News: A Clue To Future Destino?

He may no longer be with New Japan, but in a social media post in Japanese and Spanish today Tetsuya Naito possibly dropped a hint about his future plans. He mentioned an event with fellow ex-NJPW and LIJ member BUSHI on 6/22 somewhere in Tokyo, the title of which translates to “A Beginning”. This picture posted is the clue:

A separate Twitter account seemingly promoting the event and followed by Naito indicates it’s a talk show event at Tokyo Bay Washington Hotel Iris Hall in Tokyo, with tickets going on sale on 6/1 for 7110 Japanese yen (about $49 US). The account also posted a pic of Naito and a seemingly unmasked BUSHI that was taken outside Fukuoka International Center in Fukuoka, their backs to the camera, seemingly taken 2 weeks ago (where they made their last NJPW appearances at WRESTLING DONTAKU 2025). The account, on Twitter at Jun_22_2025, promises more announcements about this event so it may be worth watching for clues along with Naito’s account. It also follows BUSHI’s account, BUSHI posts regularly and noted he had vocal cord surgery after leaving New Japan. His profile says his DMs are open for bookings & inquiries. This also may be connected to the other acc it follows, a “secret” online shop that may be in on the project as well as having an association with Alex Zayne, who makes occasional appearances in NJPW.

More as it becomes available.

Injury Report: Summer Starts Early & Painfully

Tokyo Joshi Pro has announced a late injury change to Saturday’s (tomorrow night) event in Shizuoka: Kira Summer is now off. Leg. In a social media post in both Japanese and English, Summer explained she had soft tissue damage in her thigh and while it was improving recent hot weather in Japan aggravated the condition and doctors recommended rest as a priority. Out indefinitely as a result. She was to have faced Rika Tatsumi. Pom Harajuku will now face Tatsumi-as a result, what had been a match of Harajuku & Raku vs. Ivy Steele & Mahiro Kiryu is now a 3-way. It’s not yet known how long Summer will be out.

More as it becomes available.

New Japan 5/22/25 Results

New Japan continued the Best Of The Super Junior today with Block B.

Today’s event was held at Osaka Prefectural Gym 2 in Osaka and can be watched on demand on New Japan World. This was a Samurai! TV broadcast in Japan.

The announced paid attendance was 967.

Match 1: Hartley Jackson & Kosei Fujita beat Shoma Kato & Dragon Dia. Jackson pinned Kato after Death Valley Bomb.

Match 2: Jacob Austin Young & Francesco Akira beat Gedo & Robbie X. Akira beat Gedo with a ground tarantula.

Match 3: Yota Tsuji & Hiromu Takagashi beat Yujiro Takahashi & Yoshinobu Kanemaru. Tsuji pinned Takahashi after Gene Blaster.

Match 4: Toru Yano, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Master Wato beat Katsuya Murashima, Yuya Uemura & KUSHIDA. Yano pinned Murashima after Demon Slayer.

Best Of The Super Junior Block B:
Match 5: MAO beat Ryusuke Taguchi.
Match 6: Kevin Knight beat Sho.
Match 7: Robbie Eagles beat Titan by submission.
Match 8: Taiji Ishimori beat Nick Wayne.
Main Event: Yoh beat El Desperado by submission.
Standings-wise, Wayne still leads the block at 4-2, 8 points, with everyone else at 3-3, 6 points except Sho who is 2-4, 6 points. The top 2 advance to the Semifinals.

The next event is Sunday at Atelier Himeji in Hypgo with both blocks and no non-tournament matches. Live streaming on New Japan World will begin at 1 AM PT/4 AM ET

News: Wrestler Name Change Announced

In a brief news post earlier today, Dragon Gate announced Takashi Yoshida, fka Cyber Kong, has changed his name and will compete as just his first name, Takashi, going forward. He has been competing more outside Dragon Gate recently, namely in All-Japan as now part of Hokuto Omori’s faction and occasional DDT participation.

Stardom 5/21/25 Results

Stardom ran their latest midweek Tokyo event today.

Today’s event was held at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo and can be watched on demand on Stardom World. You can also watch the first 2 matches FOR FREE on YouTube.

The announced paid attendance was 1176.

