It’s Monday in Japan…which means once again it’s Free Match Monday! Every Monday New Japan digs into the New Japan World archive and makes one full classic match available to all FOR FREE on New Japan World and YouTube. This week, ahead of a must-win final match to keep his 3-peat bid alive, relive the Best Of The Super Junior 28 Final from December 2021 as Hiromu Takahashi went for the tournament title repeat against Yoh, who came back from the dead after an 0-4 start as part of a disastrous 2021 to make an epic comeback to reach the Finals and, despite coming up short, finish the year on a high note and build momentum for a turnaround in 2022.
https://youtu.be/bBg5bsw4qHk
Tag: wrestling
AEW Double Or Nothing 2022 Results (5/29/22)
What is considered AEW’s biggest annual PPV takes place tonight as Double Or Nothing returns to Las Vegas for the 4th edition of the annual extravaganza, which has become embroiled in controversy surrounding rumors that MJF was about to be sent home last night after missing fanfest events, but he’s seemingly there tonight as his constant playing up his free agency in 2024 may have gone too far and this could be the beginning of the end as AEW’s impending loss could be a potential huge gain for WWE. But there is much more at stake tonight with almost every title up for grabs, headlined by Adam Page defending the AEW World Championship against CM Punk in the main event.
Today’s event will be held at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV and can be watched LIVE on PPV and streamed live on Bleacher Report in the US and FITE outside of the US. A FREE pre-show will stream on YouTube one hour before the PPV and there is plenty (at least 2 hours) of free preview content available on AEW’s YouTube channel.
Tonight’s current lineup:
Pre-show:
Hook & Danhausen vs. Smart Mark Sterling & Tony Nese
PPV:
The Hardy Boys vs. The Young Bucks
House Of Black vs. Death Triangle
MJF vs. Wardlow. Wardlow can never sign another AEW contract if he loses
Darby Allin vs. Kyle O’Reilly
Scorpio Sky, Ethan Page & Paige VanZant vs. Sammy Guevara, Frankie Kazarian & Tay Conti. If Sky/Page/Vanzant win, Guevara can’t get another TNT Title shot while Sky is champion
Anarchy In The Arena (street fight)-Jericho Appreciation Society vs. Jon Moxley, Bryan Danielson, Eddie Kingston, Santana & Ortiz
AEW TBS CHampion Jade Cargill vs. Anna Jay for the title
AEW Women’s Champion Thunder Rosa vs. Serena Deeb for the title
AEW Tag Team Champions Jurassic Express vs. Swerve Strickland & Keith Lee and Ricky Starks & Powerhouse Hobbs in a 3-way for the titles
AEW World Champion Adam Page vs. CM Punk for the title
RESULTS ONLY updates below will begin at 7 PM ET/4 PM PT. PPV begins at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT.
Results below:
Pre-show: Hook & Danhausen beat Tony Nese & Smart Mark Sterling. Danhausen pinned Sterling.
PPV:
Wardlow beat MJF. 10 powerbombs-TEN!-set up the finish.
The Hardy Boys beat The Yoong Bucks. Jeff hardy pinned Nick Jackson after a swanton bomb.
AEW TBS Champion Jade Cargill beat Anna Jay to retain the title. The former Ember Moon in WWE, now known as Athena, made her AEW debut post-match.
House Of Black beat Death Triangle. Malakai Black pinned Pac after Black Mass. Julia Hart joined House Of Black to set up the finish with black mist sprayed into the face of Pac.
Owen Hart Cup Men’s Finals: Adam Cole beat Samoa Joe to win the tournament. Bobby Fish interference set up the ending.
Owen Hart Cup Women’s Finals: Britt Baker beat Ruby Soho to win the tournament.
Scorpio Sky, Ethan page & Paige VanZant beat Sammy Guevara, Frankie Kazarian & Tay Conti. Sky pinned Kazarian after YKO. As a result, Guevara gets no more TNT Title matches as long as Sky is champion.
Kyle O’Reilly beat Darby Allin. No Sting with Allin tonight.
AEW Women’s World Champion Thunder Rosa beat Serena Deeb to retain the title.
Anarchy In The Arena (street fight, no DQ)-Jericho Appreciation Society beat Jon Moxley, Bryan Danielson, Eddie Kingston, Santana & Ortiz. Jericho & Hager beat Danielson.
