All-Japan has announced an injury change to their major event Saturday: Osamu Nishimura is now off. The always-vague poor physical condition/ill health. He was to have teamed with Takao Omori to face KONO & Toshizo. Kumaarashi is the replacement. Nishimura probably won’t miss any more time beyond this.
Tag: pro wrestling
News: UJPW Press Conference-ALL TOGETHER Returning (Updated)
At a press conference on Tokyo today, several promotions including New Japan, Pro Wrestling NOAH, DDT, Tokyo Joshi Pro and Stardom came together under the new United Japan Pro Wrestling banner. The biggest item coning out of this was the return of ALL TOGETHER, the joint event between multiple promotions held twice in the past as a charity fundraiser effort. To be held on 5/6 at Nippon Budokan in Tokyo, the event will be a fundraiser for Noto Peninsula disaster recovery efforts and include New Japan, NOAH, DDT, Dragon Gate, Big Japan and Stardom participation. The event will be a live PPV worldwide, streaming on ABEMA on Japan and TBA elsewhere.
A second UJPW event will be held on 6/16 in Hokkaido and will focus on other promotions not able to participate in the 5/6 event.
It should be noted that, at this time, the only major Japanese promotion that does not appear to be part of the UJPW is All-Japan. No presence at the presser and no mentions on their website.
One match for 5:6 has already been announced by NOAH: Daisuke Sekimoto & Tomohiro Ishii vs. Jeff Cobb & Masa Kitamiya. HOSS FIGHT ALERT!!!
More as it becomes available.
UPDATE: Second match announced: Naomichi Marufuji, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Sanshiro Takagi vs. EVIL, Ren Narita & Yujiro Takahashi.
And a third match: Yuki Ueno, Kaito Kiyomiya & Shota Umino vs. Yuya Uemura, Konosuke Takeshita & Shun Skywalker.
Stardom 3/24/24 Results
Stardom ran the second half of a weekend house show doubleheader today, serving as the second of two events that were used to test live streaming on their Stardom World streaming service.
Today’s event was held at Kyoto KBS Hall in Kyoto and can be watched on demand on Stardom World. It may also be available on YouTube as it was also live streamed there.
The announced paid attendance was 511, a full house/near sellout.
Match 1: Yuna Mizumori beat Aya Sakura.
Match 2: Starlight Kid & Rina beat Yuzuki & Mayu Iwatani. Rina pinned Yuzuki after Pink Devil.
Match 3: Momo Watanabe, Ruaka & Natsuko Tora beat Lady C, Saya Kamitani & AZM. Watanabe pinned Kamitani after Peach Sunrise.
Match 4: Mei Seira & Suzu Suzuki beat Gina & Mina Shirakawa and Koguma & Hazuki in a 3-way when Suzuki pinned Gina.
Match 5: Mai Sakurai, Natsupoi, MIWRAI, Syuri, Maika & Giulia beat Saori Anou, Sayaka Kurara, Ranna Yagami, Saki Kashima, Tam Nakano & Ami Sohrei. Natsupoi pinned Kurara.
Match 6: Utami Hayashishita beat Miyu Amasaki.
Main Event: New Blood Tag Team Champions Hanan & Saya Iida beat HANAKO & Waka Tsukiyama to retain the titles. Iida pinned HANAKO after Giant Killer. V3 for the champs.
The next event is Saturday (Friday night US time) at Sendai Pit in Sendai. Broadcast plans TBA.
Tokyo Joshi Pro 3/22/24 Results
Tokyo Joshi Pro ran a special joint event today with Ganbare Women, possibly the last event for GanJo for the time being with the promotion becoming independent at the end of the month and some of their women’s talent leaving the promotion (namely Yoshiko Hasegawa & Riara).
Today’s event was held at Ueno Park Outdoor Stage in Tokyo and will be available on demand on WRESTLE UNIVERSE Monday. There was no live broadcast.
The announced paid attendance was 137.
Match 1; Mahiro Kiryu & Haru Kazashiro beat Toga & Chika Nanase. Kiryu pinned Nanase after a spinebuster.
Match 2: Rika Tatsumi, Runa Okubo & Uta Takami beat Moka Miyamoto, Wakana Uehara & Kira Summer. Tatsumi pinned Summer after Twist OF Fate.
