News, results & more from Japanese Pro Wrestling & Sumo
In a press release posted today, GLEAT announced that KAZMA SAKAMOTO is now off their next event on Sunday (5/21). Right thigh inflammation. Out indefinitely but does not appear serious (just needs rest and treatment). He was to have faced Oji Shiiba. No replacement named yet.
More as it becomes available.
Here are the quick results from today’s Day 5 of the May 2023 Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, Y-Yokozuna, J-Juryo, Ms-Makushita
Makuuchi (top tier):
Mitoryu (M16) beat Kagayaki (M17)
Tsurugisho (M15) beat Tohakuryu (J2)
Oho (M16) beat Ichiyamamoto (M15)
Myogiryu (M14) beat Kotoeko (M12)
Asanoyama (M14) beat Aoiyama (M12)
Chiyoshoma (M13) beat Daishoho (M11)
Hokuseiho (M11) beat Hiradoumi (M9)
Takarafuji (M10) beat Takanosho (M8)
Ryuden (M10) beat Sadanoumi (M8)
Onosho (M9) beat Tamawashi (M7)
Mitakeumi (M6) beat Kotoshoho (M5)
Hokutofuji (M7) beat Kinbozan (M5)
Meisei (M6) beat Nishikigi (M4$
Nishikifuji (M3) beat Endo (M2)
Wakamotoharu (S) beat Midorifuji (M1)
Abi (M1) beat Daieisho (S)
Hoshoryu (S) beat Shodai (K)
Korobayama (S) beat Kotonowaka (K)
Tobizaru (M3) beat Takakeisho (O)
terunofuji (Y) beat Ura (M4)
Leader: 4 at 5-0
Of note: There was some controversy surrounding Tobizaru-Takakeisho as the referee declared Takakeisho the winner in a clearly blown call. Takakeisho was going for an uwatenage (over arm throw) and his arm clearly hit the ground before Tobizaru’s body did. Replays quickly confirmed the obvious overturning by the judges. Nikkan Sports reported afterwards that the referee, who is the chief referee in sumo, offered his resignation to stablemaster Hakkaku, who is also the head of the Japan Sumo Association, following what was his 10th mistaken call since promotion to chief referee in 2019. The offer was declined.
Elsewhere, Daieisho fell from the unbeaten group today after his first loss, leaving 4 at 5-0: Terunofuji, Wakamotoharu, Meisei & Asanoyama. There are two at 0-5, Midorifuji & Endo, but somebody’s 0 has got to go tomorrow because they face each other.
Bushozan, currently 4-1, is the Juryo man up tomorrow and faces Ichiyamamoto.
Juryo:
Shishi (Ms2) beat Fujiseiun (J13)
Tsushimanada (J14) beat Chiyosakae (J12)
Tamashoho (J11) beat Shimanoumi (J13)
Tokihayate (J14) beat Hidenoumi )J11)
Tomokaze (J12) beat Kitanowaka (J10)
Ochiai (J8) beat Chiyomaru (J10)
Atamifuji (J8) beat Chiyonokuni (J9)
Churanoumi (J7) beat Daiamami (J9)
Takakento (J7) beat Akua (J5)
Shimazuumi (J6) beat Tochinoshin (J5)
Roga (J4) beat Hakuyozan (J6)
Oshoma (J4) beat Azumaryu (J2)
Bushozan (J3) beat Shonannoumi (J1)
Gonoyama (J1) beat Enho (J3)
Leader: Gonoyama, Shimazuumi, Ochiai (5-0)
Dragon Gate continued the Hopeful Gate 223 Tour yesterday with the first of a series of 4 wrestler hometown events in a tow.
Yeaterday’s event was held at Yokohama Radiant Hall in Yokohama. There was no live or on demand broadcast.
The announced paid attendance was 340, a super full house/very near sellout.
Match 1: Dragon Kid, Naruki Doi & La Estrella vs. Madoka Kikuta, Yuki Yoshioka & Dragon Dia went to an unspecified time limit draw.
Match 2: Masaaki Mochizuki & Don Fujii beat YAMATO & Punch Tominaga. Mochizuki beat Tominaga with Gedo Clutch.
