BREAKING: Free DDT This Weekend!

BREAKING-DDT has just announced that EVERYONE will be able to watch this Sunday’s Korakuen Hall event live and on demand on WRESTLE UNIVERSE FOR FREE! No WRESTLE UNIVERSE subscription or payment required! It will be available on demand for free until November 18. The live broadcast will begin Saturday at around 7:15 PM PT/10:15 PM ET. Live results will be posted here.

Also being made available FOR FREE is the 11/3/2019 Ryogoku Kokugikan event.

AEW Dynamite 10/18/23 Results (Updated)

Here are the quick results from tonight’s AEW Dynamite in Rosenberg, TX:

Match 1: Penta El Zero M (with Alex Abrahantes) vs. Jay White (with Bullet Club)
Result: Jay White beat Penta El Zero M. Juice Robinson interference helped at the end.
Post-match, White with microphone. He calls out MJF, who reportedly is not there. Robinson with microphone. He claims he is going to win the battle royal tonight then face MJF next week for the Dynamite Diamond Ring. And gets in a heck of a T.J. Maxx plug and chant from the crowd. HAHAHA!
(Side note regarding Lucha Bros: Rey Fenix is reportedly out indefinitely but temporarily. Visa issues. Happens every few years for international wrestlers worldwide. Same for American wrestlers in Japan and some other countries)

(Last-minute adds to the show during the first match: Wardlow and Lance Archer will squash jobbers. The Dynamite Dozen Battle Royal will be the main event)

Renee Forever Young interviews MJF backstage. So he is there and also mentions he’ll be on commentary for the main event. He wants Robinson to win tonight. Renee then asks for an Adam Cole update and gets cut off by The Acclaimed & Billy Gunn. They want to be MJF’s partners. MJF rejects them again. Max Caster says he’s in the battle royal tonight and will make it official next week. MJF walks off as Anthony Bowens argues with him. Caster can’t let it go, making this way too uncomfortable.

Match 2: AEW Women’s Champion Hikaru Shida vs. Emi Sakura in a NON-TITLE match. But this is the usual “eliminator” meaning Sakura gets a rematch for the title if she wins
Result: Hikaru Shida beat Emi Sakura. The best women’s match I’ve seen on AEW TV in several weeks.

Renee interview with Adam Copeland for a rebuttal of Christian Cage. This was pre-recorded earlier today.

Match 3: Wardlow vs. a jobber. The jobber this time is Ryan Nemeth
Result: Wardlow beat Ryan Nemeth by ref stoppage (pity after ONE powerbomb in the opening seconds). Squash. Afterwards, Tony Schiavone interviews Wardlow. He shows his wrist tape with “MJF” written on it and bumps Schiavone, knocking him down on his way out of the ring.

Renee interviews Kenny Omega. He teases going after the AEW World Championship again after dealing with Don Callis & family. That comment brings in MJF to comment and offer a handshake. Omega accepts then as MJF leans in we hear him whisper “13 Days, Bitch” into Omega’s ear. (13 days from now is Halloween, unless it’s a reference to the 11/1 Dynamite in Louisville, KY) (UPDATE: Commentary later said 13 days is when MJF will pass Omega to become the longest reigning AEW World Champion in history)

Adam Cole/Roderick Strong video with The Kingdom from earlier today at Strong’s house. They have an unhealthy obsession with peanut butter & jelly sandwiches. Cole finally bails on Strong, and Strong suggests he’ll have to be nice to MJF.

Schiavone fakes being sick in the ring to introduce The Callous Hand Of Don (Don Callis), who comes out with Powerhouse Hobbs & Konosuke Takeshita. Callis opens with comments then Hobbs further calls out Chris Jericho. After being namedropped as a replacement for Sammy Guevara by Callis, Kyle Fletcher storms out. (Guevara is out due to a concussion) Fletcher says he did it as a favor after advice from Will Ospreay. He also says he’ll prove he doesn’t need any help to beat Kenny Omega. Callis says beat Omega and they may talk next week. Callis & crew head out as Omega’s music hits for…

Match 4: Kyle Fletcher vs. Kenny Omega
Result: Kenny Omega beat Kyle Fletcher

Danhausen promo.

