DDT Pro-Wrestling
DDT Pro-Wrestling is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion based in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan. Its name stands for Dramatic Dream Team, which was the promotion's official name from 1997 to 2004. Founded in March 1997 by Shintaro Muto, but the promotion was eventually bought and managed by Shoichi Ichimiya until December 2005, when Sanshiro Takagi took over as the new president. In 2017, DDT was sold to CyberAgent. Takagi retained his position, while Takahiro Yamauchi took over as the new DDT director.
DDT became one of the top promotions in Japanese indie wrestling by creating a unique sports entertainment style, often parodying WWE, with a Japanese puroresu flair to the matches. DDT has had agreements with various MMA and professional wrestling promotions around the world. DDT's biggest event is Peter Pan, held each year since 2009.
In January 2020, DDT's parent company CyberAgent purchased Pro Wrestling Noah, with DDT's executives taking over Noah's operations and Noah's content appearing on DDT's streaming service.
History
The promotion was founded by Shintaro Muto, Sanshiro Takagi, Kyohei Mikami and Kazushige Nosawa, after these four left Pro Wrestling Crusaders. The promotion was named Dramatic Dream Team, its first event took place on January 31, 1997, in Tokyo. In 1999, DDT started producing pay-per-view digests of its product on DirectTV.DDT became one of the top names in Japanese indie wrestling by creating a unique Sports Entertainment style with a Japanese puroresu flair to the matches.
The cards' matches tend to be a mixture of Japanese lucharesu, worked shoot-style, hardcore brawling and comedy matches. DDT is in many ways a parody of American pro wrestling, particularly WWE, using over-the-top gimmicks as well as unique match types including a hardcore match in a campsite, an "Office Deathmatch", and a "Silence Match".
The promotion then established their own governing body in 2000, the King of DDT, shortened as KO-D, creating the KO-D Openweight Championship, Ironman Heavymetalweight Championship and the KO-D Tag Team Championship. DDT also created their own tag team tournament the DDT Tag League. Later in 2003, Shoichi Ichimiya became the new president of DDT. On 2004, DDT rebranded to DDT Pro Wrestling kabushiki gaisha renaming the promotion to DDT Pro Wrestling. In October, DDT got a timeslot on Fighting TV Samurai, creating their regular broadcast program DDT Dramatic Fantasia. In 2005, indie promotion Union Pro Wrestling was revived by DDT.
On December 28, 2005 Ichimiya retired from professional wrestling and announced his departure from DDT. This led to Sanshiro Takagi taking over the promotion as the new president. Then the company focused on the feud between the face stable Italian Four Horsemen and the heel stable Disaster-Box. In November 2006, DDT announced the creation of their fourth active title the DDT Extreme Division Championship. Later in 2007 DDT announced a working relationship with Dragon Gate. DDT and Dragon Gate held their first co-promoted show, Dramatic Dream Gate on April 18, 2007 in Shinjuku Face in Tokyo, Japan. DDT would later become a member of the Global Professional Wrestling Alliance. The group was established as a means to aid the many competing wrestling promotions in Japan. In 2009, DDT announced that they were going to become a stock company, turning their company from private to public. In March 2010, DDT announced a working relationship with Big Japan Pro Wrestling. Later in March, Takagi announced the DDT48, which is a fan vote where the winner receives a shot for the KO-D Openweight Championship. Later that month Michael Nakazawa stepped down as the CEO of DDT and Amon Tsurumi became the general manager of the promotion. In 2011 DDT received the Fighting TV Samurai Indie's Job prize for having the best show the year, winning the Best Box Office Award.
In March 2012, DDT ended their DDT Dramatic Fantasia program. Later on April 2, DDT started to broadcasting to NicoNico creating the program DDT Wrestling Hour. On June 4, DDT launched another sub-brand named Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling, which was exclusive to women's wrestlers. DDT celebrated its 15th anniversary on August 18, 2012, by holding its first ever event in Nippon Budokan. On December 23, 2012, DDT announced the creation of their fifth active title, the KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Championship. On January 17, 2013, DDT announced that Daisuke Sasaki had signed a contract to officially make DDT his home promotion, ending his days as a freelancer. On April 17 DDT formed another sub-brand Ganbare☆Puroresu. On May 3, DDT's Max Bump event was broadcast live by :ja:FIGHTING TV サムライ|Samurai TV. After that DDT launched a weekly program DDT Pro Wrestling Banzai, which was also broadcast by Samurai TV. On November 28, DDT announced a new project named DDT New Attitude which would be another sub-brand of DDT, functioning as a farm league for DDT.
