Daily DDT
Fansided

DDT Pro Wrestling: 5 matches that will prepare AEW fans

By Michael Mordenga

YOKOHAMA, JAPAN - AUGUST 30: Tetsuya Endo and Ryuichi Kawakami compete during the Big Japan Pro-Wrestling at the Yokohama Cultural Gymnasium on August 30, 2020 in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. (Photo by Etsuo Hara/Getty Images)
YOKOHAMA, JAPAN - AUGUST 30: Tetsuya Endo and Ryuichi Kawakami compete during the Big Japan Pro-Wrestling at the Yokohama Cultural Gymnasium on August 30, 2020 in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. (Photo by Etsuo Hara/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Now that DDT Pro Wrestling has been invited to wrestle on AEW, there might be some confusion about the second most popular Japanese wrestling promotion. Here’s a guide that will prepare you for the professionalism and pure insanity of DDT Pro Wrestling.

To understand DDT Pro Wrestling, Dramatic Dream Team, you need to know why they started in the late 90s. DDT was a satire of popular American promotions like WWE. Comedy is a big chunk of their wrestling model, but that doesn’t mean they don’t represent the best Japanese strong style has to offer.

1. A Comedy Match: Kota Ibushi vs. Yoshihiko

Your eyes are not deceiving you. That is NJPW’s Kota Ibushi fighting a rubber doll named Yoshihiko. Yoshihiko was an active member of the roster and the winner of the comedic Iron Heavymetal Weight.

But that is not the weirdest winner of the IHW in DDT Pro Wrestling. At one time, the book authored by the Young Bucks was the winner of the title. Dr. Britt Baker has also won the title, but I don’t think she brags about it as much as her AEW titles.

2. Tag Match: Kenny Omega and Kota Ibushi vs. Tetsuya Endo and Takeshita

While DDT Pro Wrestling made its name in comedy, the meat of their product is Japanese strong style. This was Kenny’s last match in DDT. Takeshita and Endo are prime examples of pumped-up powerhouses that can grapple and flip through any match. The beginning of the match had tie-ups and submissions, while the rest of the match was intense dropkicks, suplexes, and powerful takedowns.

3. Hardcore Match: Chris Brookes vs. Shunma Katsumata

When the ref wears protective surgical gloves in the match you can be sure that a hardcore match is coming. DDT Pro Wrestling is not shy around barbed wear, blunt instruments, tables, and metal sheeting in their matches. Chris Brookes is one of the only western wrestlers on the roster; he has won the Extreme title for matches such as these. In this match, Chris Brookes faces Shunma Katsumata with a coffin covered in Legos and boards covered in barbed wire.

4. World Title Match: Tetsuya Endo vs Jun Akiyama

Japanese strong style is known for 30-40 minute matches and DDT Pro Wrestling is no stranger to long singles matches. Tetsuya Endo was the world champion until veteran Jun Akiyama fought him for 35 minutes to win the title.

5. Intergender Match: MAO vs. Saki Akai

Intergender matches are common in DDT Pro Wrestling. In this match, top junior weight high flyer MAO fights an intense battle against Tokyo Joshi Pro’s Saki Akai. Both wrestlers hold nothing back as they slam each other into the mat. Tokyo Joshi Pro is part of the DDT family of wrestling and has already had many members on AEW.

If you are interested in DDT’s 25-year history of Japanese matches, you can stream their entire library and upcoming events at Wrestle-Universe.

Home/All Elite Wrestling