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SPECIAL PWI PREVIEW: DDT Goes To Hollywood

DDT GOES HOLLYWOOD CARD (c/o DDT & GCW)

Over WrestleMania Weekend, DDT Pro Wrestlers Battle Big Names From Game Changer Wrestling

Here’s What You Can Expect (In The Words Of The DDT Stars, Themselves!)

TEXT BY ISSA MARIE

FOUR YEARS AFTER taking over NYC and its streets, DDT Pro Wrestling does Hollywood in the only way it can. As part of The Collective, Dramatic Dream Team (DDT Pro), is returning to the U.S. to bring back its essence and wild uniqueness to North America. The promotion will present two highly anticipated shows: DDT Goes Hollywood (March 30) and GCW vs. DDT (March 31).  And, if President Sanshiro Takagi, has his way, this two-day overseas tour will be the first of many of its kind. 

I had prepared a lengthy dissertation as to why you should buy your tickets to the show before they are all gone; but instead, I’ll let the DDT roster coming to Hollywood do the honors themselves:

“It’s been two months since my last visit [to the U.S.’, so I hope to hear ‘welcome back’ chants, okay? MAO is back!  I’m going to run wild! Look forward to the DDT style.” – MAO, who will be teaming with his ShunMAO partner, Shunma Katsumata, to take on Chris Brookes and Yoshihiko at DDT Goes Hollywood; then reuniting with his Moonlight Express partner, Mike Bailey, in a match versus the East West Express, Nick Wayne and Jordan Oliver, at GCW vs. DDT.

“I’m very glad to be able to take part in DDT’s Hollywood show!  I’ll turn America into a sauna, so please give me your support!  I hope you feel my NEPPOWER!” – Shunma Katsumata, who also teams with his frenemy, Chris Brookes, and Mizuki Watase to take on Second Gear Crew at GCW vs. DDT.

“I’ve been dreaming of wrestling in America ever since I was Universal champion! My dream! Wait for me, and please remember my overflowing NEPPOWER! Neppower is my fighting spirit!” – Yuki Ueno, who will be facing Konosuke Takeshita at DDT Goes Hollywood, following their time limit draw at Itabashi Green Hall back in January; and Joey Janela at GCW vs. DDT.

Saki Akai
PHOTO BY ISSA MARIE

“DDT’s first Hollywood show! Everyone couldn’t come over, so I’ll do my best for the rest who couldn’t make it over to show the joys of DDT! Please enjoy the world of DDT☺️ My long limbs and kicks! And how graceful I am ♡” – Saki Akai, who will be facing Vertvixen at DDT Goes Hollywood and DARK Sheik at GCW vs. DDT.

“I won my very first KO-D openweight championship at the New York show in 2019, so [the U.S.] is a special country to me.  This time, I’ll make sure to be at the Hollywood show as Universal champion and make it a success with my high-flying moves and these big buttocks of mine that are disproportionate to my upper half,” – #AndNew DDT Universal champion, Tetsuya Endo, who will be facing Joey Janela at DDT Goes Hollywood; in an effort to avenge his loss during the 2022 D-Oh Tournament, he teams with Jun Akiyama to take on Tony Deppen and Homicide at GCW vs. DDT.

Jun Akiyama
PHOTO BY ISSA MARIE


“I hope that American pro wrestling fans can see how intense our wrestling is.  Even in my 31st year as a wrestler, I’ll show you that I can still be aggressive,” – Jun Akiyama, who will be teaming with Eddie Kingston at DDT Goes Hollywood, and will be teaming with his BURNING mate, Endo, to take on Tony Deppen and Homicide at GCW vs DDT.

“America will be my first time overseas, so I’m very excited. I’ll tap out whoever my opponent may be. What I hope you remember is … my Cobra Twist and everything about me!” – KANON, who is teaming with DAMNATION T.A.’s Charisma (Daisuke Sasaki) to take on Eddie Kingston and Jun Akiyama at DDT Goes Hollywood.

Yuki Ino
PHOTO BY ISSA MARIE


“SEXY!! OH! SEXY!! SEXY!!!” Pheromones’ Yuki Iino, who along with Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno, will be facing DDT’s Peter Pan, President Sanshiro Takagi, and DDT/AEW star Michael Nakazawa at DDT Goes Hollywood; at GCW vs DDT, the Pheromones will be unleashed when they take on BUSSY (Allie Katch and EFFY).

“I won a young guys’ league in DDT to go to Hollywood. I have to show I’m the number one in the young guys.  I learned Shorinji-kempo, which is a Japanese martial art. So, I want you to see my kick and punch.” – Takeshi Masada

If you haven’t done so, get your tickets before they sell out … these are two shows you won’t want to miss!


