Tag: wrestling

All-Japan 4/28/25 Results

All-Japan continued the Champions Carnival today in Kagawa.

Today’s event was held at Takamatsu Symbol Tower in Kagawa and will be available on demand on AJPW.TV at 6 PM PT/9 PM ET. There was no live broadcast.

The announced paid attendance was 330.

Match 1: Rei Saito, MUSASHI, Ryo Inoue & Naruki Doi (Independent/Freelancer) beat Rising Hayato, Atsuki Aoyagi, Dan Tamura & Taishin Nagao. Saito pinned Nagao after a chokeslam.

Champions Carnival Block A:
Match 2: Hideki Suzuki beat Takashi Yoshida.
Match 3: Shotaro Ashino beat Davey Boy Smith Jr. by submission.
Match 4: Jun Saito beat Xyon.

Match 5: Kento Miyahara, Ryuki Honda & Ren Ayabe beat Hokuto Omori, Kumaarashi & Madoka Kikuta. Ayabe pinned Omori after Des Roulette.

Champions Carnival Block B:
Match 6: Yuma Anzai beat MIke D. Vecchio.
Main Event: Yuma Aoyagi beat Aigle Blanc.

Standings-wise, Smith still leads Block A with 10 points but has only one match left while 3 of the 4 tied for 2nd with 8 points have 2 matches left. Kengo Mashimo only has one left in that group. The only one under 8 points not yet mathematically eliminated from contention is Kumaarashi at 6 points because he has 2 matches left-Ashino is also on 6 points but only has one match left and loses all tiebreakers to the 8 point group so he is out. Xyon is also out as is the pointless Yoshida. In Block B, Anzai & Kikuta are tied for the lead with 8 points but Kikuta has the advantage with 3 matches left against Anzai having only 2. Aoyagi, Honda & Vehhio are all on 6 points and still in it but Honda has 3 matches left and the others have just 2. Nobody is mathematically out of it yet, and despite being on only 4 points Omori still has 3 matches left so he has a way in as does Rei Saito who is in last at 2 points but with 4 matches to go. The top 2 in each block advance to the Semifinals.

The next event is tomorrow (tonight US time) at Okayama Convention Center in Okayama. There will be no live broadcast. On demand tomorrow night.

Sumo-May 2025 Banzuke Announced

It’s that time of the even month once again-the Japan Sumo Association has just announced the official Banzuke (rankings) for the May 2025 Grand Sumo Tournament. Here are the rankings for the top 2 tiers and other notes:

Makuuchi (top tier):
Yokozuna-Hoshoryu
Ozeki-Onosato (March Tournament Champion), Kotozakura
Sekiwake-Daieisho, Kirishima
Komusubi-Takayasu, Wakatakakage
Maegashira 1-Wakamotoharu, Oho
Maegashira 2-Abi, Gonoyama
Maegashira 3-Tamawashi-Hiradoumi
Maegashira 4-Takerufuji, Ichiyamamoto
Maegashira 5-Ura, Chiyoshoma
Maegashira 6-Oshoma, Tobizaru
Maegashira 7-Hakuoho, Churanoumi
Maegashira 8-Onokatsu, Kinbozan
Maegashira 9-Aonishiki, Midorifuji
Maegashira 10-Meisei, Shodai
Maegashira 11-Endo, Shishi
Maegashira 12-Atamifuji, Takanosho
Maegashira 13-Tokihayate, Sadanoumi
Maegashira 14-Kotoshoho, Roga
Maegashira 15-Ryuden, Shonannoumi
Maegashira 16-Kayo, Nishikigi
Maegashira 17-Tamashoho, Asakoryu
Maegashira 18-Tochitaikai
Notes: No changes at the top as expected, with Onosato going for Yokozuna promotion and Kotozakura back to being a full Ozeki, but a slight surprise at Sekiwake as Kirishima returns to the rank over March runner-up Takayasu, who lost in a playoff with a better record. The former Ozeki is back in Sanyaku though at Komusubi along with Wakatakakage, while despite a winning record Wakamotoharu misses out on Sanyaku and stays at Maegashira 1 alongside Oho, demoted from Sekiwake in his first attempt in Sanyaku. Daieisho is on Ozeki Watch again in May as he tries once more for promotion, probably needing a minimum of 13 wins for a chance at promotion or winning his second championship. Abi was demoted from Sanyaku to M2 while Iron Man Tamawashi climbs back up to M3 with Takerufuji right behind at M4. A Fighting Spirit Prize helped catapult Aonishiki up to M9 for his second top tier effort, while at the bottom Kayo & Tochitaikai make their top tier debuts this tournament alongside the returning Roga. Asakoryu & Nishikigi just managed to hang on to their spots leading to a very notable demotion…