On January 14, 2015, DDT opened a women wrestling school with Makoto Oishi and Cherry as instructors. Later DDT announced the creation of their sixth active title, the King of Dark Championship, which would be "won" by the loser of a dark match. On June 23, DDT opened the Dropkick Bar which is a professional wrestling, boxing and mixed martial arts-themed sports bar. Professional wrestling personalities regularly make appearances at the bar. On August 17 it was announced that Union Pro would be folding after its 10th anniversary event on October 4. Three days after its folding, Union was replaced by a new promotion named Pro-Wrestling Basara, which launched in January 2016. In October 2016, DDT announced "DDT Universe", a new streaming service for events held by DDT, DNA, Basara, Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling and Ganbare☆Puroresu. The service launched on January 23, 2017. On April 30, 2017, announced the creation of their seventh active title, the KO-D 10-Man Tag Team Championship, meant for teams of five wrestlers, the title is believed to be the first of its kind in professional wrestling. with the inaugural champions crowned on August 20, 2017.
On July 5, 2017, it was announced that DDT had entered into a partnership with Canada's Canadian Wrestling's Elite promotion. On August 20 Danshoku Dino defeated Sanshiro Takagi in a match, where if Dino won he would become the Producer of DDT. After Dino won he fired the DDT's General Manager Amon Tsurumi and Turumi returned to a backstage role as assistant producer and reverted to his real name Hisaya Imabayashi. Dino also announced the creation of a new tournament called "D-Oh Grand Prix". On September 1, 2017, 100% of DDT's shares were sold to the CyberAgent company. Sanshiro Takagi remained as the DDT president, while CyberAgent director Takahiro Yamauchi took over as the new DDT director.
On June 11, 2019, DDT announced Basara would be splitting up from DDT and become an independent company starting January 1, 2020.
On January 28, 2020, DDT's parent company CyberAgent purchased Pro Wrestling Noah. DDT's President Sanshiro Takagi was named the President of Pro Wrestling Noah and Naomichi Marufuji the Vice President. Noah's events began airing on DDT's streaming service DDT Universe starting with NOAH Global Jr. League 2020 on January 30. On July 27, 2020, it was announced Noah and DDT would merge in a new company, CyberFight.
Championships
DDT Pro-Wrestling
As of ,.DDT currently has eight recognized championships, the top titles being the KO-D championships. DDT also recognizes Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling, Pro-Wrestling Basara and Ganbare☆Puroresu's championships.
| Championship | Current champion | Reign | Date won | Days held | Location | Notes |
| KO-D Openweight Championship | Tetsuya Endo | 2 | + | Tokyo, Japan | Defeated Masato Tanaka at Wrestle Peter Pan 2020. | |
| KO-D Tag Team Championship | Nautilus | 1 | + | Tokyo, Japan | Defeated Damnation at New Year Special Gift! All Seats 2,000 Yen Box Office!! 2020. | |
| KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Championship | Eruption | 1 | + | Tokyo, Japan | Defeated | |
| KO-D 10-Man Tag Team Championship | Danshoku Dino, Asuka, Yuki Iino, Mizuki and Trans-Am★Hiroshi | 1 | + | Tokyo, Japan | Defeated Super Sasadango Machine, Yuna Manase, Jiro "Ikemen" Kuroshio, Hiroshi Yamato and Makoto Oishi at Ultimate Party 2019 to win the vacant title. | |
| DDT Extreme Division Championship | Shinya Aoki | 2 | + | Saitama, Japan | Defeated Harashima at DDT Live! MajiManji Street Pro-Wrestling in Saitama Super Arena. | |
