Stardom 7/9/23 Results

Stardom returned to Tokyo yesterday for their monthly Korakuen Hall event.

Yesterday’s event was held at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo and will be available on demand on Stardom World at a later date.

The announced paid attendance was 1411, a full house/near sellout.

Match 1: Fukigen beat Hina & Ram Kaichow (666) in a 3-way by pinning Hina. This was to have been a tag team match but changed after Aya Sakura was pulled due to injury.

Match 2: Mei Hoshirai beat Momo Kohgo.

Match 3: Momo Watanabe, Ruaka & Natsuko Toura beat Miyu Amasaki, Lady C & AZM. Ruaka pinned Amasaki after Freezer Bomb.

Match 4: Hazuki & Koguma beat Hanan & Saya Iida. Koguma pinned Iida after a flying body press.

Match 5: Mai Sakurai & Thekla beat HANAKO & Nanae Takahashi. Sakurai pinned HANAKO after a diving elbow drop.

Match 6: Saki Kashima & Ami Sorei beat Starlght Kid & Hina. Kashima pinned Hina after My Emblem.

Match 7: Saori Anou (Independent/Freelancer), Yuna Mizumori (Chocolate Pro Wrestling) & Natsupoi beat Mariah May, Mina Shirakawa & Waka Tsukiyama. Natsupoi pinned Tsukiyama after Fair Real Gift.

Main Event: In a Generation Struggle Elimination Match with over the top rule elimination rules, Giulia, Syuri, Tam Nakano & Mayu Iwatani beat Suzu Suzuki, MIRAI, Maika & Saya Kamitani. Order of elimination: Nakano & Kamitani together (over the top rope), Iwatani & MIRAI together (over the top rope), Syuri & Suzuki together (over the top rope), Maika by Giulia (pinfall). Guilia is the only winner.

The next event is Wednesday at Asahikawa Local Industry Promotion Center (Roadside Station Asahikawa) Large Exhibition Hall in Hokkaido. It will be available on demand on Stardom World at a later date.

All-Japan News: Absent Wrestlers, Website Update

All-Japan posted an update on Twitter linking to an English language Facebook post regarding the recent site issues: The site underwent unscheduled maintenance for various issues, namely the event schedule page not working, and an unspecified issue came up during maintenance. The site has been restored and is accessible again but is currently outdated with no new updates since 6/30. Their other social media accounts and AJPW.TV are not affected. They apologize for the inconvenience and there is no ETA for restoration.

Also announced was that Jun & Rei Saito are off the remaining July events. Family issues. This means they will be out a minimum of 2-3 weeks. No word on if this may affect potential GLEAT participation as they are the current G-INFINITY Champions.

More as it becomes available.

Sumo-July 2023 Grand Sumo Tournament Day 2 Results (710/23) (Top 2 Tiers) (Updated x2)

Here are the quick results from today’s Day 2 of the July 2023 Grand Sumo Tournament in Nagoya:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, Y-Yokozuna, J-Juryo

Makuuchi (Top Tier):
Hakuoho (M17) beat Kagayaki (J1)
Aoiyama (M17) beat Bushozan (M16)
Endo (M16) beat Ryuden (M15)
Shonannoumi (M14) beat Takarafuji (M15)
Kotoshoho (M13) beat Daishoho (M14)
Gonoyama (M13) beat Chiyoshoma (M12)
Kotoeko (M11) beat Tsurugisho (M11)
Kinbozan (M10) beat Myogiryu (M10)
Hokutofuji (M9) beat Takanosho (M9)
Nishikifuji (M8) beat Sadanoumi (M8)
Takayasu (M7) beat Tanawashi (M7)
Oho (M6) beat Hokuseiho (M6)
Onosho (M5) beat Hiradoumi (M5)
Asanoyama (M4) beat Ura (M4)
Meisei (M3) beat Kotonowaka (K)
Abi (K) beat Midorifuji (M3)
Hoshoryu (S) beat Shodai (M2)
Wakamotoharu (S) beat Tobizaru (M1)
Daieisho (S) beat Mitakeumi (M2)
Nishikigi (M1) beat Terunofuji (Y). KINBOSHI!!! The second career Gold Star Victory for Nishikigi!