Juryo:
Juryo 1-Mitakeumi, Kusano (March Juryo Champion)
Juryo 2-Hidenoumi, Fujiseiun
Juryo 3-Takarafuji, Shirokuma
Juryo 4-Hakuyozan, Kagayaki
Juryo 5-Nishikifuji, Wakaikari
Juryo 6-Hitoshi, Daiseizan
Juryo 7-Tomokaze, Kotoeiho
Juryo 8-Shimanoumi, Shiden
Juryo 9-Oshoumi, Tsurugisho
Juryo 10-Tohakuryu, Hatsuyama
Juryo 11-Kazekeno, Wakanosho
Juryo 12-Mitoryu, Nabatame
Juryo 13-Miyanokaze, Daiamami
Juryo 14-Mita, Mudoho
Notes: Said top tier demotion was Mitakeumi, completing a slow fall from Ozeki in 2022 to Juryo, down for the first time in nearly 10 years. And it looks like that one loss in his March championship effort made the difference between making the top tier and not making it for Kusano, he’s at J1 after a 14-1 debut effort at J14. Takarafuji also is demoted back to Juryo along with Shirokuma again, the former coming amidst rumors he may retire anytime now as he does have elder stock and can cash it in when he does, which suggests he and not former Yokozuna Terunofuji may take over Isegahama Beya after this tournament when the current stablemaster must retire in June. Nishikifuji joins his stablemate in being demoted to Juryo again, this time in large part due to injury. Hitoshi made a nice move up in his second Juryo effort and cracks the top half of the rankings. Newcomers Miyanokaze (former Miyagi), Mita & Mudoho round out the bottom of the rankings along with Mitoryu & Daiamami hanging on to their spots.

Lower tier notes: Kitanowaka was demoted from Juryo after missing March due to injury, he is Makushita 1 along with Akua. Hokutofuji was also demoted to Makushita for the first time in 9 years, raising questions about whether the Hakkaku prized pupil will continue his career or not. Enho made the expected big jump up the Makushita rankings although not quite what I expected, going from Ms30 in March to Ms10 this time, lowering the odds of a Juryo return in July, while after winning the Sandanme in his latest injury comeback Asanoyama shot up like a rocket to Ms14. After winning the Makushita championship in March, Oshoryu moved up from Ms28 to Ms2, on the doorstop of Juryo for the first time. The Sandanme once again is slimmer with only 80 ranks, down from the recent 90 after it was cut from 100. The Jonidan holds relatively steady with 106 rankings while the Jonokuchi sees an influx of debuting talent and expands considerably to 25 ranks with 50 total wrestlers.

Unfortunately there was also a death to report recently-Wakatozakura, a wrestler from Shikihide Beya, died earlier this month after complications from a medical condition at just 33. He had been competing for 17 years with a career record of 305-430-7 (win-loss-absent), almost exclusively in the Jonidan which he never promoted above. A number of wrestlers including Hoshoryu attended the services for Wakatozakura, whose real name was Tsuyoshi Sawada. He would have been ranked at Jonidan 72 in May after going 3-4 in March in his final tournament.

