Tag: pro wrestling

New Japan 12/1/23 Results

New Japan ran Day 9 of the World Tag League today, with Day 5 of Block A.

Today’s event was held at Wakayama Prefectural Gym in Wakayama and can be watched on demand on New Japan World.

The announced paid attendance was 625.

Pre-show Match: Yuto Nakashima beat Shoma Kato.

Match 1: Taiji Ishimori, Jack Bonza & Bad Luck Fale beat Jado, El Phantasmo & Hikuleo. Bonza pinned Jado.

Match 2: DOUKI, Yuya Yemura & Taichi beat Tiger Mask, Soberano Jr. & Atlantis Jr. Uemura pinned TM 4 with a Kannuki suplex hold.

Match 3: Master Wato, Minoru Suzuki & Yuji Nagata beat Ryusuke Taguchi, Alex Zayne & Lance Archer. Wato beat Taguchi with Vendeval.

Match 4: Boltin Oleg, Yoh, YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto beat BUSHI, Zandokan Jr., Yota Tsuji & Shingo Takagi. Yoh pinned BUSHI after Direct Drive.

World Tag League:
Match 5: Yujiro Takahashi & EVIL beat Toa Liona & Bishop Kaun. EVIL pinned Kaun after EVIL.
Match 6: Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls beat Ryohei Oiwa & Kaito Kiyomiya. Haste pinned Oiwa after Tank Buster.
Match 7: Gabriel Kidd & Alex Coughlin beat HENARE & Great-O-Khan. Kidd pinned HENARE after a hijack piledriver.
Main Event: Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishio beat Ren Narita & Shota Umino. Ishii pinned Umino after a vertical drop braonbuseter.
Haste/Nicholls now lead at 4-1, 8 points with 2 matches to go, still wide open.

The next event is tomorrow at Osaka Prefectural Gym 2 in Osaka with Day 5 of Block B. Live streaming on New Japan World will begin at 1 AM PT/4 AM ET. Remember of you are a new subscriber to New Japan World you now pay $9.99/month, or possibly $12.99 if you subscribe through App Store/Google Play and not directly through New Japan. If you are under the existing subscriber model and paying the new rate of 1299 yen, this month’s cost is $8.84, up about $2 from before but still better than $9.99 (the dollar has gotten worse for us this month-WRESTLE UNIVERSE and AJPW.TV both went up about 11 cents from $6 to $6.11).

Tokyo Joshi Pro 12/1/23 Results

Tokyo Joshi Pro celebrated their 10th Anniversary today with an event highlighting how far they have cone from humble beginnings as part of a DDT event to a growing spinoff that continues its worldwide expansion, even as it prepares to say goodbye to original member Yuka Sakazaki next week.

Today’s event was held at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo and can be watched on demand on WRESTLE UNIVERSE on Japanese and English.

The announced paid attendance was 714.

At the start they announced the 12/14 USA event will be a PPV.

Match 1: Kaya Toribami, Toga & Runa Okubo beat Juria Nagano, Shino Suzuki & Haru Kazashiro. Toga pinned Kazashiro after Rock Bottom.

Match 2: In a Random Official Weapons Rules Match, Yuki Aino & Raku beat Hyper Misao & Mahiro Kiryu. Aino pinned Kiryu after Venus DDT.

At this point it was announced they would be part of The Collective with a 4/5 event in Philadelphia, PA. There also will be an Aquarium Wrestling PPV later this month.

Match 3: NextGen Tournament Finals: Wakana Uehara beat HIMAWARI by submission to win the tournament.

Match 4: Queen Of Asia Champion Yuki Kamifuku beat VIVA VAN to retain the title. V1 for Kamifuku.

Match 5: Princess Tag Team Champions Hikari Noa & Nao Kakuta beat Max The Impaler & Pom Harajuku to retain the titles. Kakuta pinned Harajuku after Shiden Kai. V2 for the champs.