Former Ring Of Honor World Champion Rush has signed with AEW.
Next up for Sky and the TNT Title-Dante Martin. Date TBA.
AEW World Tag Team Champions Jurassic Express beat Keith Lee & Swerve Strickland and Ricky Starks & Powerhouse Hobbs in a 3-way, when Jungle Boy pinned Strickland, to retain the titles.
CM Punk beat AEW World Champion Adam Page to become THE NEW AEW WORLD CHAMPION!
Announced for Wednesday’s Dynamite is Jurassic Express, Christian Cage & The Hardy Boys vs. The Young Bucks, Adam Cole, Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly.
End Show.
NOAH News: Late 5/30 Card Change
Pro Wrestling NOAH has announced a late change to tomorrow’s (5/30) NOAH SANCTUARY event-Naomichi Marufuji is now off the event. Knee pain. He was to have teamed with Satoshi Kojima & Atsushi Kotoge to face Daisuke Harada, Shuhei Taniguchi & Go Shiozaki. Mohammed Yone is the replacement.
It’s not known if Marufuji will miss any further time, this does not appear to be new injuries. After this event the promotion is off until Sunday, when they have a quick stretch of 3 events in 4 days before taking a nearly 2-week break with only CyberFight Festival ’22 in the middle.
5/29/22 DDT Results (2 Events)
DDT ran two separate events today in Kumamoto, a traditional event and a special one-match event held inside a hot spring, the type of event only DDT can hold.
Today’s first event was held at Kumamoto Castle Hall Civic Hall in Kumamoto and should be available on demand on WRESTLE UNIVERSE at a later date. There was no live broadcast for either event.
The announced paid attendance was 331, a legit sellout.
The card underwent several late changes due to Chris Brookes being a late removal due to injury.
Match 1: MAO beat Toui Kojima.
Match 2: Yuki Ueno & Takao Soma beat Danshoku Dieno & Yuki Iino and Toru Owashi & Kazuki Hirata in a 3-way, when Ueno pinned Hirata.
Match 3: Shinya Aoki & Shunma Katsumata beat Akito & Hideki Okatani. Aoki pinned Okatani with a crucifix.
Match 4: Maya Yukihi beat Saki Akai.
Match 5: Daisuke Sasaki, MJ Pawl & KANON beat Kazusada Higuchi, Yukio Sakaguchi & Yuya Koroku. Sasaki beat Koroku with a crossface.
Match 6: Yuji Hino beat Yukio Naya.
Main Event: Tetsuya Endo, Jun Akiyama & Yusuke Okada beat HARASHIMA, Naomi Yoshimura & Yuki Ishida. Endo pinned Ishida after Burning Star Press.
Second event: The other event was held at Kumamoto Castle Natural Hot Spring and had only one match.
The announced paid attendance was 30, a legit sellout.
Result: In a Falls Count Anywhere Match with No Time Limit, Shunma Katsumata & Toui Kojima beat Shinya Aoki & Yukio Naya. Katsumata pinned Aoki after Heat Wave WER!! Total match time was 52:58 and lots of ridiculous comedy galore. It will be a must-watch when it eventually comes to WRESTLE UNIVERSE.
The next event is “What Are You Doing 2022” Wednesday at Korakuen hall in Tokyo. It will be headlined by DDT Extreme and Universal Championship matches, and also scheduled is a battle royal for the DDT Ironman Heavymetalweight Championship, the promotion’s 24/7 comedy title. Live streaming on WRESTLE UNIVERSE will begin Wednesday at 2:30 AM PT/5:30 AM ET. This is the final live broadcast before CyberFight Festival ’22.
Tokyo Joshi Pro 5/29/22 Results
Tokyo Joshi Pro continued their Spring house show tour today with an event missing several notable top stars, as Miyu Yamashita, Maki Itoh & Yuka Sakazaki are all in the US (Sakazaki is in All Elite Wrestling, Yamashita & Itoh are making independent appearances this weekend).
Today’s event was held at Otemachi Mitsui Hall in Tokyo and can be watched on demand on WRESTLE UNIVERSE.
The announced paid attendance was 256.
