News, results & more from Japanese Pro Wrestling & Sumo
New Japan just announced on Twitter that after accepting an open challenge from the champion, NJPW WORLD TV Champion Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Clark Connors for the title has been added to Battle in the Valley on 2/18 in San Jose, CA. That’s now 4 title matches scheduled for the event.
Tickets are sold out so make sure to pre-order the PPV on FITE (it’s also on New Japan World as a PPV if you want Japanese but it will cost roughly $7 more).
In what likely will be the final ceremonial event for founder/longtime owner and legend Antonio Inoki, who died in late 2022, New Japan has announced a special farewell party that will be open to the public. It will be a 2-part event with both parts held on 3/7 (the day after New Japan’s annual Anniversary Event) at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo: Part 1 will be a ticketed memorial ceremony where those attending will be given flowers to leave for Inoki and special gifts for attending (a special Inoki towel and message card) while Part 2 will be a flower offering ceremony open to the general public with no ticket required. Tickets for Part 1 will be 10,000 yen (around $77 US) with the lower box seats for 2 people available at that same price. For those who cannot attend but want to participate, they can purchase a flower bouquet online for 6000 yen (around $45 US) and they will receive the special gifts by mail at a later date. That package will be available from 2/16-3/31 via New Japan’s Japanese online shop.
If the event is postponed or cancelled, ticket holders for Part 1 will receive refunds.
Tokyo Joshi Pro has announced that Juria Nagano, who is out indefinitely due to a finger injury suffered on 1/29, will make an appearance at Saturday’s (2/11) event at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo. Originally scheduled to compete prior to the injury, she is expected to address the crowd in the ring and will also be part of a post-event party in front of a nearby train station for picture sales and autographs. Nagano underwent surgery after the injury according to TJPW and we may get an update Saturday. I’m hoping she will be able to return in time for GRAND PRINCESS ’23, which is just over a month away.
The event airs live on WRESTLE UNIVERSE Friday at 9:30 PM ET/6:30 PM PT. There is possibly going to be English commentary for this event.
More on Nagano’s status as it becomes available.
As part of what will be WrestleMania Weekend in Los Angeles, CA, New Japan and Impact Wrestling have announced a joint PPV for March 30, 2023 at 11 PM ET/8 PM PT. Dubbed “Multiverse United: Only The STRONG Survive”, the event will see multiple crossover matches between both sides with 3 matches already announced: Jeff Cobb vs. Moose, Mike Bailey vs. Will Ospreay and Impact World Champion Josh Alexander vs. KUSHIDA for the title (assuming, presumably, Alexander beats Rich Swann on 2/24 to retain the title. Also announced are Trey Miguel, Chris Bey. Ace Austin, most of the Knockouts roster, KENTA, Minoru Suzuki, Rocky Romero, Clark Connors, Kevin Knight and Fred Rosser among others.
Tickets go on sale Friday and the PPV will air live on FITE. The event will be held at the Globe Theater on LA.
More as it becomes available.
New Japan ran the penultimate event of the Road to THE NEW BEGINNING Tour today, the quick final build to Saturday’s major event in Osaka.
Today’s event was held at New Sunpia Tochigi in Tochigi. There was no live broadcast and no on demand video will be available.
The announced paid attendance was 606.
Match 1: Yuto Nakashima vs. Kosei Fujita went to a 10 minute time limit draw.
Match 2: Aaron Henare & Great-O-Khan beat Oskar Leube & Toru Yano. Henare pinned Leube after Rampage.
Match 3: Hiromu Takahashi & SANADA beat Tiger Mask & Togi Malabe. Takahashi pinned TM 4 with Nameless Hiromu Roll.
Match 4: YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto beat Tomoaki Honma & Hiroyoshi Tenzan. YOSHI-HASHI pinned Tenzan after Shoto.
Match 5: Dick Togo, Sho, Yujiro Takahashi & EVIL beat Ryohei Oiwa, Ren Narita, El Desperado & Minoru Suzuki. Takahashi pinned Oiwa after Pimp Juice.
Match 6: Gedo, El Phantasmo, Taiji Ishimori, KENTA & Jay White beat Jado, Master Wato, Hikuleo, Tama Tonga & Hiroshi Tanahashi. KENTA beat Jado with GAME OVER.
Main Event: Yoh, Shota Umino & Kazuchika Okada beat BUSHI, Tetsuya Naito & Shingo Takagi. Okada pinned BUSHI after Rainmaker.
The tour-ender is tomorrow at Saku City General Gym in Nagano. There will be no live or on demand broadcast.
Following up on a sudden retirement from sumo during the November 2022 Grand Sumo Tournament, there are numerous reports on Japanese Twitter that former wrestler Chiyotairyu, who abruptly retired during the tournament, has achieved his stated goal of opening a restaurant in Tokyo. just 2 months after leaving sumo. Nikkan Sports reports the former Komusubi, real name Hidemasa Meigetsuin (guess based on quick translation), opened a French yakiniku (grilled meat) restaurant called “Mitoland” in the Roppongi area of Tokyo on January 16 and invited the media to a special event there today.
The restaurant is currently open by reservation only to Instagram followers through March and will be by registration or referral only for the time being with a full course meal available for 15,000 yen (about $116 US). Ultimately, Chiyotairyu hopes to expand into a chain of restaurants and offer meals for $15–20 and encourage retired rikishi to be part of expansion efforts as a way to support both their post-retirement lives and support sumo as a whole.
