Tag: wrestling

BREAKING: AEW Saturday Show Announced (Updated x4)

It’s now official-All Elite Wrestling announced their long-rumored Saturday show today. Specifically it was announced by Warner Bros Discovery at their annual upfronts today in New York City. Here is what we know (via Variety, link to source below):

It will premiere June 17 and be LIVE for 2 hours every Saturday. The premiere is expected to be in Chicago, IL with the only announced date so far being 7/8 in Canada.

Timeslot TBA but it will be on TNT. I’m thinking 6-8 PM as that was the WCW Saturday timeslot back in the days.

No mention of CM Punk yet.

More as it becomes available but expect more details tonight on Dynamite as part of Tony Khan’s latest promised major announcement.

Original source:
https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/aew-saturday-night-tnt-show-collison-premiere-date-1235615531/

UPDATE: As soon as I posted this, Variety deleted their original Twitter post with the above source link.

UPDATE 2: AEW has put out their own press release. The timeslot will be 8-10 PM ET Saturdays. No word on if west coast gets live or taped.

UPDATE 3: Now there are reports CM Punk was part of the press release originally but it was edited out and WBD now denies his involvement. An email sent out to media including to Sports Illustrated before the presentation included Punk, then another site was told Punk is not affiliated with Collision. The early thinking is his return will be a surprise/not surprise at the event.

UPDATE 4: It’s now been announced that AEW All Access will be moving to the former HBO Max (to be called just Max starting Tuesday) on 6/9. It’s not known if it will be the run of episodes that finished last week or more new episodes, or both. It previously aired on TBS after Dynamite.

New Japan 5/17/23 Results

New Japan ran Day 5 of Best Of The Super Junior 30 today as the tournament reaches the halfway point.

Today’s event was held at Sendai Sun Plaza in Sendai and can be watched on demand on New Japan World in Japanese and English.

The announced paid attendance was 1075.

All matches were Best Of The Super Junior Matches, 30 minute time limit.
Match 1: Block A: Hiromu Takahashi beat Ryusuke Taguchi.
Match 2: Block B: Kevin Knight beat BUSHI.
Match 3: Block A: TJP beat Sho.
Match 4: Block B: Clark Connors beat Francesco Akira.
Match 5: Block A: DOUKI beat Lio Rush by submission.
Match 6: Block B: Robbie Eagles beat Yoshinobu Kanemaru.
Match 7: Block A: Mike Bailey beat Titan.
Match 8: Block B: Master Wato beat Dan Moloney.
Match 9: Block A: Taiji Ishimori beat KUSHIDA.
Main Event: Block B: Yoh beat El Desperado.

Standings:
Block A:
1-Bailey, 4-1, 8 pts
2-Ishimori, 4-1, 8 pts
3-Rush, 4-1, 8 pts
4-Takahashi, 3-2, 6 pts
5-TJP, 3-2, 6 pts
6-Titan, 3-2, 6 pts
7-DOUKI, 2-3, 4 pts
8-Sho, 1-4, 2 pts
9-KUSHIDA, 1-4, 2 pts
10-Taguchi, 0-5, 0 pts

Block B:
1-Eagles, 4-1, 8 pts
2-Desperado, 3-2, 6 pts
3-Yoh, 3-2, 6 pts
4-Wato, 3-2, 6 pts
5-Akira, 3-2, 6 pts
6-Connors, 3-2, 6 pts
7-Knight, 2-3, 4 pts
8-Moloney, 2-3, 4 pts
9-Kanemaru, 2-3, 4 pts
10-BUSHI, 0-5, 0 pts

The top 2 in each block advance to the Semifinals. In Block A it’s now all but over for Taguchi and he can be officially eliminated tomorrow. The 3-way tie at the too may remain too. In Block B BUSHI can be all but eliminated tomorrow as a loss would leave potential tiebreakers as his only hope, but he would not have any right now. Eagles has a chance to pull 4 points clear of the field if all goes right.

Day 6 is tomorrow at Iwate Prefectural Gym in Iwate. Live streaming on New Japan World will begin at 2:30 AM PT/5:30 AM ET.