Match 3: Susumu Mochizuki & Yasushi Kanda beat Diamante & H-Y-O. Mochizuki pinned H-Y-O.
Match 4: Shun Skywalker & KAI beat BIGBOSS Shimizu & JACKY “FUNKY” KAMEI. KAI pinned KAMEI after Meteor Impact.
Main Event: Strong Machine J, Kzy, Jason Lee & U-T beat Kota Minoura, BxB Hulk, Ben-K & Minorita. J pinned Minorita after Genie Windmill.
The next event is tomorrow at Sapporo E-One Stadium in Hokkaido, the first of 3 straight BxB Hulk/Kzy hometown events over 3 consecutive days. Live streaming on DRAGONGATE NETWORK will begin at 2 AM PT/5 AM ET. All 3 of these events will be broadcast.
All-Japan continued the Super Power Series today with an event headlined by a match to determine who would get the next Triple Crown chance with Shotaro Ashino injured.
Today’s event was held at Shin-Kiba 1st Ring in Tokyo and can be watched on demand on AJPW.TV. You can also watch the first 5 matches FOR FREE on YouTube.
The paid attendance has not been announced.
Match 1: Jun & Rei Saito beat Hikaru Sato & Dan Tamura. Jun Saito pinned Tamura after Psycho Break.
Match 2: Kotaro Suzuki beat Black Menso-re.
Match 3: Hikari Shimizu, Rina Amikura & Yuko Sakurai beat SAKI, ZONES & ChiChi. Sakurai beat ChiChi with a torso dragon sleeper.
Match 4: Ren Ayabe beat Masao Hanabata.
Match 5: Naruki Doi & Hokuto Omori beat Atsuki Aoyagi & Rising Hayato. Doi pinned Aoyagi after Bakatare Sliding Kick.
Match 6: Yuma Anzai beat Ryo Inoue.
Match 7: Manabu Soya (Pro Wrestling NOAH) beat Suwama by DQ. Voodoo Murders interference.
Match 8: Yuji Nagata (New Japan), Kento Miyahara & Satoshi Kojima beat Shuji Ishikawa, Yuma Aoyagi & Yoshitatsu. Miyahara pinned Yoshitatsu with a shutdown suplex hold.
Main Event: T-Hawk beat Ryuki Honda. As a result, T-Hawk will face Triple Crown Champion Yuji Nagata for the Triple Crown on 5/29.
The next event is 5/29 at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo. Live streaming on AJPW.TV will begin at 2:30 AM PT/5:30 AM ET.
Below are the quick results for tomorrow’s TAPED AEW Rampage, which airs at a special earlier time of 6:30 PM ET/3:30 PM PT due to NBA Playoffs coverage on TNT (SPOILERS!):
Continue reading “AEW Rampage 5/19/23 Results (SPOILERS!)”New Japan ran Day 6 of Best Of The Super Junior 30 today, beginning the second half of the tournament.
Today’s event was held at Iwate Prefectural Gym in Iwate and can be watched on demand on New Japan World in Japanese and English.
The announced paid attendance was 1004.
All matches were Best Of The Super Junior matches, 30 minute time limit.
Match 1: Block A: Mike Bailey beat DOUKI.
Match 2: Block B: BUSHI beat Yoshinobu Kanemaru.
Match 3: Block A: TJP beat Ryusuke Taguchi by submission.
Match 4: Block B: Kevin Knight beat Dan Moloney.
Match 5: Block A: Sho beat Taiji Ishimori.
Match 6: Block B: El Desperado beat Clark Connors.
Match 7: Block A: Titan beat Lio Rush.
Match 8: Block B: Yoh beat Francesco Akira.
Match 9: Block A: Hiromu Takahashi beat KUSHIDA by countout.
Main Event: Block B: Master Wato beat Robbie Eagles.