Match 1: Emma Maishima Debut Match: AZM beat Emma Maishima.

Match 2: Kikyo Furusawa Debut Match: Hanan beat Kikyo Furusawa.

Match 3: Ranna Yagami, Tomoka Inaba, Saki Kashima & Kiyoka Kokatsu beat Hazuki, Koguma, Akira Kurogame & Yuria Hime. Inaba pinned Hime.

Match 4: Saya Kamitani, Natsuko Tora, Azusa Inaba & Fukigen beat Mei Seira, Miyu Amasaki, Saya Iida & Momo Kohgo. Tora pinned Amasaki after a diving body press

Match 5: Syuri, Hina & Lady C beat Yuna Mizumori, Aya Sakura & Sayaka Kurara. Hina pinned Kurara with Gedo Clutch.

Match 6: Natsupoi & Saori Anou beat Waka Tsukiyama & Rian. Natsupoi pinned Rian after Fairy Real Gift.

Match 7: Artist Of Stardom Championship Next Challenger Tournament Finals: Suzu Suzuki, Rina Yamashita & Itsuki Aoki vs. Konami, Rina & Ruaka went to a double countout. As a result, both get the next shot at the champions in a 3-way. That match will happen on Saturday.

Main Event: Wonder Of Stardom Champion Starlight Kid beat HANAKO by submission to retain the title. V4 for Kid.

The next event is Saturday at Osaka Prefectural Gym 2 in Osaka. Live streaming on Stardom World will begin Friday at 9 PM PT/midnight ET.

Additionally, if you missed it or don’t have Stardom World, you also can now watch the full 4/27 PPV main event (Saya Kamitani vs. Yam Nakano for the World Of Stardom Championship where the loser also had to retire) FOR FREE on YouTube.

New Japan 5/21/25 Results

New Japan continued the Best Of The Super Junior Tournament today with the 6th day of Block A.

Today’s event was held at G Messe Gunma in Gunma and can be watched on demand on New Japan World.

The announced paid attendance was 842.

Match 1: Daiki Nagai & Nick Wayne beat Gedo & Taiji Ishimori. Wayne pinned Gedo after a double stunner.

Match 2: Katsuya Murashima, Tiger Mask, Ryusuke Taguchi & Yoh beat Masatora Yasuda, Shoma Kato, MAO & El Desperado. Murahsima beat Yasuda with a Boston Crab.

Match 3: Yota Tsuji & Titan beat Hartley Jackson & Robbie Eagles. Tsuji pinned Jackson after Gene Blaster.

Match 4: Yujiro Takahashi, Sho & SANADA beat Toru Yano, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Kevin Knight by DQ. Yano DQ’d.

Best Of The Super Junior Block A:
Match 5: Hiromu Takahashi beat Ninja Mack.
Match 6: Yoshinobu Kanemaru beat Kosei Fujita.
Match 7: Clark Connors beat KUSHIDA.
Match 8: Francesco Akira beat Dragon Dia.
Main Event: Master Wato beat Robbie X.

Standings:
Block A:
1-Wato, 4-2, 8 pts
2-KUSHIDA, 3-3, 6 pts
3-Dia, 3-3, 6 pts
4-Takhaashi, 3-3, 6 pts
5-Fujita, 3-3, 6 pts
6-Akira, 3-3, 6 pts
7-Connors, 3-3, 6 pts
8-X, 3-3, 6 pts
9-Kanemaru, 3-3, 6 pts
10-Mack, 2-4, 4 pts

Block B:
1-Wayne, 4-1, 8 pts
2-Desperado, 3-2, 6 pts
3-Taguchi, 3-2, 6 pts
4-Titan, 3-2, 4 pts
5-Yoh, 2-3, 4 pts
6-Knight, 2-3, 4 pts
7-Eagles, 2-3, 4 pts
8-Ishimori, 2-3, 4 pts
9-Sho, 2-3, 4 pts
10-MAO, 2–3, 4 pts

The top 2 in each block advance to the Semifinals. Everyone is still in it although Wato & Wayne lead.

The next event is Thursday at Osaka Prefectural Gym 2 in Osaka with Block B. Live streaming on New Japan World will begin at 2 AM PT/5 AM ET.