Sumo-May 2023 Grand Sumo Tournament Day 3 Results (5/16/23) (Top 2 Tiers)

Here are the quick results from today’s Day 3 of the May 2023 Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, Y-Yokozuna. J-Juryo, Ms-Makushita

Makuuchi (top tier):
Shonannoumi (J1) beat Oho (M16)
Kagayaki (M17) beat Tsurugisho (M15)
Mitoryu (M16) beat Ichiyamamoto (M15)
Myogiryu (M14) beat Chiyoshoma (M13)
Asanoyama (M14) beat Kotoeko (M12)
Hokuseiho (M11) beat Aoiyama (M12)
Daishoho (M11) beat Takarafuji (M10)
Onosho (M9) beat Ryuden (M10)
Hiradoumi (M9) beat Takanosho (M8)
Sadanoumi (M8) beat Hokutofuji (M7)
Mitakeumi (M6) beat Tamawashi (M7)
Meisei (M6) beat Kinbozan (M5)
Ura (M4) beat Kotoshoho (M5)
Kotonowaka (K) beat Nishikifuji (M3)
Tobizaru (M3) beat Hoshoryu (S)
Abi (M1) beat Kiribayama (S)
Wakamotoharu (S) beat Shodai (K)
Daieisho (S) beat Nishikigi (M4)
Takakeisho (O) beat Abi (M1)
Terunofuji (Y) beat Endo (M2)
Leader: 6 at 3-0
Of note: Although he won, Takakeisho looks worrisome still with his knees, clearly in discomfort stepping off the dohyo after his match and it showed on his face. Let’s just hope he can hold on long enough for 8 wins and getting out of kadoban status. On the flip side, no such issues for Terunofuji as he has looked strong in a 3-0 start so far. Asanoyama seemingly got lucky today, as his win over Kotoeko came via reversal after a Mono-ii (Judges conference) after the win first went to Kotoeko. Kiribayama took his first loss today but nothing to worry about in terms of Ozeki promotion chances yet, while Daieisho & Wakamotoharu continue strong starts to keep their chances alive as both went to 3-0. Hoshoryu fell victim to a HENKA! (Dodge) at the start by Tobizaru and took a flash loss to The Flying Monkey. Also of note-in the last 2 tournaments, including this one, Shonannoumi has now been up 3 times as a Juryo man and is 3-0 in those appearances with today’s win.

Juryo:
Kawazoe (Ms1) beat Tokihayate (J14)
Shimanoumi (J13) beat Tsushimanada (J14)
Fujiseiun (J13) beat Tomokaze (J12)
Tamashoho (J11) beat Chiyosakae (J12)
Hidenoumi (J11) beat Kitanowaka (J10)
Daiamami (J9) beat Chiyomaru (J10)
Ochiai (J8) beat Chiyonokuni (J9)
Atamifuji (J8) beat Takakento (J7)
Shimazuumi (J6) beat Churanoumi (J7)
Hakuyozan (J6) beat Tochinoshin (J5)
Roga (J4) beat Akua (J5)
Bushozan (J3) beat Enho (J3)
Tohakuryu (J2) beat Oshoma (J4)
Gonoyama (J1) beat Azumaryu (J2)
Leader: 5 at 3-0

FREE VIDEO: GLEAT 5/14/23 Full Event

As is usually the case when they can’t broadcast their non-PPV events live, GLEAT has made the full G PROWRESTLING event from Sunday available on demand FOR FREE on YouTube. You can watch the event below (running time is just over 2 hours. Video courtesy of the GLEAT Official YouTube Channel):

New Japan 5/16/23 Results

New Japan ran Day 4 of Best Of The Super Junior today as the leaders looked to keep the upsets coming.

Today’s event was held at Akita Prefectural Budokan in Akita and can be watched on demand on New Japan World in Japanese and English.

The announced paid attendance was 762.

All matches were Best Of The Super Junior matches, 30 minute time limit.
Match 1: Block B: Yoh beat Clark Connors.
Match 2: Block A: Titan beat Ryusuke Taguchi.
Match 3: Block B: Robbie Eagles beat BUSHI.
Match 4: Block A: TJP beat DOUKI.
Match 5: Block B: Francesco Akira beat Dan Moloney.
Match 6: Block A: KUSHIDA beat Mike Bailey by submission.
Match 7: Block B: El Desperado beat Kevin Knight.
Match 8: Block A: Hiromu Takahashi beat Sho.
Match 9: Block B: Master Wato beat Yoshinobu Kanemaru.
Main Event: Block A: Lio Rush beat Taiji Ishimori.