Original source (in Japanese. Credit: Nikkan Sports Japan): https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202302070001088.html
Tokyo Joshi Pro has announced the schedule of appearances for SKE48 member Yuki Arai in March & April, which is subject to change. Just 3 events are on her schedule right now-3/6 at Shinjuku Face, 3/18 at Ariake Arena (GRAND PRINCESS ’23) and 4/15 at Korakuen Hall. Most disappointing for me but completely expected is no Los Angeles, CA for TJPW’s US debut at the end of March.
UPDATE: TJPW has also announced Arai will be part of an SKE48 LIVE mini-performance during the 2/18 event on 2/18 at Nagoya International Conference Center Event Hall. SKE48 member Nao Fukushi will be a guest on Japanese commentary. This will stream LIVE on WRESTLE UNIVERSE but the SKE48 performance will only be available on demand for one month after the event.
After a very successful debut late last year, New Japan ran the second round of TAMASHII events last week, the new sub-label focusing on talent from Australia, New Zealand & the Pacific Islands/Australasia region including trainees at the New Zealand Dojo, which is overseen by New Japan’s Bad Luck Fale as lead trainer.
The results from both events are below. There was no live broadcast but they may be available on demand on New Japan World at a later date (if it turns out like the first events, it’s going to be a few months).
Friday:
This event was held at Selina’s Entertainment Center in Sydney, Australia.
The paid attendance was not announced but it was a legit sellout.
Pre-Show Match: Jessica Troy beat Charlie Evans.
Match 1: Paris De Silva & Jude London beat Nikolai Anton Bell & Jordan Allen-Wright. De Silva pinned Bell after Shooting Star Press.
Match 2: Carter Deams beat Jake Taylor by submission.
Match 3: Mick Moretti & Andrew Hoffman beat Richard Mulu & Viktor Langras. Moretti pinned Langras after a wheelbarrow double stomp.
Match 4: Aussie Open beat Bad Luck Fale & Jack Bonza by DQ. Bonza DQ’d.
Match 5: Lyrebird LuchI beat Andrew Villalobos.
Match 6: Ricky South beat Michael Richards.
Main Event: Robbie Eagles beat Aaron Solo by submission.
Saturday:
This event was held at The Croxton in Melbourne, Australia.
The paid attendance was not announced but it was very close to a sellout if not sold out.
Match 1: Gore & Jake Andrewartha beat Nikolai Anton Bell & Shep Alexander. Gore pinned Alexander after Dominator.
Match 2: Richard Mulu beat Jarvis.
Match 3: Bad Luck Fale & Jack Bonza beat Andrew Villalobos & Michael Richarda. Bonza beat Villalobos with STF.
Match 4: Tome & Stevie Filip beat Jake Taylor & Jordan-Allen Wright. Tome Filip pinned Allen-Wright after Air Raid Crash.
Match 5: Mitch Waterman beat Lyrebird Luchi by DQ.
Match 6: Aaron Solo beat Slex.
Match 7: Kyle Fletcher beat Robbie Eagles.
Main Event: Caveman Ugh beat Aaron Henare.
What was going to be exciting news for DDT sub-brand Ganbare Pro today had a sour tone to it…the official re-launch of Ganbare Women as a sub-label was announced and the first event is official but it came with very bad news…flag-bearer Yuna Manase won’t be a part of it for some time. Knee surgery and other injuries. From translation it sounds like best-case for a return is 10 months, and these are injuries she competed through for a while, so unfortunately her 2023 is probably done and she likely won’t be back until some time in 2024. But at the request of roster members HARUKAZE & Yuuri, Ganbare founder/owner Ken Ohka will go forward with the debut event, postponing it to April 1 at Yokohama Radiant Hall in Yokohama. Yoshiko Hasegawa & Moeka Haruhi will also participate.
Dragon Gate continued the Rey De Parejas 2023 today with Day 3 of the tournament.
Today’s event was held at Tajimi City Industrial Culture Center in Gifu. There was no live broadcast.
The announced paid attendance was 434.
Match 1: Yuki Yoshioka, Dragon Dia & Madoka Kikuta beat Strong Machine J, Jason Lee & JACKY “FUNKY” KAMEI. Kikuta pinned KAMEI after a rolling lariat.
Match 2: Don Fujii & Ho Ho Lun beat Ichikawa & Kagetora. Fujii pinned Ivhikawa after a failed German suplex
Match 3: YAMATO beat Mochizuki Jr.
Match 4: Diamante, H-Y-O & ISHIN beat Ultimo Dragon, Dragon Kid & Grnki Horiguchi. ISHIN pinned Horiguchi aftrr Death Penalty.
Match 5: Rey De Parejas Block A: Kota Minoura & BxB Hulk beat Kaito Nagano & Yoshiki Kato. Minoura pinned Nagano after Engranaje.
Main Event: Rey De Parejas Block B: Shun Skywalker & KAI beat Ben-K & Minorita. Skywalker pinned Minorita after SSW.
The next event is Saturday at Kyoto KBS Hall in Kyoto. Live streaming on DRAGONGATE NETWORK will begin at 1 AM PT/4 AM ET.