Match 5: Lance Archer vs. a jobber. The jobber, being unceremoniously beaten down and rolled down the ramp to the ring, is Barrett Brown
Result: Lance Archer beat Barrett Brown. Squash.

Sting is next.

Swerve Strickland music video premieres Friday on AEW Music YouTube. The video is for a remix of his entrance music (the pre-Mogul Embassy version) Strickland/Prince Nana promo follows. Strickland is en fuego because of Adam Page.

Schiavone is in the ring for…time for the Stingasm! He brings out Stink…I mean Sting. He name-drops legend before finally getting to the point…talking what I thought it might be-retirement (again). And it’s official-his final AEW match will be at Revolution next year, which is where he had his first AEW match 3 years ago. And it’s absolutely retirement for good. So…Darby Allin? Although it only means 4 more months of Stingasms for Schiavone.

RJ City backstage to introduce Toni Storm’s next movie. Storm comes in as the black & white old-school movie effect is applied as the film debuts. And of course as we go to split-screen commercial!

Back from split-screen as the “film” ends. We go right to the Jim Ross sitdown interview with Nick Wayne & his mom. Wayne snaps when she mentions Darby Allin and announces that Buddy Wayne is not his father anymore. No, He-Christian Cage-His His Father now. Christian walks off with Wayne then as the door slams behind them we hear noises. Darby Allin beats down Christian and attacks Wayne in the back as we cut back to commentary. But moments later Allin & Wayne make their way out to the ramp as Luchasaurus is right behind them to beat down Allin briefly before Sting makes the save. No Stingasm this time. Sting gets Christian into the ring and locks in Scorpion Deathlock before Luchasaurus pulls CHristian out. Before this we briefly see Wayne has been busted open, maybe a tooth knocked out of his mouth. Allin & Sting stand tall in the ring.

Friday on Rampage: Mistico vs. Rocky Romero, Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta vs. TBA, Skye Blue vs. Rubo Soho and John Silver vs. Kip Sabian & Brother Zay in a 3-way for an AEW International Championship match Saturday.

Saturday on Collision: Ricky Starks & Big Bill vs. Castagnoli/Yuta for the AEW Tag Team Championship & Miro vs. Action Andretti (previously announced on social media).

On BOTB 8 Saturday after Collision: AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy vs. Friday’s Rampage 3-way winner for the title, AEW Trios Champions The Acclaimed & Billy Gunn vs. Angelo Parker, Matt Menard & Daniel Garcia for the titles (previously announced on social media) and AEW TBS Champion Kris Statlander vs. Willow NIghtingale for the title, the last one announced by Statlander in an interview with Renee & Best Friends.

Next week: Tony Khan has a gift for Sting, Rob Van Dam & Hook vs. TBA and MJF vs. the winner of the main event for the Dynamite Diamond Ring.

Main Event: Dynamite Dozen Battle Royal for the shot at MJF & the ring next week. Participants: Dustin Rhodes, (Commercial as Rhodes comes out, then all but the last 2 came out during commercial) Juice Robinson, Max Caster. Other participants: Jake Hager, Trent Beretta, Jeff Hardy, Matt Sydal, Johnny TV, Daniel Garcia, Matt Menard, Matt Hardy, Komander. MJF comes out last to join commentary.
Order of elimination (over the top rope only) Matt Sydal, Johnny TV, Matt Hardy, Komander, Jake Hager, Trent Beretta, Jeff Hardy, Matt Menard, Dustin Rhodes, Daniel Garcia, Max Caster.
Result: Juice Robinson wins. As a result, Robinson will face MJF for the Dynamite Diamond Ring next week. Jay White attacked MJF near the end, the distraction allowing Robinson to pull the cheap ring out of his tights and use it to punch Caster with the loaded hand to knock him out before the finish. There was a 5 minute overrun for this match.

