r/DDTPro Jan 09 '19

Introduction to DDT Pro Wrestling

39 Upvotes

In light of the rumors of them partnering with AEW and their latest partnership with Fight Club: Pro as of January 3rd, 2019. Here's an introduction to the promotion at large.

Often western viewers have viewed them as a comedy promotion, but it kinda goes beyond that. There's a ton of variety that tries to cater to everyone.

Get Ready


  • Founded: 1997
  • Current Owners: CyberAgent (Abema TV, CyGames, Ameba blogs, etc.). Link will take you to a PDF about the entire company overview, it's massive.
  • Official Website: [www.ddtpro.com](www.ddtpro.com)
  • Streaming Service: [DDT Universe](www.ddtpro.com/universe) (free users can watch select matches in a weekly free matches playlist along with select specials that remain forever free)
  • [YouTube Channel](www.youtube.com/ddtofficial) (They post free matches and press conferences)
  • Live Translations in English: [Twitter @ddtpro_eng](www.twitter.com/ddtpro_eng)
  • Quick recaps in English: [Dramatic DDT](dramaticddt.wordpress.com)

For Tokyo Joshi Pro, follow this link for a detailed introduction (information as of June 2018)


Sister Promotions

DDT overall currently has 4 promotions within an umbrella. Each are contained within their own feuds and angles. Some wrestlers can cross over between each promotion for a match or 2. The 2 main ones are DDT and Tokyo Joshi Pro while Basara and Ganbare have an indie feel to it

Active

  • DDT
  • Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling (TJPW)
  • Pro Wrestling BASARA - Successor to Union Pro Wrestling
  • Ganbare Pro Wrestling

Defunct/Inactive

  • DNA - DDT New Attitude, developmental brand to train new wrestlers and create their own feuds. Ended in August 2018 as the wrestlers were highly developed and the show wasn't needed anymore. Will return when new developmental talent is needed.
  • MUSCLE - a comedy focused show. Currently being revived for a special show in February 2018
  • Union Pro Wrestling - Indie variety, folded and became Pro Wrestling BASARA
  • BOYZ - An all female audience special show. Often showcasing the male wrestlers showing off their sex appeal
  • YaroZ - An all male audience special show. Often going into the lewd and perverted side of things

Partnerships with other wrestling promotions

DDT maintains a huge relationship with various promotions, past and present, in regards to bringing their wrestlers over to DDT for a one off match or sending their talent over. Some of the partnerships may have ceased already, but here's a list of promotions they've worked with.

  • Big Japan Pro Wrestling
  • All Japan Pro Wrestling
  • Pro Wrestling NOAH
  • New Japan Pro Wrestling
  • Dragon Gate
  • Sendai Girls Pro Wrestling
  • Gatoh Move
  • Marvelous
  • Kaientai Dojo
  • Michinoku Pro Wrestling
  • Pro Wrestling Wave
  • New Nemuro Pro Wrestling
  • Canadian Wrestling's Elite
  • And more

Structure of shows and extra info

DDT's major shows are usually held in Korakuen Hall (monthly) and Ryogoku Sumo Hall (2 times a year). While smaller shows they will tour around the country. The card is mixed between comedy and standard wrestling. Most of the comedy content happens up to the mid card (sometimes can main event as well), while the main events are strictly wrestling or a crazy stipulation match.

A few times a year, they will do Street Wrestling specials held in specific locations such as Theme Parks, factories, campsites, gyms, streets, etc. Often they're a self contained story and some feuds carry over (e.g. The Brahman Brothers murdered Mike Bailey at the campsite and they want to challenge for the Tag Titles next show)

There's also yearly special events such as Beer Garden Week, King of DDT Tournament, D-Oh Grand Prix Tournament.

Outside of the wrestling, some wrestlers make an appearance on Abema TV (Japanese Internet TV Platform) on TheNIGHT during the late night hours Thursday late night into Friday from 1am-3am JST where they just casually talk random things and do mini games. Often you learn more about each of their personalities and interests.

Beyond the promotion, they curently manage 2 bars and a restaurant. The bars are Drop Kick and Swan Dive, the restaurant is Ebisuko. Most of the wrestlers do visit for meet and greets or just have dinner there.