Of note: In May it was week 2 before Terunofuji took his first and ultimately only loss on the way to the championship. This time Day 2 saw his first loss as Nishikigi took him down with a beautiful sukuinage (beltless arm throw). Now we’ll see how he fares the rest of the way-after beating the yokozuna in May Meisei lost all his remaining matches. If Nishikigi does manage to finish with 8 wins this gives him a chance for the Outstanding Performance Prize of there is one (iffy just because there are no Ozeki now). All 3 newcomers won again to go to 2-0 as well. Atamifuji will be the Juryo man up tomorrow, at J1 he can return to the top tier if he finishes with a winning record.

Ozeki Watch: All 3 Sekiwake won again to go to 2-0 ao the magic numbers for promotion consideration are now 10 for Hoshoryu & Wakamotoharu and 9 for Daieisho. Tomorrow Daieisho is up first and faces Midorifuji, Hoshoryu gets Nishikigi and Wakamotoharu faces Shodai. Another potential kinboshi chance tomorrow as well as Terunofuji faces Tobizaru who is at M1.

Juryo:
Yuma (J14) beat Chiyonoumi (J14)
Kiho (J13) beat Shiden (J13)
Hidenoumi (J12) beat Shishi (J12)
Chiyomaru (J11) beat Tsushimanada (J11)
Chiyosakae (J10) beat Shimanoumi (J10)
Tomokaze (J9) beat Daiamami (J9)
Takakento (J8) beat Akua (J8)
Churanoumi (J7) beat Hakuyozan (J7)
Kitanowaka (J5) beat Azumaryu (J6)
Tanashoho (J5) beat Tohakuryu (M4)
Shimazuumi (J3) beat Oshoma (J4)
Mitoryu (J2) beat Ichiyamamoto (J3)
Atamifuji (J1) beat Roga (J2)

UPDATE: While not definitely happening, Nikkan Sports reports there is a chance Ozeki Kirishima could return on Day 4 or 5. At this point if he does enter the tournament the goal would simply be to avoid kadoban status, meaning at least 8 wins.

UPDATE 2: Kirishima will return on Day 4. Assuming he stays in the rest of the way, he’ll need to go 8-4 or better to avoid kadoban status as he will be the equivalent of 0-3.

Dragon Gate 7/9/23 Results

Dragon Gate continued the KING OF GATE Tournament today with more Round 1 matches, reaching the halfway point of the opening round.

Today’s event was held at Osaka Prefectural Gym 2 in Osaka and can be watched on demand on DRAGONGATE NETWORK.

The paid attendance has not yet been announced. (Update: The announced paid attendance was 711)

Match 1: Kzy, BIGBOSS Shimizu, Jason lee & JACKY “FUNKY” KAMEI beat Masaaki Mochizuki, Susumu Mochizuki, Mochizuki Jr. & Yasushi Kanda. KAMEI pinned Jr. after JACKY Knife.

Match 2: KING OF GATE Tournament Round 1: Takashi Yoshida beat Problem Dragon.

Match 3: Ultimo Dragon, Dragon Kid & Genki Horiguchi beat BxB Hulk, Minorita & Ryoya Tanaka. Kid pinned Tanaka after Golgotha.

Match 4: KING OF GATE Tournament Round 1: YAMATO vs. Don Fujii went to a 15 minute time limit draw. As a result, per the tournament rules, both are out and Dragon Dia gets a free pass into the Quarterfinals as he would’ve faced the winner.

Match 5: Shun Skywalker, H-Y-O & ISHIN beat Madoka Kikuta, Yuki Yoshioka & Dragon Dia. H-Y-O pinned Dia after Neko Tamashi.

