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Sumo-September 2022 Grand Sumo Tournament Day 10 Results (9/20/22) (Top 2 Tiers)

Here are the quick results from today’s Day 10 of the September 2022 Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, Y-Yokozuna, J-Juryo
Makuuchi (Top Tier):
Tohakuryu (J3) beat Terutsuyoshi (M15)
Oho (M13) beat Ichiyamamoto (M13)
Ryuden (M12) beat Chiyoshoma (M14)
Kotoshoho (M11) beat Hiradoumi (M16)
Chiyotairyu (M11) beat Mitoryu (M16)
Takanosho (M10) beat Okinoumi (M12)
Aoiyama (M7) beat Tsurugisho (M15)
Onosho (M7) beat Yutakayama (M14)
Nishikifuji (M10) beat Wakamotoharu (M6)
Endo (M6) beat Kotoeko (M9)
Takarafuji (M8) beat Myogiryu (M9)
Sadanoumi (M5) beat Tochinoshin (M8)
Takayasu (M4) beat Hokutofuji (M8)
Nishigiki (M4) beat Meisei (M2)
Kotonowaka (M2) beat Midorifuji (M1)
Tobizaru (M1) beat Kiribayama (K)
Wakatakakage (S) beat Ura (M3)
Tamawashi (M3) beat Mitakeumi (O)
Ichinojo (K) beat Shodai (O)
Hoshoryu (S) beat Takakeisho (O)
Daieisho (S) beat Terunofuji (Y) by default/withdrawal
WITHDRAWAL: Terunofuji (Y). Osteoarthritis of both knees (chronic) and right knee bone contusion. Out at least 3 weeks. His tournament is done. Consider him probable for the November tournament, which is to begin on 11/13.
Leader: Hokutofuji, Tamawashi (9-1)
Of note: With today’s results, Mitakeumi now must win his remaining 5 matches or he will be demoted from Ozeki in November. His opponent tomorrow is Sadanoumi. Takayasu & NIshikifuji clinched promotions today. There will be only one leader after tomorrow because the highlight match of Day 11 is Hokutofuji-Tamawashi. Also, no Juryo man in the top tier beginning tomorrow because of the Terunofuji withdrawal, we’re back to even numbers in the top tier.

Juryo:
Kinbozan (J12) beat Shimazuumi (J10)
Tochimusashi (J14) beat Tokushoryu (J10)
Kitanowaka (J11) beat Hokuseiho (J9)
Oshoma (J13) beat Kaisho (J9)
Daiamami (J6) beat Tochimaru (J13)
Takakento (J14) beat Daishoho (J8)
Gonoyama (J12) beat Hidenoumi (J5)
Kagayaki (J4) beat Bushozan (J4)
Atamifuji (J3) beat Chiyosakae (J11)
Enho (J7) beat Chiyonokuni (J2)
Azumaryu (J2) beat Churanoumi (J2)
Kotokuzan (J7) beat Shimanoumi (J1)
Chiyomaru (J1) beat Akua (J6)
Leader: Hokuseiho, Tochimusashi (8-2)
Of note: There will be a Makushita man in Juryo going forward tomorrow as there will be an odd number of participants (there was one early withdrawal).

Asanoyama Watch: As expected, no match today. He will face fellow 5-0 Yuma tomorrow. There will be only 2 or 3 at 6-0 after tomorrow as fellow unbeatens Shosei & Daiseiryu face each other, and the other unbeaten, Asonoyama, has an early match against 4-1 Yuki. So best-case is we have our final set for Day 13. Worst case is a tiebreaker will be needed, that would be a playoff match. The Sandanme has 4 left at 5-0, the Jonidan has 6 at 5-0, while the Jonokuchi has 2 at 5-0.

New Japan 9/21/22 Update

As of this moment New Japan has announced tomorrow’s event in Kumamoto is on despite concerns about weather (another potential typhoon/hurricane), however KUSHIDA is off. Suspected unspecified skin disease discovered during coronavirus testing after a fever that kept him off the weekend’s planned events. Out indefinitely. He was to have teamed with Jado, Toru Yano, Tama Tonga & Hiroshi Tanahashi to face Gedo, Doc Gallows, Karl Anderson, Taiji Ishimori & Jay White. Gedo is now also off as a result.

