Tag: wrestling

Dragon Gate 1/14/23 Results

Dragon Gate reached the halfway point of the Open The New Year Gate 2023 Tour today as they keep up a constant pace of events to start the year.

Today’s event was held at Act City Hamamatsu in Shizuoka and can be watched on demand on DRAGONGATE NETWORK.

The announced paid attendance was 261.

Match 1: Kzy, BIGBOSS Shimizu & Strong Machine J beat Shachihoko BOY, Kagetora & Kaito Nagano. J pinned Nagano with a German suplex hold.

Match 2: Ryu Fuda vs. Mochizuki Jr. went to a Double KO.

Match 3: Match 3: KAI beat Yoshiki Kato.

Match 4: Masaaki Mochizuki, Susumu Mochizuki & Yasushi Kanda beat Dragon Kid, Genki Horiguchi & Shuji Kondo. Susumu Mochizuki pinned Horiguchi after Yokosuka Cutter.

Match 5: Yuki Yoshioka & Madoka Kikuta beat JACKY “FUNKY” KAMEI & Jason Lee. Kikuta pinned KAMEI after Deformed Driver.

Main Event: Kota Minoura, Ben-K & BxB Hulk beat Shun Skywalker, ISHIN & H-Y-O. Ben-K pinned H-Y-O after a spear.

The next event is tomorrow at Kanazawa Ryutsu Kaitan in Ishikawa. There will be no live broadcast.

Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling Futari-wa Princess Max Heart Tournament 3 Results (1/14/23)

Tokyo Joshi Pro begins the 3rd Futari-wa Princess Max Heart Tournament today with opening round matches. This is a tag team tournament coming back for the second straight year in the winter as a lead-in to GRAND PRINCESS in March, featuring almost the entire TJPW roster participating. Of the 10 teams many are established to some extent and have been featured before but there are some new faces as well as notable names missing-in particular one top team absent this time is Yuka Sakazaki & Mizuki. Sakazaki is in the USA for the next month, presumably for a return to All Elite Wrestling, and won’t be back until March and thus being the privileged, snobby brat she is Mizuki refused to participate without Sakazaki. Also sitting out the tournament is Pom Harajuku, who has opted to be a cheerleader for her friends Yuki Aino & Raku. New rookies Wakana Uehara & HIMAWARI, who just debuted, also will not participate. The assumption seems to be that despite a mild concussion a couple weeks ago, Miyu Yamashita will be competing and teaming with Maki Itoh-there have been no indications Yamashita is out. The eventual tournament winners will probably get a shot at NEW Princess Tag Team Champions Heidi Howitzer & Max The Impaler at GRAND PRINCESS ’23, I’m personally hoping Yuki Arai & Saki Akai claim the tournament and can win the belts back. The defending tournament champion team is Rika Tatsumi & Miu Watanabe.

Today’s event will be held at Otemachi Mitsui Hall in Tokyo and can be watched LIVE on WRESTLE UNIVERSE. There will be no commentary. The event is a legit advance sellout-only 50% capacity so vocal cheering probably will be allowed. For the tournament there are 2 1st round matches and one 2nd round match today (it’s single-elimination but the bracket setup is odd because there are 10 teams participating). With 6 matches and probably no time limit for the tournament matches I anticipate the event’s running time being around 2 hours.

Today’s lineup:
Shoko Nakajima vs. Wakana Uehara
Mizuki vs. Hyper Misao & Pom Harajuku in a 3-way
Rika Tatsumi, Miu Watanabe & HIMAWARI vs. Suzume, Arisu Endo & Kaya Toribami
Futari-wa Princess Max Heart Tournament Round 1:
Yuki Kamifuku & Mahiro Kiryu vs. Moka Miyamoto & Juria Nagano
Saki Akai & Yuki Arai vs. Yuki Aino & Raku
Futari-wa Princess Max Heart Tournament Quarterfinals: Miyu Yamashita & Maki Itoh vs. Hikari Noa & Nao Kakuta

Refresh this page occasionally for the latest results.

Updates below will begin at midnight ET/9 PM PT.

