Another casualty for Pro Wrestling NOAH’s weekend charity event as they have announced Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. is now off Sunday’s Ishikawa event. Illness. He joins Go Shiozaki & Ulka Sasaki on the sidelines for this event. Card changes have been made. It’s not known if he will miss any more time but as of now will hopefully be back for the N-1 VICTORY Tournament.
DEVELOPING: Longtime Women’s Wrestler to Possibly Retire (Updated)
This is currently in the rumor stage, but Tokyo Sports reports Meiko Satomura, a nearly 30-year veteran, co-founder of Sendai Girls and WWE wrestler/coach, will retire next spring, possibly around her 30th anniversary in wrestling in April 2025. Satomura, 44, debuted at just 15 in All-Japan Women in 1995, then moved on to GAEA Japan and when it folded in 2005 she launched Sendai Girls with fellow wrestler Jinsei Shinzaki. In 2019 she signed with WWE as a wrestler & coach, mostly competing in the short-lived NXT UK sub-label and NXT until last year, but she did compete on hose shows last weekend when WWE returned to Japan. The article indicates Satomura intends to remain involved in pro wrestling after retirement. When asked for comment, Satomura did bot confirm or deny the report, only saying more details would be announced at a later time.
More as it becomes available.
UPDATE: A press conference will be held TONIGHT (7/26) at 8 PM PT/11 PM ET and van be watched LIVE on the Sendai Girls and WRESTLE UNIVERSE YouTube channels.
New Japan 7/25/24 Results
New Japan ran Day 4 of the G1 CLIMAX 34 today.
Today’s event was held at Sun Messe Kagawa in Kagawa and can be watched on demand on New Japan World.
The announced paid attendance was 1219.
Match 1: TAKA Michinoku & SANADA beat Katsuya Murashima & Toru Yano. TAKA beat Murashima with Just Face Lock.
Match 2: Francesco Akira, Callum Newman & Great-O-Khan beat Shoma Kato, Tomoaki Honma & Shota Umino. Akira pinned Kato after Fireball.
Match 3: Gabriel Kidd & Jake Lee beat Kosei Fujita & Zack Sabre Jr. Kidd pinned Fujita after a leg trap piledriver.
Match 4: Shingo Takagi & Tetsuya Naito beat Dick Togo & EVIL. Takagi pinned Togo after a sliding Pumping Bomber.
G1 CLIMAX Block B:
Match 5: Hirooki Goto beat Boltin Oleg.
Match 6: Ren Narita beat Jeff Cobb.
Match 7: El Phantasmo beat Yota Tsuji.
Match 8: David Finlay beat HENARE.
Main Event: Yuya Uemura beat Konosuke Takeshita.
After 4 days Uemura is the block leader at 3-0, 6 points. 3 are tied for 2nd at 2-1, 4 points.
Day 5 is Saturday at Dejima Messe Nagasaki in Nagasaki. Live streaming on New Japan World will begin at midnight PT/3 AM ET.
Tokyo Joshi Pro 7/25/24 Results
Tokyo Joshi Pro said goodbye to Nao Kakuta today as she retired following her final match at her farewell event, titled “You Are Our Treasures”. Thankfully she was able to return from a lower back injury that cost her most of the past month and compete in her retirement match.
Today’s event was held at Shin-Kiba 1st Ring in Tokyo and can be watched on demand on WRESTLE UNIVERSE.
The announced paid attendance was 284, a legit advance sellout.
Match 1: Suzume, Arisu Endo & Shino Suzuki beat Wakana Uehara, Toga & Chika Nanase. Suzume pinned Nanase after Mikazuki Meteor Shower.
Match 2: Shoko Nakajima beat Uta Takami & HIMAWARI in a 3-way by pinning Takami.
Match 3: Moka Miyamoto, Kaya Toribami & Kira Summer beat Miu Watanabe, Runa Okubo & Haru Kazashiro. Miyamoto beat Okubo with Rashomon.
Match 4: Rika Tatsumi, Yuki Aino, Raku & Pom Harajuku beat Miyu Yamashita, Maki Itoh, Yuki Kamifuku & Mahiro Kiryu. Tatsumi pinned Kiryu after Missile Hip.
Main Event: Nao Kakuta Retirement Match: Mizuki beat Nao Kakuta. After the match, a retirement ceremony was held for Kakuta, including fans being allowed to throw paper tape/streamers at the end before the final roster photo. Kakura intends to remain active in other projects, possibly including stage/theater performances that she has increased participation in over the last year or two.