Before the matches began, a new YouTube series called “Dream Wrestling – dream on the ring=” was announced. It will feature 4 women from the entertainment world outside of wrestling competing to possibly become a wrestler in TJPW. The show will premiere late this week.
Match 1-Raku & Pom Harajuku beat Hikari Noa & Kaya Toribami. Harajuku pinned Toribami after Pomu. Do. Justis.
Match 2: Hyper Misao beat Nao Kakuta & Mahiro Kiryu in a 3-way by beating Kiryu.
Match 3: “The Unbreakable” Rio beat Yuki Aino. Rio is a wrestler from Europe returning to TJPW for the first time since before the coronavirus pandemic began.
The Main Event was a 10-woman match divided into 5 singles matches, with the teams pre-determined then matches determined by a random draw held before the event. 10 minute time limit for each match.
Match 1: Yuki Kamifuku beat Moka Miyamoto.
Match 2: Rika Tatsumi beat Arisu Endo by submission.
Match 3: Mizuki beat Neko Haruna by submission.
Match 4: Shoko Nakajima beat Yuki Arai.
Match 5: Miu Watanabe vs. Suzume went to a 10 minute time limit draw.
Red Corner team wins 4-0-1.
The next event is Saturday at Entetsu Hall in Shizuoka. There is no live broadcast scheduled (it would be Friday night in the US). This will be the final TJPW event before CyberFight Festival ’22.
New Japan 5/29/22 Results
New Japan ran Day 11 of Best Of The Super Junior today, the penultimate day of the preliminary rounds that will further thin the field of Finals contenders ahead of the last day of matches.
Today’s event was held at Ota City General Gym in Tokyo and can be watched on demand on New Japan World in Japanese and English.
The annoucned paid attendance was 1890. This is a little over half capacity for the venue and was at least a near-sellout.
All matches were Best Of The Super Junior matches.
Match 1: Block B-Master Wato beat El Lindaman.
Match 2: Block B-Titan beat DOUKI.
Match 3: Block A-Yoh beat Alex Zayne.
Match 4: Block B-TJP beat BUSHI.
Match 5: Block A-Hiromu Takahashi beat Clark Connors.
Match 6: Block A-Ryusuke Taguchi beat Ace Austin.
Match 7: Block B-El Phantasmo beat Wheeler Yuta.
Match 8: Block A-Yoshinobu Kanemaru beat Sho.
Match 9: Block B-Taiji Ishimori beat Franceso AKira.
Main Event: Block B-Robbie Eagles beat El Desperado.
Standings:
Block A-
1-Ishimori, 6-2, 12 points
2-Takahashi, 5-3, 10 points
3-Austin, 5-3, 10 points (OUT)
4-Yoh, 4-4, 8 points (OUT)
5-Sho, 4-4, 8 points (OUT)
6-Zayne, 4-4, 8 points (OUT)
7-Taguchi, 3-5, 6 points (OUT)
8-Kanemaru, 3-5, 6 points (OUT)
9-Connors, 3-5, 6 points (OUT)
10-Akira, 3-5, 6 points (OUT)
Block B:
1-Phantasmo, 6-2, 12 points
2-Eagles, 5-3, 10 points
3-Desperado, 5-3, 10 points
4-Lindaman, 4-4, 8 points (OUT)
5-TJP, 4-4, 8 points (OUT)
6-Yuta, 4-4, 8 points (OUT)
7-SOUKI, 3-5, 6 points (OUT)
8-Wato, 3-5, 6 points (OUT)
9-Titan, 3-5, 6 points (OUT)
10-BUSHI, 3-5, 6 points (OUT)
Only the winners of each block advance to the Finals. In Block A, it comes down to Ishimori-Takahashi. Austin mathematically can tie but if the tiebreaker is head-to-head result he’s out because he lost to Takahashi. And while it won’t determine a finalist, Sho-Yoh will still be a huge match on the final day. In Block B, the finale of El Derby will settle it as Phantasmo only needs to beat Desperado or go the distance (30 minutes) to advance. But if Desperado wins, Eagles can advance with a win because he beat all 3 El’s. An Eagles loss or tie means Desperado moves on with a win. Eagles faces Titan.
