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Sumo-November 2023 Grand Sumo Tournament Day 4 Results (11/15/23) (Top 2 Tiers)

Here are the quick results from today’s Day 4 of the November 2023 Grand Sumo Tournament in Fukuoka:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, J-Juryo

Makiuchi (Top Tier):
Kitanowaka (M17) beat Tohakuryu (M15)
Churanoumi (M15) beat Nishikifuji (M16)
Ichiyamamoto (M14) beat Tomokaze (M14)
Roga (M16) beat Tsurugisho (M13)
Tamawashi (M12) beat Sadanoumi (M11)
Hiradoumi (M11) beat Takarafuji (M13)
Kotoeko (M10) beat Oho (M12)
Myogiryu (M9) beat Hitaleumi (M9)
Atamifuji (M8) beat Ryuden (M10)
Kinbozan (M7) beat Hokuseiho (M7)
Takanosho (M6) beat Endo (M8)
Midorifuji (M5) beat Onosho (M5)
Nishikigi (M4) beat Shonannoumi (M6)
Shodai (M2) beat Gonoyama (M4)
Kotonowaka (S) beat Abi (K)
Hokutofuji (K) beat Wakamotoharu (S)
Daieisho (S) beat Ura (M1)
Hoshoryu (O) beat Tobizaru (M3)
Takayasu (M3) beat Kirishima (O)
Meisei (M2) beat Takakeisho (O)
Leader: 6 at 4-0
Of note: At least one unbeaten will go down tomorrow because of Daieisho-Kotonowaka, who are both 4-0.

Juryo:
Chiyosakae (J14) beat Yuma (J13)
Asakoryu (J13) beat Hitoshi (J11)
Shimanoumi (J12) beat Akua (J10)
Tenshoho (J10) beat Shiden (J12)
Hidenoumi (J11) beat Takakento (J9)
Daishoho (J7) beat Takahashi (J9)
Chiyoshoma (J6) beat Tokihayate (J8)
Onosato (J5) beat Chiyomaru (J8) by default/withdrawal
Tamashoho (J7) beat Shishi (J6)
Mitoryu (J4) beat Bushozam (J2)
Daiamami (J4) beat Shimazuumi (J2)
Apiyama (J1) beat Oshoma (J3)
Kotoshoho (J1) beat Kagayaki (J3)
Leader: Onosato (4-0)
WITHDRAWAL: Chiyomaru (J8). Left shoulder. Status uncertain. Happened during yesterday’s match. If he can’t return he will be demoted to Makushita. He needs to return and probably get at least 3 wins to stay in Juryo. Onosato got the free win as a result.

All-Japan 11/15/23 Results

All-Japan ran Day 2 of the Real World Tag League today.

Today’s event was held at Tokorozawa Municipal Gym in Saitama and will be available on demand on AJPW.TV later today. There was no live broadcast.

The announced paid attendance was 560.

Match 1: Jr. Battle Of Glory: Naruki Doi beat Hikaru Sato.

Match 2: Real World Tag League: Shuji Ishikawa & Ren Ayabe beat Hayato Tamura & Galeno Del Mal. Ishikawa pinned Tamura after a running knee lift.

Match 3: Real World Tag League: Suwama & Hideki Suzuki beat Kuroshio TOKYO Japan & Seigo Tachibana. Suzuki pinned Tachibana with a double arm suplex.

Match 4: Ryuji Hijikata & Hiroshi Yamato (Independent/Freelancers) beat Black Menso-re & Ryo Inoue. Hijikata pinned Me so-re with a Fisherman’s Buster.

Match 5: Real World Tag League: Katushiko Nakajima & Hokuto Omori beat Ryuki Honda & Yuma Anzai. Nakajima pinned Anzai after Northern Lights Bomb.

Match 6: Jr. Battle Of Glory: Dan Tamura beat Rising Hayato.

Match 7: Jr. Battle Of Glory: Atsuki Aoyagi vs. Koji Iwamoto went to a 10 minute time limit draw.