The next event is the Tokyo Princess Cup Tournament beginning Sunday at Ryogoku KFC Hall in Tokyo. Live streaming on WRESTLE UNIVERSE will begin Saturday at 8:30 PM PT/11:30 PM ET. Live results are tentatively scheduled (pending other schedule conflicts that day).
Sumo-July 2024 Grand Sumo Tournament Day 11 Results (7/24/24) (Top 2 Tiers) (Updated)
Here are the quick results from today’s Day 10 of the July 2024 Grand Sumo Tournament in Nagoya:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, Y-Yokozuna, J-Juryo
Makuuchi (top tier):
Kagayaki (M16) beat Tokihayate (J1)
Wakatakakage (M14) beat Chiyoshoma (M15)
Nishikigi (M11) beat Takarafuji (M13)
Midorifuji (M10) beat Bushozan (M16)
Oshoma (M9) beat Roga (M15)
Endo (M14) beat Kinbozan (M8)
Hokutofuji (M13) beat Ryuden (M9)
Sadanoumi (M7) beat Nishikifuji (M17)
Kotoshoho (M7) beat Ichiyamamoto (M11)
Churanoumi (M12) beat Oho (M6)
Takanosho (M6) beat Shodai (M10)
Shonannoumi (M5) beat Tamawashi (M9)
Tobizaru (M4) beat Mitakeumi (M2)
Meisei (M1) beat Ura (M4)
Hiradoumi (K) beat Atamifuji (M1)
Daieisho (K) beat Wakamotoharu (M2)
Kirishima (S) beat Kotozakura (O)
Takakeisho (O) beat Gonoyama (M3)
Hoshoryu (O) beat Abi (S)
Onosato (S) beat Terunofuji (Y)
Leader: Terunofuji (10-1)
Of note: No Zensho Yusho (15-0). Onosato now has beaten Terunofuji in each of the last 2 tournaments. But Kotozakura couldn’t capitalize, losing to remain 2 back at 8-3. Kirishima has long dominated Kotozakura and that happened again. This keeps Kirishima’s very faint promotion hopes alive, but he still must win his last 4 matches.
Terunofuji can still all but win the championship tomorrow as a win keeps him 2 ahead of the Kotozakura-Hoshoryu winner with 3 days to go, assuming the Yokozuna beats Abi. At the bottom, Wakatakakage clinched promotion in his return to the top tier after more than a year due to a serious injury as he attempts to climb back up to Sekiwake and Ozeki contention.
Juryo:
Aoiyama (J11) beat Nabatame (J14)
Fujiseiun (J14) beat Chiyosakae (J9)
Hidenoumi (J9) beat Hakuyozan (J12)
Myogiryu (J8) beat Hakuoho (J13)
Shirokuma (J8) beat Shishi (J10)
Shimanoumi (J6) beat Kayo (J13)
Tohakuryu (J5) beat Tsushimanada (J12)
Tochitaikai (J11) beat Asakoryu (J4)
Shimazuumi (J10) beat Daishoho (J8)
Tamashoho (J6) beat Mitoryu (J4)
Kitanowaka (J3) beat Shiden (J7)
Daiamami (J2) beat Tomokaze (J7)
Onokatsu (J1) beat Tsurugisho (J5)
Leader: Shirokuma (9-2)
Of note: Shirokuma now takes the lead by beating Shishi but of course it’s not over. Shimazuumi also clinched promotion and moved into a tie with Shishi at 8-3. With a top tier appearance on tap tomorrow, Onokatsu is now one win from promotion and a top tier debut in September. At the bottom, both Nabatame & Taushimanada will be demoted to Makushita, the former now with a losing record in his Juryo debut at J14.
Also, Japanese news website Hochi News reports Takerufuji suffered a left ruptured pectoral muscle that led to his withdrawal yesterday, 2 days after returning from a right ankle injury suffered on March Day 14 before he won the Emperor’s Cup. No word on how long this may keep him out.
