-Makushita
Makuuchi (top tier):
Kagayaki (M17) beat Myogiryu (M14)
Aoiyama (M12) beat Mitoryu (M16)
Kotoeko (M12) beat Ichiyamamoto (M15)
Oho (M16) beat Ryuden (M10)
Chiyoshoma (M13) beat Onosho (M9)
Asanoyama (M14) beat Hiradoumi (M9)
Tsurugisho (M10) beat Sadanoumi (M8)
Daishoho (M11) beat Takanosho (M8)
Tamawashi (M7) beat Takarafuji (M10)
Hokuseiho (M11) beat Meisei (M6)
Ura (M4) beat Hokutofuji (M7)
Nishigiki (M4) beat Mitakeumi (M6)
Tobizaru (M3) beat Midorifuji (M1)
Abi (M1) beat Shodai (K)
Kirobayama (S) beat Wakamotoharu (S)
Daieisho (S) beat Kotoshoho (M5) by default/withdrawal
Hoshoryu (S) beat Nishikifuji (M3)
Kinbozan (M5) beat Takakeisho (O)
Terunofuji (Y) beat Kotonowaka (K)
Leader: Terunofuji, Asanoyama (9-1)
WITHDRAWAL: Kotoshoho (M5). Left knee. Return uncertain. Regardless this officially means another demotion for the January runner-up.
Also, Takayasu (M2), a last-minute Day 1 withdrawal due to a thigh injury, will return tomorrow. He is currently the equivalent of 0-10 and will be demoted, but any wins now mean gaining back rankings spots he would have otherwise lost. If he finishes with 5 straight wins I could see his drop only being to M7 instead of perhaps M11 or M12. He faces Abi tomorrow.
Of note: Almost 2 straight losses for Terunofuji as Kotonowaka had him on the edge of the dohyo early before the yokozuna managed a better position and came back for the victory. In an exciting earlier match, Hokuseiho managed a couple of miracle escapes in a similar position against Meisei, using his height brilliantly to rally and win. Definitely not a post-Kinboshi letdown for Meisei, the effort was certainly there and he just got unlucky. No such issues for Asanoyama as he won easily to stay a co-leader. Takakeisho took a tough loss today against Kinbozan and now needs 2 more wins to get out of kadoban status instead of being on the verge of safety. In his first try against an Ozeki, Kinbozan gets a huge bounceback win after losing to Terunofuji. Hopefully the rikishi from Kazakhstan can use this momentum to get back to a winning record.
Ozeki Watch: The presumptive magic number is now 2 for Kiribayama. He’s clinched his winning record and protected his Sekiwake rank with 8 wins so now the goal is finish better than 2-3 to hopefully earn promotion. Wakamotoharu probably lost any chances at Ozeki this time unless he wins the championship, which he still has a chance at. Daieisho got a freebie today to stay in range at 7-3, with Hoshoryu at the same record.
Key matches tomorrow: Asanoyama-Meisei, Terunofuji-Hoshoryu, Kiribayama-Hiradoumi, Hokuseiho-Wakamotoharu. Hokuseiho clinched promotion today and is also one off the lead
Juryo:
Tokihayate (J14) beat Hayatefuji (Ms3)
Tsushimanada (J14) beat Hidenoumi (J11)
Fujiseiun (J13) beat Chiyomaru (J10)
Kitanowaka (J10) beat Chiyosakae (J12)
Daiamami (J9) beat Shimanoumi (J13)
Tomokaze (J12) beat Chiyonokuni (J9) by default/withdrawal
Hakuyozan (J6) beat Oshoma (J4)
Tamashoho (J11) beat Roga (J4)
Ochiai (J8) beat Bushozan (J3)
Akua (J5) beat Enho (J3) by default/withdrawal
Churanoumi (J7) beat Azumaryu (J2)
Shimazuumi (J6) beat Tohakuryu (J2)
Atamifuji (J6) beat Gonoyama (J1)
Shonannoumi (J1) beat Takakento (J7)
Leader: Ochiai (10-0)
WITHDRAWAL: Enho (J3), Chiyonokuni (J9). Enho-herniated cervical disk. Out at least 3 months. Chiyonokuni-knees (both MCLs and osteoarthritis). Out indefinitely but, based on recent history and using Terunofuji as a comparison, possibly done for the year (Terunofuji missed 8 months with similar). Both details per Nikkan Sports. If Enho can return in September on this timeline, he’ll be a Makushita man.
Of note: Welcome to the show, Shonannoumi! With win #8 at J1 today, he has clinched promotion to the top tier and will make his debut there in July. In the meantime, what would have been an all-unbeaten showdown tomorrow or later was denied when Gonoyama was beaten by Atamifuji, leaving Ochiai as the lone unbeaten left. Also, Azumaryu will not bounce back to the top tier again this time as an 8th loss today means another demotion for the inconsistent Mongolian.
Key match tomorrow: Gonoyama-Ochiai. A day short of the unbeaten showdown after what happened today. This could all but clinch the championship for Ochiai-a win puts him 2 clear of the field with 4 days left although recent history in that situation has not been good to leaders. Atamifuji and Shonannoumi are still in it at 8-2. Also stopping in Juryo tomorrow is the 3:10 To Yuma as Yuma is the Makushita man up tomorrow. At Ms5 this time, he has already clinched promotion at 4-1 and has an outside chance to reach Juryo if he can finish 6-1. He gets Shimanoumi, who at 6-4 has a chance to end his long demotion streak.