News, results & more from Japanese Pro Wrestling & Sumo
New Japan announced that, due to issues with setting up the ring, today’s Korakuen Hall event was CANCELLED. One of the iron pillars broke during setup, making it impossible to finish. The New Japan Cup matches that were scheduled for today will now be held tomorrow. All of today’s sold tickets will be refunded. They held a talk show event at the venue instead.
Tomorrow’s event will also be at Korakuen. Live streaming on New Japan World will begin at 1:30 AM PT/4:30 AM ET.
DDT ran their monthly fan meeting-oriented mini-event today in Tokyo.
Today’s event was held at Ueno Park Outdoor Stage in Tokyo and will be available on demand on WRESTLE UNIVERSE next week. There was no live broadcast.
The paid attendance was not announced. Photos suggest maybe 150-200.
Match 1: Yuki Ishida beat Kazuma Sumi.
Match 2: To-y & Yukio Naya beat Danshoku Dieno & Kazuki Hirata in 14 seconds. Naya pinned Hirata. Which led to…
Match 2 (again): In a death match where the winning team first had to eat 3 candies before a valid fall, To-y & Yukio Naya beat Danshoku Dieno & Kazuki Hirata. To-y pinned Hirata.
Main Event: HARASHIMA & Yuya Koroku beat Takeshi Masada & Keigo Nakamura. Koroku pinned Nakamura after Transformed Triangle Lancer.
And then…
Shunma Latsumata beat DDT Iron Man Heavymetalweight Champion To-y to win the title. Katsumata becomes the 1737th Champion. So To-y won it from Tetsu Inada some time after the last Korakuen event, unbeknownst to moat of us.
The next event is Saturday at Yokohama Radiant Hall in Yokohama. Live streaming on WRESTLE UNIVERSE will begin at midnight PT/3 AM ET.
Dragon Gate continued the Rey de Parejas yesterday in Yokohama.
Yesterday’s event was held at Yokohama Radiant Hall in Yokohama and, after a change of plans earlier this morning, can be watched on demand on DRAGONGATE NETWORK. There was to have been no live or on demand broadcast.
The announced paid attendance was 305.
Match 1: Susumu Yokosuka, Kagetora & Luis Mante beat Toru Owashi (DDT), Hyo & Daiki Yanagiuchi. Mante pinned Yanagiuchi after MCK.
Match 2: Madoka Kikuta beat U-T.
Match 3: YAMATO, BxB Hulk & Naruki Doi (Independent/Freelancer) vs. Kota Minoura, Jason Lee & Gianni Valetta went to a double countout.
Match 4: Rey De Parejas Block A: ISHIN & Yoshiki Kato beat JACKY KAMEI & Riiita. ISHIN pinned Riiita.
Match 5: Yuki Yoshioka, Dragon Dia & Ryoya Tanaka beat KAI, Shun Skywalker & Hoki. Dia pinned Skywalker. Significant for Dia.
Main Event: Rey De Parejas Block B: Kzy & Strong Machine J beat Ben-K & Mochizuki Junior. J pinned Junior after Genie Windmill.
The next event was earlier today at Kasukabe Fureai Cube in Saitama. There will be no on demand broadcast, but the 2 tournament matches scheduled should be available on demand on YouTube at some point.
On March 6, 1972, the “King Of Sports” was born as Antonio Inoki’s New Japan Pro Wrestling held their first-ever event in Tokyo. Today, on their 53rd Anniversary, the promotion continued the tradition of holding their annual Flag-Raising Anniversary event on the date and at the location where it all began.
Today’s event was held at Ota City General Gym in Tokyo and can be watched on demand OUTSIDE JAPAN ONLY in New Japan World. This event aired as part of WORLD PRO WRESTLING LIVE ’25 exclusively on TV Asahi in Japan.
The announced paid attendance was 3335, a full house/near sellout.
Before the event began, a memorial ceremony and 10 bell salute was held for Gran Hamada & Osamu Nishinura, who both died recently. Nishimura still made a few appearances when his political commitments allowed, usually in All-Japan or DDT. Hamada began bis career in Japan before relocating to Mexico and having great success there-his younger daughter Ayako is still an active wrestler today (Hamada’s older daughter and Ayako’s older sister Xochitl also was a wrestler but appears to be retired now).
Match 1: In an Open Challenge, NJPW WORLD TV Champion El Phantasmo beat TBA, which was revealed at match time to be Master Wato, to retain the title. V3 for Phantasmo.
Match 2: Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens beat Hartley Jackson & Ryohei Oiwa. Fale pinned Jackson after an elbow drop.
Match 3: Gedo, Taiji Isbimori & SANADA beat TAKA Michinoku, Taichi & Yuya Yemura by DQ. Uemura DQ’d.
Match 4: Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Ren Narita vs. Drilla Moloney & Gabriel Kidd went to a double countout in less than 2 minutes.
Match 5: Hiromu Takahashi, Yota Tsuji, Shingo Takagi & Tetsuya Naito beat Dick Togo, Sho, Yujiro Takahashi & RVIL. Hiromu Takahashi pinned Togo with Maximum The Holding 3rd Form.