More as it becomes available.

Pro Wrestling NOAH 9/19/22 Results

Pro Wrestling NOAH resumed the SUNNY VOYAGE 2022 Tour today with an event representing the final build to Sunday’s blowout event in Osaka, the second stop of 5 on the Keiji Muto Retirement Road Tour.

Today’s event was held at Yokohama Radiant Hall in Yokohama and can be watched on demand on WRESTLE UNIVERSE.

The announced paid attendance was 269.

Match 1: Masa Kitamiya beat Taishi Ozawa.

Match 2: Masato Tanaka beat Yoshiki Inamura.

Match 3: Hideki Suzuki & Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. beat Takashi Sugiura & Shuhei Taniguchi. Suzuki beat Taniguchi with Royal Stretch.

Match 4: Katsuhiko Nakajima beat Daiki Inaba.

Match 5: Kaito Kiyomiya & Jack Morris beat Kenoh & Manabu Soya. Morris pinned Soya after a tiger driver.

Main Event: Timothy Thatcher beat Satoshi Kojima by submission.

The next event is an N INNOVATION event Wednesday at Shinjuku Face in Tokyo, the return of the monthly Jr. Heavyweight showcase series after a break last month. This month’s installment will feature the return of Yasutaka Yano from injury. Live streaming on WRESTLE UNIVERSE will begin at 2:30 AM PT/5:30 AM ET.

Sumo-September 2022 Grand Sumo Tournament Day 9 Results (9/19/22) (Top 2 Tiers)(Updated)

Here are the quick results from today’s Day 9 of the September 2022 Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, Y-Yokozuna, J-Juryo

Makuuchi (Top Tier):
Tsurugisho (M15) beat Azumaryu (J2)
Ryuden (M12) beat Mitoryu (M16)
Terutsuyoshi (M15) beat Okinoumi (M12)
Takanosho (M10) beat Hiradoumi (M16)
Nishikifuji (M10) beat Oho (M13)
Ichiyamamoto (M13) beat Kotoeko (M9)
Tochinoshin (M8) beat Kotoshoho (M11)
Chiyoshoma (M14) beat Onosho (M7)
Aoiyama (M7) beat Yutakayama (M14)
Myogiryu (M9) beat Endo (M6)
Hokutofuji (M8) beat Wakamotoharu (M6)
Chiyotairyu (M11) beat Takarafuji (M5)
Tamawashi (M3) beat Meisei (M2)
Tobizaru (M1) beat Kotonowaka (M2)
Ichinojo (K) beat Midorifuji (M1)
Sadanoumi (M5) beat Hoshoryu (S)
Wakatakakage (S) beat Nishigiki (M4)
Ura (M3) beat Shodai (O)
Kiribayama (K) beat Takakeisho (O)
Daieisho (S) beat Mitakeumi (O)
Takayasu (M4) beat Terunofuji (Y). KINBOSHI! The 5th career Gold Star VIctory for Takayasu!
Leader: Hokutofuji (9-0)
Of note: The first official demotions for losing records were handed out today and, perhaps unsurprisingly, Shodai was among them. His 8th straight loss means more losses and wins and once again he will find himself in Kadoban status in November and at risk of demotion. Mitakeumi is now just 2 losses from demotion. On the flip side, Tamawashi became the second wrestler to clinch a promotion and winning record with his 8th win today. Tomorrow sees Hokutofuji go for 10-0 against Takayasu. Terunofuji is all but out of the yusho race at 5-4, but no Kinboshi chance tomorrow as his opponent is Daieisho.