11:30 PM ET UPDATE: The live stream has started. Updates will begin in about 30 minutes when we go to the venue.

11:55 PM ET UPDATE: Live updates begin now…
We are LIVE from Otemachi Mitsui Hall in Tokyo, Japan. There is no commentary.

The paid attendance will be announced after the event but it is a legit advance sellout. With only 50% capacity because vocal cheering is allowed it’s probably going to be between 250-300.

The matches begin at 12:10 AM ET. The match order listed above is today’s official match order. No time limit for the tournament matches. Looks like hard-camera only setup today.

Match 1: Shoko Nakajima vs. Wakana Uehara. 15 minute time limit
Result: Shoko Nakajima beat Wakana Uehara

Match 2: Mizuki vs. Hyper Misao & Pom Harajuku in a 3-way. 20 minute time limit
Result: Hyper Misao beat Mizuki & Pom Harajuku in a 3-way by pinning Harajuku.

Match 3: Rika Tatsumi, Miu Watanabe & HIMAWARI vs. Suzume, Arisu Endo & Kaya Toribami. 20 minute time limit
Result: Rika Tatsumi, Miu Watanabe & HIMAWARI beat Suzume, Arisu Endo & Kaya Toribami. Watanabe pinned Toribami after Teardrop. And that’s career V1 for HIMAWARI!

Match 4: Futari-wa Princess Max Heart Tournament Round 1: Yuki Kamifuku & Mahiro Kiryu vs. Moka Miyamoto & Juria Nagano. No time limit (side note: Miyamoto recently unveiled a new look and changed her outfit up. I really like it)
Result: Moka Miyamoto & Juria Nagano beat Yuki kamifuku & Mahiro Kiryu. Nagano pinned Kiryu after a spinning head kick. As a result, Miyamoto & Nagano advance to the Quarterfinals and will face Suzume & Arisu Endo.

Match 5: Futari-wa Princess Max Heart Tournament Round 1: Saki Akai & Yuki Arai vs. Yuki Aino & Raku. No time limit
Result: Saki Akai & Yuki Arai beat Yuki Aino & Raku. Akai beat Raku with an arm triangle choke. As a result, AA Eye Candy advances to the Quarterfinals and will face Miu Watanabe & Rika Tatsumi. One step closer!

Main Event: Futari-wa Princess Max Heart Tournament Quarterfinals: Miyu Yamashita & Maki Itoh vs. Hikari Noa & Nao Kakuta. No time limit
Result: Miyu Yamashita & Maki Itoh beat Hikari Noa & Nao Kakuta. Yamashita pinned Kakuta after Skull Kick. As a result, Yamashita & Itoh advance to the Semifinals and will face the 1/19 Miyamoto/Nagano-Suzume/Endo winner.

The event was a little shorter than anticipated, the total running time was 1 hour 45 minutes.

The next event is Thursday at Shinjuku Face in Tokyo with the remaining Quarterfinals: Miyamoto/Nagano-Suzume/Endo, Arai/Akai-Tatsumi/Watanabe and Shoko Nakajima & Hyper Misao vs. Neko Haruna & Kaya Toribami. Live streaming on WRESTLE UNIVERSE will begin at 2 AM PT/5 AM ET. Likely no vocal cheering as it’ll be full capacity.

UPDATE: The announced paid attendance was 310.

Sumo-January 2023 Grand Sumo Tournament Day 7 Results (1/14/23) (Top 2 Tiers)

Here are the quick results from today’s Day 7 of the January 2023 Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, J-Juryo, Ms-Makushita