Match 8: Real World Tag League: Jun & Rei Saito beat Cyrus & Ryan Danielson. Rei Saito pinned Danielson after a diving body press.

Main Event: Real World Tag League: Kento Miyahara & Yuma Aoyagi beat Yukio Sakaguchi & Hideki Okatani. Miyahara pinned Okatani with a shutdown suplex hold.

The next event is Sunday at Nagoya Congress Center Event Hall in Nagoya. Live streaming on AJPW.TV will begin at 12:30 AM PT/3:30 AM ET.

Sumo-November 2023 Grand Sumo Tournament Day 3 Results (11/14/23) (Updated)

Here are the quick results from today’s Day 3 of the November 2023 Grand Sumo Tournament in Fukuoka:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi. S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, J-Juryo

Makuuchi (Top Tier):
Nishikifuji (M16) beat Roga (M16)
Churanoumi (M15) beat Kitanowaka (M17)
Tomokaze (M14) beat Tohakuryu (M15)
Ichiyamamoto (M14) beat Tsurugisho (M13)
Takarafuji (M13) beat Oho (M12)
Tamawashi (M12) beat Hiradoumi (M11)
Ryuden (M10) beat Sadanoumi (M11)
Mitakeumi (M9) beat Kotoeko (M10)
Myogiryu (M9) beat Endo (M8)
Atamifuji (M8) beat Kinbozan (M7)
Shonanoumi (M6) beat Hokuseiho (M7)
Midorifuji (M5) beat Takanosho (M6)
Gonoyama (M4) beat Onosho (M5)
Nishigiki (M4) beat Abi (K)
Wakamotoharu (S) beat Tobizaru (M3)
Daieisho (S) beat Takayasu (M3)
Kotonowaka (S) beat Meisei (M3)
Kirishima (O) beat Shodai (M2)
Takakeisho (O) beat Ura (M1)
Hoshoryu (O) beat Hokutofuji (K)
Leader: 10 at 3-0
Of note: Rare Technique Alert! Kotonowaka won by Osakate, a twisting backwards over arm throw, which has not been used in the top tier in 13 years.

Juryo:
Asakoryu (J13) beat Chiyosakae (J14)
Yuma (J13) beat Shiden (J12)
Shimanoumi (J12) beat Tenshohp (J10)
Hidenoumi (J11) beat Akua (J10)
Hitoshi (J11) beat Takakento (J9)
Tokihayate (J8) beat Chiyomaru (J8)
Takahashi beat Tamashoho J7)
Daishoho (J7) beat Shishi (J5)
Onosato (J5) beat Chiyoshoma (J6)
Oshoma (J3) beat Mitoryu (J4)
Daiamami (J4) beat Kagayaki (J3)
Kotoshoho (J1) beat Shimazuumi (J2)
Bushizan (J2) beat Aoiyama (J1)
Leader: Bushozan, Onosato, Yuma (3-0)
Of note: Chiyomaru may have been injured in his match against Tokihayate. Had to be helped up and possibly wheelchaired out afterwards with an apparent left arm/elbow injury. Status uncertain.

UPDATE: Chiyomaru has WITHDRAWN on Day 4.

Injury Report: Stardom Body Count Keeps Rising

It seems no Japanese promotion has gotten the worst of a recent major injury wave the last couple months than Stardom. That continues today with 2 more casualties-Mayu Iwatani & Waka Tsukiyama. Iwatani-dislocated finger. Out long enough to be off Sunday’s PPV. Tsukiyama-hernia. Out indefinitely but long enough to be “taking time off”. Possible the former happened last weekend at Lonestar Shootout.

More as it becomes available.

New Japan News: World Tag League Field Set, More (Updated)

New Japan announced the field for the 2023 World Tag League today. The annual year-end Heavyweight tag team tournament will have 16 teams split into 2 blocks for the round-robin format event with the top 2 teams in each block advancing to the Semifinals.

