Tag: wrestling

AEW Collision 9/16/23 Results

Here are the quick results from tonight’s AEW Collision in State College, PA (Penn State University):

Ricky Starks & Big Bill beat Bryan Danielson & Claudio Castagnoli. Starks pinned Danielson after a low blow.

AEW World Tag Team Champions FTR beat Iron Savages to retain the titles. FTR pinned Boulder.

John Silver beat Anthony Bowens.

Aussie Open beat 2 jobbers. Squash.

Andrade El Idolo beat Scorpio Sly by submission.

The Righteous beat The Hardys. One of them pinned Jeff Hardy.

AEW TBS Champion Kris Statlander beat Britt Baker to retain the title.

I was not able to watch the live show due to schedule conflicts.

They also announced next week’s Rampage from New York City will be a special 2 hour episode. But still TAPED.

Pro Wrestling NOAH Naomichi Marufuji 25th Anniversary Event Results (9/17/23)

Pro Wrestling NOAH has a rare morning matinee event on tap today, a Naomichi Marufuji 25th Anniversary event presented by sponsor LEC Cleanpa! I remember seeing Marufuji in person early in his career when NOAH and US independent promotion Ring OF Honor had a working agreement and I attended an ROH event in person in the mis-late 2000s, now some 20 years later he remains active both as a wrestler and an Executive Vice-President of NOAH, and still one of the coolest cats in the business. Today he has a dream match of sorts to celebrate as New Japan Pro Wrestling star Will Ospreay comes over for a cross-promotion main event, while the undercard is mainly tag and multi-man matches although New Japan Young Lion Ryohei Oiwa makes another appearance in NOAH today as well. Based on the current listing and news updates it also appears Alejandro will return after missing ths past week due to potential concussion symptoms.

Today’s event will be held at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo and can be watched LIVE on WRESTLE UNIVERSE in English only. Japanese commentary will be muted or dubbed over because this is an ABEMA exclusive broadcast in Japan (the Japanese commentary version will be available on demand once the event is over). Keiji Muto will be a special guest on Japanese commentary. You can also watch the first 3 matches FOR FREE on YouTube via the Pro Wrestling NOAH YouTube channel. The event is a legit advance sellout and it was a very quick one at that, with maybe only some standing room only tickets made available today. There are no title matches today but with 8 matches and a main event that could easily go long, the running time will depend largely on time limits but I’m anticipating the event’s total runtime being about 3 hours. (Show beginning update: With time limits for matches, the longest the event could go is 4 hours)

Today’s lineup:
Dragon Bane, Alpha Wolf & Seiki Yoshioka vs Ninja Mack, Alejandro & Hajime Ohara
Takashi Sugiura, Mohammed Yone & Akitoshi Saito vs Kai Fujimura, Taishi Ozawa & Yu Owada
Junta Miyawaki vs Ryohei Oiwa
Saxon Huxley, Timothy Thatche, Hideki Suzuki & Shuhei Taniguchi vs Kazuyuki Fujita, Manabu Soya, Masa Kitamiya & Daiki Inaba
Kaito Kiyomiya, HAYATA & Eita vs Yoshinari Ogawa, Daga & Stallion Rogers
Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr. & Lance Anoa’i vs Psycho Clown & Kenoh
Jake Lee, Jack Morris, Anthony Greene, YO-HEY & Tadasuke vs Go Shiozaki, Katsuhiko Nakajima, Adam Brooks, Atsushi Kotoge & Hi69
Naomichi Marufuji vs Will Ospreay

Refresh this page occasionally for the latest results.

Updates below will begin at 7:15 PM PT/10:15 PM ET.

7:15 PM PT UPDATE: The live stream has just begun. We’ll be going to the venue shortly.

7:30 PM PET UPDATE: Live updates begin now…
We are LIVE from Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan. Your hosts are Stewart Fulton & Mark Pickering. NOAH English host/announcer G-Man starts by hyping up the crowd. Seriously, that dude’s got some kind of enhanced chin. He will also be on commentary.

