wrestling / Video Reviews
Puro Fury: DDT Special 2016
Image Credit: DDT Pro-Wrestling
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DDT Special
October 23 2016
Big news out of the DDT Office over the past few weeks is that they intend to launch their own streaming service called DDT Universe in 2017. Seeing as the promotion has a tonne of offshoots (DNA, BASARA etc), loads of history and specials that involve wrestling in public places this could be a hit. It’s available for 900 Yen, which is around £7 per month. Seeing as I’m already on half a dozen streaming services I may have to make room for that one too.
New Wrestling Aidoru (Makoto Oishi & MAO) vs. Kazuki Hirata & Toru Owashi
This is all about the forthcoming music festival DDT is putting on. NWA were specifically formed as a boy band to play the festival. Owashi and Hirata also want to perform, although I suspect Hirata’s contribution will involve a lot of dancing. Hirata gets toe dance here but this merely serves as an opening for him to get rolled up like a chump for the loss.
Final Rating: Dancing
Cherry vs. Saki Akai
This feud has been rolling for some considerable time. It’s been a prolonged introduction to wrestling for Saki. It’s actually bizarre to me that Saki has been wrestling for over three years. Where does the time go? Cherry, who’s in her forties and a ten year veteran, still has to guide her. Maybe Saki should get some experience in the actual joshi promotions? She’s had exactly one match in Stardom and the same in OZ Academy. Cherry dominates here and finishes with the senton bomb in seven minutes. It was a virtual squash.
Final Rating: *
Akito & Soma Takao vs. Yasu Urano & Keisuke Ishii
Soma and Ishii were partners in Team Dream Futures, with the third man Shigehiro Irie taking a summer excursion to the USA when they split. Irie actually returned on this show, although it didn’t make tape. These two have begun competing against each other to see who the better man is. Ishii seems to be taking the darker route, teaming with the douche Urano. Akito handily outshines everyone in this match, showing what a terrific talent he is and how tough it is to book DDT with the depth on the roster. I like that Soma picks up the win here as Urano can take a loss and not suffer from it.
Final Rating: **1/4
Shuten Doji (KUDO & Yukio Sakaguchi) vs. Antonio Honda & Kazusada Higuchi
This was originally Honda and Takeshita but the card was reshuffled due to Super Sasadango Machine being admitted to hospital with heart problems. Hopefully only minor health issues and he’ll be back soon. Higuchi having to slip into shows due to withdrawals is bizarre to me because he’s been such a stand-out recently, including his stellar title match with Shuji, which is DDT’s MOTY. Higuchi is strong again in this match, trading his power against the striking ability of Shuten Doji. Honda doesn’t cope quite so well although he’s far more competitive in stand-up than you’d expect. KUDO beats him clean as a whistle with the double knees but for a while there Honda was in contention.
Final Rating: ***
Ken Ohka vs. Konosuke Takeshita
This was originally SSM’s match up but his illness allows Takeshita the honour of being whipped face first into a metal security rail. Ohka goes from zero to ‘what the fuck’ in record time by breaking out a barbwire bat. How do you go from opening lock up, to crowd brawl, to barbwire bat? I take it Ohka loves the Walking Dead. He certainly tries to cave Takeshita’s head in, as if he’s swinging Lucille, and that’s not what you expect from DDT’s midcard. Anal play, yes, but extreme ultraviolence, no. From there they start with the head dropping on suplexes and no selling. It’s a ridiculous match. Some of the bat shots are a bit soft, compared to the suplexes but it’s forgivable because they look painful. Takeshita manages to eek out a win after slamming Ohka on the bat. A German suplex finishes and these two just had a great little midcard match. They must be fucking crackers to even conceive doing half this shit in a nothing match but I enjoyed it regardless.
