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Pro Wrestling NOAH 12/23/22 Results

Pro Wrestling NOAH wrapped up their 2022 schedule today with the final N INNOVATION event of the year, shining the spotlight on their Jr. Heavyweight division once more with a major event headlined by two title matches.

Today’s event was held at Shinjuku Face in Tokyo and can be watched on demand on WRESTLE UNIVERSE.

The announced paid attendance was 320. Vocal cheering was allowed meaning this sounded like a higher number than what reduced capacity would usually be, possibly a sellout (the venue’s normal capacity is roughly 500).

Match 1: Shoki Kitamura beat Hi69 by submission.

Match 2: Ninja Mack, Alejandro & Andy Wu beat Shuji Kondo, Tadasuke & Hajime Ohara. Alejandro pinned Tadasuke after Casadora con Hero.

Match 3: Yasutaka Yano beat NOSAWA Rongai. UPSET ALERT!

Match 4: Yoshinari Ogawa vs. Eita went to a No Contest. Tadasuke & Hi69 interference.

Match 5: YO-HEY & Kzy (Dragon Gate) beat GHC Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Champions Atsushi Kotoge & Seiki Yoshioka to win the titles. YO-HEY & Kzy become the 54th GHC Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Champions. Kzy pinned Kotoge after KZ Time.

Main Event: AMAKUSA beat GHC Jr. Heavyweight Champion Dante Leon to win the title. AMAKUSA becomes the 52nd GHC Jr. Heavyweight Champion. The former Haoh plays the ultimate revenge version of Kongo Bongo…first he got kicked out of the faction. Then he got kicked out of NOAH. Then he snuck back under a mask and a new name. Now he does what most of Kongo has not been able to do-win the Jr. Heavyweight Championship. Very fun times ahead.

And with that, Pro Wrestling NOAH’s 2022 comes to a close. It was another up & down year especially with generally poor attendance for major events despite being helped out by funding from CyberFight Corporation to keep them going, and once again they were hurt by their top stars going down with injuries for long stretches. And then it became all about Keiji Muto when he announced he will retire in February, and I believe they did become the first promotion to run the new Ariake Arena in Tokyo (built for the 2020 Summer Olympics). The start of 2023 will be all about Muto’s retirement but they also have a literally red-hot rivalry between Kenoh & Kaito Kiyomiya that shows no signs of slowing down. It’s always been a bit of a struggle for the promotion since the death of founder Mitsuharu Misawa, but they always keep him in their hearts and continue voyaging forward.

The first event of 2023 is ABEMA presents “NOAH THE NEW YEAR” 2023 on 1/1 at Nippon Budokan in Tokyo. It’s an absolutely loaded blowout event with a one-last-time worldwide dream match as former New Japan superstar Shinsuke Nakamura, currently competing in WWE, returns to Japan for a special single match against Keiji Muto. Live streaming on WRESTLE UNIVERSE in English only will begin at 1:45 AM ET/10:45 PM PT on 12/31. This is an ABEMA-exclusive broadcast so the original Japanese broadcast will only be available on demand after the event.

New Japan 12/23/22 Results

New Japan wrapped up their 2022 today with the second half of Road to TOKYO DOME, the final event of the year that also promised the final farewell to the Suzuki-gun faction after 11 years.

Today’s event was held at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo and can be watched on demand on New Japan World.

The announced paid attendance was 1376, a legit advance sellout.

Match 1: Sho & Yujiro Takahashi beat Yuto Nakashima & Jado. Takahashi pinned Nakashima after Pimp Juice.

Match 2: Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii beat Kosei Fujita & Ryohei Oiwa. Ishii pinned Oiwa.

Match 3; Francesco Akira, Aaron Henare, Great-O-Khan & Jeff Cobb beat Ren Narita, Tiger Mask, Tomoaki Honma & Togi Makabe. Akira pinned TM 4 after Fireball.