Standings:
Block A:
1-Bailey, 5-1, 10 pts
2-Takahashi, 4-2, 8 pts
3-Titan, 4-2, 8 pts
4-TJP, 4-2, 8 pts
5-Rush, 4-2, 8 pts
6-Ishimori, 4-2, 8 pts
7-Sho, 2-4, 4 pts
8-DOUKI, 2-4, 4 pts
9-KUSHIDA, 1-5, 2 pts
10-Taguchi, 0-6, 0 pts (OUT)
Block B:
1-Desperado, 4-2, 8 pts
2-Yoh, 4-2, 8 pts
3-Eagles, 4-2, 8 pts
4-Wato, 4-2, 8 pts
5-Knight, 3-3, 6 pts
6-Akira, 3-3, 6 pts
7-Connors, 3-3, 6 pts
8-Moloney, 2-4, 4 pts
9-Kanemaru, 2-4, 4 pts
10-BUSHI, 1-5, 2 pts
The top 2 in each block advance to the Semifinals. Bailey remains in control in Block A while 5 remain tied for 2nd. Taguchi is now officially eliminated while KUSHIDA is all but out of it and Sho & DOUKI must win out and get a lot of help to have a chance. Block B looks to be going down to the wire with 4 ties at the top and nobody out thanks to a flash win by BUSHI today in under 2 minutes. But BUSHI is still on life support with only a tiebreaker keeping him alive.
Day 7 is tomorrow at New Aomori Prefecture Sports Park Maeda Arena Sub Arena in Aomori. Live streaming on New Japan World will begin at 3 AM PT/6 AM ET.
Here are the quick results from tonight’s AEW Dynamite in Houston, TX:
Just after the start of the second hour, commentary announced to the TV viewers breaking news-Superstar Billy Graham, a wrestling & WWF/E Hall Of Famer, has died at 79. He was dealing with multiple serious medical issues.
Orange Cassidy & Darby Allin beat Lee Moriarty & Big Bill. Allin pinned Moriarty.
The Young Bucks arrive as Blackpool Combat Club sneak attack them.
Sammy Guevara beat Exodus Prime. Squash.
Jeff Jarrett & crew call out FTR, leading to a beatdown and the AEW debut of Karen Jarrett, who low blows Cash Wheeler.
Euby Soho & Toni Storm beat Britt Baker & Hikaru Shida. Storm pinned Baker after Storm Zero. This was to have been Jamie Hayter, Baker & Shida vs. Saraya, Soho & Storm but Hayter was not medically cleared.
Tony Khan makes a follow-up announcement from today’s Collision announcement by TNT, which is the dates for the 2nd-7th episodes. Most in Canada with the 7/1 episode being TAPED (taping on 6/29) except for the 7th in Newark, NJ. Not announced: The location for the premiere, widely expected to be in Chicago. That will come next week. May have something to do with CM Punk.
In a Falls Count Anywhere match where Adam Cole and JAS were banned from the building, Roderick Strong beat Chris Jericho. It went outside the building at the end, meaning Cole could get involved and did.
Jungle Boy beat Rush.
Jay White beat Ricky Starks by DQ. Chair use. This was the main event.
Don Callis interview was interrupted almost immediately by Kenny Omega. BCC and The Elite came out for a big brawl and Adam Page joined in, siding with The Elite. He challenged BCC to Anarchy In The Arena at Double Or Nothing.
A good show overall but one’s view will ultimately be skewed by their expectations for the Khan follow-up announcement, namely no Punk.
Friday on Rampage at 6:30 PM ET/3:30 PM PT: BCC vs. Best Friends & Bandido, The Acclaimed & Billy Gunn vs. CVarsity Athletes, Bishop Kaun vs. Dustin Rhodes, perhaps a Jade Cargill open challenge and The Hardys promo. Early air time is due to NBA Playoffs on TNT. Next week’s Rampage is likely to be pre-empted because of NHL Playoffs IF the Eastern Conference Finals is not a 4 game sweep (next Friday on TNT would be a Game 5 if needed).
Next week: ROH Tag Team Champions Lucha Bros vs. Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta for the titles. This is the followup from the Double Jeopardy match last week.
Confirmed for Double Or Nothing: AEW TNT Champion Wardlow vs. Christian Cage in a Ladder Match for the title, AEW Women’s Champion Jamie Hayter vs. Toni Storm for the title, a 21 Man Blackjack Battle Royal for the AEW International Championship (Orange Cassidy vs. 20 others) and more.