Main Event: In a 3 Falls Match, Miyu Yamashita, Shoko Nakajima, Yuka Sakazaki, Rika Tatsumi & Mizuki beat Miu Watanabe, Yuki Arai, Moka Miyamoto, Suzume & Arisu Endo 2-1. Fall 1: Endo pinned Nakajima. Fall 2: Sakazaki pinned Miyamoto after Magical Merry-Go-Round. Fall 3: Yamashita pinned Watanabe after Skull Kick.

The next event is the official 10th Anniversary event Wednesday at Kitazawa Town Hall in Tokyo, the exact date of the promotion’s 10th Anniversary at the location of their very first event. It will be headlined by Sakazaki’s final TJPW match, where she will face Yamashita & Nakajima in a 3-way. While plans may change, at this time there will be no live broadcast.

BREAKING: NOAH Wrestler Leaving Promotion

Following up on his plans to take a step back from Pro Wrestling NOAH, the promotion has announced that Seiki Yoshioka is leaving the promotion at the end of December. He is terminating his contract because it would be difficult for him to compete full-time as he takes on a new career challenge. No word yet on that exactly that means.

More as it becomes available.

Injury Report: Good & Bad AEW Updates (Updated)

From the socials and news sites comes a mixed bag of injury new from AEW:
First the good-Serena Deeb, who has been out of action since October 2022, announced on Instagram today she has finally been cleared to return effective today. She also explained her absence. Seizures. See her video below:

So glad to see her back, she was being a very effective heel in AEW.

On the bad side, Bandido, who has been out about 6 months so far, will not be back anytime soon. Wrist. Had surgery before but is not recovering as well as hoped for and will need more surgery. He seemed set to return anytime now, but no longer.

UPDATE: Bandido posted an update on the socials, he was given 3 options for treatment and 2 involve surgery. The third appears to involve PRP injections. Another news site rumor is that this setback means he’ll probably be out at least another 6 months.

In other news, Sammy Guevara reportedly has been cleared to return already (concussion) but remained out due to his wife Tay Melo about to give birth to their first child, which happened earlier this week. Guevara could now be back anytime.

All-Japan News: February Schedule, Another Old-Timer Anniversary

Some All-Japan news:
The February 2024 schedule has been announced. The Excite Series 2024 will consist of 4 events as follows (all dates/start times are JST):
2/20-Korakuen Hall, Tokyo
2/23-Okayama Convention Center, Okayama
2/24-Acros Fukuoka, Fukuoka
2/25-Kyoto KBS Hall, Kyoto
Broadcast plans for AJPW.TV will be announced at the end of January. I expect Korakuen will be live, any that are not live broadcasts will be available on demand the next day or later that day in the US. Note that if 2/23 & 2/24 air live they will start the night before in the US (8 PM PT & 9 PM PT respectively).

On the heels of fellow septuagenerian and Golden Anniversary celebrant Tatsumi Fujinami (who retired but really didn’t retire last year, he is still gping in his Dradition promotion and occadional matches elsewhere including New Japan), All-Japan will hold a 70th Burthday & 50th Anniversary event for Masanobu Fuchi in January. It will be on 1/14-his 70th birthday-at Korakuen Hall. His debut was on April 22, 1974. Let’s see if they bring in his first opponent for that, although that would mean Atsushi Onita so…

Impact Wrestling 11/30/23 Results (Updated)

Here are the quick results from tonight’s Impact Wrestling in Toronto, Canada:

This episode was taped on 11/11 and is a special called “IPWF (Impact Provincial Wrestling Federation) Throwback Throwdown 4”, a fictional earlier version of Impact with current wrestlers taking on old-school themed and low-flying personas from before the 1990s. I’m guessing as to who some of the wrestlers really are.

The YouTube pre-show appears to have been cancelled as there hasn’t been one for a while. None again this week. May not be back until the TNA re-branding in January. Tonight only your hosts area fake glasses & mustachioed Thom Hannifan & current Impact World Champion Alex Shelley as “Giuseppe Scovelli Jr.” and “Professor Ignatius Quigley” respectively. Your host tonight in the ring is Doug Stevenson.