Juryo:
Shimazuumi (J10) beat Kitanowaka (J11)
Kaisho (J9) beat Kinbozan (J12)
Hokuseiho (J9) beat Chiyosakae (J11)
Gonoyama (J12) beat Daishoho (J8)
Daiamami (J8) beat Takakento (J14)
Oshoma (J13) beat Enho (J7)
Tochimusashi (J14) beat Churanoumi (J6)
Akua (J6) beat Tochimaru (J13)
Kotokuzan (J7) beat Tohakuryu (J3)
Kagayaki (J4) beat Atamifuji (J3)
Chiyonokuni (J2) beat Tokushoryu (J10)
Hidenoumi (J5) beat Chiyomaru (J1)
Bushozan (J4) beat Shimanoumi (J1)
Leader: Hokuseiho (8-1). He becomes the first Juryo man to clinch promotion and a winning record this tournament.

Asanoyama Watch: It was just a little close at the end, but that’s 12 straight wins for the former Ozeki in his comeback, now 5-0 after a win against Shonannoumi. No match tomorrow. Makushita is now down to 5 at 5-0, including stablemates Shosei & Asonoyama. There’s a good chance the stablemates will have to face off and we might get a tongue-twister between Asanoyama and Asonoyama.
There are currently 4 in the Sandamne at 5-0, 6 in the Jonidan at 5-0 and 2 in the Jonokuchi at 5-0.

UPDATE: BREAKING DAY 10 NEWS: Terunofuji has WITHDRAWN. Unknown why at this time but it’s almost certainly due to injury. That means Daieisho gets a free victory and an 8th Championship for the Yokozuna will have to wait.

All-Japan Pro Wrestling #ajpw MANIAx in Korakuen Hall Results (9/19/22)

Less than 24 hours after their huge 50th Anniversary event, All-Japan is turning right back around with another big matinee event today, a national holiday in Japan. Despite the threats from the massive Super Typhoon (hurricane) that made landfall in the southwestern regions of the country and impacts that may be reaching Tokyo soon if they haven’t already, the event is going on as planned. The main event features New All-Japan Triple Crown Champion Kento Miyahara, who won the Triple Crown yesterday (today US time), defending against Naoya Nomura, who earned the opportunity by beating Jake Lee yesterday. On the undercard, one of the longest-running comic book-inspired rivalries in Japanese wrestling will be reborn as New Japan star Tiger Mask, who just lost the All-Japan World Jr. Heavyweight Championship yesterday, faces the resurfacing of his eternal rival, Black Tiger (who may or may not be New Japan and AEW star Rocky Romero, who often has portrayed Black Tiger before).

Today’s event will be held at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo and can be watched LIVE on AJPW.TV. There likely will be Japanese commentary. If you’re staying up late on a Sunday night in the US to watch, I anticipate the event’s running time being between 2 1/2-3 hours.

Today’s lineup:
Izanagi & Black Menso-re vs. Doho Koji (?) & Ryuarashi (?)
Yoshitatsu, TAJIRI & Rising Hayato vs. Atsuki Aoyagi, Christopher Daniels & Cyrus
Tiger Mask (New Japan Pro Wrestling) vs. Black Tiger
Takao Omori & Ryo Inoue vs. Yuji Nagata (New Japan) & Dan Tamura
Minoru Suzuki vs. Yuma Anzai
Suwama, TARU, Minoru & Toshizo vs. Jake Lee, Shuji Ishikawa, Yuma Aoyagi & Hokuto Omori
All-Japan World Tag Team Champions Shotaro Ashino & Ryuki Honda vs. Jun & Rei Saito for the titles
All-Japan Triple Crown Champion Kento Miyahara vs. Naoya Nomura for the Triple Crown

Refresh this page occasionally for the latest results.

Updates below will begin at 10:30 PM ET/7:30 PM PT.

10:30 PM ET UPDATE: Live updates begin now.

We are LIVE from Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan. There is Japanese commentary but I did not catch the name (just one person).

The paid attendance will be announced after the event. From first look at the beginning I’m estimating around 550.

Match 1: Koji Doi & Kuma Arashi vs. Izanagi & Black Menso-re. 10 minute time limit
Result: Koji Doi & Kuma Arashi beat Izanagi & Black Menso-re. Arashi pined Izanagi after a diving senton.

