DDT Pro-Wrestling showcased one of its biggest events of the year “ULTIMATE PARTY 2023” event at Tokyo’s Ryogoku Kokugikan on November 12th. The show boasted a double main event and drew an audience of nearly 5,000 fans. In addition its was also the show that would see Saki Akai retirment match. Lets take a look at some key moments and results.
The show oppned up with Soma Takao and Shota, the KO-D Tag Team Champions, successfully retaining their KO-D Tag Team Championship (V1) by defeating Masahiro Takanashi and Antonio Honda. Takao secured the victory by pinning Honda (7:46) by executing the Gin and Tonic for ROMANCE DAWN to maintain their title reign. While no new challengers emerged immediately after the match, Takao pointed out that, being from different promotions, he and Shota present numerous possibilities for potential challengers to vie for the tag team belts.
Just over half way of the show saw an emotional moment In the “Saki Akai Retirement Match ~ Strong, Noble, Beautiful ~,” Naomichi Marufuji, Kazusada Higuchi, and Miyu Yamashita emerged victorious against Saki Akai, Yukio Sakaguchi, and Hideki Okatani. Yamashita secured the win by pinning Akai (20:03) via the Skull Kick after the Crash Rabbit Heat. To allow the emotional conclusion between Akai and Yamashita, all four men left the ring. Both Yamashita and Okatani were visibly moved to tears by the conclusion of the match. Post-match, a compilation of video highlights from Saki Akai’s career played on the big screen. Well-wishes from Genichiro Tenryu, Hiroshi Tanahashi, and Togi Makabe were conveyed via video. Yukio Sakaguchi and Hideki Okatani presented Akai with flowers. Although collectively known as Eruption, the KO-D Openweight 6-man Tag Team Champions, the titles were not at stake in this special 6-man tag match. However, with Akai’s retirement, the belts will be vacated, and new champions will be determined on November 16th at Shinjuku FACE in Tokyo.
Sanshiro Takagi entered the ring and expressed gratitude to Akai for her love for pro wrestling and DDT. Highlighting her injury-free career, he acknowledged her willingness to accept challenges throughout her tenure. Takagi emphasized the ongoing need for her post-retirement and invited her to contribute to the front office. Akai graciously accepted, expressing her honor in helping develop future wrestling stars. Then A surprise video message left Akai in total shock, WWE’s Shinsuke Nakamura appeared on the big screen but unfortunately, viewers were not allowed to see or hear it due to restrictions. Wrestle UNIVERSE had the sound muted, and cameras were solely focused on Akai. In her closing remarks, Akai thanked everyone and declared her love for DDT from the bottom of her heart. The bell rang ten times, and Saki Akai’s name was announced one last time as an active pro wrestler, signaling the end of her in-ring career.
After the emontional moment the show continued and to lighten up the mood we saw a very DDT pro style match in the Iron Man Heavymetalweight championship match, Nivea Cream Care Body Wash Presents ~ Dramatic Dream Round “Let’s Have Fun!!” What Will Happen!? Fun Death Match. It saw Hiromu Takahashi from New Japan Pro Wrestling secure victory against Kazuki Hirata to retain the DDT Ironman Heavymetalweight Championship. The match, unfolded over five rounds, concluding in the fifth with a Fisherman’s Suplex at 3:53. This comedy hardcore match spanned about five or six ‘Spin the Wheel’ two-minute rounds, featuring a whimsical blend of elements like a musical situation, blindfolded bras and panties, TOKYO GO! dancing, Yoshihiko, and more. After the match, an exhausted Hiromu found himself unintentionally draped with the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title belt, leading to an unexpected twist. The IWGP Jr belt was incidentally crowned as the new Ironman Champion. However, the storyline took another turn when Hirata seized the opportunity, pinning the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title belt to reclaim the Ironman Heavymetalweight Championship, marking a surprising and humorous conclusion to the match.
We moved on to the DDT Universal Championship match where Matt Cardona’s second defense of the championship ended in failure. MAO secured victory by pinning the ‘Indy God’ (16:50) by hitting an Avalanche-style Rough Ryder on the plastic cases, thus claiming the title. Post-match, MAO wasted no time in nominating Mexican luchador Demus as his inaugural challenger. Their previously scheduled match for November 19th will now also be contested for the DDT Universal Championship.
Now time for the Double Main event as the first half of this saw the Dramatic Dream Match when Chris Jericho from AEW took on KONOSUKE TAKESHITA, which was also a grudge match has Jericho has been figthing agains the Don Callis Family in AEW which TAKESHITA is a part of and been the main man for Callis. The match concluded when Jericho made KONOSUKE TAKESHITA tap out to the Walls of Jericho (23:35) in a what a lot of people have called a MOTY-candidate! After the match, Takeshita reluctantly shakes hands with the ‘Real Alpha’ Chris Jericho. Will this change anythign between them in AEW, only the future will tell.
Now its time for the 2nd part of the DOuble main event and the KO-D Openweight Championship was up for grabs and rivalrs and friends go head to head when champions Chris Brookes took on Yuki Ueno. In the end, Yuki Ueno has overcome the odds and defeats Chris Brookes (29:39) in an incredible show closer to become the new KO-D Openweight Champion! Where does this leave Chris Brooks and Whats next for the new Champion, well all will be cleared up in the aftermatch of this event. Find the rest of the results in full below.
DDT Pro-Wrestling “ULTIMATE PARTY 2023” Full Results (12/11):
- Double Main Event 2 KO-D Openweight Championship Match: Yuki Ueno defeated Chris Brookes (c) to become the new champion.
- Double Main Event 1 Dramatic Dream Match: Chris Jericho defeated KONOSUKE TAKESHITA
- DDT Universal Championship Match: MAO defeated Matt Cardona (c) (w/ Steph De Lander) to become the new champion.
- Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title – Nivea Cream Care Body Wash Presents ~ Dramatic Dream Round “Let’s Have Fun!!” What Will Happen!? Fun Death Match: Hiromu Takahashi(c) Vs Kazuki Hirata. (This match featured numerous 2 min matches in which Takahashi retained until he lost the Iron Man Heavymetalweight title to his IWGP Jr Heavyweight Title. Kazuki Hirata defeated the IWGP Jr heavyweight Title to become the new champion)
- Saki Akai Retirement Match ~Strong, Noble, Beautiful~: Naomichi Marufuji, Kazusada Higuchi & Miyu Yamashita defeated Saki Akai, Yukio Sakaguchi & Hideki Okatani
- Special Single Match: Daisuke Sasaki defeated Tetsuya Endo
- Special 6-Man Tag Match ~ DDT Vs VOODOO-MURDERS: Jun Akiyama, HARASHIMA & Yukio Naya defeated Jun Saito, Rei Saito & Toshizo
- Special Single Match: Kuroshio TOKYO Japan defeated Takeshi Masada
- Special 8-Man Tag Match: Yoshitatsu, Yoshihiko, Danshoku Dieno & Super Sasadango Machine defeated Sanshiro Takagi, Akito, Makoto Oishi & Shinichiro Kawamatsu
- Tokyo Joshi Pro Offer 6-Woman Tag Match: Yuki Arai, Moka Miyamoto & Shino Suzuki defeated Suzume, Arisu Endo & Wakana Uehara
- Staggered Entry Tag Rumble: Yusuke Okada & Yuya Koroku defeated KANON & MJ Paul, Naruki Doi & Kazuma Sumi, Toy Kojima & Yuki Ishida and Yuni & Rukiya
- KO-D Tag Team Titles: Soma Takao & Shota (c) defeated Masahiro Takanashi & Antonio Honda to retain