Match 6: KING OF GATE Tournament: Ben-K beat KAI.

Main Event: KING OF GATE Tournament: Kota Minoura beat Naruki Doi.

The next event is Friday at Robashi Sports Center in Nagoya. There will be no live or on demand broadcast.

Sumo-July 2023 Grand Sumo Tournament Day 1 (Opening Day) Results (7/9/23) (Top 2 Tiers)

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

Makuuchi (Top Tier):
Hakuoho (M17) beat Aoiyama (M17)
Endo (M16) beat Bushozan (M16)
Takarafuji (M15) beat Ryuden (M15)
Shonannnoumi (M14) beat Daishoho (M14)
Gonoyama (M13) beat Kotoshoho (M13)
Chiyoshoma (M12) beat Tsurugisho (M11)
Kotoeko (M11) beat Myogiryu (M10)
Hokutofuji (M9) beat Kinbozan (M10)
Nishikifuji (M8) beat Takanosho (M9)
Tamawashi (M7) beat Sadanoumi (M8)
Takayasu (M7) beat Oho (M6)
Hokuseiho (M6) beat Onosho (M5)
Hiradoumi (M5) beat Ura (M4)
Meisei (M3) beat Asanoyama (M4)
Kotonowaka (K) beat Midorifuji (M3)
Wakamotoharu (S) beat Mitakeumi (M2)
Daieisho (S) beat Shodai (M2)
Hoshoryu (S) beat Tobizaru (M1)
Nishikigi (M1) beat Kirishima (O) by default/withdrawal
Terunofuji (Y) beat Abi (K)
WITHDRAWAL: Kirishima (O), Takakeisho (O) (Pre-Tournament Withdrawal), Wakatakakage (M12) (Pre-Tournament Withdrawal). Kirishima was a last-minute withdrawal today. Right rib contusion per Nikkan Sports. Status uncertain, potentially could be out 3 weeks which would mean the entire tournament and kadoban status in September. Takakeisho-knees. Out 3 weeks and the entire tournament and will again be kadoban in September. Wakatakakage-post-knee surgery recovery. Out the entire tournament.
Of note: Kirishima’s issues apparently just cropped up in the last day or two, a lot of back/side pain. He might try to return later in the tournament but that is uncertain. It was a clean sweep for the newcomers and Sekiwake as all won their matches so Ozeki watch begins with all 3 Sekiwake one win closer to potential promotion (the magic number is now 10 for Daieisho, 11 for Hoshoryu & Wakamotoharu). Kagayaki will be back up tomorrow as the Juryo man of the day at J1 and will face Hakuoho. We’ll also see our first kinboshi cnance of the tournament as Terunofuji faces Nishikigi tomorrow, the latter getting the free win due to Kirishima’s withdrawal.

Juryo:
Tokihayate (Ms1) beat Chiyonoumi (J14)
Yuma (J14) beat Shiden (J13)
Hidenoumi (J12) beat Kiho (J13)
Shishi (J12) beat Tsushimanada (J11)
Chiyomaru (J11) beat Shimanoumi (J10)
Tomokaze (J9) beat Chiyosakae (J10)
Daiamami (J9) beat Akua (J8)
Churanoumi (J7) beat Takakento (J8)
Azumaryu (J6) beat Hakuyozan (J7)
Tamashoho (J4) beat Kitanowaka (J5)
SHimazuumi (J3) beat Tohakuryu (J4)
Oshoma (J4) beat Ichiyamamoto (J3)
Mitoryu (J2) beat Roga (J2)
Kagayaki (J1) beat Atamifuji (J1)
WITHDRAWAL: Fujiseiun (J6). Unknown. Status uncertain.

Ganbare Pro 7/9/23 Results

WRESTLE SEKIGAHARA 2, Ganbare Pro’s biggest event of the year, is now in the books.

Today’s event was held at Ota City General Gym in Tokyo and can be watched on demand on WRESTLE UNIVERSE.