The paid attendance will be announced after the event but it’s a legit advance sellout, and was a very fast one at that. The actual number will depend on configuration and standing room only tickets sold today, but based on recent Korakuen events that were sellouts it should be anywhere from just over 1300 to maybe near 1500. The venue’s full capacity pre-pandemic, which it hasn’t yet returned to, is 2100-2350 depending on the setup. (UPDATE: The announced paid attendance was 1532, a legit advance sellout, but some empty seats were visible during the broadcast)

The matches will begin shortly after the opening video package and card rundown.

The matches begin at 7:35 PM PT/10:34 PM ET.

Match 1: Dragon Bane, Alpha Wolf & Seiki Yoshioka vs Ninja Mack, Alejandro & Hajime Ohara. 15 minute time limit
Result: Ninja Mack, Alejandro & Hajime Ohara beat Dragon Bane, Alpha Wold & Seiki Yoshioka. Alejandro pinned Wolf.

Match 2: Takashi Sugiura, Mohammed Yone & Akitoshi Saito vs Kai Fujimura, Taishi Ozawa & Yu Owada. 20 minute time limit
Result: Takashi Sugiura, Mohammed Yone & Akitoshi Saito beat Kai Fujimura, Taishi Ozawa & Yu Owada. Sugiura beat Ozawa.

Match 3: Junta Miyawaki vs Ryohei Oiwa (New Japan) (Side note: Commentary noted that Oiwa is on his traditional Young Lion excursion from New Japan, but he went to NOAH which is interesting because normally they go overseas, often to Mexico or Europe although Yuya Uemura went to the USA to Impact Wrestling). 20 minute time limit
Result: Ryohei Oiwa beat Junta Miyawaki. First singles win in NOAH for Oiwa.

The YouTube broadcast ends here. It is now available on demand (53 minutes).

Match 4: Saxon Huxley, Timothy Thatcher, Hideki Suzuki & Shuhei Taniguchi vs Kazuyuki Fujita, Manabu Soya, Masa Kitamiya & Daiki Inaba; 20 minute time limit
Result: Kazuyuki Fujita, Manabu Soya, Masa Kitamiya & Daiki Inaba beat Saxon Huxley, Hideki Suzuki, Timothy Thatcher & Shuhei Taniguchi. Soya pinned Taniguchi after a jumping DDT.

Match 5: Kaito Kiyomiya, HAYATA & Eita vs Yoshinari Ogawa, Daga & Stallion Rogers. 30 minute time limit
Result; Kaito Kiyomiya, HAYATA & Eita beat Yoshinari Ogawa, Daga & Stallion Rogers. Kiyomiya beat Rogers with a figure 4.

Akitoshi Saito joins Japanese commentary.

Match 6: Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr. & Lance Anoa’i vs Psycho Clown & Kenoh. 30 minute time limit
Result: Psycho Clown & Kenoh beat Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr. & L:ance Anoa’i by DQ. Wagner Jr. DQ’d. Ripping off Clown’s mask. Drew rather rare boos from the Japanese fans as Wagner Jr. seemingly turned heel.

Match 7: Jake Lee, Jack Morris, Anthony Greene, YO-HEY & Tadasuke vs Go Shiozaki, Katsuhiko Nakajima, Adam Brooks, Atsushi Kotoge & Hi69. 30 minute time limit
Result: Jake Lee, Jack Morris, Anthony Greene, YO-HEY & Tadasuke beat Go Shiozaki, Katsuhiko Nakajima, Adam Brooks, Atsushi Kotoge & Hi69. Lee beat Hi69.

