Tag: takayamania

TAKAYAMANIA EMPIRE 5 Results (9/7/2026)

TAKAYAMANIA EMPRE 5, the annual fundraiser event for the legendary wrestler Yoshihiro Takayama, was held today in Tokyo, largely spearheaded once again by fellow wrestler Minoru Suzuki. Partial results are below with what I have been able to find so far, mostly from Nikkan Sports. (Now updated below with full results)

Today’s event was held at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo and hopefully will be available on demand on WRESTLE UNIVERSE at a later date. This was a live ABEMA broadcast in Japan.

The paid attendance has not yet been announced but assumingly was a legit sellout..

Match 1: Tatsuya Matsumoto (New Japan) beat Ryoma Sekimo.

Match 2: Chihiro Hashimoto & Ryo Mizunami (Sendai Girls) vs. Miyu Yamashita (Tokyo Joshi Pro) & Hiroyo Matsumoto (Independent/Freelancer) went to a 15 minute time limit draw.

Match 3: Hideki Suzuki (All-Japan) vs. Danshoku Dieno (DDT) went to a no contest. Out of control.

Match 4: In a DDT Exhibition Match, MAO, Yukio Naya & Viento Levante beat Takeshi Masada, Yuya Koroku & Daichi Sato. MAO pinned Koroku after a cannonball 450.

Match 5: KENTA (Pro Wrestling NOAH) & Katsuyori Shibata (All Elite Wrestling) beat Caol Uno & Katsumi Inahata (Pro Wrestling NOAH). KENTA pinned Inahata after GO 2 SLEEP.

Main Event: Minoru Suzuki (Independent/Freelancer) & El Desperado (New Japan) beat Naomichi Marufuji (Pro Wrestling NOAH) & HARASHIMA (DDT). Suzuki pinned HARASHIMA after a Gotch-style piledriver. Afterwards, Takayama was brought to the ring in a wheelchair to celebrate both his birthday next week and his enduring legacy, along with hopes that, like fellow wheelchair-bound wrestler Shinjiro Otani, his rehab will proceed to the point that someday (soon) he will be able to walk again. And perhaps in time for one more match with Suzuki when he turns 60 in a couple years. (Takayama is 57)

Missing results will be posted when they become available.

News: TAKAYAMANIA Main Event Announced

With tickets going on sale tomorrow, Minoru Suzuki has revealed the main event of TAKAYAMANIA EMPIRE 5, the annual fundraiser event for legendary wrestler Yoshihiro Takayama. This year it will be Suzuki & El Desperado vs. Naomichi Marufuji & HARASHIMA. All profits from ticket sales will be donated to Takayama’s wife to assist with his medical care & rehab

The event will be held on 9/7 at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo. It will be a live ABEMA broadcast in Japan, hopefully on demand on WRESTLE UNIVERSE afterwards.

News: TAKAYAMANIA Returning In 2026

Earlier today it was announced by Minoru Suzuki and picked up by Puroresu Today that TAKAYAMANIA, the annual Yoshihiro Takayama fundraiser event, will return this year with TAKAYAMANIA EMPIRE 5. Scheduled for 9/7 at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, it will feature a number of promotions and wrestlers participating with all profits (after necessary expenses for the event) being donated to help with Takayama’s medical treatment.

Once one of the most feared and heralded big men in Japanese pro wrestling, Takayama suffered a severe cervical cord injury on May 4, 2017 and has been paralyzed since but continues rehabilitation and this event has become an annual tradition to support his recovery, in addition to bank accounts managed by Takayama’s wife. As far as broadcast plans, it will be streamed live for free on ABEMA in Japan, and hopefully on demand on WRESTLE UNIVERSE shortly after.

More as it becomes available.

Regarding Today’s TAKAYAMANIA EMPIRE 4 Event (9/3/2025) (Updated)

TAKAYAMANIA EMPIRE 4, the latest charity fundraiser event for iconic wrestler Yoshihiro Takayama, was held earlier today at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo. I am trying to find full results that aren’t paywalled (All-Japan posted one match result with their participation) and will post them once I am able to. Takayama was in attendance again (he has been mostly confined to hospital beds and wheelchairs the last few years due to severe spinal cord injuries).

The event was a live broadcast on ABEMA in Japan only and hopefully will show up on demand on WRESTLE UNIVERSE at some point.

UPDATE: It was announced on Takayama’s official blog that the event raised a total of 1,872,033 Japanese yen, which will go towards his medical care/expenses (the bank accounts are managed by his wife). That’s around $12,700 US. The event may have been a legit sellout, if not it was very close.

Here are the results:

Match 1: Daiki Nagai beat Shouta Kofuji.

Match 2: Kazushi Sakuraba & Hideki Suzuki beat Hikaru Sato & Dan Tamura by KO.

Match 3: Chihiro Hashimoto & Yuu beat Hiroyo Matsumoto & Yurika Oka.

Match 4: Kazusada Higuchi, MAO & Danshoku Dieno beat Yuki Ueno, HARASHIMA & Yasu Urano.

Main Event: Katsuyori Shibata & KENTA vs. Naomichi Marufuji & Minoru Suzuki went to a 30 minute time limit draw.

Takayama was in attendance for the event once again.