Makuuchi (Top Tier):
Bushozan (J1) beat Takarafuji (J16)
Ichiyamamoto (M14) beat Mitoryu (M15)
Kagayaki (M12) beat Chiyomaru (M16)
Chiyoshoma (M11) beat Kotoeko (M13)
Aoiyama (M10) beat Tsurugisho (M15)
Kotoshoho (M13) beat Endo (M9)
Takanosho (M9) beat Azumaryu (M14)
Onosho (M9) beat Hiradoumi (M10)
Oho (M8) beat Myogiryu (M6)
Ura (M7) beat Nishikigi (M5)
Hokutofuji (M6) beat Ryuden (M5)
Daieisho (M1) beat Sadanoumi (M4)
Kiribayama (K) beat Mitakeumi (M2)
Kotonowaka (K) beat Wakamotoharu (K)
Meisei (K) beat Tobizaru (M1)
Hoshoryu (S) beat Abi (M3)
Nishikifuji (M4) beat Wakatakakage (S)
Tamawashi (M2) beat Shodai (S)
Takakeisho (O) beat Midorifuji (M3)
Leader: 5 at 6-1
Of note: The margin for error for Shodai to return to Ozeki in March is now gone. To get back he needs 10 wins this time, meaning Shodai now must go 8-0 because he is 2-5 after today. Otherwise he has to get back to Sekiwake and put together 3 consecutive winning campaigns with 30+ total wins or win a tournament or two. Same for Watakakakage to have any chance at Ozeki-he needs 11 wins and that’s all he can get now at 3-4.
It was also announced that just-retired Okinoumi would become Kimigohama (sp?) Oyakata and remain active in sumo, working towards becoming a coach or stablemaster and training future rikishi.
Key matches tomorrow: Kotoshoho-Chiyomaru, Aoiyama-Azumaryu, Onosho-Nishikigi, Daieisho-Meisei, Takakeisho-Nishikifuji. All 5 co-leaders could be 7-1 at the halfway point.

Since tomorrow is Day 8, NHK World Japan will have 50 minutes of LIVE English-language coverage of the top tier’s final matches of the day beginning at 12:10 AM PT/3:10 AM ET. The network is available on participating cable/satellite providers but can also be watched worldwide FOR FREE online and on mobile/tablet/smart TV apps. No email or login/registration is required.

Juryo:
Tsushimanada (J14) beat Ishizaki (Ms1)
Takakento (J12) beat Kaisho (J13)
Asanoyama (J12) beat Shimazuumi (J11)
Chiyosakae (J11) beat Terutsuyoshi (J10)
Gonoyama (J10) beat Hakuyozan (J14)
Shonannoumi (J13) beat Hidenoumi (J9)
Chiyonokuni (J7) beat Roga (J9)
Daishoho (J6) beat Tochimusashi (J7)
Shimanoumi (J8) beat Kotokuzan (J5)
Kinbozan (J5) beat Kitanowaka (J6)
Churanoumi (J6) beat Enho (J4)
Oshoma (J3) beat Daiamami (J2)
Hokuseiho (J2) beat Atamifuji (J3)
Tohakuryu (J4) beat Akua (J1)
Leader: Asanoyama (7-0)
Of note: There may be no stopping the former Ozeki at this point-the sole unbeaten is now just one win away from another promotion and the real question is can he go 15-0? Roga, who was tied with Asanoyama a couple days ago at the top, is fading and now has lost 2 straight but isn’t out of it. Kinbozan now has a real chance to become the first rikishi from Kazakhstan to make it to the top tier, sitting 6-1 now and one off the pace. Tohakuryu is also tied for second at 6-1. Who is out of it and won’t be returning to the top tier this time around is Akua, now at 0-7. And don’t look now but Terutsuyoshi is on another skid, 3 straight since his record-snapping win and is 1-6. Makushita may be calling along with a temporary end to his epic salt throws. Also at the same mark is September champion Tochimusashi, having lost 5 straight and hasn’t been the same since his Juryo debut title.
Tomorrow is the halfway point, which has Asanoyama scheduled to face Gonoyama (5-2), while Tomokaze is the Makushita man of the day. He’s at Ms2 and will face Kaisho, but a loss means Tomokaze will stay in Makushita as he’d be 1-4 and that means demotion. At the top, Tohakuryu faces Chiyonokuni (5-2) while Kinbozan has the proverbial trap match in Daiamami (2-5). In the final match, Akua will be the first demotion at 0-8 if he loses to Kotokuzan, who is 1-6.

DDT 1/14/23 Results

DDT continues their year-opening tour with a house show in Sendai, complete with an “Only In DDT” plot twist from yesterday that forced a late change to the card.