I’ve really been down on Dynamite the last month because I thought the shows were kinda bad, but that streak ended tonight. A much better show than recently, all the matches were really good (I do like battle royals), promos and other stuff were a mixed bad but for the most part they were good. I enjoyed at least 90% of this week’s show. If I were grading it like I normally would on Facebook, tonight gets a solid B.

End show.

POST-SHOW UPDATE: At about 8:20 PM PT/11:20 PM ET Tony Khan announced Eddie Kingston vs. Jeff Jarrett in a street fight for Collision. And if Jarrett wins. Jay Lethal gets an ROH World Title shot.

Stardom 10/18/23 Results

Stardom held a special Sumire Natsu Produced 10th Anniversary event today as the former roster member, who is now a freelancer but often working with fellow freelancer Maya Yukihi, brought together a wide variety of wrestlers to celebrate including DDT star Saki Akai, making a special appearance in Stardom before she retires next month.

Today’s event was held at Shinjuku Face in Tokyo and may be available on demand on Stardom World at a later date. There was no live broadcast.

The announced paid attendance was 494, a legit sellout. About 100% legit full too as the venue’s max capacity for wrestling is 500.

Match 1: Hazuki & Koguma beat Itsuki Aoki & Sakura Hirota. Hazuki pinned Hirota.

Match 2: ChiChi won a 10 woman Y shirt battle royal, last eliminating Waka Tsukiyama. Eliminations were by normal rules or being stripped of their shirt. Order of elimination: YAKO, Chanyota (?), Mai Sakurai, Saya Iida. ZONES, SAKI, Mina Shirakawa, Ram Kaichow, Tsukiyama. Y-shirts are button-up dress shirts for those unsure.

Match 3: Natsuko Tora vs. Veny went to a double countout.

Main Event: Sumire Natsu 10th Anniversary Match: Saki Akai, Takumi Iroha & AZM beat Kaho Kobayashi, Rina Yamashita & Sumire Natsu. Iroha pinned Natsu after Running 3. This was a 10th Anniversary match for all the participants as everyone in this match debuted in 2013.

The next event is tomorrow at Korakuen Hall to resume the Goddesses of Stardom Tag League. It will be available on demand on Stardom World at a later date.

News: GLEAT Absence This Weekend

While this one is not injury-related, GLEAT has bene forced to report on yet another in a long list of countless wrestler absences from recent events, this time announcing that Junjae is off this Saturday’s G PROWRESTLING event. Family emergency. He was to have teamed with JD Lee to face Issei Onitsuka & Fire Katsumi. No replacement named yet.

More as it becomes available.

FREE VIDEO: Katsuhiko Nakajima vs. Kenoh Double Title Match (11/28/2021)

Ahead of Katsuhiko Nakajima’s final matches in Pro Wrestling NOAH before he moves on to continue his career elsewhere, the promotion is making some of his best matches available FOR FREE on YouTube. That includes what I feel is THE GREATEST MATCH I HAVE EVER SEEN, and I have been a wrestling fan for 35+ years-this timeless 11/28/2021 Double Title Kongo Bongo vs. Kenoh. Get your popcorn ready, get comfortable and click below to watch (video courtesy of the Pro Wrestling NOAH Official English YouTube Channel):

News: Impact Star Headed To All-Japan (Updated 10/19)

All-Japan posted a YouTube video today announcing that Jonathan Gresham, currently competing in Impact Wrestling, will be making his All-Japan debut soon. He will be heading there later this month (probably after this weekend’s Bound For Glory PPV and TV tapings, or possibly after Impact’s England tour next week) and has already challenged El Lindaman for the All-Japan Word Junior Heavyweight Championship. Based on mentions of Hokkaido and the next tour schedule after that (plus it also will have a Jr. Battle Of Glory tournament), such a match could possibly happen between 10/31-11/5 during a scheduled week-long Hokkaido tour before an 11/12 Korakuen Hall event.