Match 2: Yoshitatsu, TAJIRI & Rising Hayato vs. Atsuki Aoyagi, Christopher Daniels & Cyrus. 20 minute time limit
Result: Atsuki Aoyagi, Christopher Daniels & Cyrus beat Yoshitatsu, TAJIRI & Rising Hayato. Daniels pinned TAJIRI after a moonsault. Afterwards, Hayato gestured towards Aoyagi as to suggest a challenge for the All-Asia Tag Team Championship.

Match 3: Tiger Mask (New Japan Pro Wrestling) vs. Black Tiger (about 100% certain it’s not Rocky Romero). 20 minute time limit
Result; Tiger Mask beat Black Tiger by ref stoppage (submission). Afterawrds, TM 4 attempted to unmask Black Tiger, and did enough to confirm that indeed it was not Rocky Romero. TM 4’s entrance theme was muted during his entrance but they did an instrumental version afterwards to not mute audio.

Match 4: Takao Omori & Ryo Inoue vs. Yuji Nagata (New Japan) & Dan Tamura. 20 minute time limit
Result: Yuji Nagata & Dan Tamura beat Takao Omori & Ryo Inoue. Tamuura pinned Inoue after a thunder driver.

Matches for upcoming events are announced. On 10/2, Toru Yano, Nagata and the New Japan Young Lions will all participate. On 10/22 there will be a Yoshitatsu 20th Anniversary Match of Yoshitatsu vs. Suwama and a 50th Anniversary match. On 10/23, Nagata and several members of GLEAT will participate.

Match 5: Yuma Anzai vs. Minoru Suzuki. 20 minute time limit
Result: Minoru Suzuki beat Yuma Anzai by submission. This was Japan’s version of an extended glorified squash, although this was only Anzai’s second career match. His Debut was just yesterday.

Match 6: Suwama, TARU, Minoru & Toshizo vs. Jake Lee, Shuji Ishikawa, Yuma Aoyagi & Hokuto Omori. 30 minute time limit
Result: Jake Lee, Shuji Ishikawa, Yuma Aoyagi & Hokuto Omori beat Suwama, TARU, Minoru & Toshizo. Ishikawa pinned Suwama.

Match 7: All-Japan World Tag Team Champions Shotaro Ashino & Ryuki Honda vs. Jun & Rei Saito for the titles. 1 Hour time limit
Result: All-Japan World Tag Team Champions Shotaro Ashino & Ryuki Honda beat Jun & Rei Saito to retain the titles. Ashino beat Rei Saito (I think) with a heel hook. V3 for the champs. Afterwards, Doi & Arashi came out presumably to make the customary next challenge. Presumably accepted.

Main Event: All-Japan Triple Crown Champion Kento Miyahara vs. Naoya Nomura for the Triple Crown. 1 Hour time limit
Result: Triple Crown Champion Kento Miyahara beat Naoya Nomura to retain the Triple Crown. V1 for Miyahara. Afterwards, the next potential challenger appeared and hit the ring…Takao Omori. Very spirited challenge made.

The next event is 10/2.

UPDATE: The announced paid attendance was 919.

Sumo-September 2022 Grand Sumo Tournament Day 8 Results (9/18/22) (Top 2 Tiers) (Halfway Point)