The May Tournament is 5/11-5/25 at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo. Advance tickets are already sold out. I will not be able to post daily results for at least the first 5-6 days of the tournament due to a trip to Japan starting this week (unfortunately not for the tournament).

All-Japan 4/27/25 Results

All-Japan continued the Champions Carnival today in Osaka.

Today’s event was held at Osaka Prefectural Gym 2 in Osaka and can be watched on demand on AJPW.TV.

The announced paid attendance was 950.

Match 1: MUSASHI & Atsuki Aoyagi beat Dan Tamura & Ryo Inoue. Aoyagi pinned Inoue after a moonsault press.

Match 2: Yuma Anzai, Ryuki Honda & Ren Ayabe beat Yuma Aoyagi, Re Saito & Naruki Doi (Independent/Freelancer). Anzai pinned Doi after Gimlet.

Champions Carnival:
Block B:
Match 3: Hokuto Omori beat Mike D. Vecchio.
Match 4: Madoka Kikuta beat Aigle Blanc.
Block A:
Match 5: Kumaarashi beat Hideki Suzuki.
Match 6: Shotaro Ashino beat Takashi Yoshida by submission.
Match 7: Kento Miyahara beat Xyon.
Main Event: Davey Boy Smith Jr. beat Jun Saito.

The next event is tomorrow at Takamatsu Symbol Tower in Kagawa. There will be no live broadcast. On demand later that day.

Pro Wrestling NOAH 4/27/25 Results

Pro Wrestling NOAH continued the SUNNY VOYAGE 2025 Tour today in Sendai.

Today’s event was held at Sendai Pit in Sendai and can be watched on demand on WRESTLE UNIVERSE.

The announced paid attendance was 359.

Match 1: Eita & Knull beat Daiki Odashima & Bryce Hansen. Knull pinned Hansen after a chokeslam.

Match 2: Hajime Ohara beat Black Menso-re.

Match 3: Mohammed Yone & Atsushi Kotoge beat Masa Kitamiya & Shuhei Taniguch. Kotoge pinned Taniguchi after Trance Rave.

Match 4: Takashi Sugiura & Kenoh beat Daga & Owadasan. Kenoh pinned Owadasan after SKS.

Match 5; OZAWA, Tetsuya Endo & Tadasuke beat Manabu Soya, HAYATA & YO-HEY. Tadasuke pinned Soya with a small package.

Match 6: Jack Morris beat Ulka Sasaki.

Main EventL Kaito Kiyomiya, Galeno, Alejandro & Kai Fujimura beat Naomichi Marufuji, Saxon Huxley, AMAKUSA & Junta Miyawaki. Kiyomiya pinned Miyawaki after a diving elbow drop.

The next event is MEMORIAL VOYAGE 2025 in KOKUGIKAN Saturday at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo. Live streaming on WRESTLE UNIVERSE in English only will begin Friday at 11 PM PT/2 AM ET. This will be a live and exclusive ABEMA broadcast in Japan. I will just miss out on being able to try and attend in person because I arrive in Tokyo that day, but around the time the event is finishing up (arriving around 7 PM Japan time, the event is a 3 PM start, plus I will be en route to Shinagawa which is who knows how far from Ryogoku).

New Japan 4/27/25 Results

New Japan continued the Road To WRESTLING DONTAKU Tour today in Yamaguchi.

Today’s event was held at KDDI Ishin Hall in Yamaguchi and can be watched on demand on New Japan World.

The announced paid attendance was 1129

Match 1: Masatora Yasuda & Ryusuke Taguchi beat Daiki Nagai & Katsuya Murashima. Taguchi beat Nagai with Oh My & Gar Ankle.

Match 2: Francesco Akira & Great-O-Khan beat Jado & El Phantasmo. Akira pinned Jado after Fireball.