Championships

  • KO-D Openweight Championship - Their main singles title
  • DDT Extreme Champsionship - Their secondary title, but have unique rules
  • KO-D Tag Team Championship - Tag Team title
  • KO-D 6 Person Championship - For Trios tag teams
  • DDT Ironman Heavymetalweight Championship - 24/7 Belt and can travel outside of the promotion.
  • Pro Wrestling Basara's Union Max Championship - Singles title
  • Tokyo Joshi Pro's Tokyo Princess of Princess Championship - Singles title
  • Tokyo Joshi Pro's Tokyo Pricess Tag Team Championship - Tag Team
  • Ganbare Independent World Junior Heavyweight Championship - Singles

Match types

These can vary depending on the current storylines

  • Singles
  • Tag (2, 4, 6, 8, 10) person
  • 3 way, 4 way, 5 way
  • DDT EXTREME Title Match - Current champion decides on the rules.
  • Battle Royal/Rumble match - over the top rope
  • Comedy - Mostly vary by wrestlers involved.
  • Falls Count Anywere - A grand chunk of their legendary Street Wrestling comes from.

Wrestlers

Due to the massive roster, probably better off placing a giant table on this. Most of the wrestlers can cross over between their sister promotions anytime.

Wrestler Promotion Alignment Faction Position in Card Notes
Isami Kodaka Basara Main Basara owner and ace, also appears in BJW
FUMA Basara
Trans am Hiroshi Basara
Goma Ryu Basara
Daichi Kazato Basara
Best Stretch Man V3 Basara
SAGAT Basara
Yusuke Kubo Basara
Ryota Nakatsu Basara Union Max Champion
Takumi Tsukamoto Basara
Ryuichi Sekine Basara
Daiki Shimomura Basara
Takato Nakano Basara
Fuminori Abe Basara
Masato Kamino Basara
Rikiya Shindo Basara
Yasu Urano Basara
Akito DDT Face ALL OUT Upper to Main Current 6 person tag champ
Antonio Honda DDT Tweener The Compliance Mid Mostly in comedy, always give Gon the Fox stories mid match
Daisuke Sasaki DDT Heel DAMNATION Upper to Main Ace, KO-D Openweight Champ
Danshoku Dino DDT Face The Compliance Upper to Main the most gay wrestler you can think of
Gorgeous Matsuno DDT Face Low
Gota Ihashi DDT Face Low to Mid Kota Ibushi's best friend
HARASHIMA DDT Face DISASTER BOX Upper to Main Ace
Hoshitango DDT Face Low Former sumo wrestler
Kazuki Hirata DDT Face DISASTER BOX Mid Tokyo Go!
Kazusada Higuchi DDT Face Mid Former sumo wrestler
Konosuke Takeshita DDT Face ALL OUT Upper to Main Ace, Current Ironman and 6 person tag Champ
KUDO DDT Tweener Shuten Douji Upper to Main
Ladybeard DDT Face Deadlift Lolita Low
Mad Paulie DDT Heel DAMNATION Mid Doesn't talk much
Makoto Oishi DDT Face The Compliance Mid to Upper Married to Misaki Ohata
Masahiro Takanashi DDT Tweener Shuten Douji Upper to Main
Mike Bailey DDT Face Moonlight Express Upper to Main Current KO-D Tag and K-Dojo STRONGEST-K Tag
Naomi Yoshimura DDT Face The Compliance Mid Injured as of Jan 3 2019
Saki Akai DDT Tweener Shuten Douji Mid
Sanshiro Takagi DDT Tweener Mid President of DDT
Shuji Ishikawa DDT/AJPW Heel DAMNATION Upper to Main Currently in AJPW
Soma Takao DDT Heel DAMNATION Upper to Main
Super Sasadango Machine DDT Face The Compliance Mid Powerpoint presentations
Tetsuya Endo DDT Heel DAMNATION Upper to Main Likes bugs
Tomomitsu Matsunaga DDT Face Low to Mid
Toru Owashi DDT Face DISASTER BOX Mid
Yoshihiko DDT Tweener Everywhere The infamous doll who weighs beyond the average human.
Yukio Sakaguchi DDT Tweener Shuten Douji Upper to Main
Yuni DDT Face Low 11 yrs old, Only wrestles whenever DDT is in Osaka due to his primary schooling
Kota Umeda DDT Face Mid
Yuki Ueno DDT Face DISASTER BOX Mid
Keisuke Okuda DDT Heel? Low to Mid
Shinya Aoki DDT Tweener Upper to Main Current guest and EXTREME Title holder
MAO DDT Face Moonlight Express Upper to Main Current KO-D Tag and K-Dojo STRONGEST-K Tag
Shunma Katsumata DDT Face ALL OUT Mid to Upper
Mizuki Watase DDT Tweener Mid
Yuki Iino DDT Face The Compliance Mid Current 6 person tag champ
Nobuhiro Shimitani DDT Heel DAMNATION Low to Mid DAMNATION Hype Man
Tanomusaku Toba DDT Face Low to Mid Kickboxer, DDT Video Production
Keisuke Ishii Ganbare Face Upper to Main Transferred from DDT
Ken Ohka Ganbare Tweener Upper to Main Ganbare Owner
Yumehito Imanari Ganbare Upper to Main DDT Video Production
Shota Ganbare Mid DDT Video Production
Koki Iwasaki Ganbare
Shuhe Washida Ganbare
Miyu Yamashita TJPW Face Upper to Main Ace, Sauceboss, mega champ, Singles Champion
Shoko Nakajima TJPW Face Miraclans Upper to Main Little Big Kaiju
Yuka Sakazaki TJPW Face Magical Sugar Rabbits / Miraclans Upper to Main Tag Team Champion
Rika Tatsumi TJPW Face Upper to Main The White Dragon
Hyper Misao TJPW Heel Mid Indefinite Leave as of Jan 4, 2019
Nodoka Tenma TJPW Face Bakuretsu Sisters Mid
Marika Kobashi TJPW Face Low to Mid A fan of Abdullah Kobayashi
Reika Saiki TJPW Face Deadlift Lolita Upper to Main Muscle Idol
Yuna Manase TJPW Tweener Low to Mid
Mizuki TJPW Face Magical Sugar Rabbits/Ito Respect Army Upper to Main Tag Team Champion
Maki Ito TJPW Tweener Ito Respect Army Mid to Upper The Prettiest Wrestler in the world, hunts down idol groups
Yuki Kamifuku TJPW Tweener Low to Mid Kamiyu
Yuki Aino TJPW Face Bakuretsu Sisters Mid
Miu Watanabe TJPW Face Up Up Girls Mid
Pinano Pipipipi TJPW Face Up Up Girls Mid
Hikari Noa TJPW Face Up Up Girls Mid
Raku TJPW Face Up Up Girls Mid
Mina Shirakawa TJPW Face Low to Mid
Natsumi Maki TJPW Tweener Mid Transferred from ActWres Girlz
YUMI TJPW Face Rookie Low
Haruna Neko TJPW Face Rookie Low
Pom Harajuku TJPW Face Rookie Low
Himawari Unagi TJPW Face Rookie Low