Here are the quick results from today’s Day 4 of the May 2023 Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki. Y-Yokozuna, J-Juryo, Ms-Makushita
Makuuchi (top tier):
Mitoryu (M16) beat Azumaryu (J2)
Ichiyamamoto (M15) beat Kagayaki (M17)
Asanoyama (M14) beat Oho (M16)
Tsurugisho (M15) beat Myogiryu (M14)
Chiyoshoma (M13) beat Aoiyama (M12)
Kotoeko (M12) beat Daishoho (M11)
Hokuseiho (M11) beat Ryuden (M10)
Hiradoumi (M9) beat Takarafuji (M10)
Sadanoumi (M8) beat Onosho (M9)
Takanosho (M8) beat Tamawashi (M7)
Meisei (M6) beat Hokutofuji (M7)
Kinbozan (M5) beat Mitakeumi (M6)
Nishikigi (M4) beat Kotoshoho (M5)
Ura (M4) beat Midorifuji (M1)
Daieisho (S) beat Shodai (K)
Hoshoryu (S) beat Abi (M1)
Kiribayama (S) beat Nishikifuji (M3)
Wakamotoharu (S) beat Kotonowaka (K)
Takakeisho (O) beat Endo (M2)
Terunofuji (Y) beat Tobizaru (M3)
Leader: 5 at 5-0
Of note: If you want fans to be disappointed, go for the big man HENKA!!! Takakeisho did just that to the crowd’s dismay, and it was more a half move due to his knees but it got him the easy win over Endo to go to 3-1, 5 wins from getting out of kadoban status. No such issues for Terunofuji as he showed hos upper body strength is still there-once his arms lovk in the opponent’s arms near the biceps, it’s simple lift and carry to victory for the yokozuna as demonstrated today against Tobizaru by his impressive kimedashi (arm barring force out). Terunofuji is in a group of 5 atop the leaderbord including 2 Sekiwake (Wakamotoharu & Daieisho), a resurgent Meisei and of course Asanoyama. On the other side, the biggest disappointment has to be Midorifuji, who started 10-0 in March. In May his start is now 0-4.
Watch for potential HENKA!!! again at the top tomorrow as Takakeisho gets The Flying Monkey Tobizaru tomorrow while Terunofuji’s opponent is the always-unpredictable Ura. Tohakuryu will be the Juryo man up for the day tomorrow from J2, drawing Tsurugisho.
Juryo:
Fujiseiun (J13) beat Tsushimanada (J14)
Shimanoumi (J13) beat Kotokuzan (Ms2)
Chiyosakae (J12) beat Tokihayate (J14)
Chiyomaru (J10) beat Tomokaze (J12)
Kitanowaka (J10) beat Tamashoho (J11)
Hidenoumi (J11) beat Chiyonokuni (J9)
Atamifuji (J8) beat Daiamami (J9)
Ochiai (J8) beat Churanoumi (J7)
Takakento (J7) beat Hakuyozan (J6)
Shimazuumi (J6) beat Akua (J5)
Oshoma (J4) beat Tochinoshin (J5)
Roga (J4) beat Enho (J3)
Gonoyama (J1) beat Bushozan (J3)
Shonannoumi (J1) beat Tohakuryu (J2)
Leader: Gonoyama, Shimazuumi, Ochiai (4-0)
Of note: Ochiai has been competing with a heavily taped left shoulder/upper body, perhaps related to his apparent injury last tournament. Perhaps his performance with maybe one good arm should serve as a warning-when/if he gets fully healthy, look out as the former Hakuho could have a Yokozuna in his stable much sooner rather than later, very fitting for the greatest Yokozuna ever. Co-leader Gonoyama is now halfway to the top tier at J1, if he keeps this up he’ll be in Makuuchi in July.
Interesting side note tomorrow-Shishi, a favorite of who I get Makushita match videos from on YouTube-is tomorrow’s Makushita man in Juryo. He gets huge crowd reactions in part because he is from Ukraine, which makes for interesting backstories should he ever face Russian rikishi Roga. Shishi is 2-0 at Ms2 and will face 3-1 Fujiseiun.
Finally, during a live stream of his SUMO PRIME TIME show yesterday on YouTube, host/NHK announcer Hiro Morita seemingly confirmed that Takayasu, who withdrew on Day 1 due to a thigh injury suffered in practice that morning, is out for the tournament and will try to return in July. He’ll be in the top tier still but will be demoted from Maegashira 2, probably down to Maegashira 10 or 11. Also, former top tier mainstay Ishiura, who has fallen down to Jonidan, again pulled out due to a back injury that has kept him out for about a year now. He’ll maybe drop to Jonokuchi or even be unranked in July.