Main Event: Naomichi Marufuji vs Will Ospreay (New Japan). 1 Hour time limit
Result: Will Ospreay beat Naomichi Marufuji

A faster event than I expected with all the matches from start to finish going just under 2 1/2 hours. After the main event, Ospreay addressed the crowd following his first and maybe only career appearance in NOAH. He put over the NOAH roster and Marufuji in English and a little Japanese before leaving and turning the microphone over to Marufuji. He thanked Ospreay in English before thanking everyone in Japanese for coming today. He said he lost today but he will continue to aim for the top and thanked everyone for their support to end the show.

The next event is 9/23 at Shimada City Sports Center Sub Arena in Shizuoka. There will be no live broadcast.

Impact Wrestling 9/15/23 Results

Here are the quick results from tonight’s Impact Wresting from White Plains. NY:

This episode was taped Saturday and is the landmark 1000th episode of the promotion’s weekly TV show. It will be an extended (longer than 2 hours) special and will be a 2-part event with part 2 next week.

The YouTube pre-show match was KiLynn King vs. Jody Threat.

Impact President Scott D’Amore opens the show in the ring. He briefly puts Team Canada over then shifts to putting the Knockouts over, then brings out Gail Kim. She will have her first match in 4+ years next week. Kim introduces a video package highlighting the history of the Knockouts division. Afterwards, D’Amore starts to talk before being interrupted by The Beautiful People (Angelina Love & Velvet Sky. Angelina’s still ripped, quite the washboard abs). As things tease getting physical, Gisele Shaw interrupts. With Savannah Evans & Jai Vidal in tow of course. Shaw puts The Beautiful People over but it’s a veiled dig at them of course. Their impending blowup brings out Jordynne Grace. She equally puts over past Knockouts and buries certain ones today and then out comes Deonna Purrazzo. She gets in a few words about championships and that brings out Trinity, the current Knockouts World Champion. Then, not to be left out…Awesome Kong returns! Commentary got cut off talking about Kong during her entrance by a commercial. Raisha Saeed seconded Kong. But we’re not done yet-Tasha Steelz is back too! She talks the 10-woman tag match next week and puts it over before…HARDCORE COUNTRY! The return of Mickie James! And now we’ve got both sides of the match in the ring. Kim, Kong, Trinity, Grace & James vs. Love, Sky, Shaw, Purrazzo & Steelz.

Chris Harris & James Storm visit with Eric Young as Santino Marella joins in just before Shark Boy drops in. Literally by dropping a beer bottle. Shark Boy is named Deputy D.O.A. for the next couple weeks.

Match 1: In Feast Or Fired, where there were 4 briefcases-3 have title shot contracts, but one has a pink slip meaning whoever gets that one is fired, the briefcases were retrieved by (in order of retrieval and making it out of the ring with possession of the case) Chris Bey (#3), Crazzy Steve (#1), Yuya Uemura (#4), Moose (#2) who caught it when Rhino GORED Steve Maclin. The briefcases will be opened later in the show.

Chris Sabin interviewed backstage.

Rohit Raju & Raj Singh in the ring. With microphones. But they were quickly interrupted by the reunited Team 3D (Brother Ray [Bully Ray] & Brother Devon).

Match 2: Team 3D beat Raj Singh & Rohit Raju. Devon pinned Singh after 3D.

Josh Alexander comes across Rascalz leaving a mess in a hallway. He indirectly challenges them to a handicap match.

After commercial, Alexander hits the ring. With microphone. He lays the groundwork for an Impact World Championship match which brings out Alex Shelley. He immediately shoots down Alexander. But they seem to be making the match official when Rascalz hit the ring for the beatdown. After the first time they get fought off, a second beatdown on Alexander causes Shelley to bail.

Shark Boy confronts Rascalz backstage, and makes Trey Miguel vs. Alexander for next week. Santino catches up with Boy just as Kenny King & Sheldon Jean barge in. King wants his Impact Digital Media Championship rematch tonight but Santino says no. Instead, Santino makes King vs. Eric Young for next week.