Match 6: IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion El Desperado beat Francesco Akira to retain the title. V3 for Desperado.
Main Event: IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Hirooki Goto beat Hiroshi Tanahashi to retain the title. V1 for Goto. Next up: If plans and prior words are kept and honored, Yuji Nagata. But because of what is just ahead though, subject to change.
Next up is the New Japan Cup 2025, the annual spring openweight tournament, starting tomorrow at Korakuen Hall. This is a single-elimination bracket format tournament with the winner getting an IWGP World Heavyweight Championship shot, usually at SAKURA GENESIS in April. Live streaming on New Japan World will begin at 1:30 AM PT/4:30 AM ET. All tournament events will be available live and on demand.
UPDATE: It’s now official-Nagata will be next for Goto. That match will happen on 3/15 at Aichi Prefectutal Gym in Nagoya. Also, tomorrow’s event will now be a live ABEMA broadcast in Japan in addition to worldwide on New Japan World.
A short time ago on their English social media accounts, Pro Wrestling NOAH posted an update on the GHC Heavyweight Tag Team Championship, which are considered vacant. Apparently Jack Morris & Daga have still refused to vacate the titles after prior champion Omos gave his half to Daga earlier this year due to returning to WWE after the 1/1 event. Morris & Daga are now vowing to defend the titles on their own terms. NOAH still considers the titles vacant and does not recognize the transfer from Omos to Daga. But for now the promotion may go along with this…
More as it becomes available.
It’s a really bad time to be part of Cosmic Angels in Stardom-recently they’ve lost all their titles, their leader in Tam Nakano (now forced to be a freelancer and possibly retiring on 4/27) and now Natsupoi for the time being. Undisclosed injury. Out indefinitely but at least a week, probably 3/9 for sure as it’s including the next event. Technically 3/8 is the next event but it will only have Cinderella Tournament matches. No further details were announced pending further examinations.
More as it becomes available.
UPDATE: Indefinitely is at least a week because Tokyo Sports reports Natsupoi is now off a Sareee-produced event on 3/10 that she was scheduled to be on. Saori Anou is the replacement.
Dragon Gate continued the Rey De Parejas today with their monthly Tokyo event.
Today’s event was held at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo and can be watched on demand on DRAGONGATE NETWORK.
The announced paid attendance was 1218.
Match 1: Rey De Parejas Block B: Ben-K & Mochizuki Junior beat Masaaki Mochizuki & Akihiro Sahara. Junior pinned Sahara with a Getman suplex hold.
Match 2: Punch Tominaga beat Madoka Kikuta.
Match 3: Luis Mante won a 11-man battle royal, last eliminating Ryoya Tanaka.
Match 4: Rey De Parejas Block A: Ryu Fuda & Daiki Yanagiuchi beat ISHIN & Yoshiki Kato by countout. Kato counted out.
Match 5: Susumu Yokosuka, Kagetora & Naruki Doi (Independent/Freelancer) vs. Shun Skywalker, KAI & Hoki (Homare) went to a double countout.
Match 6: Rey De Parejas Block B: YAMATO & BxB Hulk beat Hyo & Kuroshio TOKYO Japan. YAMATO pinned Hyo after Double First Flash.
Main Event: Rey De Parejas Block A: Kota Minoura & Jason Lee beat Yuki Yoshioka & Dragon Dia. Minoura pinned Yoshioka after Golden Rose.
The next event is tomorrow at Yokohama Radiant Hall in Yokohama. There will be no live or on demand broadcast. In fact, there are no more DRAGONGATE NETWORK broadcasts scheduled until the tournament ender on 3/30.
3/6/25 UPDATE: Additional broadcasts for March have been announced for DRAGONGATE NETWORK: 3/5 (yesterday-now available on demand), 3/10 (on demand only), 3/20 (live and on demand), 3/23 (live and on demand), 3/24 (TBA-Shun Skywalker Produced event). Tournament matches from other events will be made available on demand on YouTube.
Breaking news via the socials from Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling, and it’s equally sad & surprising-their popular ring announcer, Sayuri Namba, is leaving the promotion this summer. Of course they’re billing it as “graduating” (so presumably it’s either a mutual decision or expiring contract that won’t be renewed but surely she’s leaving on good terms) but no further details have been revealed yet and she hasn’t posted anything yet on social media about it. Her final TJPW event will be 6/22 at Ryogoku KFC Hall in Tokyo and a special event before that will be held on 6/14 at Shin-Kiba 1st Ring. She has been with the promotion for almost 7 years as a ring announcer and also has been an MMA ring card girl and also an actress. Also no word yet on her future plans but, nonetheless, she will be greatly missed in TJPW.
More as it becomes available.,
UPDATE: DDT has posted an official news item and press conference transcript and Namba has posted on social media about it. She wants to live and work overseas, not necessarily in wrestling, and is planning to relocate to Canada this summer, possibly seeking work as a Japanese language teacher and with perhaps the goal of eventually moving to the USA. The door to a return as a ring announcer or to TJPW will never be closed though, and she expressed interest in possibly returning for events outside Japan, as they have started coming to the US a couple times annually (on average).
