Tag: ddtpro

In addition to event postponements, DDT also announced an injury absence today. No FIRE! for now as Sanshiro Takagi was injured at the event this weekend. Orbital bones (eye) and nose. Out indefinitely. The promotion said “a short period of time” but event changes resulting from this indicate at least 1-2 weeks. But exactly how long isn’t yet known.

More as it becomes available.

DDT’s monthly signature Tokyo event today underwent late changes to be centered around the retirement of Kazusada Higuchi, who announced recently he had to retire due to injury.

Today’s event was held at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo and can be watched on demand on WRESTLE UNIVERSE in Japanese. Tetsu Inada & Saki Akai were guests on commentary.

The paid attendance was not announced.

Pre-show match: Rukiya beat Yuni.

Match 1: Takeshi Masada, Yuya Kotoku & Daichi Sato beat Kazuma Sumi, Masami Inahata & Hinata Kasai. Masada pinned Kasai after a lariat.

Match 2: in a Variety King match, GM Imabayashi beat Toru Owashi, Akito, Danshoku Dieno, Kazuki Hirata, Super Sasadango Machine & Antonio Honda in a 7-way by beating Hirata. Comedy match where the first time a wrestler went for a pinfall or submission they had to rush out of the ring to do their entrance.

Match 3: Yukio Naya & Viente Maligno beat Hideki Okatani & Illusion. Naya pinned Illusion after The World’s Largest Backdrop.

Match 4: Yuki Iino, Jun Akiyama & Junta Miyawaki beat Yuki Ueno, Shinya Aoki & To-y. Iino pinned Ueno after a spear.

Match 5: Kaisei Takechi beat Makoto Oishi (Independent/Freelancer).

Match 6: Chris Brookes & HARASHIMA beat KO-D Tag Team Champions MAO & KANON to win the titles. Brookes & HARASHIMA become the 89th KO-D Tag Team Champions. HARASHIMA pinned KANON after a swan dive type Blue Sword. Next up: Possibly Illusion & Daisuke Sasaki. Or at least a poster of Sasaki because he is on international excursions all month.

Main Event: Naomi Yoshimura, Ryota Nakaysu & Yuki Ishida beat Shunma Katsumata, Kota Umeda & Koki Iwasaki. Ishida pinned Katsumata after Flame Palm. Due to Higuchi’s retirement, Harimao disbanded after the match.

After the main event, a retirement ceremony was held for Higuchi.

The next event is Thursday at Ueno Park Outdoor Stage. There will be no live broadcast. On demand on 4/12.

UPDATE: After the event, the full bracket for this year’s KING OF DDT Tournament was revealed. It’s a single-elimination bracket format event with 16 participants. All Round 1 matches will be on 5/4 and are as follows: Danshoku Dieno vs. Kaisei Takechi, To-y vs. Takeshi Masada, Minoru Suzuki vs. Yukio Naya, Chris Brookes vs. Junta Miyawaki, HARASHIMA vs. Daichi Sato, Shinya Aoki vs. KANON, Hideki Okatani vs. Yuya Koroku, MAO vs. Kazuma Sumi. The Quartrrfinals will be on 5/9 at Shinjuku Face. After that, there will be a random drawing for the Semifinals. The Semifinals & Finals will be on 5/31.

DDT held one of their wackier special events today in Tokyo, the first time they’ve held an event in a certain outdoor shopping mall there. The event was weather permitting but it turned out perfect.

Today’s event was held at Mitsui Outlet Park Tama Minami Osawa in Tokyo and will be available on demand on WRESTLE UNIVERSE Tuesday. There was no live broadcast.

The attendance was not announced as usual but this was a free event.

Match 1: Hideki Okatani, MJ Paul & Illusion beat Takeshi Masada, Daichi Sato & Hinata Kasai. Illusion pinned Kasai after a swanton bomb.

Match 2: Jun Akiyama & Yuya Koroku beat Kazuma Sumi & Kazuki Hirata. Akiyama pinned Hirata after Exploder.

Match 3: Naomi Yoshimura & Yuki Ishida beat MAO & Masami Inahata. Ishida pinned Inahata after Flame Palm.

Match 4: Chris Brookes, HARASHIMA & Antonio Honda beat Shunma Katsumata, To-y & Yuni. Honda pinned Yuni with a Japanese leg roll clutch hold. Honda retained the DDT Iron Man Heavymetalweight Championship.

Yuki Ueno appeared and apologized for being out of action. Eye surgery. Expected to be out about a week.