Here are the results from today’s Day 8 of the September Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo, the halfway point of the tournament:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, Y-Yokozuna, J-Juryo
Makuuchi (Top Tier):
Mitoryu (M16) beat Shimanoumi (J1)
Yutakayama (J14) beat Ichiyamamoto (J13)
Okinoumi (M12) beat Tsurugisho (M15)
Ryuden (M12) beat Hiradoumi (M16)
Chiyoshoma (M14) beat Kotoshoho (M11)
Terutsuyoshi (M15) beat Chiyotairyu (M11)
Oho (M13) beat Takanosho (M10)
Nishikifuji (M10) beat Tochinoshin (M8)
Kotoeko (M9) beat Aoiyama (M7)
Wakamotoharu (M6) beat Myogiryu (M9)
Hokutofuji (M8) beat Endo (M6)
Onosho (M7) beat Takarafuji (M5)
Tamawashi (M3) beat Sadanoumi (M5)
Kotonowaka (M2) beat Meisei (M2)
Tobizaru (M1) beat Ichinojo (K)
Mdorifuji (M1) beat Kiribayama (K)
Ura (M3) beat Hoshoryu (K)
Takakeisho (O) beat Takayasu (M4)
Wakatakakage (S) beat Mitakeumi (O)
Daieisho (S) beat Shodai (O)
Terunofuji (Y) beat Nishikigi (M4)
Leader: Hokutofuji (8-0). He is the first to clinch a winning record and what should be a promotion for the November tournament. Tamawashi can earn his promotion tomorrow with a win as he sits at 7-1. Of note is that 5 are now 1-7 and face potential demotion by finishing with losing records should they lose tomorrow…and in what’s become a recurring theme this past year, Shodai could once again find himself in Kadoban status. He will again be at risk of demotion after November if he does not win out because he has now lost 7 straight to be in the 1-7 group. Mitakeumi, currently in Kadoban, is at 3-5 and must finish 5-2 or better to avoid demotion. The first unofficial demotion came today as Abi remains absent, having now missed the first 8 days due to injury. He is probably out the entire tournament, so whether or not he gets demoted is a toss-up (it’s not always a given when absence is due to injury or coronavirus the first time, but consecutive tournaments missed does mean demotion except for Yokozuna). Regardless, he likely will fall out of Sanyaku. On the flip side, Takakeisho could have an outside shot at Yokozuna consideration if he can win out, which would put him at a final mark of 13-2. If that wins the Championship, he’ll have a strong case because he was runner-up in July. Finally, there is yet another Kinboshi chance tomorrow as Terunofuji’s scheduled opponent is Takayasu.

Juryo:
Oshoma (J13) beat Gonoyama (J12)
Takakento (J10 beat Shimazuumi (J10)
Tokushoryu (J10) beat Tochimaru (J13)
Hokuseiho (J9) beat Tochimusashi (J14)
Chiyosakae (J11) beat Kaisho (J9)
Kinbozan (J12) beat Daiamami (J8)
Kitanowaka (J11) beat Daishoho (J8)
Enho (J7) beat Kagayaki (J4)
Atamifuji (J3) beat Kotokuzan (J7)
Tohakuryu (J3) beat Churanoumi (J6)
Akua (J6) beat Chiyonokuni (J2)
Hidenoumi (J6) beat Azuamryu (J2)
Chiyomaru (J1) beat Bushozan (J4)
Leader: Hokuseiho (7-1)

Asanoyama Watch: As expected, no match today. He is one of 8 tied for the Makushita lead at 4-0, potentially setting up one heck of a tongue-twister match later on with fellow Makushita Asonoyama. But there’s another potential dramatic scenario that could play out: Two of the co-leaders, Asonoyama and Shosei, are from the same beya (stable). This could set up the exceptionally rare and unusual situation where stablemates may have to face each other for the championship. Normally stablemates do not face each other in a tournament unless it’s such a scenario as this. Asanoyama will face Shonannoumi tomorrow, who is also 4-0. The 12 remaining unbeatens could be down to as few as 6 after tomorrow with 4 head-to-head matchups and 2 facing Sandanme men.
In the lower tiers, the Sandanme has 10 tied for the lead at 4-0 so far. The Jonidan has 12 tied at 4-0. Finally, the bottom tier, Jonokuchi, has 3 at 4-0.