UPDATE: Tomokaze has WITHDRAWN ahead of Day 12. Unknown why. He was 5-6 at J7. Hakuyozan will get the fusen tomorrow, leaving him one win from promotion at J13 with a 7-5 record
DDT News: Wrestler Leaving Promotion (Updated)
At a press conference today in Tokyo, DDT announced Makoto Oishi will be leaving the promotion in October. Contract expiring. His last event as a member of the roster will be 10/3. Oishi stated he is not retiring (he has been active for 22 years, the last 13 with DDT after 9 years with TAKA Michinoku’s former KAIENTAI DOJO promotion) and will continue to be active as a freelancer.
UPDATE: More details as to why this is happening have come out…it’s primarily for family reasons. His wife’s (former wrestler Misaki Ohata) father passed away recently and they decided to buy a house near her parents’ home in Miyagi Prefecture. They also have two children, 3 & 5, about to begin school. So he will be based in Sendai and be a freelancer going forward. He had other roles in DDT according to Director Akito, including bus driver and working behind-the-scenes, and noted the door will remain open to Oishi appearing in DDT whenever they go to Sendai and possibly for major Tokyo events.
Stardom 7/23/24 Results
Stardom ran another unusual weeknight event to begin a stretch of big events leading into the 5STAR GP.
Today’s event was held at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo and can be watched on demand on Stardom World.
The announced paid attendance was 1017.
Match 1; Starlight Kid, AZM & Suzu Suzuki beat Mina Shirakawa, Gina & HANAKO. Suzuki pinned HANAKO with a German suplex hold.
Match 2: 5STAR GP Blue Block Entrant Tournament: Miyu Amasaki beat Aya Sakura.
Match 3: 5STAR GP Blue Block Entrant Tournament: Lady C beat Momo Kohgo.
Match 4: 5STAR GP Red Block Entrant Tournament: Waka Tsukiyama beat Sayaka Kurara.
Match 5: 5STAR GP Red Block Entrant Tournament: Yuna Mizumori beat Ruaka by DQ. Weapon use and punching (closed fist punching is illegal in Stardom).
Match 6: Saki Kashima, Ranna Yagami, Tomoka Inaba & Hina beat Mayu Iwatani, Koguma, Hazuki & Rian. Inaba pinned Rian after MIchinoku Driver.
Match 7: Rina & Azusa Inaba beat New Blood Tag Team Champions Hanan & Saya Iida to win the titles. Rina & Inaba become the 3rd New Blood Tag Team Champions. Rina pinned Hanan after Pink Devil. Little sister takes big sister’s title.
Match 8: Natsuko Tora, Fukigen, Natsupoi & Mei Seira beat Maika, Saori Anou, Tam Nakano & Saya Kamitani. Tora pinned Maika after Death Valley Bomb.
Main Event: Momo Watanabe & Thekla beat Goddesses Of Stardom Champions Syuri & Konami to win the titles. Watanabe & Thekla become the 34th Goddesses Of Stardom Champions. Watanabe pinned Syuri after Peach Sunrise. Afterwards, Konami turned on Syuri and joined in a big heel beatdown, defecting from God’s Eye to the Oedo Tai faction.
The next event is STARDOM WONDER RENDEZVOUS Saturday at Chateraise Gateau Kingdom Sapporo in Hokkaido. Live streaming as a PPV for 4400 Japanese yen (about $28 US) or as a bundle including Sunday’s PPV for 6000 Japanese yen (about $40 US, Sunday is also available separately for 4400 yen) will begin at midnight PT/3 AM ET. PPV purchases include unlimited on demand replays until Wednesday morning. The events should be available on Stardom World for monthly subscribers after the PPV window ends.