Stanidngs:
Block A:
1-Rush, 4-0, 8 pts
2-Bailey, 3-1, 6 pts
3-Ishimori, 3-1, 6 pts
4-Titan, 3-1, 6 pts
5-Takahashi, 2-2, 4 pts
6-TJP, 2-2, 4 pts
7-KUSHIDA, 1-3, 2 pts
8-DOUKI, 1-3, 2 pts
9-Sho, 1-3, 2 pts
10-Taguchi, 0-4, 0 pts

Block B:
1-Desperado, 3-1, 6 pts
2-Akira, 3-1, 6 pts
3-Eagles, 3-1, 6 pts
4-Yoh, 2-2, 4 pts
5-Wato, 2-2, 4 pts
6-Kanemaru, 2-2, 4 pts
7-Moloney, 2-2, 4 pts
8-Connors, 2-2, 4 pts
9-Knight, 1-3, 2 pts
10-BUSHI, 0-4, 0 pts

The top 2 in each block advance to the Semifinals. Already all but over for Taguchi & BUSHI.

Day 5 is Wednesday at Sendai Sub Plaza in Sendai. Live streaming on New Japan World will begin at 2:30 AM PT/5:30 AM ET.

DEVELOPING: TJPW Excursion End Dates Set, Injury

Tokyo Joshi Pro announced on Twitter that Miyu Yamashita’s current overseas excursion will end on 6/24, and she will return to the promotion that day. Yuka Sakazaki, currently overseas as well, and Maki Itoh, who is also heading overseas for a month, will both return on that date as well and all will participate in a 6/25 event in Fukuoka.

In unfortunate news, SKE48 announced in a press release that Yuki Arai will miss some upcoming performances and that includes TJPW’s Saturday event in Tokyo. Hospitalized for a leg injury. Based on SKE48’s release, out at least 2 weeks. That means she would miss the 5/26 Yokohama Radiant Hall event if scheduled and maybe 6/3 at Ryogoku KFC Hall, and would be questionable for 6/10 at Korakuen Hall due to still being scheduled for an SKE48 event.

More as it becomes available.

Sumo-May 2023 Grand Sumo Tournament Day 2 Results (5/14/23) (Top 2 Tiers)

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

Makuuchi (Top tier):
Gonoyama (J1) beat Kagayaki (M17)
Mitoryu (M16) beat Oho (M16)
Ichiyamamoto (M15) beat Tsurugisho (M15)
Asanoyama (M14) beat Myogiryu (M14)
Kotoeko (M12) beat Chiyoshoma (M13)
Aoiyama (M13) beat Daishoho (M11)
Takarafuji (M10) beat Hokuseiho (M11)
Ryuden (M10) beat Hiradoumi (M9)
Onosho (M9) beat Takanosho (M8)
Tamawashi (M7) beat Sadanoumi (M8)
Mitakeumi (M6) beat Hokutofuji (M7)
Meisei (M6) beat Kotoshoho (M5)
Kinbozan (M5) beat Nishikigi (M4)
Shodai (K) beat Nishikifuji (M3)
Kiribayama (S) beat Endo (M2)
Wakamotoharu (S) beat Tobizaru (M3)
Daieisho (S) beat Ura (M4)
Hoshoryu (S) beat Midorifuji (M1)
Kotonowaka (K) beat Takakeisho (O)
Terunofuji (Y) beat Abi (M1)
Leader: 10 at 2-0
Of note: Takakeisho concerns raised today as his knees were tightly taped and it clearly affected him against Kotonowaka. It may be a struggle just to get out of kadoban status with 8 wins. The good news for the Kyokai is Kiribayama, who needs 10 wins to meet criteria for Ozeki promotion (or another championship, the criteria is 2 straight championships or 33 wins over 3 consecutive tournaments in Sanyaku, meaning at Komusubi and Sekiwake) is off to a perfect 2-0 start and now only sits 8 wins from potential promotion. Wakamotoharu is also in Ozeki consideration but probably needs a championship unless he can manage 13 wins, but all the Sekiwake are 2-0 which is a good sign. Also 2-0 is Asanoyama after another easy win, and Terunofuji who maybe caught a break when Abi had his right knee/leg go out in their match. Hopefully not an injury, it looked to me like Abi just slipped and lost his footing. For now Abi is still in the tournament but we’ll see. No Takayasu return yet, NHK World Japan made it sound like he’s out for the tournament after his Opening Day last-minute withdrawal. After Gonoyama won today, Shonannoumi gets the Juryo man spot tomorrow and will face Oho. Shonannoumi is currently 1-1 at Juryo 1.