All-Japan 9/18/22 Results

The second-oldest active promotion in Japan, just about 6 months behind New Japan Pro Wrestling, All-Japan Pro Wrestling held their 50th Anniversary Commemoration Event today. It’s been a tumultuous 2000s for the promotion as it’s struggled mightily the last 20+ years between the death of founder Giant Baba (a legendary Hall of Fame wrestler), the mass defection at the end of the 1990s led by top wrestler Mitsuharu Misawa to form Pro Wrestling NOAH, ownership turmoil and disagreements/mismanagement between owner Motoko Baba (Giant Baba’s widow) and subsequent presidents/executives including Keiji Muto & Jun Akiyama and more, but with support from longtime TV partner GAORA TV and others the promotion has managed to survive. This has been an event several months in the making and it brought the past, present and future of the promotion together.

Today’s event was held at Nippon Budokan in Tokyo and will be available on demand on AJPWTV in Japanese worldwide beginning Thursday at 3 AM PT/6 AM ET. The live broadcast was exclusively on TV Asahi in Japan.

The announced paid attendance was 4780. With capacity limits presumably still in place and at 50% in all likelihood, this is probably at least a super full house, meaning over 90% full. But based on the layout of the venue, there’s a chance this was a legit sellout based on same-day ticket sales. Keiji Muto was a special guest on commentary.

Match 1: Rising Hayato & Ryo Inoue beat Yusuke Kodama & Oji Shiiba. Hayato pinned Shiiba after Shimatani Driver.

Match 2: TAJIRI, Yoshitatsu, Mitsuya Nagai & ATM beat Black Menso-re, Andy Wu, Izanagi & Sushi. Nagai beat Sushi with a Stretch Plum.

Match 3: Saito Brothers Triumphal Match: Jun & Rei Saito & Cyrus beat Shuji Ishikawa, Kohei Sato & Yukio Naya (DDT). Rei Saito pinned Ishikawa after a diving body press.

Match 4: Hikaru Sato & Dan Tamura beat All-Asia Tag Team Champions Minoru & Todhizo to win the titles. Sato & Tamura become the 114th All-Asia Tag Team Champions. Tamura pinned Toshizo after Death Valley Bomb.

Match 5: Minoru Suzuki beat Hokuto Omori.

Match 6: Yuma Anzai Debut Match: Yuji Nagata (New Japan Pro Wrestling) beat Yuma Anzai.

Match 7: Yuma Aoyagi beat Christopher Daniels (All Elite Wrestling).

Match 8: All-Japan 50th Anniversary Match: Masanobu Fuchi, Atsushi Onita & Shiro Koshinaka beat The Great Kojika, Yoshiaki Yatsu & Masao Inoue. Fuchi pinned Inoue after a backdrop.

Match 9: All-Japan World Tag Team Champions Shotaro Ashino & Ryuki Honda beat Takao Omori & Manabu Soya (Pro Wrestling NOAH) to retain the titles. Ashino pinned Omori after Final Vent. V2 for the champs.

Match 10: Atsuki Aoyagi beat All-Japan World Jr. Heavyweight Champion Tiger Mask (New Japan Pro Wrestling) to win the title. Aoyagi becomes the 63rd All-Japan World Jr. Heavyweight Champion.

Match 11: Naoya Nomura beat Jake Lee. As a result, Nomura will face the main event winner tomorrow for the All-Japan Triple Crown.

Main Event: Kento Miyahara beat Triple Crown Champion Suwama to win the Triple Crown. Miyahara becomes the 68th Triple Crown Champion.

The next event is tomorrow at Korakuen Hall. Live streaming on AJPW.TV will begin TONIGHT at 10:30 PM ET/7:30 PM PT.

TJPW Announces Arai End of 2022 Schedule

Tokyo Joshi Pro has just announced what appears to be the Yuki Arai participation schedule for the rest of the year, although it may be too far out to determine December. These dates are subject to change: 10/9 (Tokyo Dome City Hall-WRESTLE PRINCESS 3), 10/29 (Osaka Prefectural Gym 2), 11/13 (Kyoto KBS Hall), 11/27 (Korakuen Hall).