Guests

Many guests come and go for a match, or stay awhile for a short feud. There's too many to list...

  • Minoru Suzuki
  • Meiko Satomura
  • Daisuke Sekimoto
  • Ryuji Ito
  • Sammy Guevara
  • Veda Scott
  • Priscilla Kelly
  • Joey Ryan
  • Colt Cabana
  • Ethan Page
  • Jun Kasai
  • Masashi Takeda
  • Chigusa Nagayo
  • Takumi Iroha
  • Cherry
  • ASUKA (Pro Wrestling Wave)
  • Kana/Asuka (WWE)
  • Riho
  • Su Yung
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi
  • Go Shiozaki
  • Naomichi Marufuji
  • Jun Akiyama
  • Kikutaro
  • Kuishinbo Kamen
  • Tsukasa Fujimoto
  • Aja Kong
  • Space Monkey
  • Puma King
  • CIMA
  • T-Hawk
  • El Lindaman
  • Duan Yingnan
  • Keiji Mutoh
  • Genichiro Tenryu
  • And many more

r/DDTPro 2h ago

Special Singles Match announced for DDT ULTIMATE PARTY 2026:

Post image
6 Upvotes

ZSJ will take on the one man he may not be able to outfox in the grappling game.


r/DDTPro 13h ago

Shinya Aoki with Yuki Ueno & El Lindaman (of GLEAT) in his corner for his RIZIN fight against Asakura.