Gresham has competed in Japan for New Japan Pro Wrestling before but this will be his first time in All-Japan.

More as it becomes available.

10/19 UPDATE: The title match will happen on 11/5.

DDT News: Vacant Titles Coming Soon

DDT announced today that, while not happening yet, the KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Championship will soon be VACANT. Current champions Yukio Sakaguchi, Saki Akai & Hideki Okatani will give up the titles on 11/12 because Akai will retire that day and no more defenses are scheduled before then. Determination tournament to crown new champions will be held on 11/16.

More as it becomes available.

(Side note: They also hold the All-Japan 6-Man Tag Team Championship and are scheduled to defend that title Saturday)

Stardom 10/15/23 Results

Stardom kicked off the 13th Goddesses Of Stardom Tag League tournament today, wasting little time moving from their annual major singles tournament into their annual tag team tournament.

Today’s event was held at Ota City General Gym in Tokyo and will be available on demand on Stardom World at a later date.

The announced paid attendance was 813.

Match 1: Ruaka beat Yuna Mizumori.

Match 2: Mai Sakurai & Thekla beat Miyu Amasaki & MIRAI. Sakurai beat Amasaki with Lady’s Clutch. This was supposed to have been Sakurai & Thekla vs. AZM & Mirai but AZM was out due to injury.

Match 3: Giulia beat MICHIKO (GLEAT).

Goddesses Of Stardom Tag League:
Match 4: Red Block: Mei Seira & Suzu Suzuki vs. Kurumi Hiragi & Risa Sera went to a 15 minute time limit draw.
Match 5: Red Block: Waka Tsukiyama & Mina Shirakawa beat HANAKO & Saya Iida. Shirakawa pinned HANAKO after Implant DDT.
Match 6: Blue Block: Meghan Bahn & Maika beat Ami Sohrei & Lady C. Bahn pinned C after F5.
Match 7: Red Block: Momo Watanabe & Natsuko Toura beat Saki Kashima & Syuri. Watanabe pinned Kashima after Tequila Sunrise.
Main Event: Blue Block: Hazuki & Koguma beat Hanan & Mayu Iwatani. Koguma pinned Hanan after a diving body press.

The next event is a Sumire Natsu Produced 10th Anniversary event Wednesday at Shinjuku Face in Tokyo. DDT star Saki Akai, who is retiring next month, will participate in the event along with Asuka (Veny outside Japan) and hardcore standout Rina Yamashita. Broadcast plans TBA.

The tag league resumes Thursday at Korakuen Hall.

Dragon Gate 10/15/23 Results

Dragon Gate continued The Gate Of Victory 2023 Tour today with the second half of a weekend doubleheader in Kobe.

Today’s event was held at Kobe Art Center in Kobe and can be watched on demand on DRAGONGATE NETWORK.

The paid attendance has not yet been announced.

Match 1:KAI, H-Y-O & ISHIN beat Kota Minoura, Ben-K & BxB Hulk. ISHIN pinned Hulk with a schoolboy.

Match 2: Genki Horiguchi won a 7 man Royal Sambo Battle Royal, last eliminating Ryoya Tanaka.

Match 3: Don Fujii, Takashi Yoshida & Eita beat Jason Lee, U-T & JACKY “FUNKY” KAMEI. Fujii beat U-T with Gedo Clutch.

Match 4: YAMATO, Naruki Doi, Dragon Kid & Luis Mante beat Masaaki Mochizuki, Susumu Mochizuki, Mochizuki Jr. & Yasushi Kanda. Mate pinned Jr. after La Gema.