BREAKING: 9/18 New Japan Event CANCELLED (Updated)

New Japan has just announced (as of 10 PM ET on 9/17) that today’s (9/18 Japan time) event at Beppu B-Con Plaza in Oita has been CANCELLED. The decision was made based on public transportation in parts of southwest Japan being suspended due to weather, specifically an approaching Super Typhoon (major hurricane, likely at least the equivalent of a Category 4 by US standards). Refunds will be provided to ticketholders.
At this time the Monday events in Fukuoka & Wednesday events in Kumamoto are on as scheduled but plans are subject to change. Monday’s event is a legit advance sellout if it goes on.
More as it becomes available.

UPDATE: Monday’s event has also been CANCELLED. Wednesday’s event in Kumamoto is on at this time.

UPDATE 2: The NEVER 6-Man Tag Team Championship Dog Cage Survival match scheduled for today will now happen on Friday in Kagawa.

DDT Pro Wrestling “STERNNESS 30th Anniversary” Results (9/18/22)

30 years ago, a babyfaced TAKA Michinoku-lookalike named Jun Akiyama debuted in Japan. A lot of potential and high expectations were quickly placed upon the young prospect, and for a while it seemed he would live up to them in All-Japan Pro Wrestling. He would be part of the mass exodus at the end of the 1990s that left to form Pro Wrestling NOAH with the late Mitsuharu Misawa. Then injuries and inconsistency struck and it looked like those expectations wouldn’t be met, but over time he got healthy, turned things around and did reach those lofty peaks. He shocked the Japanese wrestling landscape in 2020 by jumping to DDT after his contract expired, and today DDT celebrates the 30th Anniversary of Akiyama’s debut with a special event that will feature partners and rivals from his days in New Japan Pro Wrestling, All-Japan Pro Wrestling and Pro Wrestling NOAH as well as the best of DDT. And of course among the special guests will be the opponent in Akiyama’s 1992 debut match-none other than THE GOD himself, Kenta Kobashi. And with vocal cheering by fans allowed, it promises to be a very special celebration for the founder of STERNNESS.

Today’s event will be held at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo and can be watched LIVE on WRESTLE UNIVERSE in Japanese. Kenta Kobashi will be a special guest on commentary along with Japanese voice actor Mayu Iizuka. I anticipate the event’s total running time being about 3 hours.

Today’s lineup (in order):
Yusuke Okada vs. Yuya Koroku
Yuki Iino, Danshoku Dieno, Yumehito Imanari & Koju Takeda vs. Sanshiro Takagi, Toru Owashi, Antonio Honda & Kazuki Hirata
HARASHIMA, Yukio Sakaguchi & Hideki Okatani vs. Akito, Takao Soma & Yukio Naya
Kazusada Higuchi, Yuki Ishida, Yuji Hino & Makoto Oishi vs. Daisuke Sasaki, Minoru Fujita, MJ Pawl & KANON
Yuki Ueno, MAO & Toui Kojima vs. Cara Noir, Chris Brookes & Masa Takanashi
Naomi Yoshimura vs. Takeshi Masada
Jun Akiyama 30th Anniversary Match: Jun Akiyama, Yoshinobu Kanemaru (New Japan Pro Wrestling) & Tetsuya Endo vs. Yuji Nagata (New Japan Pro Wrestling), Konosuke Takeshita & Shunma Katsumata

Refresh this page occasionally for the latest results.

Updates below will begin at 10:30 PM ET/7:30 PM PT. The stream on WRESTLE UNIVERSE will go live at 10 PM ET/7 PM PT.

10:15 PM ET UPDATE: Live updates begin now…
We are :LIVE from Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan. Your hosts are Haruo Murata, Kagehiro Osano & Mayu Iizuka.

The paid attendance will be announced after the event. The crowd is still filing in. Due to vocal support being allowed, maximum capacity will be further reduced below what it normally has been since the pandemic began and fans were allowed to attend again. That means if it’s a legit sellout, the max attendance would probably be 700. Between weather, sumo and other events my guess will be they’ll finish right around 500.