The announced paid attendance was 667.

Match 1: Masa Takanashi (DDT) beat Sotatsu Nakamura.

Match 2: Ayaha Takumi & Mio Momomo beat YuuRI & Tomoka Inaba. Takumi pinned YuuRI after Running 3.

Match 3: Sayaka Unagi (Independent/Freelancer) beat Riara. Afterwards, Unagi issued a Spirit Of Ganbare World Openweight Championship challenge to Mizuki Watase, assuming he retained the title today.

Match 4: Miyuki Takase beat Yoshiko Hasegawa.

Match 5: Keisuke Ishii, Shigehiro Irie & Takao Soma beat Akito (DDT), Shota & Shinichiro Tominaga. Ishii pinned Shota after Nail Kick.

Match 6: Hartley Jackson & KARUKAZE beat Ken Ohka & Kurashi, Tsuyoshi Okada & Yuki Kanzaki and Minoru Fujita & Daiki Shimomura in a 4-way elimination match, last eliminating Ohka/Kurashi. As a result, Jackson & HARUKAZE will be the next challengers for the Spirit Of Ganbare World Tag Team Championship after today. Afterwards, Kurashi turned on Ohka and Irie joined in the beatdown of Ohka.

Match 7: El Lindaman (GLEAT) beat Yumehito Imanari.

Match 8: Shuichiro Katsumura & Takuya Wada beat Spirit Of Ganbare World Tag Team Champions Hikaru Sato & Tyson Maeguchi to win the titles. Katsumura & Wada become the second Spirit Of Ganbare World Tag Team Champions. Katsumura beat Maeguchi with Triple 3 3 Lock. Next up: Jackson/HARUKAZE per earlier. That will happen on TBA.

Main Event: Isami Kodaka beat Spirit Of Ganbare World Openweight Champion Mizuki Watase to win the title. Kodaka becomes the 5th Spirit Of Ganbare World Openweight Champion. So much for Unagi’s challenge I guess.

The next event is a Ganbare Women event on 7/15 at Ryogoku KFC Hall in Tokyo. Live streaming on WRESTLE UNIVERSE will begin at 1:30 AM PT/4:30 AM ET.

Pro Wrestling NOAH 7/9/23 Results

Pro Wrestling NOAH continued the never-ending SUNNY VOYAGE 2023 Tour today with a house show in Tokyo. This is the promotion’s first event following Kenoh disbanding Kongo after 4+ years.

Today’s event was held at Tama Mirai Messe in Tokyo and can be watched on demand on WRESTLE UNIVERSE.

The announced paid attendance was 557.

Match 1: Hi69 beat Taishi Ozawa. This was to have been Hi69 vs. Atsushi Kotoge but Kotoge was pulled from the card due to a fever.

Match 2: Yoshinari Ogawa & LEONA (Dradition) beat Super Crazy & Kai Fujimura. LEONA beat Fujimura with a Figure 4.

Match 3: Shuji Kondo & Seiki Yoshioka beat Hajime Ohara & Alejandro. Yoshioka pinned Alejandro after Crash Driver.

Match 4: Saxon Huxley, Kazuyuki Fujita, Hideki Suzuki & Shuhei Taniguchi beat Naomichi Marufuji, Mohammed Yone, Masa Kitamiya & Yoshiki Inamura. Huxley pinned Yone after a neck hanging bomb.

Match 5: Adam Brooks & Ninja Mack beat Stallion Rogers & Dante Leon. Brooks pinned Rogers after Aussie Buster.

Match 6: Go Shiozaki, Katsuhiko Nakajima, HAYATA & Eita beat Jake Lee, Jack Morris, YO-HEY & Tadasuke. Nakajima pinned YO-HEY after PK.

Match 7: GHC National Champion Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. beat AMAKUSA to retain the title. V5 for Wagner Jr.