Match 3: TAKA Michinoku, Taichi, Tomohiro Ishii, Shota Umino & Yuya Uemura beat BUSHI, Hiromu Takahashi, Shingo Takagi, Yota Tsuji & Tetsuya Naito. Taichi pinned BUSHI after Holy Emperor’s Cross Mausoleum.

Match 4: Taiji Ishimori, Clark Connors, Drilla Moloney & Gabriel Kidd beat Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Sho, Ren Narita & SANADA in 63 seconds by DQ. Kanemaru DQ’d. EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi interference. Which led to…

Match 5: Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Sho, Ren Narita, SANADA, Yujiro Takahashi & EVIL beat Taiji Ishimori, Clark Connors, Dilla Moloney, Gabriel Kidd, David Finlay & Gedo. Takahashi pinned Gedo. This was to have been Finlay & Gedo vs. Takahashi & EVIL but changed to a 12-man match after the prior match result.

Match 6: Master Wato, Yoh, Boltin Oleg, Toru Yano & Hiroshi Tanahashi beat Kosei Fujita, Robbie Eagles, Hartley Jackson (Independent/Freelancer), Ryohei Oiwa & Zack Sabre Jr. Oleg pinned Jackson after Kamikaze.

Main Event: El Desperado, YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto beat Jacob Austin Youn, Templario & Callum Newman. YOSHI-HASHI pinned Young after Shoto.

The next event is “Wrestling Hizen Country” Tuesday at Saga Arena in Saga. Live streaming on New Japan World will begin at 1 AM PT/4 AM ET.

Stardom 4/27/25 Results (Updated x2)

STARDOM GRAND QUEENDOM 2025, the promotion’s biggest event of the year, is now in the books.

Today’s event was held at Yokohama Arena in Yokohama and can be watched on demand as a PPV on Stardom World in Japanese and English until 5/4 for 4400 Japanese yen (around $30 US). You can also watch the first 2 matches FOR FREE on YouTube.

The announced paid attendance was 7503. That’s probably around 60% full based on the setup-the venue’s normal full capacity is 17,000 but about 1/3 was blocked off under the setup so a legit sellout would have been in the 11,000-12,000 range.

There were last-minute changes to the card due to Konami being pulled off the event. The always-vague poor health. There’s really been an issue across Japanese promotions the last couple months. Kinda worrisome for me as I will be in Japan for the first time in a week.

Pre-show match: HANAKO won a 15 woman battle royal, last eliminating Miyu Amasaki. As a result, HANAKO will get a chance at a management title in Stardom.

Match 1: Future Of Stardom Champion Hina beat Ranna Yagami to retain the title. V2 for Hina.

Match 2: Sayaka Kurara beat Thekla. As a result, Thekla must join Cosmic Angels. Had Thekla won, she would have gotten a match with President Taro Okada. Lucky Okada.

Match 3: Yumiko Hotta (Independent/Freelancer) beat Rina by submission.

Match 4: Meiko Satomura, Mika Iwata & YUNA (Sendai Girls) beat Natsupoi, Saori Anou & Aya Sakura. Satomura pinned Sakura after Satomura Special.

Match 5: In a No DQ match, Suzu Suzuki beat Mei Seira.

Match 6: Sendai Girls World Champion Chihiro Hashimoto beat Maika to retain the title. V1 for Hashimoto.

Match 7: Goddesses Of Stardom Champions Hanan & Saya Iida beat Hazuki & Koguma to retain the titles. Hanan pinned Hazuki with a backdrop hold. V3 for the champs.

Match 8: Syuri beat IWGP Women’s Champion Mayu Iwatani to win the title. Syuri becomes the 4th IWGP Women’s Champion. This is UPSET ALERT!!! just because it ends what will probably be the most dominant reign even though it was only the third as Iwatani held the title for 2 years with 9 successful defenses. Who really might be upset now, pun intended, is Sareee. Possibly next for a title shot, it was made clear in the Japanese media recently she wanted to challenge Iwatani for the belt after this. Not happening.

