Toru Owashi, Danshoku Dino, Kazuki Hirata, Antonio Honda & Gota Hihashi vs. Yusuke Okada, Yukio Naya, Yuki Iino, Hideki Okatani & Yuya Koroku
A baptism by fire for young Yuya Koroku, who became a full-fledged DDT roster member today when his head was inserted deeply inside Danshoku Dino’s butt hole. Welcome to the big leagues, kid. *1/2
HARASHIMA vs. Makoto Oishi – King of DDT (Round 1)
This reminded me of HARASHIMA’s recent tussle with Sakaguchi, except better. Same kind of shooty sparring match vibe, all matwork and leglock reversals. Oishi’s creative mind was a bonus here, as he kept finding clever new ways to trap the Harasheemster in the Fujiyama kneelock (including a very cool leg-hooked Flatliner thing). HARASHIMA is always fascinating to watch in this environment – his legitimacy still makes him stand out from the Takeshita’s and Endo’s of the DDT universe. Plus, I’m always up for a good ol’ Somato outta’ nowhere finish. ***
Yukio Sakaguchi vs. Yuji Hino – King of DDT (Round 1)
Welcome to the Slug Festival. On the main stage today, a Yakuza shooter taking on a sarcastic beefcake in a fight to the death. Loved everything about this flesh-ripping banger loaded with fun character work. Hino trying to get cute with the leg chops early on and eating a barrage of kicks told the whole story. Big man’s been munching on easy prey since returning to DDT – easily dispatching Yuki Iino throughout their midcard feud and fucking around with Sauna Club the rest of the time. Excluding the tag league, Sakaguchi was Hino’s first real challenge and the burly chop-thrower had to step up his game. They beat the living hell out of each other with their respective weapons (chops and kicks), Yukio even partaking in the always tender NO HANDS CHALLENGE. Beyond all the hard shots, the match followed a tight shooter vs. power fighter inner logic that remained compelling from bell to bell. Total blast. ***3/4
Soma Takao vs. MAO – King of DDT (Round 1)
A surprisingly fun time that played to both wrestlers’ strengths and sent the right guy off to the second round. Soma’s heeling can be a drag in certain contexts, but it totally worked here as he mostly focused on grumpy veteran shtick and put some extra mustard on all of his forearms. MAO more than held up his end by playing the consummate babyface, working the crowd like a pro during his comebacks and peppering the match with all sorts of wild high spots. So much cool 90’s lucharesu throwback offense from this high-flying dork – first putting respect on Super Delfin’s name by throwing out a naaaasty Osaka Rinkai Upper and then going full murder with a 2nd-rope Michinoku Driver II finish. ***1/2
Konosuke Takeshita vs. Akito – King of DDT (Round 1)
Much better than the uneventful match these two had during the D-Oh Grand Prix last year. Takeshita is always down to just try shit, so here he tried his hand at the Akito-style ground grapple-fest and it went pretty well. No other major league Pure-O-Resew Ace would bother to bust out that sweet Gory Special pinning combo. Some solid matwork gave way to a bunch of crafty counters and Scorpion deathlockery. I dug it. Both guys pointing skywards while doing the Scorpion seemed to be a reference to SOMETHING but I am at a loss. Please hit me up on Twitter with all the answers. Anyway, some fine technical wrasslin’ action. The right kind of match to introduce Take’s new chickenwing thingy. ***1/4
Daisuke Sasaki vs. Yuki Ueno – King of DDT (Round 1)
Ueno’s been busting his ass so much lately that I don’t really mind him getting taken out of the tournament early. Gotta give the kid a break at some point. Plus, they found a somewhat reasonable way to protect him in defeat. I am of course referring to: shenaniganz. **
Jun Akiyama vs. Shunma Katsumata – King of DDT (Round 1)
Most of Akiyama’s DDT run has been about him bringing his no non-sense All Japan classicism into foreign indie territory. Like the title defense against Dino, this fun little number turned the tables on Uncle Jun and threw him right into unhinged Dramatic Dream Team insanity. Katsumata, the world’s most powerful Little Rascal, unloaded all of his Lego pranks and assorted babyface comebacks at the champ and it made for one hell of a fun time. Ever the professional, Akiyama struck the perfect balance between playing along with the wackiness and putting the trickster right back in his place when it was time to do so. Honestly, I would’ve taken a lot more of this. ***1/4
Kazusada Higuchi vs. Naomi Yoshimura – King of DDT (Round 1)
These guys absolutely tore into each other throughout one of my favorite matches from last year and it didn’t take long for them to get right back into it. My friends, chops were thrown and asses were kicked. Yoshimura got to lead a hefty chunk of the match and it offered a pretty satisfying glimpse at his progress. Not only did he look confident manhandling a bruiser like The Gooch, but he actively contributed a ton of quality content. The Zeus-style bear hug suplex ruled and so did that chinlock spot where he just enthusiastically started bashing on Higuchi. I have always been PRO-FACE CLAW, but the way Yoshimura reacted to it here brought it up to another level. First with the panicked selling and then desperately trying to power his way out of it – beautiful meathead wrasslin’. ***1/2
Tetsuya Endo vs. Chris Brookes – King of DDT (Round 1)
I was ready to throw all the stars at this before they went overboard with the indie overkill non-sense during the ending stretch. Still, probably the most focused Chris Brookes match since his arrival in DDT and one of Endo’s better 2021 performances. As much as Brookes likes to embrace different styles (hardcore wrestling, comedy, etc.), the quintessentially British arm work is what he does best. His persistence and clever cut-offs anchored the match in solid fashion, making a compelling babyface out of brooding high-flyer Endo. The Damnation heart rob brought the selling and timed his comebacks really well for most of this. I was on the edge of my seat when Brookes cranked up the dickishness near the end, but the Destroyer-heavy finish and awkward mouth headbutt counters couldn’t quite live up to all the tension they had built up. Nonetheless, a frequently very, very good wrestling match. ***3/4