Dragon Gate kicked off the 2025 Rey De Parejas, their annual tag team tournament, yesterday as the second half of an Osaka doubleheader.
Yesterday’s event was held at Osaka Prefectural Gym 2 in Osaka and can be watched on demand on DRAGONGATE NETWORK.
The announced paid attendance was 778, a super full house/very near sellout.
Match 1: Rey De Parejas Block B: Strong Machine J & Kzy beat Masaaki Mochizuki & Akihiro Sahara. Kzy pinned Sahara.
Match 2: KAI beat U-T.
Match 3: Rey De Parejas Block A: ISHIN & Yoshiki Kato vs. Kota Minoura & Jason Lee went to a 20 minute time limit draw.
Match 4: Ben-K, Madoka Kikuta, Ryoya Tanaka & Luis Mante beat YAMATO, Susumu Yokosuka, Don Fujii & GenkI Horiguchi. Kikuta pinned Horiguchi after a rolling lariat.
Match 5: Rey De Parejas Block B: Kuroshio TOKYO Japan & Hyo beat Shun Skywalker & Hoki. Hyo pinned Hoki after Samson Driver.
Main Event: Rey De Parejas Block A: Riiita & JACKY KAMEI beat Yuki Yoshioka & Dragon Dia. KAMEI pinned Yoshioka after JFK.
The next event is tomorrow at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo. Live streaming on DRAGONGATE NETWORK will begin at 1:30 AM PT/4:30 AM ET. And unfortunately, unless there is a change of plans, this will be the last live/on demand broadcast of the month until the Finals on 3/30.
Stardom ran a weekday night event in Tokyo today, a big event with major ramifications for the future of the promotion based on the main event.
Today’s event was held at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo and can be watched on demand on Stardom World. You can also watch the main event FOR FREE on YouTube. Today’s event has Japanese commentary with Haruo Murata & Ami Sohrei among others. Having commentary & onscreen graphics suggests this may have also been a live Samurai! TV broadcast in Japan.
The paid attendance has not yet been announced but it was a legit advance sellout with standing room only tickets sold today. (UPDATE: The paid attendance was not announced)
Match 1: Aya Sakura & Akira Kurogame beat HANAKO & Yuria Hime. Sakura pinned Hime.
Match 2: Suzu Suzuki, Lluvia (CMLL) & Tabata (CMLL) beat Hazuki, Koguma & Momo Kohgo. Lluvia pinned Kohgo after a modified Gory Bomb.
Match 3: Konami, Ruaka, Rina & Azusa Inaba beat Natsupoi, Saori Anou, Yuna Mizumori & Sayaka Kurara. Rina pinned Kurara after Pink Devil. Quite an exciting day for Rina as she posted earlier in the day on social media that she had just graduated from high school.
Match 4: Syuri, Saki Kashima & Hina beat Saya Iida, Hanan & Mayu Iwatani in 35 seconds. Kashima pinned Hanan.
Match 5: Momo Watanabe, Thekla & Natsuko Tora beat Maika, Rian & Waka Tsukiyama. Thekla pinned Rian after Poisonous Spider Drop.
Match 6: In a 3 Falls Match, High Speed Champion Mei Seira beat Fukigen 2-1 to retain the title. V5 for Seira.
Match 7: Artist Of Stardom Champions AZM, Starlight Kid & Miyu Amasaki beat Lady C, Ranna Yagami & Tomoka Inaba to retain the titles. AZM pinned C after Numero Uno. V1 for the champs.
Main Event: In a Loser Leaves Stardom Match, Saya Kamitani beat Tam Nakano. As a result, Nakano must leave Stardom. Bur first…because this is how god-awful the booking/matchmaking in Stardom has been since last summer…rematch on 4/27 for the World Of Stardom Championship held by Kamitani. AND…the loser must RETIRE. Well, hopefully that means the official end of Tam Road for good. It better be.
The next event is the 2025 Cinderella Tournament starting Saturday at Yokohama Budokan in Yokohama. Live streaming on Stardom World as a PPV will begin Friday at 11 PM PT/2 AM ET. This is the annual tournament for younger and less-experienced wrestlers and can help launch the winner to new heights in their career, plus the winner also received a Cinderella-style gown. The entire field for the tournament, which is single-elimination bracket format, was also announced today: Yuria Hime, Akira Kurogame, Rian, Ranna Yagami, Sayaka Kurara, HANAKO, Aya Sakura, Miyu Amasaki, Lady C, Hina, Rina, Ruaka, Tabata, Azusa Inaba, Tomoka Inaba, Hanan.
Hanan won last year’s tournament and will be going for 2 straight-since winning the tournament last year she has gone on to become the current Goddesses Of Stardom Champion.
Also, Stardom has completely re-done their website effective today (3/4 Japan time). It also appears they have launched an official app, but only in Japan.
UPDATE: Following the main event, President Taro Okada has announced that Nakano’s Stardom contract has been/will be terminated and she will no longer be exclusive to the promotion. Nakano will now be a freelancer.