Match 4: Hiromu Takahashi & Shingo Takagi beat Dick Togo & EVIL. Takagi pinned Togo after a sliding lariat.

Match 5: YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto beat Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan. Goto pinned Tenzan after Shoto.

Match 6: BUSHI, SANADA & Tetsuya Naito beat Shota Umino, Ryusuke Taguchi & Hiroshi Tanahashi. Naito pinned Taguchi after Destino.

Match 7: Master Wato, Yoh & Kazuchika Okada beat Gedo, Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo. Yoh pinned Gedo after Direct Drive. Afterwards, Akira laid out Yoh with Fireball.

Main Event: Suzuki-gun Farewell Match: DOUKI, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr. beat TAKA Michinoku, El Desperado, Lance Archer & Minoru Suzuki. Sabre pinned Suzuki after Zack Driver. Afterwards, all the members took turns sending messages of gratitude to Suzuki as the faction will now disband, but as the celebration wound down…look out, it’s CRAZY KOUZU! Takashi Iizuka returned with his signature entrance rampaging through the crowd to steal his iron fingers back from Taichi!

And with that, New Japan’s 2022 comes to a close as the 50th Anniversary celebration nears its conclusion. A year-long celebration wound down on a very somber note following the death of founder Antonio Inoki in October, just as rumors were breaking that Inoki was going to be named Lifetime Honorary Chairman despite distancing himself from the promotion and focusing more on his own rival IGF promotion. But he was always an important part of New Japan and always will be. But as is custom in NJPW, the end leads to the beginning…

The first event of 2023 is the biggest annual event in Japanese pro wrestling and the outside-US version of WrestleMania…WRESTLE KINGDOM 17 in TOKYO DOME, on 1/4 at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo. Live streaming ONLY ON New Japan World in Japanese and English will begin on 1/4 at 1:30 AM ET in the east US, 1/3 at 10:30 PM PT in the west US. Make sure to sign up for New Japan World between 1/1 and 1/3 so you’re subscribed and ready to watch, it should only cost between $7.50-$8 US. And after that, come back for New Year’s Dash on 1/5 which will be available worldwide FOR FREE!

DEVELOPING: Another TJPW 12/24 Change

Tokyo Joshi Pro has announced another last-minute change for today’s (12/24) event: Rika Tatsumi is now off. Gastroenteritis. It was diagnosed after she was hospitalized for the always vague “poor physical condition”. She was to have faced Mahiro Kiryu. Yuki Kamifuku, who lost her scheduled match when Nao Kakuta was pulled due to coronavirus, is the replacement. The event will now have 6 matches, all but the main event have 10 minute time limits.

New Japan 12/22/23 Results

New Japan began their final event of the year, Road to TOKYO DOME, today with the first half of a doubleheader that will be the final build to Japan’s version of WrestleMania on 1/4.

Today’s event was held at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo and can be watched on demand on New Japan World FOR FREE! Click below to watch (in Japanese. English will be available in a day or two):

https://njpwworld.com/p/s_00630_1_1

The announced paid attendance was 1205.

Match 1: Francesco Akira beat Kosei Fujita.

Match 2: Aaron Henare beat Yuto Nakashima.

Match 3: Great-O-Khan beat Ryohei Oiwa.

Match 4: Jeff Cobb beat Tomoaki Honma. This was to have been Oskar Leube vs. Cobb, but Leube was removed from the event due to a fever.

The KOPW 2023 Championship belt is unveiled, replacing the constantly broken/repaired trophy. If you’re wondering who came up with the KOPW idea and all it’s ridiculousness…Kazuchika Okada.

Match 5: SANADA, Shingo Takagi & Tetsuya Naito beat Shota Umino, Satoshi Kojima & Togi Makabe. Takagi pinned Makabe after Last of the Dragon.

Match 6: Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr. beat Jado & Ren Narita. Taichi pinned Jado after a yokozuna type raised elbow. Jado was a replacement for Honma in this match.