It’s now official-All Elite Wrestling announced their long-rumored Saturday show today. Specifically it was announced by Warner Bros Discovery at their annual upfronts today in New York City. Here is what we know (via Variety, link to source below):
It will premiere June 17 and be LIVE for 2 hours every Saturday. The premiere is expected to be in Chicago, IL with the only announced date so far being 7/8 in Canada.
Timeslot TBA but it will be on TNT. I’m thinking 6-8 PM as that was the WCW Saturday timeslot back in the days.
No mention of CM Punk yet.
More as it becomes available but expect more details tonight on Dynamite as part of Tony Khan’s latest promised major announcement.
Original source:
https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/aew-saturday-night-tnt-show-collison-premiere-date-1235615531/
UPDATE: As soon as I posted this, Variety deleted their original Twitter post with the above source link.
UPDATE 2: AEW has put out their own press release. The timeslot will be 8-10 PM ET Saturdays. No word on if west coast gets live or taped.
UPDATE 3: Now there are reports CM Punk was part of the press release originally but it was edited out and WBD now denies his involvement. An email sent out to media including to Sports Illustrated before the presentation included Punk, then another site was told Punk is not affiliated with Collision. The early thinking is his return will be a surprise/not surprise at the event.
UPDATE 4: It’s now been announced that AEW All Access will be moving to the former HBO Max (to be called just Max starting Tuesday) on 6/9. It’s not known if it will be the run of episodes that finished last week or more new episodes, or both. It previously aired on TBS after Dynamite.
New Japan ran Day 5 of Best Of The Super Junior 30 today as the tournament reaches the halfway point.
Today’s event was held at Sendai Sun Plaza in Sendai and can be watched on demand on New Japan World in Japanese and English.
The announced paid attendance was 1075.
All matches were Best Of The Super Junior Matches, 30 minute time limit.
Match 1: Block A: Hiromu Takahashi beat Ryusuke Taguchi.
Match 2: Block B: Kevin Knight beat BUSHI.
Match 3: Block A: TJP beat Sho.
Match 4: Block B: Clark Connors beat Francesco Akira.
Match 5: Block A: DOUKI beat Lio Rush by submission.
Match 6: Block B: Robbie Eagles beat Yoshinobu Kanemaru.
Match 7: Block A: Mike Bailey beat Titan.
Match 8: Block B: Master Wato beat Dan Moloney.
Match 9: Block A: Taiji Ishimori beat KUSHIDA.
Main Event: Block B: Yoh beat El Desperado.
Standings:
Block A:
1-Bailey, 4-1, 8 pts
2-Ishimori, 4-1, 8 pts
3-Rush, 4-1, 8 pts
4-Takahashi, 3-2, 6 pts
5-TJP, 3-2, 6 pts
6-Titan, 3-2, 6 pts
7-DOUKI, 2-3, 4 pts
8-Sho, 1-4, 2 pts
9-KUSHIDA, 1-4, 2 pts
10-Taguchi, 0-5, 0 pts
Block B:
1-Eagles, 4-1, 8 pts
2-Desperado, 3-2, 6 pts
3-Yoh, 3-2, 6 pts
4-Wato, 3-2, 6 pts
5-Akira, 3-2, 6 pts
6-Connors, 3-2, 6 pts
7-Knight, 2-3, 4 pts
8-Moloney, 2-3, 4 pts
9-Kanemaru, 2-3, 4 pts
10-BUSHI, 0-5, 0 pts
The top 2 in each block advance to the Semifinals. In Block A it’s now all but over for Taguchi and he can be officially eliminated tomorrow. The 3-way tie at the too may remain too. In Block B BUSHI can be all but eliminated tomorrow as a loss would leave potential tiebreakers as his only hope, but he would not have any right now. Eagles has a chance to pull 4 points clear of the field if all goes right.
Day 6 is tomorrow at Iwate Prefectural Gym in Iwate. Live streaming on New Japan World will begin at 2:30 AM PT/5:30 AM ET.