The full field:
Block A: Shota Umino & Ren Narita, Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano, Great-O-Khan & HENARE, Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls, Alex Coughlin & Gabriel Kidd, Yujiro Takahashi & EVIL, Kaito Kiyomiya & Ryohei Oiwa, Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona

Block B: YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto (2-time defending winners), Hikuleo & El Phantasmo, Yuji Nagata & Minoru Suzuki, Taichi & Yuya Uemura, Yota Tsuji & TBA, Soberano Jr. & Atlantis Jr., Lance Archer & Alex Zayne, Bad Luck Fale & Jack Bonza

TBA for Tsuji’s partner, “a friend he met on excursion who isn’t an X but a Z”, will be revealed at Sunday’s non-televised event. The tournament begins on 11/20 and will end on 12/8.

In other news, 2 more title matches have been added to Tokyo Dome on 1/4: NEVER Openweight Champion Shingo Takagi vs. Tama Tonga for the title is now official following Lonestar Shootout, as is NJPW WORLD TV Champion Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi for the title.

The World Tag League will also see the debuts of 2 new Young Lions (rookies making their in-ring debuts in NJPW): Shoka Kato & Katsuya Murashima. Kato, 20, from Osaka is 5’8″, about 180 pounds, He has backgrounds in basketball, MMA and grappling and gained attention through “The Spirit”, a reality show produced by Kazuchika Okada that followed trainees in the New Japan Dojo. He will face Oskar Leube in his debut match on 11/20. Murashima, 23, is from Ibaraki and has been an amateur wrestler for 9 years with 2 regional college championships at 86 kg & 92 kg. He will face Yuto Nakashima in his debut match on 11/21.

(Pictured on right: Shoka Kato)
(Pictures on right: Katsuya Murashima)

UPDATE: In a sometimes-rumored move, lead New Japan World English commentator Kevin Kelly has left the promotion. Kelly hinted at such a move earlier this year but still planned to do some events, the plan was to do Tokyo Dome on 1/4 but now can’t make it due to personal reasons. Kelly joined All Elite Wrestling this year as the lead commentator on AEW Collision when the NJPW schedule was announced. Walker Stephens, who debuted recently on live events in the US, is the likely replacement.

Pro Wrestling NOAH 11/13/23 Results (Updated x2)

Pro Wrestling NOAH ran Episode 3 of MONDAY MAGIC today, the halfway point of the series.

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 been announced but it appears to have been a legit advance sellout.

The card was not announced in advance but there was a last-minute change because Haruka Umesaki, who was scheduled to participate, was removed due to illness.

Match 1: In an Exhibition Match, Kenoh & Ulka Sasaki vs. Manabu Soya & Daisuke Nakamura went to a 10 minute time limit draw. Sasaki is a former UFC & MMA fighter who was making his pro wrestling debut.

Match 2: Hajime Ohara won a 9 man battle royal, last eliminating Saxon Huxley. As a result, Ohara gets the next GHC National Championship shot against Jack Morris. That match will happen on 12/2 at Yokohama Budokan in Yokohama..

Match 3: HAYATA & Titus Alexander beat Atsushi Kotoge & Terry Yaki. Alexander pinned Kotoge with a German suplex hold

Match 4: Miyuki Takase & Chihiro Hashimoto beat Yuu & Hibiscus Mii. Takase pinned Mii after a diving guillotine drop.

Match 5: Dragon Bane vs. Alpha Wolf went to a double pinfall.

Match 6: Kaito Kiyomiya, Ryohei Oiwa & Yuma Anzai (All-Japan) beat Jake Lee, Anthony Greene & LJ Cleary. Kiyomiya pinned Cleary after a modified tiger driver.

After the event, GHC Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Champions Dragon Bane & Aloha Wolf vs. Ninja Mack & Alejandro and YO-HEY & Tadasuke for the titles was announced for 1/2 at Ariake Arena.

