News, results & more from Japanese Pro Wrestling & Sumo
New Japan has provided an update on Hiroshi Tanahashi’s ankle injury-originally expected to be back on a short period of time, after further examination that will not happen. Now out over a month to include the entire New Japan Cup and SAKURA GENESIS in April. As a result, the scheduled IWGP Global Championship match against Nic Nemeth on4/6 has been POSTPONED.
More as it becomes available.
In a breaking press conference just streamed on their YouTube channel, DDT wrestler Yusuke Okada made a surprise announcement, the timing of which had me thinking perhaps he was going to leave the promotion. Not that, but it was perhaps worse news-Okada has cancer. He recently had surgery to remove a malignant tumor from his lower abdomen and it was determined to be cancerous. Okada is in good physical health post-surgery but after consulting with doctors will begin drug treatments for cancer and, as a result, will be out indefinitely but likely an extended period of time. However, Okada has vowed to return upon completion of treatment.
I join DDT and others in sending best wishes and support to Okada as he begins this major battle and hope he can be successful in putting cancer fown for the 3 count like Kenta Kobashi was many years ago.
More as it becomes available.
Here are the quick results from tonight’s AEW Dynamite in Huntsville, AL:
Adam Page addressed his status for Sunday’s 3-way at Revolution amidst rumors he was injured (he was not. Potentially was going to be last-second decision for the PPV due to personal reasons). He says he’s in.
Bryan Danielson, Claudio Castagnoli & Jon Moxley beat FTR by ref stoppage (technical submission). Danielson beat Kingston.
Will Ospreay AEW full-time debut. He aligns with Don Callis.
AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy beat Nick Wayne to retain the title.
Skye Blue beat Kris Statlander.
Chris Jericho beat Atlantis Jr. (CMLL)
Sting’s final Dynamite appearance was saving Ric Flair from a Young Bucks beatdown along with Darby Allin.
I didn’t watch the live show so no comments.
Also for Revolution: Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Wardlow & Lance Archer in a 3-way is now off. An All-Star Scramble is the replacement, which will be all three plus Chris Jericho, Hook, Brian Cage and 2 more TBA in an 8-way with the winner getting an AEW World Championship shot.
Saturday on a TAPED Revolution (taping right now): Penta El Zero M vs. Bryan Keith & Dante Martin in a 3-way, Best Friends & Daniel Garcia vs. Christian Cage, Killswitch, Nick Wayne & Brian Cage and Toni Storm & Deonna Purrazzo promos.
As is normally the case when they can’t stream live, GLEAT has now uploaded their latest full event video to YouTube. Below is the full video from Friday’s (2/23) GLEAT Ver. 9 event at Osaka Prefectural Gym 2 in Osaka:
Video courtesy of the GLEAT Official YouTube Channel.
Pro Wrestling NOAH ran Day 2 of the Victory Challenge Tag League today.
Today’s event was held at Shinjuku Face in Tokyo and can be watched on demand on WRESTLE UNIVERSE.
The announced paid attendance was 301.
Match 1: Alejandro beat Junta Miyawaki & Hajime Ohara in a 3-way by pinning Miyawaki.
Match 2: Jake Lee beat Shuhei Taniguchi.
Match 3: HAYATA & Ninja Mack beat Anthony Greene & LJ Cleary. HAYATA pinned Cleary.
Match 4: Victory Challenge Tag League: Saxon Huxley & Timothy Thatcher beat Dragon Bane & Alpha Wolf. Huxley pinned Wolf after a neck hanging bomb.
Match 5: Victory Challenge Tag League: Takashi Sugiura & Ulka Sasaki beat Shuji Kondo & Manabu Soya. Sugiura pinned Soya after a huracanrana.
Match 6: Daga, Yoshinari Ogawa & Super Crazy beat Jack Morris, YO-HEY & Tadasuke by DQ. Tadasuke DQ’d. Deadly weapon use.
Match 7: Victory Challenge Tag League: Go Shiozaki & Atsushi Kotoge beat Masa Kitamiya & Daiki Inaba. Shiozaki pinned Inaba after Go Lariat.
Main Event: Victory Challenge Tag League: Kenoh & Yu Owada vs. Kaito Kiyomiya & Ryohei Oiwa went to a 20 minute time limit draw.
The next event is GREAT VOYAGE 2024 in NAGOYA Saturday at Nagoya Congress Center in Nagoya. Live streaming on WRESTLE UNIVERSE in English ONLY will begin Friday at 9:45 PM PT/12:45 AM ET. I will try and do live results of conditions permit. This is an ABEMA exclusive broadcast, that version with Japanese commentary will be available on demand on WRESTLE UNIVERSE shortly after the event ends.
DDT has provided an update on the status of injured wrestler Kazuma Sumi, who missed the 2/23 & 2/25 events with a left knee injury-it’s not worst case and doesn’t sound too bad following further examination. Partially torn MCL. Expected to be out 2-3 weeks and is currently scheduled to return on 3/17.
More as it becomes available.
While no further details as to why are known, All Elite Wrestling has POSTPONED their scheduled 4/10/24 event in Winnipeg, Canada for a live Dynamite broadcast and Rampage taping. The new date is 5/1.
More as it becomes available.
https://www.allelitewrestling.com/post/winnipeg-live-event-rescheduled-to-may-1st
All-Japan announced 2 title matches today for upcoming events:
First, next up to get a shot at the Triple Crown is Yuma Anzai. He will face Triple Crown Champion Katsuhiko Nakajima for the Triple Crown on 3/30 at Ota City General Gym on Tokyo.
Before that, NEW All-Japan World Tag Team Champions Suwama & Hideki Suzuki will defend the titles against an equally odd couple-Shotaro Ashino & Kuroshio TOKYO Japan. That match will happen on 3/9 (3/8 US time as it’s a morning start in Japan) at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, which is the next event.
Dragon Gate taped the second episode of PRIME ZONE PLUS today, the new revival of their old PRIME ZONE TV series.
Today’s event was held at Kobe Lapis Hall in Kobe and cam be watched on demand on DRAGONGATE NETWORK.
The paid attendance has not yet bern announced. (UPDATE: The announced paid attendance was 75)
Match 1: Hyo beat ISHIN by DQ. Shun Skywalker interference.
Match 2: Takashi Yoshida & Problem Dragon beat BIGBOSS Shimizu & Shachihoko BOY. Yoshida beat BOY with Iron Claw.
Main Event: Hyo won a 16 man battle royal, last eliminating Kota Minoura. As a result, Hyo will he appointed GM of PRINE ZONE starting with the next episode.
The next PRIME ZONE PLUS will be on 3/28.
The next event is THE GATE OF NOSTALGIA 2024 Saturday at Osaka Prefectural Gym 2 in Osaka. This is a special standalone event featuring returning former wrestlers and some current wrestlers reviving their old personas for a day (Cyber Kong! Jimmys! More!). Live streaming on DRAGONGATE NETWORK will begin at 1 AM PT/4 AM ET.
Stardom has announced another injury coming out of this past weekend’s events, but it’s a minor one-Lady C suffered an injury at one of the events. Cut. Out 1-2 weeks. She is now off the promotion’s 3/2 & 3/3 events but is expected back on 3/9 per the Stardom English Twitter account.