Tag: wrestling

NOAH News: GHC Title Vacated (Updated)

DEVELOPING: Pro Wrestling NOAH has announced the GHC Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Championship is now VACANT. Previous champions Daga & Chris Ridgeway have vacated the titles because Ridgeway had to leave Japan and return home for personal reasons. They were supposed to defend the titles on 9/24 vs. Dragon Bane & Alpha Wolf. Bane & Wolf will now face Ninja Mack & Alejandro on that day for the titles. It’s not known when Ridgeway will be able to return.

UPDATE: In a statement on social media, Ridgeway confirmed the situation and thanked NOAH for being professional and allowing him to return home to deal with these issues. Ridgeway did not elaborate as to the reasons and requested privacy but assured fans that he will be back once everything is resolved.

Sumo-September 2023 Banzuke Announced (Updated 9/3)

The Nihon Sumo Kyokai (Japan Sumo Association) has announced the Banzuke (rankings) for the September 2023 Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo. Here are the rankings for the top 2 tiers then some other notes:

Makuuchi (top tier):
Yokozuna-Terunofuji
Ozeki-Kirishima, Takakeisho, Hoshoryu (July Tournament Champion)
Sekiwake-Daieisho, Wakamotoharu, Kotonowaka
Komusubi-Nishikigi, Tobizaru
Maegaahira 1-Hokutofuji, Meisei
Maegashira 2-Abi, Asanoyama
Maegashira 3-Shodai, Tamawashi
Maegashira 4-Takanosho, Ura
Maegashira 5-Gonoyama, Shonannoumi
Maegashira 6-Onosho, Ryuden
Maegashira 7-Takayasu, Oho
Maegashira 8-Kotoeko, Hiradoumi
Maegashira 9-Midorifuji, Hakuoho
Maegashira 10-Kinbozan, Endo
Maegashira 11-Mitakeumi, Hokuseiho
Maegashira 12-Takarafuji, Sadanoumi
Maegashira 13-Myogiryu, Nishikifuji
Maegashira 14-Aoiyama, Kotoshoho
Maegashira 15-Atamifuji (July Juryo Champion), Chiyoshoma
Maegashira 16-Kagayaki, Tsurugisho
Maegashira 17-Daishoho
Notes: Hoshoryu is making his Ozeki debut and is the only Ozeki not in kadoban status-Kirishima & Takakeisho both must finish with winning records to avoid demotion. Kotonowaka is newly promoted to Sekiwake after 4 straight tournaments at Komusubi. Nishikigi is among the oldest rikishi to ever debut in Sanyaku, I believe he is the 4th-oldest ever. July runner-up Hokutofuji was perhaps the biggest mover up as he jumped all the way back up to M1, but the 3 July rookies (Gonoyama, Shonannoumi, Hakuoho) also made big jumps. Mitakeumi was the biggest loser after a difficult July that saw his father pass away just before the tournament, and he falls to M11 following a 2-13 finish.
Now for other notes/topics-according to YouTuber “Chris Sumo”, a reliable news source with insider contacts, Terunofuji may sit out September due to back issues and could possibly retire by year’s end. He also says Daieisho & Hakuoho are possibly injured with the latter probably needing shoulder surgery eventually per his stablemaster Miyagino (the former Hakuho). Hakuoho may specifically have a dislocated shoulder, an injury that predates his brief sumo career. As far as potential Ozeki candidates this time, all 3 Sekiwake need to win the tournament to have reasonable chances at promotion, but all could also get there with a 14-1 record (that would get them to the so-called magic number of 33 wins over the last 3 tournaments).
Atamifuji & Kagayaki return to the top tier, Atamifuji for his second career appearance after winning the July Juryo Championship.