Main Event: KANON & Viente Maligno beat Junta MiyawakI & Rukiya to become the inaugural MOP Tag Team Champions. KANON pinned Rukiya after a lariat.

This event was considered very successful and there will be more going forward. In fact, they’ll be back on 4/11.

The next event is “SPOILER FREE Performance Vol. 4” Wednesday at Ueno Park Outdoor Stage. All social media and website posts with results, photos/videos from the event, etc. are banned until midnight Japan time after the event. There will be-of course-no live broadcast. On demand on 4/4.

DDT ran another Sanshiro Takagi Produced Super Japan Pro Wrestling event today, which based on a fan vote afterwards could be the last. As usual there was no DDT participation outside of Takagi himself.

Today’s event was held at Shinjuku Face in Tokyo and will be available on demand on WRESTLE UNIVERSE Friday. There was no live broadcast.

The paid attendance was not announced, but based on post-event planned audience polling it appears to have been 315.

There were last-minute changes to the card due to MIKAMI being pulled off the event. The always-vague poor health. I believe he was to have been part of the opening segment.

Match 1: Evil Uno & Ram Kaichow beat Shota & Marika Kobashi. Uno pinned Shota after Something Evil.

Match 2: Hiroshi Yamato vs. Munenori Sawa & Gym Trainer Kotoka in a 3-way went to a draw. Apparent triple KO.

Match 3: Brahmans Shu & Kei & Mac Panasonic beat Takashi Sasaki, Nao Sano & Demonio Uno. Kei pinned Uno.

Match 4: Sanshiro Takagi beat Poison Sawada JULIE.

Match 5: Kuroshio TOKYO Japan beat Kumatori.

Match 6: Kazunari Murakami vs. Shinya Aoki went to a no contest. Out of control.

Main Event: Yuji Nagata (New Japan) beat Fuminori Abe.

After all matches ended, the vote on the project’s future was held for fans in attendance…258 Yes, 6 No, 51 Neutral/No Answer. Super Japan Pro Wrestling continues! The next one will be on 5/24 at Ueno Park Outdoor Stage. They also announced former All-Japan President Masayuki Uchida has been appointed as an advisor to the project.

The next event is Saturday at Mitsui Outlet Park Tama Minami-Osawa in Tokyo for a free event. There will be no live broadcast. On demand on 3/31.

DDT announced a short time ago on social media that Kazusada Higuchi, who is currently out with injuries, has decided to retire. This is due to cervical spine issues found during a recent physical and continuing his career would be dangerous. So the decision was made he will retire, with a retirement ceremony held on 4/5 but he will not have any more matches.

Initial thoughts…This really surprised and saddened me as, since the pandemic, he became one of DDT’s top stars and a KO-D Openweight Champion after leaving Eruption behind (it was winding down as Hideki Okatani left then Yukio Sakaguchi & Saki Akai retired), but that brought one of the signature memories I’ll have of Higuchi-Flagbearer for DDT. He carried the promotion’s flag with him to the ring as champion and waved it with pride. A true champion who understood what being the face of the promotion meant and stood for. He was a wrestler in every way-looks, demeanor, performance, results. Someone I would want to build around. The injuries the last couple years were unfortunate as it took him away from helping build up younger wrestlers, especially Naomi Yoshimura (who also was out long-term with injuries) and Yuki Ishida as Harimao, and I hate to see him have to walk away because of this but it’s the right decision and I appreciate his doing a retirement ceremony and getting a proper sendoff. Hopefully DDT can find a role for him much like with Akai (she works part-time in the front office and makes occasional appearances on commentary). Higuchi-san, thank you for your hard work. Rest well and heal up and enjoy post-wrestling life.

More as it becomes available.

UPDATE: Harimao will also disband after 4/5. Ryota Nakatsu will team with Yoshimura & Ishida against Shunma Katsumata, Kota Umeda & Koki Iwasaki.

You can also watch today’s press conference replay FOR FREE on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/live/ZdkMFJguPm4?si=R4JlplZF4u8hlYPK

DDT celebrated their 29th Anniversary today on the day with their annual Anniversary event, keeping with recent tradition of planning a maiisve 5-hour marathon around it.

Today’s event was held at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo and an be watched on demand on WRESTLE UNIVERSE in Japanese. Momoyoko Nakajima of comedy group “Dow 90000” and Saki Akai were the guests on commentary.

The paid attendance was not announced but it was a legit advance sellout.