Match 3: HARUKAZE & Kaya Toribami beat Raku & Shino Suzuki. HARUKAZE pinned Suzuki after Wind Spear.
Match 4: Yuki Kamifuku & YuuRI beat HIMAWARI & Riara. Kamifuku pinned Riara after Fameasser.
Main Event: Yuna Manase & Nao Kakuta beat Shoko Nakajima & Yoshiko Hasegawa. Manase pinned Hasegawa after Suzuki Dynamic.
The next event is GRAND PRINCESS ’24, TJPW’s biggest event of the year, on 3/31 at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo. Live streaming on WRESTLE UNIVERSE will begin on 3/30 at 10 PM PT/1 AM ET.
DEVELOPING: New Japanese Promotion/Alliance Coming Soon?
In the wake of the rumored talent exodus from Stardom, the promotion made another intriguing announcement today: On Tuesday at 3 PM JST (2 AM ET/Monday at 11 PM PT) a press conference will be held to announce the inauguration of the Japan Pro Wrestling Federation, possibly aka United Japan Pro Wrestling per logos displayed on Stardom’s website. In attendance will be New Japan Chairman Naoki Sugabayashi, New Japan President/CEO Hiroshi Tanahashi, CyberFight President Sanshiro Takagi (DDT) and CyberFight Vice President Naomichi Marufuji (Pro Wrestling NOAH). In addition to a possible ABEMA live broadcast, the presser will also be streamed live on the Stardom YouTube channel.
This has me thinking it could be a new strategic alliance/working partnership much like when Mitsuharu Misawa started the Global Pro Wrestling Alliance after forming Pro Wrestling NOAH. If this involves CyberFight & Bushiroad Corporation, it could also include Stardom and Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling, which on paper is a win-win. But perhaps noticeably absent from said alliance, for now, could be All-Japan Pro Wrestling. No mention of this on their website.
More as it becomes available. The announcement can be viewed below (in Japanese) at Stardom’s website:
https://wwr-stardom.com/news/20240322-2/
Dragon Gate 3/21/24 Results
Dragon Gate ran the 4th installment of their spinoff series “Heroic Legend: Rei-Zero” yesterday.
Yesterday’s event was held at Shinjuku Face in Tokyo and can be watched on demand on DRAGONGATE NETWORK.
The announced paid attendance was 292.
Match 1: Dragon Dia & Alejandro (Pro Wrestling NOAH) vs. Kzy & YO-HEY (Pro Wrestling NOAH) went to a 20 minute time limit draw.
Match 2: Punch Tominaga beat Open The Owarai Gate Champion Lingerie Muto by submission. But due to post-match audience judgment, Muto retains the title. V2 for Muto.
Match 3; YAMATO & Susumu Mochizuki beat Kikutaro & Ryo Kawamura (Independent/Freelancers). YAMATO beat Kikutaro with a sleeper hold.
Match 4; Kota MInoura & Ben-K beat Takashi Sugiura & Hajime Ohara (Pro Wrestling NOAH). Ben-K pinned Ohara after a spear.
Main Event: Shuji Ishikawa (Indpendent/Freelancer) beat BIGBOSS Shimizu.
The next event is tomorrow at Kirameki MInatokan in Fukui to continue the Rey De Parejas. There will be no live or on demand broadcast.
BREAKING: Stardom Wrestler Exodus Official
To the dismay of many Stardom fans, the rumored wrestler exodus at the end of the month, when many contracts are up, is now official. Stardom has confirmed these wrestlers will be leaving the promotion when their contracts expire on 3/31: Utami Hayashishita, Giulia, Mai Sakurai, MIRAI and Yuzuki. Hayashishita & Giulia will finish up with Stardom on 4/12, the rest are done after 3/31. Yuzuki is a rookie who just debuted in November, Giulia’s departure was expected, the rest all have been competing for at least 4-5 years. This will have title implications because Hayashishita half of the current Goddesses Of Stardom Champions, so unless a title match happens on 4/12 or perhaps in the USA on 4/4 the titles will have to be vacated.
At this time it’s not known if anyone else is leaving, what is certain is that Mayu Iwatani and Tam Nakano appear to be staying put (Iwatani’s contract is not up for a while, Nakano says she’s not leaving), also probably staying is Maika. The question now is if the departing wrestlers follow Rossy Ogawa to his reported new promotion, but Giulia is rumored to be headed to WWE later this year.