Match 3: Frankie Kazarian & Traci Brooks beat Eddie & Alisha Edwards. Brooks pinned Alisha after Fade To Black. Afterwards, a video plays announcing that Brooks will be inducted into the Impact Wrestling Hall Of Fame at Bound For Glory.

Tommy Dreamer promo.

Main Event: Chris Sabin beat Impact X Division Champion Lio Rush to become THE NEW IMPACT X DIVISION CHAMPION! 10-time! This was a commercial-free overrun on the AXS TV broadcast, which meant a 15-20 minute uninterrupted overrun (it added 20 minutes extra to the YouTube version).

Next week: Ultimate X, The Knockouts 10-woman tag, Alexander-Miguel, Young-King and Jake Something vs. Dirty Dango, plus the Feast Or Fired results with Busted Open host Dave LaGreca. I’m thinking Fired will be Yuya Uemura and he’ll return to New Japan. JOYA ends as quick as it started?

News: 2023 PWI 500 Published (SPOILERS!)

It’s my favorite time of year again…Pro Wrestling Illustrated magazine put out the digital version of their annual PWI 500 issue today, ranking the top 500 wrestlers in the world (not just men, women made it too). The print version is 3-4 weeks from newsstands, but if you want to know the top 10 and some tidbits about the rest (and don’t mind SPOILERS), clock below (or get the digital issue on Zinio for under $5):

Continue reading “News: 2023 PWI 500 Published (SPOILERS!)”

All-Japan 9/14/23 Results

All-Japan continued the Giant Series 2023 today with an event in Tokyo.

Today’s event was held at Shin-Kiba 1st Ring in Tokyo and can be watched on demand on AJPW.TV. You can also watch the first 4 matches FOR FREE on YouTube.

The announced paid attendance was 320, a legit sellout.

Match 1: Shuji Ishikawa & Ren Ayabe beat Yoshitatsu & Takaaki Iwasaki (Ganbare Pro). Ishikawa pinned Iwasaki after Fire Thunder.

Match 2: Naruki Doi & Hokuto Omori beat Yoshifuni Iwamoto & Black Menso-re and Kotaro Suzuki & Keiichi Sato in a 3-way when Omori pinned Menso-re.

Match 3: SAKI beat Sunny (not the former WWF/E wrestler). SAKI was a late replacement for the injured Sayaka Unagi.

Match 4: Jun & Rei Saito beat Atsuki Aoyagi & Rising Hayato. Jun Saito pinned Hayato after Prison Break.

Match 5: Hikaru Sato & Andy Wu beat E Lindaman (GLEAT) & Juniie. Wu pinned Junjie.

Match 6: Hideki Suzuki (Pro Wrestling NOAH), Takuya Nomura & Fuminori Abe beat Suwama, Dan Tamura & Ryo Inoue. Suzuki pinned Inoue with a double arm suplex.

Main Event: Yuma Aoyagi & Kento Miyahara vs. Ryuki Honda & Yuma Anzai went to a 30 minute time limit draw.

The next event is 9/23 at Korakuen Hall with Yuma Aoyagi-Honda for the Triple Crown. Live streaming on AJPW.TV will begin at 2:30 AM PT/5:30 AM ET.

AEW Rampage 9/15/23 Results (SPOILERS!) (Updated)

Here are the quick results for tomorrow’s AEW Rampage in Cincinnati, OH (SPOILERS!):

Continue reading “AEW Rampage 9/15/23 Results (SPOILERS!) (Updated)”

Injury Report: Japan Injury Roundup (Updated x3)

There have been A LOT of injuries recently across the major Japanese promotions. Here are some of the latest updates:

New Japan-Yoshinobu Kanemaru is now off the rest of the Road to DESTRUCTION Tour. Knee injury suffered earlier this week. Boltin Oleg, was was out since last weekend due to a fever and arm infection (they were related), is cleared to return.