Match 9: Wonder Of Stardom Champion Starlight Kid beat AZM to retain the title.V3 for Kid. As a result, Kid is now the “official” leader of Neo Genesis.

Main Event: In a Loser Complete Retirement Match, World Of Stardom Champion Saya Kamitani beat Tam Nakano to retain the title. V2 for Kamitani. As a result, Nakano must retire. The best possible outcome after this last year which made me just about give up on Stardom because of how Nakano was treated during and after the 2024 5STAR GP after coming back from injury. This is redemption. Tam Road is over, dead and buried. LONG LIVE THE PHENEX QUEEN! If you also believe what some media outlets said, Nakano’s retirement may not be permanent-there were hints that longtime wrestler Shinobu Kandori, also the owner and promoter of the (very small) LLPW-X promotion, was interested in signing Nakano if this happened. Stay tuned…until then, a new era in Stardom begins now. Embrace The H.A.T.E.

The next event is Tuesday at Fukuyama Big Rose in Hiroshima. Broadcast plans TBA.

UPDATE: Thekla will not be joining Cosmic Angels. Her contract has been terminated due to not paying a fine from her December suspension and staff assaults yesterday.

Next up for Kamitani: Kurara. That match will happen on 5/11 at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.

UPDATE 2: It gets even worse for Stardom…now Mayu Iwatani has left the promotion effective today (4/28). She had spent her entire career with the promotion but now that she no longer has the IWGP Women’s Championship she is moving on.

Dragon Gate 4/26/25 Results

Dragon Gate continued The Gate Of Passion 2025 Tour today in Osaka.

Today’s event was held at Osaka Prefectural Gym 2 in Osaka and can be watched on demand on DRAGONGATE NETWORK. You can also watch the first match FOR FREE on YouTube

The announced paid attendance was 743.

Match 1: Susumu Yokosuka & Kagetora beat Kzy & Strong Machine J. Yoksouka pinned J after Jumbo Wins!

Match 2: Ultimo Dragon, Masaaki Mochizuki, Luis Mante & Toru Owashi (DDT) beat Ben-K, Riiita, JACKY KAMEI & Mochizuki Junior. Mochizuki pinned Riiita after Twister.

Match 3: Open The Brave Gate Championship Tournament Semifinals: U-T beat Ryoya Tanaka.

Match 4: Open The Brave Gate Championship Tournament Semifinals: Homare beat Hyo. As a result, the Finals will be U-T vs. Homare for the title. That match will happen at DEAD OR ALIVE 2025 on 5/5.

Match 5: Jason Lee, KAI & ISHIN beat YAMATO, Dragon Kid & Naruki Doi. Pee beat YAMATO with a rear naked choke.

Match 6: Gianni Valetta beat Don fujii.

Main Event: Yuki Yoshioka & Dragon Dia beat Shun Skywalker & Kota Minoura. Dia pinned Minoura after Double Cork.

The next event is tomorrow at Hiroshima Sangyo Kaikan in Hiroshima. There will be no live or on demand broadcast.

DDT 4/26/25 Results

With everyone who went the US for The Collective now back in Japan, DDT headed to Hokkaido for a weekend doubleheader starting today.

Today’s event was held at Sapporo Sun Plaza in Hokkaido and will be available on demand on WRESTLE UNIVERSE Tuesday. There was no live broadcast.

The paid attendance was not announced.

Match 1: Daisuke Sasaki, Hideki Okatani & Illusion beat KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Champions Shunma Katsumata, Kazuma Sumi & Yuni to win the titles. Sasaki, Okatani & Illusion become the 58th KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Champions. Illusion pinned Yuni.

Match 2: In the first half of a Sapporo Marathon Style Death Match, Akito vs. Kazuki Hirata went to a 4-4 draw after 10 minutes. Scoring was 1 point for pinfalls, submissions or countouts, 1 point for putting on Hirata’s signature sunglasses, 5 points for doing the whole dance wearing said glasses and -2 points for a DQ. The second half of the match is tomorrow. Most points after that wins.