Juryo:
Juryo 1-Roga, Tamashoho
Juryo 2-Kitanowaka, Daiamami
Juryo 3-Tomokaze, Mitoryu
Juryo 4-Oshoma, Tohakuryu
Juryo 5-Churanoumi, Bushozan
Juryo 6-Shimazuumi, Azumaryu
Juryo 7-Wakatakakage, Ichiyamamoto
Juryo 8-Shishi, Chiyosakae
Juryo 9-Takakento, Akua
Juryo 10-Chiyomaru, Hakuyozan
Juryo 11-Shiden, Tokihayate (July Makushita Champion)
Juryo 12-Shimanoumi, Takahashi
Juryo 13-Kiho, Asakoryu
Juryo 14-Onosato, Tenshoho
Notes: Wakatakakage will again be absent due to injury. Roga just missed out on making the top tier and will try again this time, needing just a winning record. There are 4 Shin-Juryo rikishi including 2 with new shikona (name changes)-Takahashi, Asakoryu (former Ishizaki), Onosato, Tenshoho (former Mukainakano), while Tokihayate is Sai-Juryo as a returner to the second tier. Kiho maintained his rank despite potential demotion after missing the last 2 days, he had been 7-6 but that left him the equivalent of 7-8.

Other notes: Former top tier rikishi and popular old-timer Akiseyama retired earlier this month despite coming off a promotion to what would have been Makushita 6 after a 5-2 July. He will now become Izutsu Oyakata and mentor subordinates. He finishes his career with a 472-473-29 record (win-loss-absent) in 15+ years, 21-32-7 in 4 top tier tournaments and a highest rank of Maegashira 12. There have been rumors from Chris Sumo that Enho, who was demoted to Makushita 41 after being absent in July (cervical spine injury, which recently ended stablemate Ishiura’s career after over a year on the sidelines) and likely will be out again, may retire too but in a bad scenario because reportedly he was ONE Makuuchi/Juryo appearance short of meeting elder criteria (30 career tournaments in the top 2 tiers, Enho has 29). In other words, he perhaps needed just one win in May before having to withdraw and finish 0-15. Finally, traditional daily closing ceremony performer Satonofuji was demoted to Jonokuchi for this tournament.

The September Tournament begins on 9/10 in Tokyo. All tickets are already sold out.

UPDATE: Nikkan Sports reports Enho is done for the year. They interviewed Enho and he stated January is a targeted return date. That means he’ll return at either Sandanme or Jonidan.
Other topics/notes:
Kirishima is the 11th Ozeki to be kadoban in just his second tournament at Ozeki, the shortest possible time. It last happened in January 2021 (Shodai). Kirishima went 6-7-2 in July, missing the first 3 days due to an injury suffered the morning of Day 1.
The above post was corrected to note Kotonowaka had been Komusubi for 4 straight tournaments before promotion to Sekiwake, not 3.
Nishikigi is actually the 6th oldest rikishi to make his Sanyaku debut, not 4th. He is the 3rd slowest to get there, taking 103 tournaments (17 years).
Following up on Wakatakakage, Nikkan Sports reports he returned to practice today for the first time since his injury in March. It’s not definite he’ll miss the tournament yet. He’s on the early end of projected time missed, which was 6 months-1 year.
Takahashi is tied for 7th fastest promotion to Juryo since debuting, needing just 8 tournaments.
Onosato tied the second-fastest promotion to Juryo post-debut, needing just 2 tournaments. He debuted at Makushita 10 in May, going 6-1 and promoted to Makushita 3 in July, where he went 4-3.

9/3 UPDATE: Hakuoho is OUT the rest of the year. YouTuber Chris Sumo reports Hakuoho had long-rumored shoulder surgery in the last few days for a longstanding issue that predated his sumo career. Out 4-6 months and thus the next 2 tournaments, which may drop him back down to Makushita. Nishikigi also seems to have suffered a torn calf injury in recent joint practices and touring events and is uncertain for September. As for other potential absences, we’ll know more late this week as the next tournament begins Saturday night US time.

AEW Collision 8/5/23 Results

Here are the quick results from tonight’s AEW Collision in Greenville, SC:

AEW World Tag Team Champions FTR beat Big Bill & Brian Cage to retain the titles. FTR pinned Cage after Big Rig. Afterwards, they challenged The Young Bucks to a match at All In England.

AEW TBS Champion Kris Statlander beat Mercedes Martinez to retain the title. Diamante then returned for a post-match beatdown with Martinez on Statlander until Willow Nightingale made the save.