DDT GOES HOLLYWOOD CARD (c/o DDT)
DDT GOES HOLLYWOOD CARD (c/o DDT & GCW)




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CRAZY & BEAUTIFUL: Dragon Gate Star Shun Skywalker Begins Ambitious Tour Of The U.S.

Shun Skywalker laughs in battle

CRAZY & BEAUTIFUL: Dragon Gate Star Shun Skywalker Begins Ambitious Tour Of The U.S.

Text & Photos by Issa Marie

THE (DRAGON) GATES have been opened. And fans worldwide—most notably in the United States—will be awed by the “unprecedented impact and strength” of Shun Skywalker during his upcoming tour. I had an opportunity to sit down and speak with the former Open the Dream Gate champion in late-August ahead of his upcoming U.S. tour. When I asked Skywalker what was the first impression he wanted to leave in the minds of the fans seeing him wrestle live for the first time, he said:

“Shun Skywalker is a crazy and beautiful guy.”

 … And beautiful he is!
まさしく美しい!

Beauty is central to everything Shun Skywalker does (and is): the combination of patterns and intricate details of his mask and wrestling gear; the swiftness of each stride as he walks to the ring; the elegance of his bow just before he enters the ring; the precision and lethality of every movement, every strike, every aspect of his offense and defense in the ring; his maniacal laugh; and the calculated way he says what he thinks is the most beautiful work of art. Though he describes himself as crazy, he’s also “ruthless, tough, hard, strong; the symbol that personifies the level of talent you will find in Dragon Gate.”

Shun Skywalker head shot

Shun Skywalker kicks off his tour by teaming up with fellow Z-Brats member, SB KENTo, at DEADLOCK Pro Wrestling’s Victory Lap on September 17. They’re set to face the duo of Andrew Everett & Jack Evans. In the second stop, Skywalker challenges “The Young GOAT” Myron Reed for Major League Wrestling’s World middleweight title.

“In the U.S., I am interested in many titles,” added Skywalker. “But I will not say which at this time.”

What we do know is that Skywalker has his sights on the best, and Reed is the first singles target (and the first champion) on his agenda.

As the third entrant for Black Label Pro’s Turbo Graps 24, Skywalker’s third stop might yield a dream match—one we perhaps didn’t even know we needed!

When asked about the possibility of facing the tournament’s number-one entrant, Jungle Kyona, the Dragon Gate star did not flinch. “If the tournament results set the stage for this match, I will be prepared for the match,” Skywalker said. “Ultimately, I want to face the best, toughest, and strongest opponents from any company. Anyone that steps up to the challenge.”

With Game Changer Wrestling appearances set for October 8, 9, and 22, observers have wondered: Will we see a hardcore or deathmatch side of Shun Skywalker? Not likely. “I respect the hardcore and deathmatch wrestlers,” he said. “However, my body is the strongest and deadliest weapon. I do not require the use of outside articles. I am enough.”

Indeed, if you have caught even a small glimpse of his matches, you know Shun Skywalker is enough. The opportunities for out-of-this-world, unique match-ups are there, so I had to ask: Whom would Shun Skywalker like to wrestler while in the U.S.? His list did not disappoint.

Shun Skywalker laughs

“Kenny Omega, Rocky Romero, Sammy Guevara, Aaron Solo, Low Rider, Yuya Uemura, just to name a few,” he said. Shywalker is looking to have great matches, make great memories, gain more experience, become stronger, increase his power to set himself apart from all others, so that only Shun Skywalker is on the mind (and hearts) of the fans.

Shun Skywalker applies a corner choke

Never shy about speaking his mind—even going so far as to make a paywalled column public to ensure all the fans understood his drive—Skywalker is on a mission to conquer the wrestling world the only way he can. Most importantly, he seeks to free Dragon Gate, and the wrestlers he believes are being hoarded by outdated leaders (such as Kzy), from the shackles that he believes are holding everyone back.

Shun Skywalker has his sights set on elevating the worth of Dragon Gate’s titles by taking them back from the current champions, who are not (in his mind) the finest competitors. He said, “They are not strong, they lack power, technique, passion, and emotion.”

Shun Skywalker laughs

For the uninitiated, who have never seen him compete in the flesh, Skywalker has a message: “If you see my matches live, you will see a strength you have never seen. You will feel a level of fear you have never experienced. Those who are tired of their monotonous lives and want to experience what they have never felt before need to come and watch me wrestle live!”