TJPW News: Impossible-to-fill Shoes Filled

At their spring tour event this past Saturday in Tokyo, Tokyo Joshi Pro made a noteworthy announcement at the start of the event: They have found someone to do the impossible-fill the shoes of departing ring announcer Sayuri Namba when she leaves the promotion next month. They introduced Rise Shirai as the new ring announcer-to-be, she will train over the next few weeks before taking over full-time once Namba departs next month, with her debut coming this Saturday. Also of note, Namba will reprise one of her prior roles as a ring card girl on 6/14 (what may be her farewell event) for a special rounds rules match between Kazuki Hirata & Hideki Sekine.

I certainly hope Shirai does well and will support her but let’s be honest, Namba is irreplaceable with all she has contributed to the growth of TJPW over the last 5+ years, much of that from just her natural personality & enthusiasm (and it doesn’t help she can speak decent English). She isn’t closing the door to an eventual return or maybe at least connecting when TJPW returns to North America (which next happens in July in Texas), so hopefully this won’t be goodbye and just a see you later.

All-Japan 5/18/25 Results (Updated 5/19/25)

All-Japan wrapped up the 2025 Champions Carnival Tournament today with the Finals.

Today’s event was held at Ota City General Gym in Tokyo and can be watched on demand on AJPW.TV. This was also a Samurai! TV broadcast in Japan.

The announced paid attendance was 2280.

Pre-show match: Taishin Nagao beat Shouta Kofuji. First career single win for Nagao.

Match 1: Champions Carnival Semifinals: Kento Miyahara beat Ryuki Honda.

Match 2: Champions Carnival Semifinals: Rei Saito beat Hideki Suzuki by KO.

Match 3: Kengo Mashimo, Madoka Kikuta, Shuji Kondo & Seigo Tachibana beat Davey Boy Smith Jr., Ren Ayabe, Atsuki Aoyagi & Ryo Inoue. Kikuta pinned Inoue after a rolling lariat.

Match 4: Fuminori Abe 10th Anniversary Match-Hokuto Omoro, Kumaarashi & Takashi Yoshida beat All-Japan 6-Man Tag Team Champions Fuminori Abe, Yuma Aoyagi & Hikaru Sato to win the titles. Omori, Kumaarashi & Yoshida become the 11th All-Japan 6-Man Tag Team Champions. Onori pinned Aoyagi after Narcissist Press,

Match 5: Shotaro Ashino, Xyon & Dan Tamura beat Jun Saito, Naruki Doi & Senor Saito. Xyon pinned Senor Saito after Xyon Spear.

Match 6: All-Asia Tag Team Champions Rising Hayato & Yuma Anzai beat Mike D. Vecchio & Aigle Blanc to retain the titles.. Hayato pinned Blanc after Sid Vicious. V6 for the champs. Next up: The Aoyagis.

Match 7: Seiki Yoshioka beat All-Japan World Junior Heavyweight Champion MUSASHI to win the title. Yoshioka becomes the 71st All-Japan World Junior Heavyweight Champion. Next up: Tamura.

Main Event: Champions Carnival Finals: Rei Saito beat Kento Miyahara to win the tournament. As a result, Saito gets the next Triple Crown shot against…none other than his brother, Jun Saito. Which means one thing is certain coming out of it besides me being happy either way…DOOM!!! If they have their way, that match will happen at the next event on 6/1. Also I’m happy to see Rei Saito’s beard/goatee returning after he went clean-shaven the last couple months.

The next event is 6/1 at Sendai Sun Plaza in Sendai to start the Super Power Series 2025 Tour. Live streaming on AJPW.TV will begin on 5/31 at 10 PM PT/1 AM ET. The event will also be taped for broadcast on GAORA SPORTS in Japan at a later date.