More as it becomes available.
DDT 3/21/24 Results
DDT held the first day of their traditional spring “Beer Garden Pro Wrestling” event today in Tokyo.
Today’s event was held at Ueno Park Outdoor Stage in Tokyo and should be available on demand on WRESTLE UNIVERSE Sunday. There was no live broadcast. Speaking of WRESTLE UNIVERSE, remember the new price increases take effect today.
The announced paid attendance was 311.
There was a last-minute change to the event card because Makoto Oishi was injured in Ganbare Pro yesterday. Neck. Seems to be mild and today’s absence was more of a precaution.
D GENERATIONS Cup:
Match 1: Illusion beat Yuni by submission.
Match 2: To-y beat Tsubasa Suzuki.
Match 3: Munetatsu Nakamura beat Kazuma Sumi.
Match 4: Rukiya beat Yuya Koroku. That can be called a mild upset.
Match 5: Daisuke Sasaki, KANON & MJ Paul beat HARASHIMA, Yukio Naya & Hideki Okatani. KANON beat Okatani with a ground cobra twist.
Match 6: Tetsuya Endo & Yuki Iino beat Yoshitatsu & Tomomitsu Matsunaga. Iino pinned Mateunaga after a spear. Matsunaga was the replacement for Oishi.
Match 7: Chris Brookes, Antonio Honda & Takeshi Masada beat Danshoku Dieno, Yoshihiko & Pokotan. Brookes pinned Pokotan.
Main Event: Yuki Ueno, MAO & Shunma Katsumata beat Akito, Kazusada Higuchi & Kazuki Hirata. Ueno pinned Hirata after WR.
The D GENERATION Cup is a single-elimination tournament, so as a result of today the Semifinals are Illution vs. To-y and Nakamura vs. Rukiya. The Semifinals are on the next event with the Finals on 4/7 at Korakuen Hall. The winner gets an entry into this year’s KING OF DDT Tournament.
Day 2 of this event is Tuesday. There will be no live broadcast.
Stardom 3/20/24 Results
Stardom wrapped up the 2024 Cinderella Tournament today with the tour-ender in Nagoya.
Today’s event was held at Nagoya Congress Center Event Hall in Nagoya and can be watched on demand on PPV via Pia Stream for 4400 Japanese yen (around $30 US) until Saturday morning. It should be available on demand on Stardom World after that. It is Japanese commentary with Haruo Murata, Kagehiro Osano & special guest MIRAI (but not for the whole event).
The announced paid attendance was 994, a full house/near sellout. The Event Hall has a normal full capacity of 1800 so they probably had a max setup of maybe 1200.
Match 1: Mayu Iwatani beat Yuzuki.
Match 2; Gina, HANAKO, Waka Tsukiyama & Mina Shirakawa beat Ranna Yagami, Saki Kashima, MIRAI & Syuri. Shirakawa pinned Yagami after Venus Tower.
Cinderella Tournament Semifinals:
Match 3: Hanan beat Ruaka.
Match 4: Ami Sohrei beat AZM.
Match 5: Mei Seira, Suzu Suzuki & Mai Sakurai beat Miyu Amasaki, Lady C & Saya Kamitani. and Saya Iida, Koguma & Hazuki in a 3-way when Seira pinned Kamitani.
Match 6: Tam Nakano vs. Giulia went to a 15 minute time limit draw.
Match 7: Momo Watanabe, Starlight Kid, Fukigen, Rina & Natsuko Tora beat Saori Anou, Sayaka Kurara, Aya Sakura, Yuna Mizumori & Natsupoi. Rina pinned Sakura after a diving double knee drop.
Match 8: Cinderella Tournament Finals: Hanan beat Ami Sohrei to win the tournament. Hanan wins a trophy and a Cinderella dress for winning. If she gets a title shot, Hanan made it clear she wants the Wonder Of Stardom Championship.