Day 12 is Tuesday at Toyama Techno Hall West Hall in Toyama with the final day of round-robin action. Live streaming on New Japan World will begin at 2:30 AM PT/5:30 AM ET.
New Japan 5/28/22 Results
After a tumultuous off day because of the developing controversy around Kota Ibushi yesterday (go to the Open The Forbidden Gate Facebook page for details), New Japan resumed the Best Of The Super Junior Tournament today with Day 10, heading into the final stretch of the preliminary round. At least one more man, and possibly two, would see their Finals hopes end today.
Today’s event was held at Makuhari Messe International Exhibition Hall 3 in Chiba and can be watched on demand on New Japan World in Japanese and English.
The announced paid attendance was 1095, possibly a legit sellout. If not, then it was very close as only a few same-day tickets were available. No guest on Japanese commentary, but Milano Collection A.T. is back after being off Thursday due to it being a Samurai! TV simulcast. Most of the events have been only on New Japan World, which are produced by TV Asahi.
All matches are Best Of The Super Junior matches.
Match 1: Block A-Francesco Akira beat Yoshinobu Kanemaru
Match 2: Block A-Taiji Ishimori beat Clark Connors by submission
Match 3: Block B-Titan beat BUSHI
Match 4: Block A-Ryusuke Taguchi beat Yoh
Match 5: Block A-Sho beat Ace Austin by ref stoppage (technical submission)
Match 6: Block B-Wheeler Yuta beat Master Wato
Match 7: Block B-El Phantasmo beat TJP
Match 8: Block B-Robbie Eagles beat El Lindaman by submission
Match 9: Block A-Hiromu Takahashi beat Alex Zayne by submission
Taichi joins Japanese commentary for the final match. He has a rooting interest in this Suzuki-gun Derby.
Main Event: Block B-El Desperado beat DOUKI by submission
Standings:
Block A:
1-Ishimori, 5-2, 10 points
2-Austin, 5-2, 10 points
3-Takahashi, 4-3, 8 points
4-Zayne, 4-3, 8 points
5-Yoh, 3-4, 6 points
6-Connors, 3-4, 6 points
7-Akira, 3-4, 6 points
8-Sho, 3-4, 6 points
9-Taguchi, 2-5, 4 points (OUT)
10-Kanemaru, 2-5, 4 points (OUT)
Block B:
1-Phantasmo, 5-2, 10 points
2-Desperado, 5-2, 10 points
3-Lindaman, 4-3, 8 points
4-Eagles, 4-3, 8 points
5-Yuta, 4-3, 8 points
6-BUSHI, 3-4, 6 points (OUT)
7-DOUKI, 3-4, 6 points (OUT)
8-TJP, 3-4, 6 points (OUT)
9-Titan, 2-5, 4 points (OUT)
10-Wato, 2-5, 4 points (OUT)
Only the winner of each block advances to the Finals. While 8 remain mathematically alive in each block, only those in the top 4 in Block A and top 5 in Block B have any real chance outside of forcing complicated tiebreakers (per New Japan’s Day 11 preview, the bottom 5 in Block B are now out). In Block A, Takahashi kept his 3-peat bid alive but next must beat Connors to force a potential do-or-die finale against Ishimori. That, of course, requires Akira to beat Ishimori next among other things. Despite his loss today, Austin is still very much in it as long as he beats Taguchi next, then his finale would be Akira. Zayne still has a chance and he’s got Yoh & Connors. Simply put, if Takahashi wants to 3-peat he needs just short of a miracle.
In Block B, El Derby will go down to the wire but Eagles remains in perfect position to swoop in and steal it. He’s taken down 2 of 3 El’s and if he can beat Desperado next, the Finals spot is his for the taking as long as he avoids the last-day upset against Titan. But it’s over if he loses. Phantasmo also must get by Yuta next to set down the all-important finale against Desperado (Yuta must win to stay alive). Lindaman is still not out of it yet and if he can put away Wato & BUSHI he’s still got a chance. Block B may very well need tiebreaker matches.
Day 11 is tomorrow at Ota City General Gym in Tokyo. Live streaming on New Japan World will begin at 2:30 AM PT/5:30 AM ET.
New Japan 5/26/22 Results
New Japan ran Day 9 of Best Of The Super Junior today, kicking off the second half of the tournament with the end of a Tokyo tripleheader.