Today’s event was held at Miyagino Ward Cultural Center in Sendai and will be available on demand on WRESTLE UNIVERSE at a later date. There was no live broadcast.

The announced paid attendance was 198, a full house/near sellout.

There was an unknown last-minute change to the card because Daisuke Sasaki missed the event. No-show after “disappearing” following a post-event phone and text chat with KANON. DDT’s English Twitter posted screenshots of what transpired.

Match 1: MJ Pawl & KANON beat Yusuke Okada & Keigo Nakamura. KANON pinned Nakamura after Sleepy Hollow.

Match 2: Yuki Iino & Danshoku Dieno beat Kazuki Hirata & Kazuma Sumi. Iino pinned Sumi with Sexy Roll 2023.

Match 3: Jun Akiyama & Toru Owashi beat Yukio Naya & Takeshi Masada. Akiyama pinned Masada after Exploder.

Match 4: Makoto Oishi beat Shunma Katsumata by countout.

Match 5: Yuji Hino & Akito beat Kazusada Higuchi & Yuki Ishida. Akito beat Ishida with a stepover toe hold.

Match 6: Tetsuya Endo beat Yuya Koroku.

Main Event: Yuki Ueno, MAO & Toui Kojima beat HARASHIMA, Chris Brookes & Hideki Okatani. MAO pinned Okayani after Cannonball 450.

The next event is Friday at Yokohama Radiant Hall in Yokohama with DDT Extreme Champion Jun Akiyama vs. Antonio Honda on a comedy deathmatch for the title. There will be no live broadcast.

AEW Rampage 1/13/23 Results

Here are the quick results from tonight’s AEW Rampage in Los Angeles:

AEW TNT Champion Darby Allin beat Juice Robinson to retain the title.

Malakai Black & Brody King beat Eddie Kingston & Ortiz. Black pinned Kingston after a spinning heel kick meant for Ortiz which was ducked.

A couple of bad comedy segments with The Acclaimed/Gunn Club and a Golden Globe winner I’ve never heard of who wound up taking a guitar shot from Jeff Jarrett.

In a Street Fight, Ruby Soho & Willow Nightingale beat Anna Jay.A.S. & Tay Melo. Soho pinned Melo after Destination Unknown into a pile of thumbtacks.

Mostly because of bad editing and bad comedy, this show was very bad and really disappointed because on paper the matches were solid. Main event was really sloppy at times but the effort was more than there. Just don’t expect Thunder Rosa-Britt Baker.

Sumo-January 2023 Grand Sumo Tournament Day 6 Results (1/13/23) (Top 2 Tiers)

Here are the quick results from today’s Day 6 of the January 2023 Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, J-Juryo, Ms-Makushita

Makuuchi (Top Tier):
Chiyomaru (M16) beat Akua (J1)
Azumaryu (M14) beat Tsurugisho (M15)
Takarafuji (M16) beat Kotoshoho (M13)
Kotoeko (M13) beat Ichiyamamoto (M14)
Mitoryu (M15) beat Okinoumi (M12) by default/withdrawal
Chiyoshoma (M11) beat Takanosho (M9) by foul/DQ…HANSOKU! Takanosho originally won but got caught for pulling the topknot of his opponent, which is illegal regardless of if it’s intentional or not. Judges conference (Mono-ii) was held and the decision was reversed.
Endo (M9) beat Kagayaki (M12)
Onosho (M9) beat Aoiyama (M10)
Hiradoumi (M10) beat Oho (M8)
Myogiryu (M6) beat Hokutofuji (M6)
Ryuden (M5) beat NIshikigi (M5)
Ura (M7) beat Sadanoumi (M4)
Mitakeumi (M2) beat Nishikifuji (M4)
Daieisho (M1) beat Kiribayama (K)
Kotonowaka (K) beat Meisei (K)
Wakatakakage (S) beat Tamawashi (M2)
Shodai (S) beat Tobizaru (M1)
Wakamotoharu (K) beat Takayasu (S) by default/withdrawal
Midorifuji (M3) beat Hoshoryu (S)
Takakeisho (O) beat Abi (M3)
Leader: EIGHT (!) at 5-1
WITHDRAWALS: Takayasu (S), Okinoumi (M12). Takayasu out due to a right shin bone injury (but has also been bothered by a neck injury suffered in the November 2022 playoff), Okinoumi unspecified but believed to be a leg injury but he has now RETIRED.