Match 7: Yoshinobu Kanemaru & El Desperado beat Master Wato & Ryusuke Taguchi, BUSHI & Hiromu Takahashi and Gedo & Taiji Ishimori in a 4-way when Desperado pinned Gedo.

Main Event: Yoh, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Kazuchika Okada beat DOUKI, Lance Archer & Minoru Suzuki. Yoh pinned DOUKI after Direct Drive.

The final event of the year is tomorrow. Live streaming on New Japan World will begin at 1:30 AM PT/4:30 AM ET.

DEVELOPING: TJPW Tag Tournament Field Set

DDT has just announced the field for Tokyo Joshi Pro’s 3rd Futari-wa Princess Max Heart Tournament in January & February. There will be 10 teams entered this year, which are as follows:
Yuki Arai & Saki Akai
Rika Tatsumi & Miu Watanabe
Miyu Yamashita & Maki Itoh
Shoko Nakajima & Hyper Misao
Hikari Noa & Nao Kakuta
Yuki Kamifuku & Mahiro Kiryu
Yuki Aino & Raku
Suzume & Arisu Endo
Moka Miyamoto & Juria Nagano
Neko Haruna & Kaya Toribami

Noticeably missing: Yuka Sakazaki & Mizuki. Sakazaki plans to go back to the US during this time, presumably for a return to All Elite Wrestling, and being the obnoxious, privileged brat she is Mizuki won’t enter the tournament if she can’t team with Sakazaki. Also out is Pom Harajuku, she is out in order to support Aino & Raku.

The first round will be on 1/15 at Otemachi Mitsui Hall in Tokyo with 2 teams getting a free pass to the Quarterfinals. The Quarterfinals will be on 1/19 at Shinjuku Face with 2 of the 1/15 winners getting a free pass to the Semifinals. The Semifinals are on 1/29 at Kusakabe Fureai Cube in Saitama with the Finals on 2/11 at Korakuen Hall. The tournament winners likely will get a Princess Tag Team Championship match at GRAND PRINCESS ’23 in March against whoever comes out of the upcoming Arai/Akai-Heidi Howitzer/Max The Impaler title match as champions.

Matchups TBA.

BREAKING: New Japan Card Changes For 12/22 (Updated)

New Japan has just announced last-minute changes for today’s (12/22) event because Oskar Leube is now off. Fever. Coronavirus test was negative but as a cautionary measure he is out. He was to have faced Jeff Cobb. Tomoaki Honma is the replacement, although Honma was to have teamed with Ren Narita to face Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi. Jado is the replacement for Honma.

UPDATE: Leube is now off 12/23 as well. He was to have teamed with Yuto Nakashima to face Sho & Yujiro Takahashi. Jado is the replacement.

New Japan News: First Names For 2023 US Return, PPV Plans

New Japan has announced that Jay White & Kazuchika Okada are the first confirmed names for Battle In The Valley, the first US event of 2023, on 2/18 in San Jose, CA, making it very likely the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion after Tokyo Dome will be there. It was also confirmed that the event will be a live PPV in English on FITE for $19.99. The event likely will be a PPV on New Japan World in Japanese for around the same cost.

AEW Dynamite 12/21/22 Results (SPOILERS!)

Here are the quick results from tonight’s AEW Dynamite in San Antonio, TX (SPOILERS for west feed viewers!):

Continue reading “AEW Dynamite 12/21/22 Results (SPOILERS!)”

DDT 12/21/22 Results

DDT held a special Danshoku Dieno 20th Anniversary event today, also commemorating the pending release of his new autobiography book. Although best known as the leader of those deplorable Pheromons, Dieno is also a groundbreaking wrestler in that he is believed to be the first pro wrestler to come out as openly gay, The promotion immediately threw its full support behind Dieno and that has not changed despite GM Imabayashi’s “war” with Pheromons.

Today’s event was held at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo and will be available on demand on WRESTLE UNIVERSE at a later date (expected to be Saturday). There was no live broadcast.