| DDT Universal Championship | Chris Brookes | 2 | + | Tokyo, Japan | Defeated Daisuke Sasaki at DDT TV Show! #8. | |
| Ironman Heavymetalweight Championship | Joey Janela | 2 | + | Atlantic City, New Jersey | Defeated Yoshihiko at GCW Homecoming Part 1. | |
| O-40 Championship | Gorgeous Matsuno | 1 | + | Tokyo, Japan | Defeated Sanshiro Takagi at Who's Gonna Top? 2019. |
Pro-Wrestling Basara
Tokyo Joshi Pro
Ganbare☆Puroresu
Inactive
DDT has had a lot of different championships, some of which were very short-lived.| Championship | Last champion | Reign | Date won | Location | Notes |
| Tōno Openweight Championship | 726 | 1 | Tōno, Japan | Defeated Cherry and Tomohiko Hashimoto at Tōno Jingisukan 2005 to become the inaugural champion. | |
| Greater China Unified Sichuan Openweight Championship | Danshoku Dino | 1 | Tokyo, Japan | Defeated Chōun Shiryu at What Are You Doing? 2009. | |
| Umemura PC Juku Copy & Paste Championship | Danshoku Dino | 1 | Nagoya, Japan | Defeated Konaka = Pehlwan at Kyōra Daiyon Kyōsatsu! in Nagoya 2009 to become the inaugural champion. | |
| GAY World Anal Championship | Danshoku Dino | 2 | Tokyo, Japan | Defeated Masa Takanashi at Ryōgoku Peter Pan. | |
| J.E.T. World Jet Championship | Danshoku Dino | 1 | Tokyo, Japan | Defeated Masa Takanashi at Ryōgoku Peter Pan. | |
| World Mid Breath Championship | Danshoku Dino | 1 | Tokyo, Japan | Defeated Masa Takanashi at Ryōgoku Peter Pan. | |
| Jiyugaoka 6-Person Tag Team Championship | Shit Heart♥Foundation | 1 | Tokyo, Japan | Defeated Great Kojika, Riho and Mr. #6 at Shin-Kiba 5th Anniversary Special. | |
| Sea Of Japan 6-Person Tag Team Championship | Shit Heart♥Foundation | 1 | Tokyo, Japan | Defeated Great Kojika, Riho and Mr. #6 at Shin-Kiba 5th Anniversary Special. | |
| Greater China Unified Zhongyuan Tag Team Championship | TKG48 | 2 | Tokyo, Japan | Defeated The Great Sasuke and Ricky Fuji at Ryōgoku Peter Pan 2011. | |
| IMGP World Heavyweight Championship | Atsushi Maruyama | 2 | Osaka, Japan | Defeated Super Sasadango Machine at Dramatic Dreams! Vol. 2 ~Without Subtitle~ to win the vacant title. | |
| Fly To Everywhere World Championship | Cherry | 3 | Tokyo, Japan | Defeated Aoi Kizuki at Union Shukaku Sai 2015. Inactive following Union Pro folding on October 4, 2015. | |
| Ōmori Dream Fair-Certified World Ōmori Championship | Chikara | 1 | Tokyo, Japan | Defeated Makoto Oishi at UTAN Festa 2017. | |
| King of Dark Championship | Dai Suzuki | 2 | Tokyo, Japan | Lost to Gota Ihashi at Ryōgoku Peter Pan 2017 to win the title. Inactive following Dai Suzuki's retirement. | |
| Uchicomi! Openweight Ultimate Championship | Ken Ohka | 1 | Tokyo, Japan | Won a Scramble Tag Team Rumble Match by last eliminating Gota Ihashi at Summer Vacation 2018 to become the inaugural champion. |
Events
Marquee events
- Peter Pan
- Judgement
- Max Bump
- Osaka Octopus
- God Bless DDT
- Who's Gonna Top?
- Into The Fight
- Sweet Dreams
- Never Mind
- Saitama Super Arena
- Non-Fix
Tournaments
Active
Inactive
Accomplishments
Roster
DDT Pro-Wrestling
Personnel is organized below by their role in DDT Pro-Wrestling. Their ring name is on the left and their real name is on the right when known. Anybody inactive for a considerable amount of time is acknowledged. This list also acknowledges which Unit a wrestler is a part of. also indicates the leader of the group when one is designated.As of writing, there is an alliance between Damnation and Oriental Wrestling Entertainment's #StrongHearts. This alliance is sometimes referred to as the "Business Alliance" or "#DamnHearts".