Main Event: Kaito Kiyomiya & Kenoh beat Manabu Soya & Daiki Inaba. Kiyomiya pinned Inaba after Transformed Shining Wizard.

The next event is One Night Dream Saturday at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo headlined by Nakajima vs. Kento Miyahara with no time limit. The opening match will be the Debut of Yu Owada, a new rookie. The event is already a legit advance sellout and has been for a while. Live streaming on WRESTLE UNIVERSE in English only will begin at 2:30 AM PT/5:30 AM ET. This is another ABEMA exclusive broadcast in Japan.

In upcoming events news post-event, GHC Jr. Heavyweight Champion HAYATA vs. Atsuki Aoyagi (All-Japan) for the title was announced for 7/20 at Shinjuku Face.

BREAKING: Sumo-Shocking Last-Second Withdrawal

A stunning last-second Opening Day development in the July Grand Sumo Tournament-new Ozeki Kirishima has WITHDRAWN from the tournament. Right rib contusion. Out indefinitely but possibly 3 weeks, which if true means he will miss the entire tournament and go right into kadoban status in September before he even has a match at the second highest ranking. Disastrous for the Japan Sumo Association as both Ozeki are now out. There is a chance Kirishima may return but it’s wait and see. As a result, Nishikigi will get a free win today.

Dragon Gate 7/8/23 Results (2 Events)

Dragon Gate ran 2 separate events today, continuing the KING OF GATE Tournament and also running the second “Heroic Legend Rei-Zero” event.

First, the KING OF GATE event:
Today’s event was held at Act City Hamamatsu in Shizuoka. There is/was no live or on demand broadcast.

The announced paid attendance was 304.

Match 1: Shun SKywalker, KAI, ISHIN & H-Y-O beat Kzy, U-T, Don Fujii & Ho Ho Lun. ISHIN pinned Lun after a small leg chokeslam.

Match 2: KING OF GATE Tournament Round 1: Shuji Kondo beat Genki Horiguchi.

Match 3: KING OF GATE Tournament Round 1: Dragon Kid beat Kagetora.

Match 4: Kota Minoura, BxB Hulk & Ben-K beat Ultimo Dragon, BIGBOSS Shimizu & Ichikawa. Ben-K pinned Ichikawa after countering La Magistral.

Match 5: YAMATO, Madoka Kikuta & Yuki Yoshioka beat Susumu Mochizuki, Yasushi Kanda & Punch Tominaga. Yoshioka pinned Tominaga after Flashbang.

Main Event: KING OF GATE Tournament Round 1: Dragon Dia beat Jason Lee.

Second, Heroic Legend Rei-Zero 2:
Today’s event was held at Shinjuku Face in Tokyo and can be watched on demand on DRAGONGATE NETWORK.

The announced paid attendance was 353.

Match 1: YAMATO & Masaaki Mochizuki beat Munenori Sawa & Fuminori Abe. YAMATO pinned Abe after Omniescent & Omnipotent Frankensteiner.

Match 2: Hikaru Sato, Takefuim Ito & Ryo Kawamura beat Ben-K, Minorita & Punch Tominaga by ref stoppage (TKO). Kawamura beat Tominaga. Strikes.

Match 3: TBA, revealed to be Kikutaro, beat Ichikawa for the vacant Open The Owarai Gate Championship and won the audience decision after the match for the title. Kikutaro becomes the 32nd Open The Owarai Gate Champion.

Match 4: Madoka Kikuta & Yuki Yoshioka beat MUSASHI & Nohashiro (?) (Michinoku Pro). Kikuta pinned Nohashiro after a rolling lariat.

Match 5: BIGBOSS Shimizu, Mochizuki Jr. & Daiki Yanagiuchi beat Masa Kitamiya, Kai Fujimura & Taishi Ozawa (Pro Wrestling NOAH). Shimizu pinned Ozawa after BIGBOSS Press. I believe this is Yanagiuchi’s first career win.