Episode 4 is 11/27.

The next event is Friday at Light Cube Utsunomiya in Tochigi. There will be no live broadcast.

UPDATE: Corrected Match 6 result to note ? from earlier (bad website translation) was actually Yuma Anzai.

Additionally, the first match for Episode 4 has been announced: Nagisa Nozaki Return Match-Nagisa Nozaki vs. Miyuki Takase.

UPDATE 2: Added Match 3 result.

Sumo-November 2023 Grand Sumo Tournament Day 2 Results (11/13/23) (Top 2 Tiers)

Here are the quick results from today’s Day 2 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):
Kitanowaka (M17) beat Roga (M16)
Tohakuryu (M15) beat Nishikifuji (M16)
Ichiyamamoto (M14) beat Churanoumi (M15)
Tomokaze (M14) beat Takarafuji (M15$
Tamawashi (M12) beat Taurugisho (M13)
Sadanoumi (M11) beat Oho (M12)
Kotoeko (M12) beat Hiradoumi (M11)
Ryuden (M10) beat Myogiryu (M9)
Atamifuji (M8) beat Mitakeumi (M9)
Hokuseiho (M7) beat Endo (M8)
Takanosho (M6) beat Kinbozan (M7)
Shonannoumi (M6) beat Onosho (M5)
Midorifuji (M5) beat Nishikigi (M4)
Tobizaru (M3) beat Hokutofuji (K)
Daieisho (S) beat Gonoyama (M4)
Kotonowaka (S) beat Takayasu (M3)
Wakamotoharu (S) beat Meisei (M2)
Takakeisho (O) beat Shodai (M2)
Hoshoryu (O) beat Ura (M1)
Kirishima (O) beat Abi (K)

Juryo:
Takerufuji (Ms1) beat Chiyosakae (J14)
Yuma (J13) beat Shimanoumi (J12)
Shiden (J12) beat Azumaryu (J14) by default/withdrawal
Asakoryu (J11) beat Hidenoumi (J11)
Akua (J10) beat Hitoshi (J11)
Takakento (J9) beat Tenshoho (J10)
Takahashi (J9) beat Chiyomaru (J8)
Tamashoho (J7) beat Tokihayate (J8)
Onosato (J5) beat Daishoho (J7)
Shishi (J5) beat Chiyoshoma (J6)
Mitoryu (J4) beat Kagayaki (J3)
Daiamami (J4) beat Oshoma (J3)
Shimazuumi (J2) beat Aoiyama (J1)
Bushozan (J2) beat Kotoshoho (J1)
WITHDRAWAL: Azumaryu (J14). Left knee injury suffered in yesterday’s loss. Status uncertain. If done for the tournament or more than a week, his long slow demotion out of the top 2 tiers this last year-plus after his first and only promotion in the top tier is now complete (I believe that was his last winning record). Shiden got the free win as a result.

GLEAT 11/12/23 Results

GLEAT ran their latest G PROWRESTLING event today, returning to Osaka for today’s event headlined by a G-REX Championship match.

Today’s event was held at Umeda Stellar Hall in Osaka and will be available on demand on YouTube at a later date (probably Tuesday or Wednesday). There was no live broadcast.

The announced paid attendance was 241.

Match 1: Soma Watanabe & Yuys Susumu beat Takanori Ito & Fire Katsumi. Watanabe pinned Katsumi after Firebird Splash.

Match 2: Ryuichi Kawakami beat Keiichi Sato.

Match 3: El Lindaman beat JD Lee.

Match 4: Kaito Ishida, Kotaro Suzuki & Hartley Jackson beat KAZMA SAKAMOTO, Check Shimatani & Quiet Storm. Jackson pinned Shimatani after a piledriver.

Match 5: Kaz Hayashi, Minoru Tanaka, CIMA, Seiichi Ikemoto & Tomoaki Honma (New Japan) beat Tetsuya Izuchi, Yu Iizuka, Jun Tonsho, Junjae & Issei Onitsuka. Hayashi pinned Tonsho.