The announced paid attendance was 537. Vocal cheering was allowed.

Dieno also brought his pet dog, Haku, an 11-month-old rescued dog, to the event. All fans attending received a copy of Dieno’s book.

Match 1: In a Loser Purchase Handicap Death Match, Akito, Toru Owashi, Kazuki Hirata, Antonio Honda & Hiroshi Yamato beat Sanshiro Takagi. As a result, Takagi had to pay for 47 copies of his own book.

Match 2: Anarco Montagna & Hideki Okatani beat Takeshi Masada & Kazuma Sumi. Montagna pinned Sumi after Shooting Punk Press.

Match 3: Saki Akai won an 8-person King Of Pantyhose Battle Royal, last eliminating Makoto Oishi & Yusuke Okada. All participants wore pantyhose over their heads. As a result, Akai was crowned “King Of Pantyhose”. Or perhaps it should be Queen in her case.

Match 4: Chris Brookes, Masa Takanashi & Ken Ohka beat Yuki Ueno, MAO & Toui Konima. Takanashi pinned MAO after HOD.

Match 5: Naruki Doi beat Shunma Katsumata.

Match 6: Tetsuya Endo, Jun Akiyama & DJ Nira beat Kazusada Higuchi, Yuki Ishida & Tanomusaku Toba. Endo pinned Ishida after a rotating torture rack bomb.

Match 7: Yuki Iino beat Yumehito Imanari.

Main Event: Danshoku Dieno 20th Anniversary Match: Haku beat Danshoku Dieno & Muscle Sakai. This was supposed to be Dieno vs. Sakai, but it’s DDT after all. A shocking announcement afterwards-GM Imabayashi was going to leave DDT at the end of the year but apparently will stay on for one more year as a business consignment.

The next event is NEVER MIND 2022 on 12/29 at Tokyo Dome City Hall. If fans find the event boring, refunds will be provided unless they paid for the most expensive seats (which cost nearly $4000 US). And with a LiLiCo anal explosion opening, how can it be boring? Live streaming on WRESTLE UNIVERSE will begin at 2:30 AM ET/11:30 PM PT. Japanese commentary guests will be SKE48 member Marika Tani, singer Maon Kurosaki and Kenta Kobashi. English commentary will also be available.

All-Japan 12/21/22 Results

All-Japan ran the first of their special Christmas week events, wrapping up the year on a slightly more festive tone. It also marked the beginning of a trio of departures as Izanagi had his last match in the promotion today, with TAJIRI and Jake Lee also leaving at the end of the month.

Today’s event was held at Shin-Kiba 1st Ring in Tokyo and can be watched on demand on AJPW.TV. The promotion made a last-minute decision yesterday to make it a free broadcast, but creating a provisional AJPW.TV account is required (but a paid subscription is not).

The announced paid attendance was 286.

Match 1: Dan Tamura & Masao Inoue beat Ryuki Honda & Masao Hanabata. Tamura pinned Hanabata after Death Valley Bomb.

Match 2: Takao Omori beat Suwama by DQ. Deadly weapon use.

Match 3: Jun & Rei Saito beat Yoshitatsu & TAJIRI. Rei pinned Yoshitatsu.

Match 4: Izanagi Final All-Japan Match: Izanagi vs. Black Menso-re went to a Double KO.

Match 5: Atsuki Aoyagi & Hokuto Omori beat Rising Hayato & Ryo Inoue. Aoyagi pinned Inoue after Firebird Splash.

Match 6: Shuji Ishikawa beat Yuma Anzai.

Main Event: Kento Miyahara & Yuma Aoyagi vs. Jake Lee & Naoya Nomura went to a 30 minute time limit draw.

The next event is Sunday at Korakuen Hall. Live streaming on AJPW.TV will begin Saturday at 9:30 PM ET/6:30 PM PT. (I had tentatively planned to do live results but that probably will not happen due to schedule conflicts)