Juryo:
Shiden (Ms1) beat Tsushimanada (J14)
Shimanoumi (J13) beat Tokihayate (J14)
Chiyosakae (J12) beat Fujiseiun (J13)
Tamashoho (J11) beat Tomokaze (J12)
Chiyomaru (J10) beat Hidenoumi (J11)
Kitanowaka (J10) beat Chiyonokuni (J9)
Ochiai (J8) beat Daiamami (J9)
Atamifuji (J9) beat Churanoumi (J7)
Shimazuumi (J6) beat Takakento (J7)
Hakuyozan (J6) beat Akua (J5)
Roga (J4) beat Tochinoshin (J5)
Oshoma (J4) beat Enho (J3)
Bushozan (J3) beat Tohakuryu (J2)
Shonannoumi (J1) beat Azumaryu (J2)
Leader: 7 at 2-0
Of note: Shiden, looking to get a second chance at Juryo after being forced to miss his debut tournament, is halfway there as he picked up the Makushita man win to go to 2-0 and probably get a couple days off bow as the lower tiers just finished their first matches today. Gonoyama was in the top tier and won tiday. Azumaryu is an early struggler again as he’s a quick 0-2 after his latest demotion from the top tier and Enho is also 0-2, but his pattern the last year has been alternating winning and losing tournaments. Unfortunately that means’s he’a due for a demotion. And despite strong fan support for the former Ozeki it’s another 0-2 start for Tochinoshin.
Kawazoe, the fan-favorite human slinky at Ms1, gets to be the Makushita man tomorrow for his first chance in Juryo. He lost his first match and will try to get to 1-1 against Tokihayate.

All the lower tiers have finished their first matches but in Makushita Shiden is the early 2-0 leader because of an early second match today. The lower tiers also had their usual slate of Day 1 withdrawals, only one in Makushita, among the notable names is Kironofuji in the Sandanme. He reportedly has been forced to retire due to involvement in a bullying scandal that engulfed Isegahama Beya earlier this year that also caused stablemaster Isegahama to resign from his position as chief judge. Apparently not involved was Terunofuji, a member of the stable.

GLEAT 5/14/23 Results

GLEAT ran the latest G PROWRESTLING event yesterday, featuring a G REX Championship defense by new champion T-Hawk.

Yesterday’s event was held at Sapporo E-One Stadium in Hokkaido and will be available on demand on YouTube tomorrow beginning at 4:30 AM PT/7:30 AM ET. There was no live broadcast.

The announced paid attendance was 278, a legit sellout.

Match 1: Minoru Tanaka, Kaz Hayashi & Noriyuki Yoshida beat Yuya Susumu, Takanori Ito & Yusuke Kodama. Tanaka beat Kodama with HEAT Clutch.

Match 2: Quiet Storm beat Yu Iizuka.

Match 3: Issei Onitsuka beat Yutani.

Match 4: El Lindaman & Soma Watanabe beat Tetsuya Izuchi & Jun Tonsho. Watanabe pinned Tonsho after a dropkick.

Match 5: Kaito Ishida, Kotaro Suzuki & Hartley Jackson beat Ryuichi Kawakami, Hayato Tamura & KAZMA SAKAMOTO. Suzuki pinned Kawakami after a tiger driver.

Main Event: G-REX Champion T-Hawk beat Check Shimatani to retain the title. V1 for T-Hawk. Next up: Soma Watanabe or Tetsuya Izuchi. Determination match to decide which one will happen on 6/7 at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.

The next event is Sunday at Umeda Sky Building Stellar Hall in Osaka. Broadcast plans TBA but there likely will be no live broadcast.

Dragon Gate 5/14/23 Results (Updated)

Dragon Gate continued the Hopeful Gate 2023 Tour today with a house show in Kobe, featuring a main event battle royal sponsored by a popular mobile game (played worldwide but very popular in Japan).