Samoa Joe beat Serpentico. Instant squash. Afterwards, he demands a rematch with CM Punk at All In.

Tony Schiavone interviews The Acclaimed. Sounds like Billy Gunn is done as in retired.

AEW Trios Champions House Of Black beat Action Andretti, Darius Martin & Lee Johnson to retain the titles. Malakai Black pinned Martin after a spinning head kick. House Rules returned for this match, for their stip the challengers chose to have Julia Hart banned from ringside. Afterwards, it is announced they will defend the titles next week against CM Punk & FTR.

QTV.

Christian Cage promo.

Jay White beat Metalik.

CM Punk beat Ricky Starks to retain the “real AEW World Championship”. Ricky Steamboat was special referee. Jim Ross returned to commentary for this match after a month-long absence for health reasons.

I missed the live broadcast due to scheduling conflicts so no comments or thoughts on what happened. Apparently the many title matches was to counterprogram against WWE SummerSlam (which I also did not watch live).

Added to Wednesday on Dynamite: NEW AEW Women’s Champion Hikaru Shida vs. Anna Jay for the title.

Next week: House Of Black-Punk/FTR for the Trios Titles, Statlander & Nightingale vs. Martinez & Diamante and The Acclaimed vs. TBA.

This is the last Collision recap for now due to a pause in site activity this month for planned vacations. I may be back in time for the 8/26 episode but more likely it will be the 9/2 episode.

New Japan 8/5/23 Results

New Japan ran Day 13 of the G1 CLIMAX 33 today, with only Block A matches today for their final day of prelims.

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

The announced paid attendance was 3150.

Match 1: Great-O-Khan & Jeff Cobb beat DOUKI & Taichi. Khan beat DOUKI with Subaru Sheep Killer.

Match 2: Yoh, YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto beat Gedo, KENTA & David Finlay. Yoh pinned Gedo after Torras Kick.

Match 3: Sho, Yujiro Takahashi & EVIL beat BUSHI, Shingo Takagi & Tetsuya Naito. EVIL pinned BUSHI after EVIL.

Match 4: HENARE & Will Ospreay beat Togi Makabe & El Phantasmo. HENARE pinned Makabe after Streets Of Rage.

Match 5: Tomohiro Ishii, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Kazuchika Okada beat Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Tama Tonnga & Tanga Loa. Ishii pinned Tenzan after a sliding lariat.

G1 CLIMAX Block A:
Match 6: Yota Tsuji beat Gabriel Kidd.
Match 7: Ren Narita beat Kaito Kiyomiya.
Match 8: SANADA beat Chase Owens. Perfect record.
Main Event: Hikuleo beat Shota Umino. As a result, Hikuleo finishes 2nd in Block A and advances to the Quarterfinals.

Day 14 is tomorrow with the last day of Block B prelims. Live streaming on New Japan World will begin TONIGHT at 10 PM PT/1 AM ET.

Tokyo Joshi Pro 8/5/23 Results

Tokyo Joshi Pro continued the CITY CIRCUIT 2023 Tour today with a visit to Shoko Nakajima’s hometown of Joetsu City.

Today’s event was held at Duo Cerezo in Niigata and will be available on demand on WRESTLE UNIVERSE at a later date. There was no live broadcast.

The announced paid attendance was 349, a full house/near sellout.

Match 1: Suzume beat Runa Okubo.

Match 2: Hyper Midao beat HIMAWARI & Neko Haruna in a 3-way by pinning HIMAWARI.

Match 3: Hikari Noa & Nao Kakuta beat Mahiro Kiryu & Toga. Kakuta pinned Kiryu after Shiden Kai.

Match 4: Mizuki, Shino Suzuki & Haru Kazashiro beat Yuki Arai, Raku & Pom Harajuku. Mizuki pinned Harajuku with Cutie Special.

Match 5: Aja Kong (OZ Academy) beat Super Sasadango Machine (DDT).

Match 6: Rika Tatsumi & Miu Watanabe beat Moka Miyamoto & Kaya Toribami. Tatsumi pinned Toribami after a sliding hip attack.