Main Event: G-REX Champion T-Hawk beat Masato Kamino by ref stoppage (corner stoppage-towel) to retain the title. V5 for T-Hawk.

The next event is Saturday at Nishitetsu Hall in Fukuoka with G INFINITY Champions Jun & Rei Saito (All-Japan) vs. KAZMA SAKAMOTO & Quiet Storm for the titles. Broadcast plans TBA.

Pro Wrestling NOAH 11/12/23 Results

Pro Wrestling NOAH continued the SUNNY VOYAGE 2023 Tour today with a house show in Kyoto.

Today’s event was held at Kyoto KBS Hall in Kyoto and will be available on demand on WRESTLE UNIVERSE at a later date (probably Wednesday). There was no live broadcast.

The announced paid attendance was 334.

Match 1: Atsushi Kotoge, Hajime Ohara & Taishi Ozawa beat Super Crazy, Hi69 & Yu Owada. Ohara pinned Owada after a backbreaker.

Match 2: Saxon Huxley & Shuhei Taniguchi beat Alejandro & Extreme Tiger. Taniguchi pinned Tiger after Wyvern Catch.

Match 3: LEONA (Dradition) beat Kai Fujimura by submission.

Match 4: Takashi Sugiura & Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. beat Go Shiozaki & Stallion Rogers. Sugiura pinned Rogers after Olympic Yosen Slam.

Match 5: Manabu Soya, HAYATA & Eita beat Kenoh, Ninja Mack & Terry Yaki. Soya pinned Yaki after Trajectory.

Match 6: Daiki Inaba beat Anthony Greene.

Match 7: Daga & Yoshinari Ogawa beat Shuji Kondo & Junta Miyawaki. Daga pinned Miyawaki after a lariat.

Main Event: Jake Lee, Jack Morris, LJ Cleary, YO-HEY & Tadasuke beat Kaito Kiyomiya, Manabu Soya, Ryohei Oiwa, Dragon Bane & Alpha Wolf. Morris pinned Kitamiya after a tiger driver.

The next event is MONDAY MAGIC Episode 3 tomorrow at Shinjuku Face in Tokyo. The card will not be announced in advance, but it has been announced that Haruka Umesaki, who was scheduled for the event, is now off. Illness. No replacement will be announced before the event. Live streaming on WRESTLE UNIVERSE will begin at 2 AM PT/5 AM ET. Also, the January 2024 schedule indicates the never-ending SUNNY VOYAGE 2023 Tour will become the never-ending SUNNY VOYAGE 2024 Tour in the new year.

Sumo-November 2023 Grand Sumo Tournament Day 1 (Opening Day) Results (11/12/23)

Here are the quick results from today’s Day 1-Opening Day-of the November 2023 Grand Sumo Tournament in Fukuoka:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, Y-Yokozuna, J-Juryo, Ms-Makushita