Juryo:
Tamashoho (Ms1) beat Hakuyozan (J14)
Takakento (J12) beat Chiyosakae (J11)
Shimazuumi (J11) beat Tsuhsimanada (J14)
Gonoyama (J10) beat Shonannoumi (J13)
Asanoyama (J12) beat Roga (J9)
Kaisho (J13) beat Hidenoumi (J9)
Shimanoumi (J8) beat Terutsuyoshi (J10)
Chiyonokuni (J7) beat Churanoumi (J5)
Daishoho (J6) beat Kitanowaka (J8)
Kotokuzan (J5) beat Tochimusashi (J7)
Kinbozan (J5) beat Enho (J4)
Hokuseiho (J2) beat Oshoma (J3)
Atamifuji (J3) beat Daiamami (J2)
Tohakuryu (J4) beat Bushozan (J1)
Leader: Asanoyama (6-0)
Of note: Asanoyama-Roga lived up to the billing. Great match with the former Ozeki pulling it out to stay unbeaten and the sole leader. 2 wins to a 5th straight promotion. Tomorrow’s scheduled opponent is Shimazuumi (4-2). Ishizaki, a popular “muscle boy” at Makushita 1, is tomorrow’s Makushita man in Juryo, he’s 1-2 and gets Tsushimanada (3-3). Bushozan gets his Juryo man turn in the top tier and will face Takarafuji.

BREAKING: Sumo-Top Tier Wrestler RETIRES Mid-Tournament

Breaking sumo news-according to the Japanese version of Yahoo Sports, veteran rikishi Okinoumi, who withdrew from the January Tournament today on Day 6, will retire effective immediately. According to a translation of the article, the lingering effects of a leg injury suffered during the November 2022 Tournament is the reason. Okinoumi, ranked at Maegashira 12, was 0-5 coming into today.

Okinoumi (real name Ayumi Fukuoka), 37, debuted in March 2005 and reached a highest rank of Sekiwake during his career. He won one Makushita championship, 5 Special Prizes and 4 Kinboshi (Gold Star Victories, awarded when a Maegashira defeats a Yokozuna). His career record with today’s withdrawal leaves him with a 674-675-33 (win-loss-absent) record.

This will mark the second straight tournament with a retirement during the tournament, following Chiyotairyu in November 2022.

More as it becomes available. Today’s Day 6 results will be posted later tonight.

DDT 1/13/23 Results

Today is former DDT owner & current president Sanshiro Takagi’s 53rd birthday, and it’s Friday The 13th…which of course means DDT! They ran a special birthday event for Takagi today.

Today’s event was held at Shinjuku Face in Tokyo and can be watched on demand on WRESTLE UNIVERSE.

The announced paid attendance was 241.

During the opening announcements, the rules for the next DDT Extreme Championship match on 1/21 were announced: It’s a Monovoke Deathmatch at challenger Antonio Honda’s request. After a pinfall kickout or rope escape, Honda gets to do a comedy promo. If he makes champion Jun Akiyama laugh 3 times, Honda wins the title. Akiyama must get 3 pinfalls or submissions to retain the title.

Atsushi Onita will launch his Dramatic Dream Onita on 3/19 when DDT returns to Tsurumi Fruit & Vegetable Market in Kanagawa.

Match 1: Keigo Nakamura Return Match: Tetsuya Endo, Jun Akiyama & Yusuke Okada beat HARASHIMA, Hideki Okatani & Keigo Nakamura. Endo pinned Nakamura after a modified Yurikamome.

Match 2: MJ Pawl & KANON beat Antonio Honda & Kazuma Sumi. KANON pinned Sumi after Sleepy Hollow.