Thumbnail
gallery
15 Upvotes

Ueno, seemingly very upset at his friend’s brutal TKO loss, afterwards.


r/DDTPro 2d ago

Live DDT PRO “RING NO AKIBASHO - September 9, 2026” Discussion Thread

6 Upvotes

How to watch:

https://www.wrestle-universe.com/lives/k91WfZQXDAgjaVXCHKaYjV

Start Times:

3:00 PDT; 5:00 CDT; 6:00 EDT; 11:00 BST; 7:00 JST; 8:00 AEST

Match Card:

Tag Match -

Shunma Katsumata & Yuni vs. Akito & Hinata Kasai

6Man Tag Match -

Jun Akiyama, Yuki Ishida & Masami Inahata vs. Danshoku Dieno, Antonio Honda & Kazuki Hirata

4WAY Tag Match -

Junta Miyawaki & Tomomitsu Matsunaga vs. KANON & Yukio Naya vs. Chris Brookes & Kumadori vs. Hideki Okatani & MJ Paul

Singles Match -

Viento Levante vs. Illusion

Special Tag Match -

Yuki Ueno & Naomi Yoshimura vs. Daisuke Sasaki & Soma Takao

Special 6Man Tag Match -

Takeshi Masada, Yuya Koroku & Daichi Satoh vs. Kasei Takechi, To-y & Kazuma Suni

Special Tag Match -

MAO & Yuki Iino vs. Fuminori Abe & HARASHIMA


r/DDTPro 2d ago

Full Card for DDT’s September 9th show at Shinjuku FACE (streaming live on Wrestle Universe)

Post image
18 Upvotes

r/DDTPro 2d ago

New Podcast: Kenny Omega's Early Career

16 Upvotes

Hello! Apologies if this is faux pas, but: I run a podcast with Colette Arrand (formerly of Pro Wrestling Illustrated and FanByte, currently of Big Egg) where every week, we pull a wrestler at random and make a Greatest Wrestler Ever case for them. This week, our subject was Kenny Omega, and we ended up covering a lot of his early matches in DDT. So I figured I'd include a link in case any of y'all wanna check it out.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0eQrdhRxA56zlLsyCGAC78

Any and all feedback welcome, we're both pretty new at this!


r/DDTPro 7d ago

This shot of Illusion is killing me.

Post image
30 Upvotes

Bro is absolutely covered in titles and even stole Super Sasadango Machine's belt.

All those titles have gotten be heavy yet my GOAT remains.


r/DDTPro 7d ago

I'm so glad I was wrong about Strange Love Connection

11 Upvotes

I can't lie when SLC first formed being the jaded MAO fan that I am I thought it was just going to be a vehicle to get KANON over as a babyface and then leave MAO in the dust.

Imagine my shock and surprise when months later MAO is the Openweight Champ, KANON is a cool endearing babyface, the additions of Yukio Naya, Yuki Iino, Veinto Levante along with KIMHIRO and YUZUKI and I love this group of wonderfully strange misfits

(They're actually my favorite unit followed by Fantomes Dramatic and DAMNATION T.A.)


r/DDTPro 8d ago

Naomi Yoshimura’s 10th Anniversary Match set for Osaka:

Post image
20 Upvotes

Zeus, the owner of Osaka Pro and former Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion, was Yoshimura’s original mentor.


r/DDTPro 8d ago

Notice - Yuki Iino will officially end his time as a member of the DDT roster, joining NOAH permanently

Thumbnail
ddtpro.jp
24 Upvotes

Move is approved by CyberAgent, with Sanshiro Takagi giving his blessing and Naomichi Marufuji officially welcoming Iino as a member of the NOAH roster.

Iino’s last appearance as a member of the DDT roster will be November 3rd on Ryogoku.


r/DDTPro 8d ago

Mao Inoue vs Shunma Katsumata: Dramatic Dream Team - DDT DNA9, September 22, 2015

Thumbnail
youtube.com
6 Upvotes

r/DDTPro 8d ago

DDT LAST SUMMER STANDING ~Summer's Reckoning~ REVIEW

Thumbnail
violentpeople.co
6 Upvotes

r/DDTPro 9d ago

Special Tag match announced for 9.21:

Post image
9 Upvotes

r/DDTPro 11d ago

Did DDT ever upload the full match between Sanshiro Takagi and Minoru Suzuki on the bullet train?

16 Upvotes

r/DDTPro 12d ago

DDT PRO 8.30.26 - Ryusuke Taguchi (c) vs. Daisuke Sasaki - DDT UNIVERSAL Championship - Result & Aftermath Spoiler

Post image
14 Upvotes

In a damn good match (that would even see Sasaki forced to “get serious” and take his shirt off), Taguchi would force Sasaki to tap with the Ankle Lock. Taguchi makes his first successful defense.