| Ring name | Real name | Unit | Notes |
| Akito | Akito Nishigaki | All Out | |
| Antonio Honda | Soichiro Honda | Main unit | Freelancer |
| Chris Brookes | Unknown | CDK | DDT Universal Champion Freelancer |
| Cima | Nobuhiko Oshima | Signed to Oriental Wrestling Entertainment | |
| Daisuke Sasaki | Daisuke Sasaki | Damnation | |
| Danshoku Dino | Akiru Miyashita | Main unit | KO-D 10-Man Tag Team Champion Ironman Heavymetalweight Champion |
| El Lindaman | Yuga Hayashi | Signed to Oriental Wrestling Entertainment | |
| Gorgeous Matsuno | Yukihide Matsuno | Main unit | O-40 Champion |
| Gota Ihashi | Unknown | Main unit | |
| Harashima | Unknown | Disaster Box | |
| Hideki Okatani | Unknown | Junretsu | |
| Hiroshi Yamato | Hiroshi Mihara | N/A | Freelancer |
| Hoshitango | Imachi Marcelo Salomon | Main unit | |
| Jun Akiyama | Jun Akiyama | Junretsu | On loan from All Japan Pro Wrestling |
| Kazuki Hirata | Kazuki Hirata | Disaster Box | |
| Kazusada Higuchi | Kazusada Higuchi | Eruption | KO-D 6 Man Tag Team Champion |
| Keigo Nakamura | Keigo Nakamura | Main unit | |
| Konosuke Takeshita | Konosuke Takeshita | All Out | |
| Kudo | Atsushi Kudo | Main unit | |
| Ladybeard | Richard Magarey | Main unit | |
| Mad Paulie | Masato Shibata | Damnation | |
| Makoto Oishi | Unknown | Junretsu | |
| Mao | Mao Inoue | Moonlight Express | |
| Masahiro Takanashi | Masahiro Takanashi | CDK | |
| Michael Nakazawa | Shoji Nakazawa | Main unit | Inactive Signed to All Elite Wrestling |
| Mike Bailey | Émile Charles Baillargeon-Laberge | Moonlight Express | Freelancer |
| Mizuki Watase | Mizuki Watase | Junretsu | Signed to Yoshimoto Kogyo Talent Agency |
| Naomi Yoshimura | Naomi Yoshimura | Disaster Box | KO-D Tag Team Champion |
| Naomichi Marufuji | Naomichi Marufuji | Disaster Box | Signed to Pro Wrestling Noah |
| Nobuhiro Shimatani | Unknown | Damnation | Freelancer |
| Pokotan | Main unit | A yuru-chara mascot. | |
| Saki Akai | Unknown | Eruption | KO-D 6 Man Tag Team Champion Signed to Platinum Production |
| Sanshiro Takagi | Tadashi Takagi | Main unit | |
| Shunma Katsumata | Shunma Katsumata | All Out | |
| Soma Takao | Soma Takao | Damnation | |
| Super Sasadango Machine | Yoshihiro Sakai | Main unit | Affiliate signed to Shochiku Geino |
| T-Hawk | Takuya Onodera | Signed to Oriental Wrestling Entertainment | |
| Tetsuya Endo | Tetsuya Endo | Damnation | KO-D Openweight Champion |
| Tomomitsu Matsunaga | Tomomitsu Matsunaga | Main unit | |
| Toru Owashi | Toru Itoh | Disaster Box | Freelancer |
| Yoshihiko | Main unit | A blow-up doll. | |
| Yuki Iino | Yuki Iino | All Out | KO-D 10-Man Tag Team Champion |
| Yuki Ueno | Yuki Ueno | Disaster Box | KO-D Tag Team Champion |
| Yukio Naya | Yukio Naya | Main unit | |
| Yukio Sakaguchi | Yukio Sakaguchi | Eruption | KO-D 6 Man Tag Team Champion |
| Yuni | Yumeko Shimazoe | Main unit |
Pro-Wrestling Basara
| Ring name | Notes |
| Best Stretch Man V3 | |
| Daichi Kazato | |
| Daiki Shimomura | |
| Fuma | |
| Fuminori Abe | Union Max Champion |
| Goma Ryu | |
| Isami Kodaka | |
| Masato Kamino | |
| Ryota Nakatsu | |
| Ryuichi Sekine | |
| Sagat | |
| Takato Nakano | |
| Takumi Tsukamoto | |
| Trans-Am★Hiroshi | |
| Yasu Urano | Freelancer |
| Yusuke Kubo |
Tokyo Joshi Pro
Ganbare☆Puroresu
Staff
- Amon Tsurumi/Hisaya Imabayashi – DDT General Manager/Assistant producer
- Daisuke Kiso – Referee
- Hosomi no Shy Boy – Ring announcer
- Mic Inoue – Time keeper
- Tetsuya Koda – Tokyo Joshi Pro representative
- Sayuri Namba – Tokyo Joshi Pro ring announcer
- Yukinori Matsui – Referee
Dropkick Bar