Match 3: Jun Akiyama, Koji Yoshida & Daichi Sato beat Kazusada Higuchi, Koji Doi & Yuki Ishida. Akiyama pinned Ishida after Exploder.

Match 4: MAO & KANON beat Yukio Naya & Yuya Koroku. KANON pinned Koroku after a deformed face buster.

Match 5: Danshoku Dieno beat HARASHIMA.

Main Event: Chris Brookes & Takeshi Masada beat Yuki Ueno & To-y. Brookes pinned To-y after Praying Mantis Bomb.

The next event is tomorrow (tonight US time). Daisuke Sasaki is off this event due to participation in an event at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo There will be no live broadcast.

Tokyo Joshi Pro 4/26/25 Results

With almost everyone who went to the US a couple weeks ago back home safely in Japan (Miyu Yamashita & Maki Itoh remain overseas), Tokyo Joshi Pro resumed the spring house show tour today with their first visit to Hokkaido since before the coronavirus pandemic began. It also marked the official new beginning for Yuki Arai as she officially began her full-time pro wrestling career today. No more SKE48 in her intro, now she is officially Genius Girl.

Today’s event was held at Sapporo Sun Plaza in Hokkaido and will be available on demand on WRESTLE UNIVERSE Tuesday. There was no live broadcast.

The announced paid attendance was 281, a full house/near sellout.

Match 1: HIMAWARI beat Chika Nanase.

Match 2: Kaya Toribami beat Mahiro Kiryu & Uta Takami in a 3-way by pinning Takami.

Match 3: Raku & Pom Harajuku beat Kira Summer & Ivy Steele. Raku beat Steele with a front neck lock.

Match 4: Yuki Aino beat Yoshiko Hasegawa.

Match 5: Wakana Uehara, Yuki Kamifuku & Mifu Ashida beat Haru Kazashiro, Toga & Shino Suzuki. Kamifuku pinned Suzuki after Fameasser.

Match 6: Shoko Nakajima & Hyper Misao beat Rika Tatsumi & Neko Haruna. Misao pinned Haruna after Hypami Returns.

Main Event: Mizuki, Suzume & Arisu Endo meat Miu Watanabe, Yuki Arai & Moka Miyamoto. Mizuki pinned Miyamoto after a diving foot stomp.

The next event is 5/3 at Kasukabe Fureai Cube in Saitama. There will be no live broadcast.

Pro Wrestling NOAH 4/26/25 Results

Pro Wrestling NOAH continued the SUNNY VOYAGE 2025 Tour today in Yamagata.

Today’s event was held at Yamagata Big Wing in Yamagata and will be available on demand on WRESTLE UNIVERSE Tuesday. There was no live broadcast.

The announced paid attendance was 315.

Match 1: Mohammed Yone, Atsushi Kotoge & Hajime Ohara beat Kai Fujimura, Daiki Odashima & Knull. Kotoge pinned Odashima after Stuka Splash.

Match 2: Shuhei Taniguchi beat Black Menso-re.

Match 3: AMAKUSA & Junta Miyawaki beat Tadasuke & Owadasan. AMAKUSA pinned Owadasan after Opening Of The Country.

Match 4: YO-HEY & HAYATA beat Eita & Bryce Hansen. YO-HEY pinned Hansen after a dropkick.

Match 5: Kenoh beat Daga.

Match 6: OZAWA, Tetsuya Endo & Jack Morris beat Takashi Sugiura, Jack Morris & Ulka Sasaki. Endo pinned Sugiura after Exploder.

Main Event: Naomichi Marufuji, Manabu Soya & Saxon Huxley beat Kaito Kiyomiya, Galeno & Alejandro. Marufuji pinned Alejandro after Shin Torah.

The next event is tomorrow at Sendai Pit in Sendai. Live streaming on WRESTLE UNIVERSE will begin at midnight PT/3 AM ET.