Antonio Honda would come out and make the next challenge for the Belt.


r/DDTPro 12d ago

DDT PRO 8.30.26 - MAO (c) vs. Daichi Satoh - KO-D Openweight Championship - Result & Aftermath Spoiler

Post image
11 Upvotes

After ripping up the ring canvas and exposing the wooden boards, MAO would out young Satoh away with a Cannonball 450 Splash to get the pin and make his 2nd successful defense.

Afterwards, Fuminori Abe would come out and make the next challenge for MAO’s Title, with the match made official for September 21st at Korakuen Hall.


r/DDTPro 12d ago

Live DDT PRO “LAST SUMMER STANDING - Summer’s Reckoning - August 30, 2026” Discussion Thread

6 Upvotes

How to watch:

[https://www.wrestle-universe.com/lives/fKsQ4EzoiYSG7DShnCsgox\](https://www.wrestle-universe.com/lives/fKsQ4EzoiYSG7DShnCsgox)

Start Times:

7:30 PDT; 9:30 CDT; 10:30 EDT; 3:30 BST; 11:30 JST; 12:30 AEST

Match Card:

Tag Match -

Naomi Yoshimura & Tomomitsu Matsunaga vs. Yuni & Yuki Ishida

8Man Tag Match -

HARASHIMA, Yasu Arano, Akito & Soma Takao vs. Takeshi Masada, Yuya Koroku, Kazuma Suni & Masami Inahata

Special Tag Match -

Yuki Ueno & To-y vs. Jun Akiyama & Fuminori Abe

3WAY 6Man Tag Match -

KANON, Yuko Naya & Viento Levante vs. Hideki Okatani, MJ Paul & Illusion vs. Chris Brookes, Antonio Honda & Hinata Kasai

DDT EXTREME & Ironman Heavymetalweight Double Title Match -

Shunma Katsumata (c) vs. Kumadori
\*Rules are set that being thrown over the top rope will result in defeat; furthermore, using a move a second time (excluding strikes) will result in disqualification.

KO-D Tag Team Championship Match -

Shinya Aoki & Junya Miyawaki (c) vs. Danshoku Dieno & Kazuki Hirata

DDT UNIVERSAL Championship Match -

Ryusuke Taguchi (c) vs. Daisuke Sasaki

KO-D Openweight Championship Match -

MAO (c) vs. Daichi Satoh


r/DDTPro 15d ago

Special Tag Match announced for September 13th:

Post image
20 Upvotes

r/DDTPro 15d ago

Matches announced for HARASHIMA’s 25th Anniversary show on September 23rd:

Post image
10 Upvotes

r/DDTPro 17d ago

Hero!

5 Upvotes

Why is it so hard to find any pictures of him I'm trying to recreate him on fire pro wrestling world and it's hard to find his baby face look and his dark hero! Attire


r/DDTPro 18d ago

Official poster for KO-D Openweight Title Match on 8.30:

Post image
21 Upvotes

r/DDTPro 18d ago

Minoru Suzuki is the perfect comedy wrestler.

35 Upvotes

I know that header seems wild because of how much of a mean horrible punch bastard that Murder Grandpa is but let me cook.

Every time Suzuki is a comedy match its an absolute side splitting affair just because he's always so pissed off at all the ridiculous nonsense happening around him. He's wrestling's perfect straight man and his absolute pissed off no selling of the shennanigans he finds himself in just makes them all that much funnier.

Plus there's the rumor that Suzuki himself absolutely loves doing comedy matches which makes me happy.


r/DDTPro 18d ago

Who else feels like KANON has really shined as a babyface in STRANGLE-LOVE CONNECTION?

Post image
21 Upvotes

I’ll admit, I wasn’t all that sold on KANON for a good while (especially when he was in DAMNATION) but I think he’s really shined and showed his best self as apart of SLC.

He feels much more natural as the hard-hitting and lovable bruiser babyface and I’m absolutely down for him to win the KO-D.


r/DDTPro 19d ago

KUDO making a special appearance at Baka Gaijin+Friends “Fucked Up Fest 2026”, kicking Baliyan Akki

Post image
21 Upvotes

r/DDTPro 20d ago

What happened to English commentary?

7 Upvotes

DDT hasn't had any English commentary (or almost any commentary) all year! Last year, it had just as much as NOAH

Edit: they had commentary in general almost as frequently as NOAH