Today’s event was held at Kobe Sambo Hall in Kobe and can be watched on demand on DRAGONGATE NETWORK.

The announced paid attendance was 404, a super full house/very near sellout.

Match 1: Don Fujii, Genki Horiguchi, La Estrella & Punch Tominaga beat Jason Lee, JACKY “FUNKY” KAMEI, Ho Ho Lun & Super Shinryu 2. Estrella pinned Shinryu.

Match 2: Madoka Kikuta beat Ichikawa in 9 seconds. Which led to…
Match 2 (again): Madoka Kikura beat Ichikawa.

Match 3: BxB Hulk & Ben-K beat BIGBOSS Shimizu & Strong Machine J. Ben-K pinned J.

Match 4: Masaaki Mochizuki, Yasushi Kanda & Kaito Nagano beat Naruki DOi, Daiki Yanagiuchi & Shuji Kondo. Kanda pinned Yanagiuchi after Ryu’s.

Match 5: Shun Skywalker, Diamante & KAI beat Ultimo Dragon, YAMATO & Takashi Yoshida by DQ. Dragon DQ’d. Mask removal from Diamante.

Main Event: Kzy won an 11 man KING OF LORDS MOBILE “Special Royal Sambo” Battle Royal, last eliminating Kota Minoura. Order of elimination: Susumu Mochizuki, Dragon Kid, Shachihoko BOY, U-T, H.Y.O., ISHIN, Minorita, Yuki Yoshioka, Dragon Dia, Minoura.

The next event is Wednesday at Yokohama Radiant Hall in Yokohama. There will be no live broadcast.

UPDATE: Ultimo Dragon has been SUSPENDED INDEFINITELY and merchandise sales discontinued by GM Ryo Saito. Continued refusal to have a single match against Diamante. The GM doing this to the founder of the promotion…geez…

Also, Ryoya Tanaka, a new trainee, will have his Debut Match on 5/28 at Osaka Prefectural Gym 2.

DDT 5/14/23 Results

DDT returned to Chiba for another ONLY WE event today, this one a special Yuji Hino 20th Anniversary event.

Today’s event was held at TKP Garden City Chiba in Chiba and will be available on demand on WRESTLE UNIVERSE at a later date. There was no live broadcast.

The announced paid attendance was 241, a super full house/very near sellout.

Before the event, a public signing ceremony for the next DDT Extreme Championship match between Shunma Katsumata & Hideki Okatani was held. It was announced the match would be a Piercing/Stabbing Weapons Death Match and in addition to normal methods, winning can also be by piercing the opponent’s ears with weapons 3 times.

Nick Wayne, a 17-year-old wrestler who was supposed to come to Japan earlier this year but was unable to due to visa issues, will try again to come to DDT in June & July. Wayne has already signed with All Elite Wrestling but can’t join them until he turns 18.

Match 1: Hideki Okatani beat Rukiya.

Match 2: Yuki Iino & Danshoku Dieno beat Toru Owashi & Kazuki Hirata. Iino pinned Hirata.

Match 3: Daisuke Sasaki, MJ Paul & KANON beat Shunma Katsumata, Yusuke Okada & Kazuma Sumi. KANON beat Sumi with a cobra twist.

Match 4: Chris Brookes & Takeshi Masada beat Hiroshi Yamato & Yuya Koroku. Brookes beat Koroku with a ground octopus stretch.

Match 5: Kazusada Higuchi, Ryota Nakatsu & Yuki Ishida beat KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Champions Shinya Aoki, Yuki Ueno & Super Sasadango Machine to win the titles. Higuchi, Nakatsu & Ishida become the 51st KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Champions. Ishida pinned Machine after Flame Palm.

Match 6: Makoto Oishi & Shiori Asahi beat MAO & Toui Kojima. Oishi pinned Kojima.

Main Event: Yuji Hino 20th Anniversary Match: Yuji Hino, Jun Akiyama & Yukio Sakaguchi beat Tetsuya Endo, HARASHIMA & Yuji Okabayashi. Hino pinned HARASHIMA after Fuckin’ BOMB.

The next event is KING OF DDT 2023 FINAL!! on 5/21 at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo. Live streaming on WRESTLE UNIVERSE will begin Saturday at 7 PM PT/10 PM ET. The start time may be moved up further due to 2 pre-show matches scheduled.