Today’s event was held at Korakuen hall in Tokyo and can be watched on demand on New Japan World in Japanese and English. This was a Samurai! TV broadcast in Japan so different presentation and commentary-no Milano Collection A.T. on the Japanese side today, instead a female commentator (missed her name at first) and Shingo Takagi was a guest on commentary.
The announced paid attendance was 1015. While the lowest of the 3 Korakuen events this was still a near-sellout.
All matches were Best Of The Super Junior matches.
Match 1: Master Wato beat Titan.
Match 2: TJP beat DOUKI by submission.
Match 3: Clark Connors beat Yoshinobu Kanemaru.
Match 4: Alex Zayne beat Ryusuke Taguchi.
Match 5: Francesco Akira beat Yoh.
Match 6: El Lindaman beat Wheeler Yuta.
Match 7: Ace Austin beat Taiji Ishimori.
Match 8: BUSHI beat El Desperado.
Match 9: Sho beat Hiromu Takahashi.
Main Event: Robbie Eagles beat El Phantasmo by submission. This was the longest match of the tournament so far at almost 25 minutes.
Standings:
Block A:
1-Austin, 5-1, 10 points
2-Ishimori, 4-2, 8 points
3-Zayne, 4-2, 8 points
4-Connors, 3-3, 6 points
5-Yoh, 3-3, 6 points
6-Sho, 3-3, 6 points
7-Takahashi, 3-3, 6 points
8-Akira, 2-4, 4 points
9-Kanemaru, 2-4, 4 points
10-Taguchi, 1-5, 2 points (OUT)
Block B:
1-Lindaman, 4-2, 8 points
2-Desperado, 4-2, 8 points
3-Phantasmo, 4-2, 8 points
4-Eagles, 3-3, 6 points
5-BUSHI, 3-3, 6 points
6-Yuta, 3-3, 6 points
7-TJP, 3-3, 6 points
8-DOUKI, 3-3, 6 points
9-Wato, 2-4, 4 points
10-Titan, 1-5, 2 points (OUT)
Only the winner of each block advances to the Finals. And we have our first official elimination today-Taguchi is now out of it. Because of the remaining Block B matches, namely Desperado-Phantasmo on the final day, Titan is now out too.
Ishimori has dropped 2 in a row and that’s allowed Austin to take the Block A lead with Zayne now also a win behind. Takahashi’s 3-peat bid is in serious danger now, he has no margin for error left-he must win out and get help. His last 3 are Zayne, Connors, Ishimori. Austin has an easier path to the Block A title, but not by much-he goes Sho, Taguchi, Akira. Zayne has a difficult trio left-Takahashi, Yoh, Connors.
Block B is wide open but remains largely about El Derby. While it almost certainly will come down to the last leg on 5/31 with Desperado-Phantasmo, Lindaman now seems to have the easiest path to the Final-Eagles, Wato, BUSHI. Desperado goes Eagles, DOUKI, Phantasmo. Phantasmo goes TJP, Yuta, Desperado. Which puts Eagles in the sitting pretty position to steal it with some big upsets, he’s got two of the El’s and Titan and beat Phantasmo, so if he can pull off the El sweep The Sniper Of The Skits should shoot to the top.
Day 10 is Saturday at Makuhari Messe International Conference Hall 3 in Chiba. Live streaming on New Japan World will begin at 2 AM PT/5 AM ET.
In other NJPW news, Great-O-Khan & Jeff Cobb made a surprise appearance in All Elite Wrestling last night on AEW Dynamite, interfering during an ROH World Tag Team Title match between FTR and Trent Beretta & Rocky Romero. This could be the start of a program leading into a match at Forbidden Door next month.
AEW Dynamite 5/25/22 Results
Here are the quick results from last night’s AEW Dynamite from Las Vegas, NV:
Wardlow beat Shawn Spears in a steel cage match with MJF as special referee. As a result, MJF-Wardlow is now official for Double Or Nothing.
Jericho Appreciation Society threaten and blind a backstage worker with a fireball because he’s wearing a Jon Moxley shirt.
Eddie Kingston & Jon Moxley beat Private Party. Moxley pinned Isaiah Kassidy after Paradigm Shift.