Sumo-July 2024 Grand Sumo Tournament Day 10 Results (7/23/24) (Top 2 Tiers)
Here are the quick results from today’s Day 10 of the July 2024 Grand Sumo Tournament in Nagoya:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, Y-Yokozuna, J-Juryo, Ms-Makushita
Makuuchi (top tier):
Bushozan (M16) beat Tsurugisho (J5)
Hokutofuji (M13) beat Chiyoshoma (M15)
Endo (M14) beat Churanoumi (M12)
Nishikifuji (M17) beat Ichiyamamoto (M11)
Kagayaki (M16) beat NIshikigi (M11)
Wakatakakage (M14) beat Midorifuji (M10)
Takarafuji (M13) beat Tamawashi (M9)
Ryuden (M8) beat Roga (M15)
Shodai (M10) beat Kinbocan (M7)
Oshoma (M9) beat Sadanoumi (M7)
Tobizaru (M4) beat Kotoshoho (M7)
Ura (M4) beat Oho (M6)
Takanosho (M8) beat Gonoyama (M3)
Mitakeumi (M2) beat Meisei (M1)
Daieisho (K) beat Atamifuji (M1)
Hiradoumi (K) beat Wakamotoharu (M2)
Abi (S) beat Takakeisho (O)
Hoshoryu (O) beat Shonannoumi (M5)
Kotozakura (O) beat Onosato (S)
Terunofuji (Y) beat Kirishima (S)
Leader: Terunofuji (10-0)
Of note: It’s pretty much down to Kotozakura as the last obstacle to Terunofuji’s 10th title. The Ozeki has protected his rank with his 8th win today but is still 2 back of the Yokozuna, who continued his unbeaten dominance of Kirishima. Speaking of Kirishima, his Ozeki re-promotion hopes are all but dead, he now must win his last 5 matches. Takakeisho’s Ozeki status is more endangered now at 4-6, he must go 4-1 or 5-0 to avoid demotion. The repeat bid is now over for Onosato as he drops to 5-5. To have any semblance of a chance he must win tomorrow…and if he doesn’t the title race is over because tomorrow he gets Terunofuji.
Juryo:
Oshoumi (Ms3) beat Tsushimanada (J12)
Hakuoho (J13) beat Tochitaikai (J11)
Hakuyozan (J12) beat Shishi (J10)
Shimazuumi (J10) beat Fujiseiun (J14)
Hidenoumi (J9) beat Nabatame (J14)
Kayo (J13) beat Chiyosakae (J9)
Myogiryu (J8) beat Aoiyama (J11)
Shirokuma (J6) beat Daishoho (J4)
Shiden (J7) beat Asakoryu (J4)
Tomokaze (J7) beat Kitanowaka (J3)
Mitoryu (J3) beat Tohajuryu (J5)
Daiamami (J2) beat Takerufuji (J2) by default/withdrawal
Tokihayate (J1) beat Tamashoho (J6)
Shimanoumi (J6) beat Onokatsu (J1)
Leader: Shirokuma, Shishi (8-2)
WITHDRAWAL: Takerufuji (J2). Left shoulder. Tournament probably over. Will finish the equivalent of 2-13 and demotion from Juryo will be a very big toss-up.
Of note: Hakuyozan ended Shishi’s 8-match winning streak to help Shirokuma pull even and clinch his first promotion in 3 tournaments (he missed out on a potential promotion in March due to injury). With Takerufuji pulling out again, the question now will be is 2 wins-and more significantly the Isegahama factor-enough to keep him in Juryo? It’ll depend on other factors but I think it’s enough. We also have to now watch Aoiyama, who is one loss from demotion and too many more losses could see him lose his salary for the first time in a very long time. Nabatame is now one loss from demotion back to Makushita and Tsushimanada seems likely to be demoted. With his win today, Makushita man Oshoumi clinches a promotion and, with one or ideally two more wins in his last two matches, has a chance at promotion to Juryo in September. Tomorrow could decide the championship, or at least the favorite, with Shirokuma-Shishi.
Lower tier notes: The Makushita is down to 4 at 5-0, and it looks like Daiseizan is probably going to earn promotion to Juryo from Ms2 regardless of what happens now. Former Makushita Champion Hitoshi, who earned promotion to Juryo after his first third-tier championship last September, will have a chance to return if he wins the title again although it may be too big a jump from Ms19. The Sandanme has 6 tied at 5-0 including former Juryo champion Tochimusashi, who holds the dubious distinction of first Juryo champion to be demoted without reaching the top tier following that championship. The Jonidan has 5 at 5-0 while in the Jonokuchi, two are at 5-0 although as of this post Day 11 is underway, and in the matchup of them Shimizuumi beat Daiyusho so Shimizuumi goes to 6-0 and the sole leader. Enho won today to improve to 4-1 and clinch promotion to Jonidan. Still a ways to go back to Juryo but it’s a good first step. He’ll probably next compete on Day 12.
Injury Report: NOAH Star Voyage On Hold (Updated)
Pro Wrestling NOAH has announced an injury change to this weekend’s charity event in Ishikawa: Ulka Sasaki is now off. Shoulder. He was to have teamed with Dragon Bane & Alpha Wolf to face Manabu Soya, Masa Kitamoya & Yoshiki Inamura. Shuji Kondo is the replacement-he was to have faced Tadasuke & Super Crazy in a 3-way, that match is now a single match. It’s not known how long Sasaki may be out, important with the N-1 VICTORY Tournament upcoming.