Final Rating: ***1/2
Daisuke Sasaki vs. Masahiro Takanashi
Both these guys are traditionally defensive wrestlers, who tend to let their opponent dictate the pace and look for an opening. Takanashi is the more creative of the two, routinely making up holds on the fly, so he takes the lead. While Sasaki may operate from beneath he’s also a complete jerk. He might be the biggest a-hole in DDT right now. He doesn’t even have a lot of competition for that spot. They slowly up their game in this with Takanashi attempting a Takatonic off the apron and Sasaki clouting him with one of the best topes you’ll see all year. Sasaki has shocked me, almost all year long, with his quality and it’s been because, in the past, he’s not been that great. This has been a breakout year for him as a top guy. This is no exception with him being a half step ahead of Takanashi all match, despite Takanashi’s innovative move set. They get into antics with the ref and Sasaki, dastardly heel that he is, cheap shots his way to victory with the Vietnam Driver II.
Final Rating: ***1/4
HARASHIMA vs. Tetsuya Endo
Seeing as Endo is now evil, HARASHIMA has become his target. The reason? HARA is DDT’s Ace and Endo wants to beat him to prove he isn’t. Pretty straightforward. Both great wrestlers too. Endo is out to prove his superiority at every step of the contest, not giving a shit about the rules in the process. He’s not a great heel like Sasaki is but he brings enough attitude to make the match worthwhile. If anything it’s HARASHIMA who doesn’t bring the fire. As if he doesn’t take Endo that seriously. I had a similar complaint about him when he wrestled Takeshita earlier in the year. This is slightly better as HARA gets engaged as the match progresses because Endo is being a dickhead and he needs to fire up to stop his legs getting broken. The selling is only temporary in this one with HARASHIMA focused on powering through, which is unlike him. He’s usually a tidy, logical wrestler that I really appreciate. He does tip his hat to the legwork at the end by not covering after Somato, due to leg pain, but he then hits another one for the win. The vibe of the match was Endo stepping up to challenge the main event structure and HARASHIMA putting him in his fucking place. Due to the status quo being so ably maintained the match didn’t have the special feel it could have. Still a strong match up.
Final Rating: ***1/2
KO-D Openweight Championship
Shuji Ishikawa (c) vs. Danshoku Dino
This is a rarity, as Dino is in an actual serious fucking match thanks to his high placing in the DDT General Election. It’s easy to forget Dino, who wrestles like a clown with anal obsessions, is actually a very good technician. He rapidly reminds me, and Shuji, of this by taking it to the mat and schooling the giant champion. Sure there’s naked bottoms and groin work but they do enough hard work for that not to be the focus of the match. The array of smells Dino introduces Shuji to actually work as part of his plan to decimate the big man. Keep him discombobulated. It doesn’t work as Dino can’t land the one big spot on top of his plan to get the win. Ultimately Ishikawa is too big, too powerful and has too much aggression. Dino can’t compete with all of it, despite his best efforts. Dino almost gets a pin with a liplock. That’s a move that throws Shuji off his game and Dino’s follow ups; a brainbuster and some moonsaults are as close as he gets. They pull some terrific near falls, with Dino looking like actually pulling off the biggest upset of the year. Dino’s failing is in trying to kiss Shuji during a strike duel, repeatedly. It does no damage while Shuji is elbowing his face and busting his lip open, which in itself is a form of psychology. Danshoku Driver plants poor Shuji right on his dome. It’s a horrible looking spot. Dino wasn’t strong enough to do it. Shuji batters Dino down the stretch, showing his strength and resilience. Dino’s one last moment of resistance is throwing up the middle finger so Shuji grabs it and turns it into a wrist clutch suplex for the pin. Great showing from Dino, even more so from Ishikawa, making this a credible main event.
Final Rating: ****
Post Match: We get the Rock, Paper, Scissors tournament to main event and it’s won by Saki Akai, defeating Shunma Katsumata in the final. I love the randomness of DDT. She gets a shot at the Extreme title because of her victory. I hope Dino challenges her to a pie eating contest for the belt.