All-Japan/GLEAT-Sayaka Unagi is out indefinitely. Left shoulder injury suffered yesterday. For All-Japan, she was to have faced Sunny tomorrow. SAKI (not Saki Akai) is the replacement. For GLEAT, she is off the 9/17 event.

Stardom-Momo Kohga, Lady C, Miyu Amasaki and Mai Sakurai all will miss some of all of the rest of the 5 STAR GP, which runs through 9/30.

UPDATE: Tokyo Joshi Pro announced Neko Haruna has multiple knee and ACL injuries and will have surgery in October. Out several months if not longer. She will appear on 10/9 but not compete.

UPDATE 2: 9/14-what is going on in TJPW? For their event Saturday they have had to blow the card up. Not one, not two, not three…but SIX wrestlers are now off-Mizuki, Yuki Kamifuku, Nao Kakuta, Mahiro Kiryu, Raku and HIMAWARI. The very vague poor physica condition for all beyond illnesses. Add Neko Haruna (knees) and that’s 7 in the last few days. They somehow still are managing 7 matches scheduled with Ryo Mizunami being a late add. As compensation, any fan in attendance can request and will be given a colored piece of paper autographed by a random wrestler.

UPDATE 3: 9/15-Something is going around TJPW as now they have announced Wakana Uehara is now off tomorrow. Fever. So that’s now 7 off tomorrow, 8 if you count Neko Haruna. That’s about 1/3 of the roster.

AEW Dynamite 9/13/23 LIVE Results

Here are the quick results from tonight’s AEW Dynamite in Cincinnati, OH:

Updates will begin at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT.

Match 1: AEW International Champion Jon Moxley vs. Big Bill for the title
Result: AEW International Champion Jon Moxley beat Big Bill by submission to retain the title. Ricky Starks beat down Bryan Danielson afterwards, and Bill beat down Moxley until Claudio Castagnoli made the save.

Commentary announces Moxley defends vs. Rey Fenix next week in New York City.

Don Callis unveils his new masterpiece and next target-Kota Ibushi.

Possibly being added to Collision Saturday-Danielson & Castagnoli vs. Starks & Bill. Danielson issued challenge. Lucha Bros interrupt as Penta El Zero M & Alex Abrahantes try to restrain Rey Fenix as he taunts Moxley. Eddie Kingston then shows up and stares down Castagnoli.

Match 2: Britt Baker vs. Hikaru Shida, Nyla Rose & Tomi Storm in a 4-way. The winner faces AEW Women’s Champion Saraya for the title next week
Result: Toni Storm beat Britt Baker, Hikaru Shida & Nyla Rose in a 4-way by pinning Baker. As a result, Storm will face Saraya next week for the AEW Women’s Championship.

Chris Jericho & Sammy Guevara discuss their match next week.

Post-show footage last week of MJF being interviewed post-attack to end last week’s show. Not cleared to travel this week but will be back next week.

Match 3: Adam Page vs. Brian Cage
Result: Adam Page beat Brian Cage. Afterwards, Swerve Strickland says he’ll face Page on 10/1 in Seattle, WA.

Friday on Rampage: AEW TBS Champion Kris Statlander vs. Jade Cargill for the title.

Match 4: Darby Allin & Nick Wayne vs. Angelo Parker & Matt Menard
Result: Darby Allin & Nick Wayne beat Angelo Parker & Matt Menard. Allin pinned Parker after Coffin Drop. Afterwards, Christian Cage proposed a match for next week-Allin & Sting vs. Cage & Luchasaurus. Not announced during the next week rundown that followed.

Main Event: World TItle Eliminator Tournament Finals: Roderick Strong vs. Samoa Joe
Result: Samoa Joe beat Roderick Strong by submission to win the tournament. As a result, Joe will face MJF next week for the AEW World Championship. Afterawrds, they did the stretcher job for Strong as Adam Cole came out. In the end, Cole got choked out by Joe to end the show.