Main Event: Shoko Nakajima & Yuki Aino beat Miyu Yamashita & Arisu Endo. Nakajima pinned Endo after a diving senton.

The next event is 8/12 at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo for the Tokyo Princess Cup Semifinals. Live streaming on WRESTLE UNIVERSE will begin at 2:30 AM PT/5:30 AM ET.

Pro Wrestling NOAH 8/5/23 Result (Special Event)

Pro Wrestling NOAH held a special fan event ahead of the N-1 VICTORY Tournament opener today, which included a battle royal with all the tournament participants.

Today’s event was held at Hotel Metropolitan Edmont in Tokyo and can be watched on demand on the Pro Wrestling NOAH Japanese YouTube channel. It also streamed on ABEMA.

The paid attendance was bot announced.

Match Result: Manabu Soya won a 16 man N-1 Rumble battle royal, last eliminating Jack Morris. Order of elimination: Timothy Thatcher, Yoshiki Inamura, Adam Brooks, Daiki Inaba, Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr., Saxon Huxley (DQ’d), Yuki Yoshioka, Masa Kitamiya, Katsuhiko Nakajima, Jake Lee, Lance Anoa’i, Kenoh, Go Shiozaki, Yuma Anzai, Morris. The match went over 53 minutes with the first elimination coming just over 30 minutes in.

The next event is the N-1 VICTORY 2023 Tournament beginning tomorrow at Yokohama Budokan in Yokohama. Live streaming on WRESTLE UNIVERSE in English Only will begin at midnight PT/3 AM ET. This is an ABEMA-exclusive broadcast in Japan and ABEMA has the Japanese commentary.

Dragon Gate 8/4/23 Results

Dragon Gate began The Gate Of Adventure 2023, their August tour, today.

Today’s event was held at Yokohama Radiant Hall in Yokohama. There is/was no live or on demand broadcast.

The paid attendance has not yet been announced. (Update: The announced paid attendance was 328, a super full house/very near sellout).

Match 1: Kzy, Jason Lee, U-T & Ho Ho Lun beat YAMATO, Dragon Kid, Naruki Doi & Kagetora. Lee pinned Kagetora with a modified crucifix hold.

Match 2: Don Fujii, Susumu Mochizuki & Yasushi Kanda beat BxB Hulk, Takashi Yoshida & Yoshiki Kato. Kanda pinned Kato after a diving elbow drop.

Match 3: Shun Skywalker & ISHIN beat Masaaki Mochizuki & Mochizuki Junior by countout. Junior counted out.

Match 4: KAI & H-Y-O beat Strong Machine J & BIGBOSS Shimizu. KAI pinned J with Authorized Gannosuke Clutch.

Main Event: Kota Minoura, Ben-K & Minorita beat Madoka Kikuta, Yuki Yoshioka & Dragon Dia. Minoura pinned Dia after Golden Rose.

The next event is tomorrow at Fukuyama Big Rose in Hiroshima. There will be no live or on demand broadcast.

Injury Report: Danielson Not All In Or All Out

In updates on injured AEW star Bryan Danielson, reports coming out today plus comments by Nigel McGuinness on the newest episode of the “AEW Unrestricted” podcast that released yesterday, it confirms a worst-case: Danielson is not going to be back in time for the England debut from his broken wrist/arm. McGuinness cut an impromptu promo of sorts for a potential England match on the podcast, but Danielson had surgery on 7/3 and was told afterwards best-case for a return was 3 months, maybe 1-2 weeks sooner. So no All In England, no All Out, and doubtful for New York City on 9/20.

More as it becomes available. You can listen to AEW Unrestricted for free on all major podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and more and a video version will be available Monday on YouTube and TNT’s website/app.