ROH World Tag Team Champions FTR vs. Trent Beretta & Rocky Romero went to a NO CONTEST. As a result, FTR retain the titles. Jeff Cobb & Great-O-Khan (New Japan Pro Wrestling) interference.
Swerve Strickland beat Jungle Boy & Ricky Starks in a 3-way. I missed the finish sequence due to my stream freezing.
Owen Hart Cup Women’s Semifinals: Britt Baker beat Toni Storm. As a result, Baker advances to the Finals to face Ruby Soho or Kris Statlander. That match is set for Friday on Rampage.
Main Event: Owen Hart Cup Semifinals: Samoa Joe beat Kyle O’Reilly by ref stoppage. As a result, Joe advances to the Finals and will face Adam Cole.
Because of NHL Playoffs, namely St. Louis rallying from left for dead to force a Game 6 against Colorado tomorrow (they were down 3-0 halfway in and came back to win 5-4 in overtime), tomorrow’s LIVE Rampage is moved up from 10 PM ET to 6:30 PM ET/3:30 PM PT on TNT because TNT has the game tomorrow night at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT. A PPV preview special is expected to follow Rampage.
New Japan 5/25/22 Results
New Japan ran Day 8 of Best Of The Super Junior today, the halfway point of the round robin portion of the tournament.
Today’s event was held at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo and can be watched on demand on New Japan World in Japanese and English.
The announced paid attendance was 1104. A little lower than yesterday but still is increased capacity and, along with other planned experiments upcoming in other promotions, is a good sign for attempts at trying to return to normal for events in Japan.
All matches were Best Of The Super Junior matches. Blocks A & B alternated for the first 3 matches, then doubled up for matches 4-9 and Block A had the main event.
Match 1: Ace Austin beat Alex Zayne.
Match 2: DOUKI beat BUSHI by submission.
Match 3: Clark Connors beat Francesco Akira.
Match 4: Wheeler Yuta beat Titan by submission.
Match 5: El Phantasmo beat El Lindaman. El Derby is El all square for now.
Match 6: Sho beat Ryusuke Taguchi.
Match 7: Yoshinobu Kanemaru beat Taiji Ishimori. This lasted just 127 seconds. Side note: In their NJPW history, Ishimori is now just 1-15-1 in singles matches against Kanemaru. That presumably doesn’t include their many years in Pro Wrestling NOAH.
Match 8: TJP beat Robbie Eagles by submission. TJP gets Filipino bragging rights for now.
Match 9: El Desperado beat Master Wato.
Main Event: Yoh beat Hiromu Takahashi.
Standings:
1-Ishimori, 4-1, 8 points
2-Austin, 4-1, 8 points
3-Yoh, 3-2, 6 points
4-Zayne, 3-2, 6 points
5-Takahashi, 3-2, 6 points
6-Connors, 2-3, 4 points
7-Kanemaru, 2-3, 4 points
8-Sho, 2-3, 4 points
9-Akira, 1-4, 2 points
10-Taguchi, 1-4, 2 points
Block B:
1-Phantasmo, 4-1, 8 points
2-Desperado, 4-1, 8 points
3-Lindaman, 3-2, 6 points
4-Yuta, 3-2, 6 points
5-DOUKI, 3-2, 6 points
6-BUSHI, 2-3, 4 points
7-TJP, 2-3, 4 points
8-Eagles, 2-3, 4 points
9-Titan, 1-4, 2 points
10-Wato, 1-4, 2 points
Only the winner of each block afvances to the Finals. Block A is wide open but, like last year, this could be the start of the big move for Yoh. He is doing much better than last time and the win over Takahashi is a huge confidence booster. Let’s see how Ishimori bounced back fron today’s flash loss, and he gets Austin next for the lead. Takahashi needs to rebound quickly to keep the 3-peat alive. Austin is now the trendy sleeper pick to steal it.
Block B remains all about El Derby, but Yuta & DOUKI are positioned for the upset. Lindaman-Yuta is the key bout next. El Derby will come down to Desperado-Phantasmo next Tuesday, that match likely will decide the finalist.
Day 9 is tomorrow. Live streaming on New Japan World will begin at 2:30 AM PT/530 AM ET.