Main Event: Madoka Kikuta, Yuki Yoshioka & Dragon Dia beat Kzy, BIGBOSS Shimizu & Strong Machine J. Kikuta pinned Shimizu after a rolling lariat.

The next event is Saturday at Ukiha Arena in Fukuoka. There will be no live or on demand broadcast. This will be followed by a doubleheader at Acros Fukuoka that evening US time, with both events live on DRAGONGATE NETWORK beginning at 9 PM PT/midnight ET.

In other news, 4 title matches were announced today for THE GATE OF DESTINY 2023 on 11/5 at Osaka Prefectural Gym in Osaka: NEW Open The Brave Gate Champion ISHIN vs. Ryoya Tanaka for the title, Open The Triangle Gate Champions YAMATO, Dragon Kid & Punch Tominaga vs. Don Fujii, Takashi Yoshida & The Bodyguard for the titles, Open The Twin Gate Champions Susumu Mochizuki & Yasushi Kanda for the titles and Open The Dream Gate Champion Madoka Kikuta vs. BIGBOSS Shimizu for the title. That date is then the time change happens in the US (clocks go back 1 hour) so the live broadcast on DRAGONGATE NETWORK will begin at 1:30 AM PT just before the time change, but at 1:30 AM MT/2:30 AM CT/3:30 AM ET after the respective time changes.

DDT 10/15/23 Results

DDT continued the GOD BLESS DDT 2023 Tour today with the second half of their weekend doubleheader in Hokkaido.

Today’s event was held at Sapporo E-One Arena in Hokkaido and will be available on demand on WRESTLE UNIVERSE at a later date (likely Wednesday). There was no live broadcast.

The announced paid attendance was 284, a full house/near sellout.

During the opening announcements, they announced the return dates to Sapporo will be 4/28 & 4/29 at Sapporo Sunplaza Kanae-ma.

Match 1: Yusuke Okada beat Danshoku Dieno.

Match 2: Daisuke Sasaki & KANON beat Yukio Naya & Yuya Koroku. KANON pinned Koroku after Vietnam Driver 2.

Match 3: Takaaki Iwasaki & MAO beat HARASHIMA & Rukiya. Iwasaki beat Rukiya with a Texas Cloverleaf.

Match 4: Tetsuya Endo, Jun Akiyama & Takashi Yoshida (Dragon Gate) beat Kazuki Hirata, Totake-yu (? That unknown guy from yesterday) & Kazuma Sumo. Yoshida pinned Sumi after Authorized Lightning Leg Lariat.

Match 5: KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Champions Yukio Sakaguchi, Saki Akai & Hideki Okatani beat Sanshiro Takagi, Makoto Oishi & Akito to retain the titles. Sakaguchi pinned Akito after God’s Right Knee. V5 for the champs.

Main Event: Chris Brookes & Takeshi Masada beat Kazusada Higuchi & Toi Kojima. Brookes pinned Kojima after Praying Mantis Bomb.

During the post-main event winners promo to end the show…

MAO beat DDT Iron Man Heavymetalweight Champion Takeshi Masada to win the title. MAO becomes the 1581st Champion.

The next event is…but wait, about 25 minutes later after all the fans had left and the ring was taken down, and during some backstage video filming…

Takeshi Masada beat DDT Iron Man Heavymetalweight Champion MAO to win the title. Masada becomes the 1582nd Champion. One of the reasons I love DDT-the 24/7 nature of the title. As long as a referee is present, anyone-or anything-can win it!

The next event is GOD BLESS DDT 2023 on 10/22 at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo. Live streaming on WRESTLE UNIVERSE will begin Saturday at 7:30 PM PT/10:30 PM ET, but this is subject to change-it may be moved up because there is a pre-show dark match on the card. Live results are scheduled. The card is subject to change if Masada loses the Iron Man Championship again as he is to defend against DDT Extreme Champion Kazuki Hirata in a match for both titles. If Masada loses the belt beforehand, the match will only be for the Extreme Championship.