5/19/25 UPDATE: It’s now official. Saitos face off for the Triple Crown on 6/1. Yoshioka-Tamura is also official for that date. In fact, most if not all the 6/1 card is official, here is what else was announced:
All-Japan World Tag Team Champions Kento Miyahara & Yuma Aoyagi vs. Shotaro Ashino & Xyon for the titles
Hokuto Omori, Kumaarashi & TBA (billed as XXL) vs. Ryuki Honda, Yuma Anzai & Ren Ayabe
Atsuki Aoyagi, Fuminori Abe & Seigo Tachibana vs. MUSASHI, Rising Hayato & Ryo Inoue
Taishin Nagao vs. Hideki Suzuki
Jack Kennedy & Aizawa No. 1 vs. Davey Boy Smith Jr. & Kuroshio TOKYO Japan

Dragon Gate News: Regarding BIGBOSS Shimizu Absence

Dragon Gate posted a news announcement regarding the recent absence of BIGBOSS Shimizu-having been out most of this year for potential disciplinary reasons, it was announced today he will remain out at his request and will probably remain out most of, if not the rest of the year. He will be back at some point and the promotion will announce when

Pro Wrestling NOAH 5/18/25 Results (Updated)

Pro Wrestling NOAH’s monthly STAR NAVIGATION 2025 Tour event for this month just finished up. I joined the event in progress but did not do live results due to illness and recovering from my recent trip to Japan plus watching on about a 45-minute tape delay. Here are the quick results.

Today’s event was held at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo and can be watched on demand on WRESTLE UNIVERSE in Japanese and English. The live broadcast was English only outside Japan due to ABEMA exclusives. You can also watch the first 3 matches FOR FREE on YouTube.

The announced paid attendance was 1562, a legit advance sellout. Standing room only tickets were sold today.

Match 1: Mohammed Yone & Shuhei Taniguchi beat Shuji Kondo & Daiki Odashima. Yone pinned Odashima after Kinniku Muscle Buster.

Match 2: Atsushi Kotoge & Hajime Ohara beat Alejandro & Kai Fujimura. Kotoge pinned Fujimura after Kill Switch.

Match 3: Naomichi Marufuji, Takashi Sugiura & Masa Kitamiya beat Tetsuya Endo, Daga & Owadasan. Sugiura pinned Owadasan after Olympic Yosen Slam. During the match, Endo turned on and defected from Team 2000X.

Match 4: Dragon Bane & Alpha Wolf beat HAYATA. Yuto Kikuchi, Eita & Super Crazy and AMAKUSA & Junta Miyawaki in a 4-way when Wolf pinned Kikuchi.

Match 5: Daiki Inaba Return Match: Kenoh, KENTA & Ulka Sasaki beat Manabu Soya, Saxon Huxley & Daiki Inaba. Kenoh beat Inaba with Kenoh Special.

Match 6: GHC Junior Heavyweight Champion YO-HEY beat Tadasuke to retain the title. V1 for YO-HEY. Next up: Miyawaki.

Main Event: GHC Heavyweight Champion OZAWA beat Kaito Kiyomiya to retain the title. V5 for OZAWA. As a result, Kiyomiya may now have to join Team 2000X. Next up: Endo & Sugiura in a 3-way.

More news/fallout when it becomes available.

The next event is Friday at Aizuwakamatsu City Cultural Center in Fukushima. There will be no live broadcast.

UPDATE: The post-event news/fallout:

It’s now official-OZAWA next defends in aforementioned 3-way. That match will happen on 6/3 at Korakuen as will YO-HEY vs. Miyawaki and an Atsushi Kotoge 20th Anniversary match of Kotoge vs. Super Delfin.

Announced for 5/31 at Shinjuku Face is GHC Heavyweight Tag Team Champions Kenoh & Ulka Sasaki vs. some combination of Manabu Soya, Saxon Huxley & Daiki Inaba for the titles.

Announced for 5/24 at Yokohama Radiant Hall in Yokohama is GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions Dragon Bane & Alpha Wolf vs. HAYATA & Yuto Kikuchi for the titles.

The N-1 VICTORY Tournament will return this year in September. The schedule was announced today with further details TBA. The schedule is as follows:
9/8-Korakuen
9/11-Okayama Convention Center, Okayama
9/13-Hiroshima Industrial Hall East Exhibition Hall, Hiroshima
9/14-Acros Fukuoka, Fukuoka
9/15-Kumamoto Castle Hall Civic Hall, Kumamoto
9/17-Osaka Prefectural Gym 2, Osaka
9/20-Act City Hamamatsu, Shizuoka
9/21-Light Cube Utsunomiya, Tochigi
9/23-Korakuen (Finals)