Pre-show:
Match 1: Yuni beat Hinata Kasai.
Match 2: Tokyo Joshi Pro Match: HIMAWARI, Haru Kazashiro & Chika Nanase beat Toga, Ren Konatsu & Shion Kanzaki. Kazashiro pinned Kanzaki with a fisherman’s suplex hold.

Main show:
Match 1: Jun Akiyama beat Rukiya.

Match 2: Yuki Iino & Yukio Naya beat Evil Uno & Akito. Iino pinned Akito after a spear.

Match 3: Viente Maligno & O-MENZ Kumadori beat MJ Paul & Illusion and Makoto Oishi & Masami Inabata in a 3-way when Maligno pinned Illusion.

Match 4: Shunma Katsumata Return Match: MAO beat Shunma Katsumata.

Match 5: Chris Brookes & HARASHIMA beat Junta Miyawaki & Shinya Aoki. HARASHIMA pinned Miyawaki after Blue Sword. As a result, Brookes & HARASHIMA will get the next KO-D Tag Team Championship shot after today.

Match 6: In a Punishment Bamboo Sword Death Match, Hideki Okatani beat DDT Extreme Champion To-y to win the title. Okatani becomes the 64th DDT Extreme Champion. Next up: Naya. That match will happen on 4/15.

Match 7: In a Handicap match, Sanshiro Takagi, Toru Owashi, Danshoku Dieno, Super Sasadango Machine, Antonio Honda, GM Imabayashi & GM Imabayashi’s Glasses beat DDT Iron Man Heavymetalweight Champion Minoru Suzuki with Imabayashi’s Glasses pinning Suzuki to win the title. Imabayashi’s Glasses become the 1812th Champion.

Match 8: KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Champions Takeshi Masada, Yuya Koroku & Daichi Sato beat Naomi Yoshimura, Ryota Nakatsu & Yuki Ishida to retain the titles. Masada pinned Ishida. V1 for the champs. Next up: Brookes, HARASHIMA & Kasai. That match will happen on 4/15.

Match 9: Konosuke Takeshita beat Kazuki Hirata in 7 seconds. Which led to…
Match 9 (again): Konosuke Takeshita beat Kazuki Hirata in 10 seconds. Which led to…
Match 9 (yet again): In a Death Match where Takeshita had to get a 20 count pinfall to win but Hirata only needed a 2 count, Konosuke Takeshita beat Kazuki Hirata. Afterwards, Takeshita vs. Kaisei Takechi was announced for 8/11 at Ryogoku Kokugikan which will be WRESTLE PETER PAN, the promotion’s biggest event of the year.

Match 10: Kazuma Sumi beat DDT Universal Champion Daisuke Sasaki to win the title. Sumi becomes the 21st DDT Universal Champion.Next up: He chose Katsumata. That match will happen on 4/18 in Fukuoka.

Main Event: KO-D Openweight Champion Yuki Ueno beat KANON to retain the title. V6 for Ueno. Next up: Iino. That match will happen on 4/15.

During the opening announcements, the field for this year’s KING OF DDT Tournament was announced: HARASHIMA, Dieno, MAO, Brookes, Naya, KANON, Okatani, Masada, To-y, Aoki, Koroku, Sato, Kaisei Takechi, Miyawaki, Sumi, Minoru Suzuki. It will be a single-elimination bracket format tournament in May.

The next event is a Super Japan Pro Wrestling event, a Sanshiro Takagi Produced event, Tuesday at Shinjuku Face. And it could be the last depending on a fan vote after the event. There will be no live broadcast. On demand Friday.

DDT held the last press conference before their anniversary event Sunday earlier today, and there has been a last-minute card change. This is because GM Imabayasbi was attacked at the end, which led to…

Minoru Suzuki beat DDT Iron Man Heavymetalweight Champion GM Imabayashi by submission to win the title. Suzuki becomes the 1811th Champion.

So that means instead of Imabayashi defending the title in a 1 vs. 6 handicap match, it’s now Suzuki with Imabayashi now one of the 6. The winner is still to defend at Tokyo Joshi Pro’s 3/29 event, not to mention Antonio Honda planned to defend against New Japan wrestler Yoh on 4/15, but, as always with this title, Card(s) Subject To Change.

Following the shocking & sad news that Shinjuku Face in Tokyo is closing at the end of September after 21 years, DDT ran the first of what will be their final 10 events at the venue before than today. The venue’s lease is expiring but no further details are known yet.

Today’s event was held at Shinjuku Face in Tokyo and can be watched on demand on WRESTLE UNIVERSE.

The paid attendance was not announced.