Main Event: Open The Twin Gate Champions Susumu Mochizuki & Yasushi Kanda beat Takuya Sugawara & Masato Tanaka (ZERO1) to retain the titles. Kanda pinned Sugawara after Candy Magic. V2 for the champs.

The next event is tomorrow at Osaka Prefectural Gym 2 in Osaka. Live streaming on DRAGONGATE NETWORK will begin at 2 AM PT/5 AM ET.

7/9/23-7/15/23 Events Schedule

Here is the current events schedule for 7/9/23-7/15/23, which is subject to change (all times PT):
In addition to what is listed below, the July 2022 Grand Sumo Tournament in Nagoya, Japan will take place each day starting at approx. 5 PM PT Live broadcasts on ABEMA and NHK World Premium.
7/9:
Midnight-Pro Wrestling NOAH SUNNY VOYAGE 2023 Tour, Tama Mirai Messe, Tokyo, Japan. Live on WRESTLE UNIVERSE
2 AM-Dragon Gate Pro Wrestling KING OF GATE 2023, Osaka Prefectural Gym 2, Osaka, Japan. Live on DRAGONGATE NETWORK

7/12:
2 AM-Stardom “Stardom North Tour 2023”, Asahikawa Local Industry Promotion Center (Roadside Station Asahikawa) Large Exhibition Hall, Hokkaido, Japan. No live broadcast
5 PM-All Elite Wrestling “AEW Dynamite”, Saskatoon, Canada. Live on TBS in US and FITE elsewhere

7/13:
2 AM-Stardom “Stardom North Tour 2023”, Tomakomai City General Gym, Hokkaido, Japan. No live broadcast
5 PM-Impact Wrestling “Impact Wrestling”, Atlanta, GA. TAPED on AXS TV. TAPED on YouTube at 5:30 PM. TAPED on Impact+ at 7 PM

7/14:
2:30 AM-Dragon Gate Pro Wrestling KING OF GATE 2023, Robashi Sports Center, Nagoya, Japan. No live or on demand broadcast
7 PM-All Elite Wrestling “AEW Rampage”. TAPED on TNT in US and FITE elsewhere
8:30 PM-Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling “Tokyo Princess Cup 2023”, Ryogoku KFC Hall, Tokyo, Japan. Live on WRESTLE UNIVERSE. LIVE RESULTS SCHEDULED
10 PM-DDT Pro Wrestling “Road to PETER PAN in AOMORI”, Aomori Hamanasu Hall, Aomori, Japan. No live broadcast

7/15:
1 AM-New Japan Pro Wrestling G1 CLIMAX 2023 Tournament, Hokkaido Prefectural Sports Center Hokkai Kitayell, Hokkaido, Japan. Live on New Japan World
2 AM-Dragon Gate Pro Wrestling KING OF GATE 2023, Kyoto KBS Hall, Kyoto, Japan. Live on DRAGONGATE NETWORK
2:30 AM-Pro Wrestling NOAH One Night Dream 2023, Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan. Live on WRESTLE UNIVERSE in English only
5 PM-Impact Wrestling “Slammiversary”, Windsor, Canada. Live on PPV and FITE
5 PM-All Elite Wrestling “AEW Collision”, Calgary, Canada. Live on TNT in US and FITE elsewhere
8:30 PM-Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling “Tokyo Princess Cup 2023”, Ryogoku KFC Hall. Live on WRESTLE UNIVERSE. LIVE RESULTS SCHEDULED
10 PM-New Japan Pro Wrestling G1 CLIMAX 2023 Tournament, Hokkaido Prefectural Sports Center Hokkai Kitayell. Live on New Japan World. LIVE RESULTS TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED
11 PM-DDT Pro Wrestling “Gorgeous Matsuno 60th Birthday/20th Anniversary Event”, Fukushima Toyota Crown Arena (Fukushima National Sports Memorial Gymnasium) Sub Arena. Fukushima, Japan. No live broadcast