RECOMMENDED VIEWING:

Shun Skywalker & Diamante vs D’Courage (DEAD or ALIVE 2022)

Shun Skywalker vs Kzy (Kobe World Festival 2021)

Shun Skywalker vs YAMATO (Speed Star Final 2022)

Shun Skywalker, Dragon Gate’s Mischievous Harlequin

「ドラゴン」ゲートが開かれた!そしてアメリカを中心に世界中のファンがシュン・スカイウォーカー選手のかつてない衝撃と強さに圧倒されるだろう。北米ツアーを吐けて8月下旬に元オープン・ザ・ドリームゲート王者に話す機会があった。初めて生で自身のプロレスを見るファンの心に残したい印象は何かと尋ねると、スカイウォーカーはこう答えた。

「シュン・スカイウォーカーは美しく狂っている男だ」

スカイウォーカー選手の行動にとって美はすべて。マスクとコスチュームの模様から、足取りの速さ、リングに上がる直線の丁寧なお辞儀まで。リング状の動き、打撃、狂気に満ち溢れた笑いそしてまるで計算された言葉遣いは最も美しい美術品といえるでしょう。

ご自身はクレイジーと言いながら、スカイウォーカー選手は冷酷と頑強でもあり。ドラゴンゲート最高峰の選手の象徴だろう。

スカイウォーカー選手の北米ツアーは同じくZ-BratsメンバーであるSB KENTo 選手と共に9月17日DEADLOCK Pro Wrestling Victory Lap大会から始まる。彼らはアンドリュー・エヴァレット選手とジャック・エバンス選手とのタッグマッチで対戦することになる。その次はMajor League Wrestling で現Middleweight王者“Young GOAT”ことマイロン・リード選手との対戦。

「アメリカではたくさんのタイトルベルトに興味を持っているが、現時点では言わない。」

確実に分かっているのは最初のターゲットはリード選手、そして彼を持つMiddleweight王座であること。

そしてその次の目的地はBlack Label ProのTubo Graps 24トーナメント。3番目の出場者でありますが、もしかしたら想像もつかないドリームマッチが現実になる可能性もある。

ジャングル叫女と対戦する可能性についてスカイウォーカー選手は「もしこのトーナメントの結果でこの試合が実現となるのであれば、準備ができている。最終的にどの団体にも関わらず、一番強い選手と戦いたい。挑戦してくれる者なら誰でもいい。」

スカイウォーカー選手はファンの好きなプロモーションを呼んで欲しいぐらい圧倒的なインパクトを残したいと思っている。

10月8日、9日と22日にGCW出場が決定したが、やっぱり気になる点がある。スカイウォーカー選手は果たしてハードコアやデスマッチルールの試合は見られるか?多分ないでしょう。「ハードコアやデスマッチレスラーを尊敬している。ですが、私の体は最強の武器であり、凶器なんて必要ない。私で十分だ。」

彼の試合を見たら納得するでしょう。ドリームマッチの可能性溢れるツアーの前に聞かざるを得ない。

―シュン・スカイウォーカー選手自身に対戦したい選手は?

「色んな選手もありますが、やっぱりケニーオメガ、ロッキーロメロ、サミー・ゲバラ、アーロン・ソロ、ローライダー、上村優也と戦いたい」スカイウォーカー選手は素晴らしい試合、良い思い出、経験値を積んで、誰より強くなりたい。そうするとファンの心にシュン・スカイウォーカー選手だけが残れるようになる。

しかし、アメリカツアーでは大きな野望を持っているが、日本ではまだやり残したことがある。「日本に帰ったら、NATURAL VIBESを解散させKzyを引退させてやる。」とZ-Bratsのライバルユニットとリーダーのことに対してそう言った。

時に異常なアプローチをとるが、スカイウォーカー選手はドラゴンゲートの柱であり、守護者でもある。ドラゴンゲートの未来、そしてこれから団体を背負っていく若手選手の重要性に声高に主張している

自分の意欲を理解できるように、わざわざ有料コラムを公開することまでしたスカイウォーカー選手はプロレス界を征服する使命がある。それより、時代遅れの選手に引き止められた選手とドラゴンゲート自身を開放しようとしている。

シュン・スカイウォーカー選手は、ドラゴンゲートのタイトルの価値を高めるために、現チャンピオンからベルトを奪還することを目標としている。「彼らは強くない。パワーもテクニックも情熱も感情も足りない。」と言った。

生で彼の試合を見たことがない方のために、スカイウォーカー選手からメッセージがある。「私の試合を生で見れば、今まで見たことのない強さを見させてやる。経験したことのない恐怖を感じさせてやる。つまらない人生に疲れた人、今まで感じたことのない体験をしたい人は、ぜひ生で僕のプロレスを見に来てください!」と。