Main Event: World Of Stardom Champion Maika beat Utami Hayashishita to retain the title. V2 for Maika. With only 19 seconds left to spare before it would have been a 30 minute time limit draw. Next up: If what Maika said post-match holds true, Meghan Bayne. That match will happen on 4/4 in Philadelphia, PA if so. It also has been announced that 4/4 will be a PPV only on TrillerTV (fka FITE) in English only for $24.99. No Pia PPV or Japanese option. Start time will be 3 PM ET/Noon PT. Note that the event is on a Thursday so keep that in mind for watching live (you do get unlimited on demand replays with purchase on Triller).
The next event is Saturday (Friday night US time) at Nara Convention Center in Nara. It will be available on demand on Stardom World at a later date.
AEW Dynamite & Rampage 3/20/24 Results
Here are the quick results from tonight’s AEW Dynamite and LIVE AEW Rampage from Toronto, Canada:
Dynamite:
Mercedes Mone comes out first. She introduces herself to fans with a video package of her past, not including WWE. Julia Hart & Skye Blue come out at the end and try to ambush Mone but it backfires. When they get chairs, Willow Nightingale & Kris Statlander rush out to make the save, but at the end Nightingale teases hitting Mone with a chair.
Match 1: AEW Continental Champion Eddie Kingston vs. Kazuchika Okada for the title (but not the Continental Crown. Interesting)
Result: Kazuchika Okada beat AEW Continental Champion Eddie Kingston to become THE NEW AEW CONTINENTAL CHAMPION! So apparently the Triple Crown is no longer as Kingston is still the ROH World Champion and NJPW STRONG Openweight Champion, with an ROH Title defense coming at the Supercard Of Honor PPV in April. After the match, Pac came out and stared down Okada.
Swerve Strickland interviewed backstage.
Kris Statlander & Willow Nightingale interviewed backstage before Mone interrupts.
Match 2: Hook vs. Chris Jericho
Result: Hook beat Chris Jericho
Adam Cole promo.
Jericho will have a proposition for Hook next week.
Will Ospreay interviewed in the ring. He talks Bryan Danielson & Katsuyori Shibata and this leads to a match against Shibata next week.
Match 3: Mariah May & Toni Storm vs. Deonna Purrazzo & Thunder Rosa
Result: Deonna Purrazzo & Thunder Rosa beat Mariah May & Toni Storm. Rosa pinned Storm.
Match 4; Swerve Strickland vs. TBA, which is revealed to be The Butcher
Result: Swerve Strickland beat The Butcher by submission. Afterwards Strickland calls out Samoa Joe and the champ comes out. They tease going at it but get interrupted by Don Callis, which leads to Strickland vs. Konosuke Takeshita next week.
Main Event: AEW TNT Champion Christian Cage vs. Adam Copeland in an I Quit match for the title. The only way to win is make your opponent say I Quit
Result: Adam Copeland beat AEW TNT Champion Christian Cage to become THE NEW AEW TNT CHAMPION!
I cared less than not at all about the main event and it was little more than hardcore garbage. Outside of that, it was a fine Dynamite, not awesome but definitely above average and I enjoyed the first 90 minutes.
Rampage:
Dynamite main event continues/concludes after what would have been the usual overrun cutoff. No Rampage opening due to Dynamite overrun.
Bullet Club promo.
The Acclaimed comes out to respond to Bullet Club. No Billy Gunn. They run down Bullet Club.
Match 1: AEW Tag Team Championship Tournament: Orange Cassidy & Trent Beretta vs. Kyle Fletcher & Powerhouse Hobbs
Result: Orange Cassidy & Trent Beretta beat Kyle Fletcher & Powerhouse Hobbs. Cassidy pinned Fletcher after Orange Punch.
Match 2; Katsuyori Shibata vs. TBA, which is Kevin Matthews
Result: Katsuyori Shibata beat Kevin Matthews. Squash.
Match 3: Konosuke Takeshita vs. Rocky Romero
Result: Konosuke Takeshita beat Rocky Romero
Main Event: Willow Nightingale & Kris Statlander vs. Julia Hart & Skye Blue in a street fight
Result: Julia Hart & Skye Blue beat Willow Nightingale & Kris Statlander. Hart beat Statlander with Heartless.
Despite getting the Dynamite overrun at the end, Rampage was way too rushed and was a victim of bad time management by AEW, weighing the show down and making it look and feel much worse than it actually was.
No Collision this week due to NCAA Basketball.