Match 1: Rapid Delivery Pete (Rich Swann as a pizza deliveryman) beat Kamikazi (Mike Bailey as a masked ninja) .

Scott D’Amore promo backstage with blond hair and a flannel shirt

George The Iceman (ring announcer Dave Penzer?) interviews DJ 2 Large (Moose showing off his comedy chops and dancing skills) who is the International Commonwealth TV Champion. The $361,000 Man interrupts…oh wait, he’s actually the $369,000 Man! Based on the accent of his voice, I think that’s Heath. He’s even got the 90s-era Paul Heyman cellphone! They do a comedy title match challenge segment.

Walter Chestnut with Shera looking like a perfect dead-ringer for Aquaman as Neptune. Complete with trident! Then we see Frank The Butcher (Rhino) with D’Amore.

Footage from “last week” when Red Letter (either Jody Threat or KiLynn King) beating an alter-ego Jessicka. (Red Letter was Jody Threat)

Match 2: Frank The Butcher (Rhino) beat Neptune (Shera). Walter Chestnut them is made to become a jobber-aka janitor!

Match 3: The Sunday Morning Express (Chris Sabin & Moose I think) beat The Hard Workers Harry Hall & Otis Oates (looks like either Deaner or Alan Angels & Jake Something). (Update: Deaner & Jake Something. Sabin’s partner was Jack Price)

Match 4: Colt McCoy & Georgia Cobb (Eddie Edwards & Jordynne Grace) beat Rip Rayzor & Rusty Iron (Ace Austin & Mickie James[?]) (Update: Rusty Iron was Gia Miller).

Match 5:The Masked Brother (Steve Maclin?). beat IPWF International Commonwealth TV Champion DJ 2 Large (Moose) to win the title. (Update: Masked Brother was Frankie Kazarian)

Main Event: Tim Burr (Josh Alexander) beat Boris Alexiev (Oleg Prudius?). (Update: Alwxiev apparently was Santino Marella)

While the pro-WWE internet trolls absolutely hated on this, I actually enjoyed this a lot. A fun parody of 1980s old-school WWF. Check it out and leave your expectations at the door, just enjoy the ridiculous comedy for what it is meant to be!

Next week: TBA. May be various pre-packaged stuff to get to Final Resolution next Saturday. That event will be LIVE on Impact+ for subscribers and YouTube for Ulrimate Insider subscribers and also as a PPV on FITE ($9.99).

AEW Dynamite 11/29/23 Results

Here are the quick results from tonight’s AEW Dynamite in Minneapolis, MN:

Bryan Danielson is a guest on commentary tonight.

Match 1: Continental Classic: Jon Moxley vs. Jay Lethal
Result: Jon Moxley beat Jay Lethal by submission
Moxley is 2-0, 6 points. Lethal is 0-2, 0 points.

Revolution 2024 is announced for 3/3 in Greensboro, NC. Tickets on sale 12/15, Sting & Ric Flair interviewed to promote it as it will be Sting’s last match.

Match 2: Continental Classic: Mark Briscoe vs. Rush
Result: Rush beat Mark Briscoe
Rush is 1-1, 3 points. Briscoe is 0-2, 0 pts.

Toni Storm interviewed. She will be defending the AEW Women’s Championship next week.

MJF comes out. He puts over Samoa Joe before throwing down for their PPV match then the lights go out and he gets ambushed by the masked men, one wearing a shirt with the devil logo on the back. That one has a baseball bat but Samoa Joe makes the save. This seems to set up a tag team match for next week, so we might find out who it (The Devil) is.

After commercial, commentary spins what happened as it being an internal job and that IT security is on the case. The match for next week is official.

Match 3: Wardlow vs. AR Fox
Reslut: Wardlow beat AR Fox. Squash.

Match 4: The Hardys & Brother Zay vs. Top Flight & Action Andretti
Match 4: Top Flight & Action Andretti beat The Hardys & Brother Zay. Dante Martin pinned Zay.