Pre-show Match: Tokyo Joshi Pro match: Rika Tatsumi & Uta Takami beat Yuki Kamifuku & Kira Summer. Tatsumi pinned Summer after Missile Hip.

Shortly after that…
Antonio Honda beat DDT Iron Man Heavymetalweight Champion Rika Tatsumi to win the title. Honda becomes the 1809th Champion.

Match 1: Shinya Aoki, Junta Miyawaki & Viente Maligno beat Chris Brookes, Kota Sekifuda & Hinata Kasai. Aoki beat Kasai with Aoki Clutch.

Match 2: HARASHIMA & Antonio Honda beat Jun Akiyama & Kazuki Hirata. Honda pinned Hirata after a HARASHIMA Blue Sword.

During the opening announcements that followed, Antonio Honda vs. Yoh (New Japan) was announced for 4/15 at Korakuen Hall. Honda announced he would defend the Iron Man Title then against Yoh. However…
GM Imabayashi beat DDT Iron Man Heavymetalweight Champion Antonio Honda to win the title. Imabayashi becomes the 1810th Champion.

Match 2: Kazuma Sumi, Naomi Yoshimura, Ryota Nakatsu & Yuki Ishida beat Daisuke Sasaki, Hideki Okatani, MJ Paul & Illusion. Yoshimura pinned Illusion after Paybacks.

Match 4: Shishamo Power, Eel Mask & Gota Ihashi beat Yuki Iino, Yukio Naya & Tomomitsu Matsunaga. Power pinned Matsunaga after a fisherman’s buster.

Match 5: KO-D Tag Team Champions MAO & KANON beat Danshoku Dieno & Super Sasadango Machine to retain the titles.KANON pinned Dieno after a lariat. V4 for the champs.

Main Event: Takeshi Masada, Yuya Koroku & Daichi Sato beat KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Champions Yuki Ueno, To-y & Kaisei Takechi to win the titles. Masada, Koroku & Sato become the 60th KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Champions. Masada pinned Takechi. That will not make the ladies happy. Next up: Yoshimura, Nakatsu & Ishida. That match will happen on 3/22 at Korakuen Hall. As for Imabayashi…odds are his Iron Man reign will also end on 3/22 as he will defend the title in a 1 vs. 6 Handicap Match against Honda, Minoru Suzuki, Sanshiro Takagi, Dnashoku Dieno, Super Sasadango Machine & Toru Owashi. Then we’ll see what happens because if Rika Tatsumi doesn’t steal it back that will affect Tokyo Joshi Pro’s 3/29 event as she was supposed to defend the ttile then in a battle royal. With the “Card subject to change” caveat of course. But hey, if it means Mahiro Kiryu can’t win it back I will not complain. Also, TJPW will have a pre-show match on 3/22.

The next event is Sunday at Yume Messe Miyagi in Miyagi. There will be no live broadcast. On demand on 3/18.

UPDATE: TJPW has announced whoever is champion on 3/29 will defend in the battle royal…which is now a 12 person battle royal as Tatsumi aka some weird alter-ego has been added as a challenger.

DDT finished up their busy house show weekend with an event in Osaka.

Today’s event was held at 176BOX in Osaka and will be available on demand on WRESTLE UNIVERSE Tuesday (PT)/Wednesday (ET). There was no live broadcast.

The paid attendance was not announced.

Match 1: Naomi Yoshimura & Yuki Ishida beat Junta Miyawaki & Antonio Honda. Yoshimura pinned Honda.

Match 2: In a handicap match, Yuki Ueno & Kazuma Sumi beat Danshoku Dieno, Kazuki Hirata & Akito in 4 seconds when Ueno [pinned Hirata. Which led to…
Match 2 (again): In an elimination match, Yuki Ueno & Kazuma Sumi beat Danshoku Dieno, Kazuki Hirata & Akito. Order of elimination: Ueno & Dieno together, Akito by Sumi, Hirata by Sumi.

Match 3: Takeshi Masada, Yuya Koroku & Daichi Sato beat Chris Brookes, HARASHIMA & Hinata Kasai. Masada pinned Kasai.

Match 4: Sanshiro Takagi & Rukiya beat Jun Akiyama & Tomomoitsu Matsunaga. Rukiya pinned matsunaga after a running elbow butt.

Match 5; MAO, Yukio Naya & Viente Maligno beat Daisuke Sasaki, Hideki Okatani & Illusion. MAO pinned Illusion.

Main Event: KANON beat To-y.

The next event is Wednesday at Shinjuku Face in Tokyo. Live streaming on WRESTLE UNIVERSE will begin at 3 AM PT/6 AM ET.