MAO Defeats Daichi Satoh to Retain DDT’s KO-D Openweight Title, Fuminori Abe Nominated as Next Challenger

By: Ian McCord

On August 30th, DDT Pro Wrestling returned to Korakuen Hall where the current KO-D Openweight Champion MAO made his second defense of the title against Daichi Satoh.

Both MAO and Satoh came to impress as they competed in an extremely hard-hitting main event. MAO, with the help of Strange Love Connection, took apart the ring and went toe-to-toe with Satoh on the exposed wooden boards.

After nearly 24 minutes, MAO was able to put down the 18-year-old for the three-count after planting him with Cannonball 450 to secure his second successful defense of the championship.

After the match, Fuminori Abe, who teamed with Jun Akiyama earlier on the card in a winning effort against Yuki Ueno and To-y, hit the ring. MAO named Abe as the next challenger for the KO-D Openweight Title, with the match being made official for September 21st.

During his post-match comments backstage, Fuminori Abe claimed that he believes he is the strongest and most entertaining wrestler and he wants to prove himself in his title match against MAO.

From Fuminori Abe:

“It’s been decided that I’ll challenge for the title on September 21 at Korakuen Hall. It’s not just MAO—I don’t want to lose to anyone. I always feel that I’m the most entertaining and the strongest. I want to prove myself in the main event at Korakuen Hall for the Openweight title.”

After some praise to Daichi Satoh, MAO shifted his attention to Fuminori Abe in his post-match comments, saying he seems to see him everywhere he goes before stating that he considers him one of his main rivals.

From MAO:

“Next up is Fuminori Abe. These days, I run into him everywhere I go. If I had to name a rival, he’d definitely be on the list. It’s precisely because I won the openweight title that I can face him head-on.”

(English Translation via DeepL)

MAO and Abe will battle for DDT’s KO-D Openweight Title when the promotion returns to Korakuen Hall on September 21st.

Image Credit: DDT Pro Wrestling

Here are the full results for DDT’s LAST SUMMER STANDING ~Summer’s Reckoning~ courtesy of purolove.com:

• Naomi Yoshimura & Tomomitsu Matsunaga defeat Yuni & Yuki Ishida (6:35) after Yoshimura hits Ishida with a Haragoshi.
• Special Eight-Man Tag Match: HARASHIMA, Yasu Urano, Akito, and Soma Takao defeat Takeshi Masada, Yuya Koroku, Kazuma Sumi, and Masaki Inahata (10:23) following Takao’s Gin & Tonic on Inahata.
• Special Tag Match: Jun Akiyama & Fuminori Abe defeated Yuki Ueno & To-y (10:51) following a Ground Manjigatame by Abe on To-y.
• 3-Way Six-Man Tag Match ~ No Touch Rules: Hideki Okatani, MJ Paul & Ilusion defeated KANON, Yukio Naya & Viento Levante w/ KIMIHIRO & YUZUKI and Chris Brookes, Antonio Honda & Hinata Kasai (9:28) following Ilusion’s Chibga Tu Madre! on Honda.
• DDT EXTREME & Iron Man Heavymetalweight Double Title Match ~ “One-Shot Trump Card – NO REPEAT RULE”: Shunma Katsumata (c) defeats Kumadori (13:02) with a German Suplex Hold (Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title 1st defense / EXTREME Title 1st defense).
• Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title: Kumadori defeats Shunma Katsumata (c) (12:43) with a Small Package – title change.
• KO-D Tag Team Title: Shinya Aoki & Junta Miyawaki (c) defeat Danshoku Dieno & Kazuki Hirata (10:47) after Miyawaki hits the Sunshine Clutch on Hirata (1st defense).
• DDT UNIVERSAL Title: Ryusuke Taguchi (c) defeats Daisuke Sasaki (14:18) with a Cross-Style Ankle Hold (1st defense).
• KO-D Openweight Title: MAO (c) defeats Daichi Satoh (23:27) with a Cannonball 450 (2nd defense).