The matches should begin in about 20-25 minutes.During GM Imabayashi’s greeting and opening announcements, upcoming title matches are announced, of note being added is DDT Universal Champion Yuki Ueno vs. Cara Noir for the title on 9/25. There also will be a Street Wrestling match on 10/10 with Toui Kojima & Shunma Katsumata vs. Yukio Naya & Yuya Koroku. On 10/12, Kazusada HIguchi & Naomi Yoshimura defend the KO-D Tag Team Championship against Daisuke Sasaki & KANON.
The final event of 2022 will be 12/29 at Tokyo Dome City Hall. A second Akiyama 30th Anniversary event will be held on 12/10 in Osaka.
The Burning faction sans Akiyama comes out for the opening shout to start the event, leading into the opening video and match lineup. Right on time (10:30 PM ET). During the opening video we see footage from last week’s Muscle events, which are now available on demand on WRESTLE UNIVERSE. This is more theater than wrestling although each had a marathon match.

Match 1: Yusuke Okada vs. Yuya Koroku. 30 minute time limit
Result: Yusuke Okada beat Yuya Koroku

Match 2: Yuki Iino, Danshoku Dieno, Yumehito Imanari & Koju Takeda vs. Sanshiro Takagi, Toru Owashi, Antonio Honda & Kazuki Hirata. 30 minute time limit
Result: No Contest. GM Imabayashi stoppage as Iino was about to fully remove this thong and go completely naked in the dark. Obviously this was a ridiculous comedy match. Oh, and Imanari’s shaved off his mustache since losing the Spirit Of Ganbare World Openweight Championship a few weeks ago.

Match 3: HARASHIMA, Yukio Sakaguchi & Hideki Okatani vs. Akito, Takao Soma & Yukio Naya. 30 minute time limit
Result: Akito, Takao Soma & Yukio Naya beat HARASHIMA, Yukio Sakaguchi & Hideki Okatani. Naya beat Okatani.

Match 4: Kazusada Higuchi, Yuki Ishida, Yuji Hino & Makoto Oishi vs. Daisuke Sasaki, Minoru Fujita, MJ Pawl & KANON. 30 minute time limit
Result: Daisuke Sasaki, Minoru Fujita, MJ Pawl & KANON beat Kazusada Higuchi, Yuki Ishida, Yuji Hino & Makoto Oishi. KANON pinned Ishida after Sleepy Hollow.

Match 5: Yuki Ueno, MAO & Toui Kojima vs. Cara Noir, Chris Brookes & Masa Takanashi. 30 minute time limit
Result: Cara Noir, Chris Brookes & Masa Takanashi beat Yuki Ueno, MAO & Youi Kojima. Noir beat Kojima with a rear naked choke. Afterwards, Ueno with microphone addressing Noir in English. Noir provided dramatic comedy as they promoted their DDT Universal Championship match next weekend.

Quick break for ring cleaning.

Match 5: Naomi Yoshimura vs. Takeshi Masada. 30 minute time limit
Result: Naomi Yoshimura beat Takeshi Masada

Main Event: Jun Akiyama 30th Anniversary Match: Jun Akiyama, Yoshinobu Kanemaru (New Japan Pro Wrestling) & Tetsuya Endo vs. Yuji Nagata (New Japan Pro Wrestling), Konosuke Takeshita & Shunma Katsumata. 30 minute time limit
Result: Jun Akiyama, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Tetsuya Endo beat Yuji Nagata, Konosuke Takeshita & Shunma Katsumata. Akiyama pinned Katsumata after Exploder. Akiyama addressed the crowd afterwards to end the show.

The next event is WHO’S GONNA TOP? 2022 on 9/25 at Korakuen Hall. In addition to 2 title matches (Ueno-Noir for the DDT Universal Championship and Higuchi-Takeshita for the KO-D Openweight Championship), the “Money In The Bank” title shot rights held by Shinya Aoki will be challenged for by Katsumata & Iino. Live streaming on WRESTLE UNIVERSE will begin Saturday at 10:30 PM ET/7:30 PM PT but there is a dark match scheduled so it may begin a few minutes earlier.

UPDATE: The announced paid attendance was 715, a super full house/very near sellout.