Once again it was a Dynamite that happened. Nothing terrible but nothing great and nothing to get me more excited for next week’s biggest episode of the year in New York City. Another completely average show.

End Show.l

FREE VIDEO: Shiori Aoki Referee Debut in TJPW

Ahead of her return to Tokyo Joshi Pro as a referee this weekend, SKE48 has posted the full video of a Tokyo Joshi Pro match earlier this year when group member Shiori Aoki made her wrestling debut as a referee-in a match featuring SKE48 teammate Yuki Arai, no less! Fellow teammate Marika Tani was a guest on Japanese commentary. They’ll all do it again Monday (Sunday night US time) and you can watch LIVE on WRESTLE UNIVERSE beginning Sunday at 8:30 PM PT/11:30 PM ET, featuring a special SKE48 mini-live performance with Arai and 4 of her SKE48 teammates. Until then, check out the video below (video courtesy of the SKE48 Official YouTube channel):

Sumo-September 2023 Grand Sumo Tournament Day 2 Results (9/11/23) (Top 2 Tiers)

Here are the quick results from today’s Day 2 of the September 2023 Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, J-Juryo, Ms-Makushita

Makuuchi (Top tier):
Tsurugisho (M16) beat Kagayaki (M16)
Atamifuji (M15) beat Daishoho (M17)
Kotoshoho (M16) beat Chiyoshoma (M16)
Nishikifuji (M13) beat Myogiryu (M13)
Sadanoumi (M12) beat Aoiyama (M14)
Mitakeumi (M11) beat Takarafuji (M12)
Hokuseiho (M11) beat Endo (M10)
Kinbozan (M10) beat Kotoeko (M8)
Hiradoumi (M8) beat Midorifuji (M9)
Onosho (M6) beat Oho (M7)
Takayasu (M7) beat Ryuden (M6)
Shonannoumi (M5) beat Takanosho (M4)
Ura (M4) beat Gonoyama (M5)
Tobizaru (K) beat Tamawashi (M3)
Daieisho (S) beat Shodai (M3)
Asanoyama (M2) beat Kotonowaka (S)
Abi (M2) beat Wakamotoharu (S)
Kirishima (O) beat Meisei (M1)
Hokutofuji (M1) beat Hoshoryu (O)
Takakeisho (O) beat Nishikigi (K)

Juryo:
Onosato (J14) beat Yuma (Ms1)
Tenshoho (J14) beat Asakoryu (J13)
Kiho (J13) beat Shimanoumi (J12)
Takahashi (J12) beat Tokihayate (J11)
Shiden (J11) beat Chiyomaru (J10)
Akua (J9) beat Hakuyozan (J10)
Shishi (J8) beat Takakento (J9)
Ichiyamamoto (J7) beat Chiyosakae (J8)
Churanoumi (J5) beat Azumaryu (J6)
Bushozan (J5) beat Shimazuumi (J6)
Tomokaze (J3) beat Tohakuryu (J4)
Mitoryu (J3) beat Oshoma (J4)
Roga (J1) beat Daiamami (J2)
Kitanowaka (J2) beat Tamashoho (J1)

RETIREMENT: Tokushoryu (Ms37). After withdrawing from the tournament and being absent this time for the first time in his career, the 20-year veteran has called it a career. Nikkan Sports reports he will become Sendagawa Oyakata and remain in Kise Beya as a coach. The Japan Sumo Association will make the formal announcement in the coming days.
Tokushoryu reached a highest career rank of Maegashira 2 after winning the January 2020 Tournament with a 14-1 record for his only Emperor’s Cup (he was ranked Maegashira 17 then). That also yielded his 2 career Special Prizes (Outstanding Performance, Fighting Spirit) and 1 Kinboshi. He finishes with a career record of 553-570, 211-269 in the top tier, not including the only 2 Absent days of his career in this tournament, and a total of 4 championships.