Match 3: Yuki Iino, Danshoku Dieno & Shunma Katsumata beat Akito, Kazuki Hirata & Yuya Koroku. Latsumata pinned Hirata after Segodon. This was the fallout from a recent match where, because Katsumata took the loss against them, he had to join Pheromons for a day. So he became their human dog, complete with ears and painted whiskers & nose. Only In DDT.

Match 4: Kotaro Suzuki (Pro Wrestling NOAH) beat Takao Soma.

Match 5: Makoto Oishi & Shiori Asahi beat MAO & Toui Kojima. Oishi pinned MAO with a tornado clutch.

Match 6: Sanahiro Takagi & Fuminori Abe beat Chris Brookes & Takeshi Masada. Abe pinned Masada.

Match 7: Yuji Hino & Yukio Maya beat Kazusada Higuchi & Yuki Ishida. Hino beat Ishida with a King Kong Sleeper.

Main Event: Naruki Doi beat DDT Universal Champion Ueki Ueno & Daisuke Sasaki in a 3-way elimination match, beating Ueno after Ueno eliminated Sasaki, to win the title. Doi becomes the 9th DDT Universal Champion. Next up: KANON. That match will happen on 2/18 at Nagoya International Conference Center Event Hall.

The next event is tomorrow at Miyagino Ward Cultural Center in Sendai. There will be no live broadcast.

Dragon Gate 1/12/23 Results

Dragon Gate continued the Open The New Year Gate 2023 Tour today with the second half of a Tokyo doubleheader, featuring their first title match of the year for their top title, the Open The Dream Gate Championship.

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

The announced paid attendance was 1022.

Match 1: Dragon Kid & Eita beat Dragon Dia & Madoka Kikuta. Kid pinned Dia.

Match 2: BIGBOSS Shimizu, Jason Lee & JACKY “FUNKY” KAMEI” beat Genki Horiguchi, Kagetora & Ho Ho Lun. KAMEI pinned Horiguchi after “JACKY” Knife.

Match 3: Susumu Mochizuki & Yasushi Kanda beat Takashi Yoshida & Punch Tominaga. Kanda pinned Tominaga after a diving elbow drop.

Match 4: YAMATO, Don Fujii, Naruki Doi & Shuji Kondo beat Minorita, Ryu Fuda, Kaito Nagano & Yoshiki Kato. YAMATO pinned Fuda after Gallaria.

Match 5: Kzy & Strong Machine J beat Masaaki Mochizuki & Mochizuki Jr. J pinned Jr. with a German suplex hold.

Match 6: Kota Minoura, Ben-K & BxB Hulk beat KAI, H-Y-O & ISHIN. Hulk pinned H-Y-O after First Flash.

Main Event: Shun Skywalker beat Open The Dream Gate Champion Yuki Yoshioka to win the title. Skywalker becomes the 36th Open The Dream Gate Champion.

The next event is Saturday at Act City Hamamatsu in Shizuoka. There will be no live broadcast.

Sumo-January 2023 Grand Sumo Tournament Day 5 Results (1/12/23) (Top 2 Tiers)

Here are the quick results from today’s Day 5 of the January 2023 Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, J-Juryo