FREE VIDEO: GLEAT Ver. MEGA (8/4/23)

GLEAT’s likely biggest event to date and their debut at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo just wrapped up within the hour. If you missed the live stream, click below to watch the full event FOR FREE on YouTube (warning: Stream runs over 5 hours). Video courtesy of the GLEAT Official YouTube channel:

Impact Wrestling 8/4/23 Results

Here are the quick results from tonight’s Impact Wrestling in Chicago, IL:

This episode was taped last weekend as part of the “Chicago Heat” TV tapings that should cover the next 4 weeks of TV and take them to Emergence, the next monthly live special, on 8/27. (And of course Multiverse United 2 on 8/20)

The YouTube pre-show match was Gisele Shaw vs. Heather Reckless.

Trinity opens the show.She cut a passionate, celebratory promo until Deonna Purrazzo interrupted. She took a WWE-style shot by claiming she didn’t quit unlike Trinity…even though Purrazzo tapped out at Slammiversary. Things got heated before Taylor Wilde & KiLynn King interrupted. King with microphone. They’re not happy Trinity & Purrazzo start the show. King also claimed Trinity got lucky to beat her in Trinity’s Impact debut last time they were in Chicago. Wilde with microphone. She hates that Trinity beat The Coven. Trinity throws it down. King tosses tarot cards at Trinity and The Coven beatdown is on before Purrazzo steps in as security rushes out to break it up. Then Santino Marella comes out. He makes the tag match for tonight-Trinity & Purrazzo vs. The Coven. Trinity & Purrazzo talk Marella into making it happen RIGHT NOW! Security clears out and a ref comes out as we go to commercial to get it set up.

Match 1: The Coven beat Trinity & Deonna Purrazzo. King pinned Purrazzo after King’s Curse.

Rascalz promo. Scott D’Amore interrupted and fined them 2 weeks pay for interfering last week after being kicked out. If they do it again during the tournament, they’re suspended indefinitely without pay.

Alisha Edwards promo. Jody Threat interrupted and confronted her. They set up a match next week.

Match 2: Heath beat Alan Angels.

Eric Young interviewed backstage. He says the world will see what happened tonight regarding his extended absence.

Match 3: Jake Something beat Davey Vega. Glorified squash.

Bully Ray talks with Lio Rush, Brian Myers & Moose backstage. Rush says he’s not here to make friends. Moose tells Rush he just wants him on their team. Rush agrees through Emergence but says it won’t last. Bully tries to further reason with Rush and wants him there with them for a 6-man match next week.

Match 4: .Impact Digital Media Champion Kenny King beat Joe Hendry & Yuya Uemura in a 3-way by pinning Uemura to retain the title.

Jonathan Gresham & Mike Bailey interviewed backstage ahead of their main event match.

Josh Alexander promo. Chris Sabin ends by claiming he’ll become the first 10-time X Division Champion at Emergence. But KUSHIDA adds a comedic “Maybe”. KUSHIDA does have the anytime, anywhere title shot right. They also will face Rush, Moose, Myers & Bully in an 8-man tag at Emergence with Alex Shelley on their team.

Emergence card rundown so far. IWGP World Heavyweight Champion SANADA (New Japan) will be there.

Death Dollz promo. Crazzy Steve sneaks up on them and surprises them.

Main Event: #1 Contender Tag Team Tournament: Trey Miguel & Zachary Wentz beat Mike Bailey & Jonathan Gresham. Miguel pinned Gresham with a rollup. Spray paint used behind the ref’s back before the rollup for 3.

Eric Young’s promised footage. Basically attempted murder in a jail cell by Deaner and left for dead. But Young survived. Now he’s basically American Badass Undertaker. He’s an idea. And he will live as he rides through the darkness. CONTENT WARNING: GRAPHIC VIOLENCE.

End Show.

Next week: Sami Callihan & Rich Swann vs. Ace Austin & Chris Bey in the #1 contender tag team tournament and Samuray Del Sol, Laredo Kid & Black Taurus vs. Bully Ray, Brian Myers & Moose. The eventual tag team tournament winners will face Impact World Tag Team Champions Subculture for the titles at Emergence.

Please note there will be no results posts the next 2 weeks due to planned travel. That will include Multiverse United 2, which I have pre-ordered (it is/will be available on FITE) and will be watching (hopefully live). Recap posts are scheduled to resume on either 8/24 or 8/31 but I hopefully can also do live results for Emergence.