Match 5: AEW TBS Champion Julia Hart vs. Emi Sakura for the title. House Rules. Sakura chose No Submissions as her stip
Result: AEW TBS Champion Julia Hart beat Emi Sakura to retain the title.

Mariah May interviewed backstage before stepping into Tony Khan’s area.

Christian Cage comes out. He called out Adam Copeland and got him. Long drawn-out promo leads to Cage suggesting they team once more for Copeland’s mom then goes for the cheap shot but clearly gets caught.

Main Event: Continental Classic: Jay White vs. Swerve Strickland
Result: Swerve Strickland beat Jay White
Strickland is 2-0, 6 points. White is 1-1, 3 points

A solid top-to-bottom episode overall, the non-wrestling stuff ran too long (Christian-Copeland and Sting-Flair interview) but all the matches were good. The tournament is making a slightly positive difference so far.

Friday on Rampage: TBA. They didn’t announce anything during the show or I missed it.

AEW News: It’s A Girl!

Sammy Guevara may be, in my book, a Faux Spanish GAWD in the ring, but outside the ring he is now a proud father. Guevara posted on the socials, shared by AEW’s official account and others, wife Tay Melo gave birth to their first child yesterday-a girl named Luna Melo Guevara.

I join AEW and many others in sending congratulations and best wishes to the new happy family.

New Japan 11/29/23 Results

New Japan ran Day 8 of the World Tag League today, the halfway point of Block B.

Today’s event was held at Twin Messe Shizuoka North Building in Shizuoka and can be watched on demand on New Japan World.

The announced paid attendance was 510.

Pre-show Match: Oskar Leube beat Katsuya Murashima.

Match 1: Sho, Yujiro Takahashi & EVIL beat Yuto Makashima, Toa Liona & Bishop Kaun. Sho beat Nakashima with Snake Bite. Afterwards, Liona & Kaun apparently joined House Of Torture after doing their Mogul Embassy (AEW/ROH) call.

Match 2: Boltin Oleg, Ryohei Oiwa & Kaito Kiyomiya beat Kosei Fujita, Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls. Kiyomiya pinned Fujita after Transformed Shining Wizard.

Match 3: Taiji Ishimori, Gabriel Kidd & Alex Coughlin beat Callum Newman, HENARE & Great-O-Khan. Coughlin pinned Newman after a jackhammer.

Match 4: Master Wato, Yoh, Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii beat Tiger Mask, Ryusuke Taguchi, Ren Narita & Shota Umino. Wato beat TM 4 with Vendeval.

World Tag League:
Match 5: Jack Bonza & Bad Luck Fale beat Zandokan Jr. & Yota Tsuji. Bonza pinned Zandokan.
Match 6: El Phantasmo & Hikuleo beat Minoru Suzuki & Yuji Nagata. Phantasmo pinned Suzuki after CR 2.
Match 7: Alex Zayne & Lance Archer beat Yuya Uemura & Taichi. Archer pinned Yemura after Blackout Sauce.
Main Event: YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto vs. Soberano Jr. & Atlantis Jr. went to a 30 minute time limit draw.

Standings (Block B):
1-Zayne/Archer, 4-0, 8 pts
2-Uenura/Taichi, 3-1, 6 pts
3-Soberano/Atlantis, 2-1-1, 5 pts
4-Hikukeo/Phantasmo, 2-2, 4 pts
5-Tsuji/Zandokan, 2-2, 4 pts
6-YOSHI-HASHI/Goto, 1-2-1, 3 pts
7-Bonza/Fale, 1-3, 2 pts
8-Suzuki/Nagata, 0-4, 0 pts (OUT)
That rare draw was big and will have eventual implications. It might end the Bishamon 3-peat bid. Zayne & Archer are in control while at the bottom Grumpy Old Men Who Can’t Get Along are out of it.

The next event is Friday at Wakayama Prefectural Gym in Wakayama. Live streaming on New Japan World will begin at 1:30 AM PT/4:30 AM ET.