More as it becomes available.
UPDATE: Go Shiozaki is now off too. Back.
Sumo-July 2024 Grand Sumo Tournament Day 9 Results (7/22/24) (Top 2 Tiers) (Updated)
Here are the quick results from today’s Day 9 of the July 2024 Grand Sumo Tournament in Nagoya:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, Y-Yokozuna, J-Juryo, Ms-Makushita
Makuuchi (top tier):
Nishikifuji (M17) beat Daishoho (J4)
Kagayaki (M16) beat Roga (M15)
Churanoumi (M12) beat Chiyoshoma (M15)
Nishikigi (M11) beat Bushozan (M16)
Ichiyamamoto (M11) beat Hokutofuji (M13)
Endo (M14) beat Oshoma (M9)
Wakatakakage (M14) beat Kinbozan (M8)
Tamawashi (M9) beat Ryuden (M8)
Takarafuji (M13) beat Sadanoumi (M7)
Midorifuji (M10) beat Kotoshoho (M7)
Oho (M6) beat Shodai (M10)
Takanosho (M6) beat Wakamotoharu (M2)
Atamifuji (M1) beat Shonannoumi (M4)
Gonoyama (M3) beat Onosato (S)
Abi (S) beat Ura (M4)
Kirishima (S) beat Meisei (M1)
Hoshoryu (O) beat Tobizaru (M4)
Kotozakura (O) beat Hiradoumi (K)
Takakeisho (O) beat Mitakeumi (M2)
Terunofuji (Y) beat Daieisho (K)
Leader: Terunofuji (9-0)
Of note: It’s still not over yet, but it feels like it’s over. Terunofuji is still 2 wins ahead and continues to dominate although he has been tested the last couple days and he still has most of Sanyaku and the Ozeki still to come. It still feels like the question is 15-0 or not? He’s probably got Sanyaku the rest of the way starting with Kirishima tomorrow. 2 back are Kotozakura & Churanoumi at 7-2. Elsewhere, any hopes Onosato had of making Ozeki next time out probably went away today as his 4-match winning streak ended, leaving the May champion at 5-4. Kirishima is also 5-4, meaning he needs to go 5-1 to get back to Ozeki right away, while Takakeisho showed up today and easily dispatched Mitakeumi but still needs to finish 4-2 to avoid demotion. Terunofuji goes for 10-0 tomorrow against Kirishima, a loss would put the former Ozeki against the wall in his re-promotion bid. Losing means Kirishima must win his last 5 matches or his Ozeki bid must start all over.
Juryo:
Hakuoho (J13) beat Kotokuzan (Ms3)
Tochitaikai (J11) beat Nabatame (J14)
Shimazuumi (J10) beat Tsushimanada (J12)
Shishi (J10) beat Fujiseiun (J14)
Hakuyozan (J12) beat Chiyosakae (J9)
Kayo (J13) beat Myogiryu (J8)
Shiden (J7) beat Aoiyama (J11)
Hidenoumi (J9) beat Tomokaze (J7)
Shirokuma (J8) beat Tsurugisho (J5)
Mitoryu (J3) beat Shimanoumi (J6)
Asakoryu (J4) beat Kitanowaka (J3)
Tamashoho (J6) beat Daiamami (J2)
Tohakuryu (J5) beat Onokatsu (J1)
Takerufuji (J2) beat Tokihayate (J1)
Leader: Shishi (8-1)
Of note: Shishi is the first to clinch promotion this time, with Shirokuma the only wrestler 1 win behind. Tsushimanada became the first demotion with loss 8, he’ll need some wins to avoid going down to Makushita. With a second win today, Takerufuji has almost certainly saved his Juryo spot after missing the first 7 days, and can still salvage a promotion if he wins out. He gets Daiamami tomorrow.
In the lower tiers, no match for Enho today in Jonokuchi. His next match is tomorrow, a win will take him to 4-1 and guarantee promotion back up to Jonidan. It also means he would still have an outside shot at the championship as while there are 2 in Jonokuchi tie at 5-0, there’s no guarantee the champion will go 7-0 so a playoff is a possibility.
UPDATE: Takerufuji has WITHDRAWN again ahead of Day 10. That clinches demotion again but apparently 2-13 will be enough to keep him in Juryo.