Makuuchi (Top Tier):
Ichiyamamoto (M14) beat Tsurugisho (M15)
Kotoeko (M13) beat Chiyomaru (M16)
Kotoshoho (M13) beat Mitoryu (M15)
Azumaryu (M14) beat Okinoumi (M12)
Takarafuji (M16) beat Tochinoshin (M11) by default/withdrawal
Hiradoumi (M10) beat Kagayaki (M12)
Endo (M9) beat Chiyoshoma (M11)
Aoiyama (M10) beat Oho (M8)
Takanosho (M9) beat Ura (M7)
Ryuden (M5) beat Onosho (M8)
Sadanoumi (M4) beat Hokutofuji (M6)
NIshikigi (M5) beat Nishikifuji (M4)
Midorifuji (M3) beat Myogiryu (M6). The winning technique, uchimuso, (watch NHK World Japan’s Day 5 replay for translation) is a very rare one that reportedly hasn’t been seen in nearly a decade!
Wakamotoharu (K) beat Mitakeumi (M2)
Tobizaru (M1) beat Kiribayama (K)
Meisei (K) beat Shodai (S)
Kotonowaka (K) beat Takayasu (S)
Daieisho (M1) beat Hoshoryu (S)
Abi (M3) beat Wakatakakage (S)
Takakeisho (O) beat Tamawashi (M2)
WITHDRAWAL: Tochinoshin (M11). Dislocated shoulder. Expected to be out 2 weeks, which would mean the rest of the tournament. That puts the Georgian (country in Europe, not US state) in a dilemma-sit out and risk dropping to Juryo at the equivalent of 2-13, try to rush back to get some late wins to avoid that, or if it’s bad enough consider retirement? Tochinoshin is a former Ozeki and top-tier mainstay so if he was going to fall to Juryo at this point I’d imagine he’d pull a Kaisei and retire. He’s also 35, which in sumo is old and he has around 15 years of wear & tear on him. We’ll see. It does mean we’ll have a Juryo man each day in the top tier starting tomorrow, and on Day 6 it’s Akua, currently at Juryo 1 but 0-5 so far. Also watch Takarafuji as he suffered an apparent hand/finger injury on Day 4 but came back to get a free win today. Probably will try to fight through it as he is 4-1 and withdrawal means certain demotion to Juryo without 8 wins.
Leader: Abi, Aoiyama, Kotoshoho (5-0)
Key match tomorrow: Abi-Takakeisho. It’s the last bout of the day and while it’s still early, Takakeisho probably needs this one to stay in yusho and perhaps Yokozuna contention. It’s also a rematch of the November 2022 playoff that Abi won for his first top-tier championship.

Juryo:
Asanoyama (J12) beat Kaisho (J13)
Tsushimanada (J14) beat Takakento (J12)
Hakuyozan (J14) beat Shimazuumi (J12)
Shonannoumi (J13) beat Terutsuyoshi (J10)
Chiyosakae (J11) beat Hidenoumi (J8)
Kitanowaka (J8) beat Gonoyama (J10)
Shimanoumi (J8) beat Daishoho (J6)
Roga (J9) beat Churanoumi (J6)
Chiyonokuni (J7) beat Kotokuzan (J5)
Kinbozan (J5) beat Tochimusashi (J7)
Enho (J4) beat Daiamami (J2)
Tohakuryu (J4) beat Hokuseiho (J2)
Oshoma (J3) beat Bushozan (J1)
Atamifuji (J3) beat Akua (J1)
Leader: Asanoyama, Roga (5-0)
Of note: Although there were a couple of scares when it looked like he might go down, Asanoyama pulled out another win somehow and that’s his 4th straight 5-0 start. Only at the 1/3 mark but in the last 2 tournaments his 6th match of 7 resulted in his first and only loss. It’s not too early to begin wondering if he can go 15-0, although it almost certainly would not get him back to the top tier from J12. I think he projects to be between J2-J5 should he manage at least 12 wins, recent history suggests winning the championship with that win total or more would vault him up to J3, putting the top tier within reach for May. The Russian Roga continues to have his best tournament to date and looks to be a strong contender. Starting tomorrow we’ll see a Makushita man each day as a Juryo man goes to the top tier. Tomorrow it’ll be November Makushita Champion Tamashoho, who sits at Makushita 1 and is 2-1 so far. He gets to come up to face Hakuyozan.
Key matches tomorrow: Asanoyama-Roga, Kinbozan-Enho. There still will be 9 days left but the winner of the 5-0 matchup will undoubtedly be the yusho favorite as the only unbeaten. A playoff rematch would not be a surprise. The winner of the second match will stay one off the pace. Fan favorite Enho took the sound advice of stablemaster Miyagino, the former Yokozuna Hakuho, and has put on about 11-12 pounds of extra weight for this tournament and it’s had a positive impact on his results so far. He’s still the smallest man in Juryo at roughly 231 pounds, and the only man in the top 2 tiers that may be smaller (but not by very much) is Midorifuji. At this pace Enho could finally make his long-awaited return to the top tier (his career best rank is Maegashira 2).