Makuuchi (Top Tier):
Kitanowaka (M17) beat Nishikifuji (M16)
Churanoumi (M15) beat Roga (M16)
Ichiyamamoto (M14) beat Tohakuryu (M15)
Tsurugisho (M13) beat Tomokaze (M14)
Tamawashi (M12) beat Takarafuji (M13)
Oho (M12) beat Hiradoumi (M11)
Sadanoumi (M11) beat Kotoeko (M10)
Ryuden (M10) beat Mitakeumi (M9)
Atamifuji (M8) beat Myogiryu (M9)
Kinbozan (M7) beat Endo (M9)
Hokuseiho (M7) beat Takanosho (M6)
Shonannoumi (M6) beat Midorifuji (M5)
Onosho (M5) beat Nishikigi (M4)
Abi (K) beat Gonoyama (M4)
Kotonowaka (S) beat Tobizaru (M3)
Takayasu (M3) beat Wakamotoharu (S)
Daieisho (S) beat Meisei (M2)
Hoshoryu (O) beat Shodai (M2)
Kirishima (O) beat Ura (M1)
Takakeisho (O) beat Hokutofuji (K)
WITHDRAWAL (Pre-Tournament): Terunofuji (Y), Asanoyama (M1). Terunofuji-Back/hip (herniated disc). Out the entire tournament. 3rd straight absent. His 2023 will finish with only one tournament he lasted the full 15 days in, but that was his May Championship. He either wins the championship or doesn’t finish. Will return in January per stablemaster Isegahama. Still no real pressure from the Yokozuna Deliberation Committee to possibly retire as he did join the October tour for a while, but he’s never going to truly be 100% again between his knees, back and other health issues (namely diabetes). Asanoyama-Torn left calf muscle suffered late in the tour. Questionable to return during the tournament. Will attempt to return if able to., especially because he is motivated by coming just short of his stated goal of making it back to Sanyaku by the end of this year. Just a win or two short.
On a side note, YouTube source Chris Sumo reported before the tournament that if Kotonowaka ever gets promoted to Ozeki, he will change his ring name to Kotozakura. The son of stablemaster Sadogatake needs to win the tournament to have any chance of promotion this time (mathematically he could also become eligible with at least, I think, 13 wins).

Juryo:
Hakuyozan (Ms1) beat Azumaryu (J14)
Shiden (J12) beat Chiyosakae (J14)
SHimanoumi (J12) beat Asakoryu (J13)
Yuma (J13) beat Hidenoumi (J11)
Tenshoho (J10) beat Hitoshi (J11)
Akua (J10) beat Takakento (J9)
Tokihayate (J7) beat Takahashi (J9)
Tamashoho (J7) beat Chiyomaru (J8)
Chiyoshoma (J6) beat Daishoho (J7)
Onosato (J5) beat Shishi (J5)
Mitoryu (J4) beat Daiamami (J4)
Kagayaki (J3) beat Oshoma (J3)
Bushozan (J2) beat Shimazuumi (J2)
Aoiyama (J1) beat Kotoshoho (J1)
WITHDRAWAL (Pre-Tournament): Hakuoho (J8). Shoulder. Not a surprise as it was announced after July he would have surgery for a separated shoulder and be out the rest of the year. Will return in January barring a setback. Will be demoted to Makushita but should be high enough to have a chance to return to Juryo in March. If what happened this time to Wakatakakage in September is a comparison, and it’s a good one as I believe he was J7, look for Hakuoko to wind up around Makushita 7 or 8 and need one-maybe two-tournaments to get back up.

Lower tier notes: Former Sekiwake and Emperor’s Cup winner Wakatakakage, demoted to Makushita 6 and losing his salary for the first time in a long time, returned for this tournament following knee surgery and recovery. This was on the best-case end of the timeframe for return, which initially was 6 months to 1 year (it’s right about at 6 months). He lost his first match to Kayo, meaning he will need to win out and finish 6-1 to have any reasonable chance to return to Juryo in January (at least if 6-1 wins the tournament again, which is unusual). Also debuting today was Onokatsu, the final wrestler to earn the Makushita 15 debut ranking for pre-pro accomplishments (there were recent rule changes to do away with that following Hakuoho debuting at that rank). He lost his first match so it’s safe to say he won’t match Hakuoho’s now-never-to-be-matched record of making it to Juryo in just one tournament after debuting. Among the notable withdrawals are Kiho (Ms2), just demoted from Juryo after 2 straight tournament at the equivalent of 6-9 (dealt with injuries in both) and Fujiseiun, who just a couple tournaments ago was in Juryo but will now be demoted to the Sandanme after pulling out from Ms46. Former top tier wrestler Enho, now at Sandanme 22, is also out as he continues to try and return from a major back injury. He recently returned to training under former Yokozuna Hakuho, his stablemaster (Miyagino). He’ll almost certainly drop to Jonidan in January, I would call him doubtful for that tournament right now.