Osaka Pro Wrestling are closing 2024 out strong with their annual show ‘Excalibur’. On December 29th, the company will return to the birthplace of Super Delfin’s original Osaka Pro Wrestling in the now renamed Towa Pharmaceutical Ractab Dome (previously the Namihaya Dome), Kadoma City, Osaka. As Osaka heads into the year of Osaka Expo 2025, this may be the biggest show of the new Osaka Pro to date as President Zeus takes further steps to raise the company’s profile in its hometown and work towards his goal of a permanent venue. There are defences of all four titles to look forward to, as well as special attractions and a few big name legends. The show brings many of the major stories of the past year full-circle, with two of last year’s challengers now defending as champions, a historical feud, and a popular new wrestler shaking up the light heavyweight picture.
As is often the case with Osaka Pro shows, we likely won’t get details about broadcasting until very close or even after the show takes place, as the company will be prioritising ticket sales, but we can be certain of (at the very least) a rapidly distributed show digest on Osaka Pro’s YouTube channel. Last year’s digest is also available here.
The Variety Show
The majority of Excalibur is dedicated to the four title matches but the card also delivers a mix of comedy, nostalgia, and serious talent in the three opening matches. These represent the variety show feel of Osaka Pro and, while there is very little in the way of story in these matches, they should still be very well worth your time.
Takoyakida, Ultimate Spider Jr. & Kodai Nozaki vs. Naoki Sakurajima, Kazuaki Mihara and Aran Sano
This opening match sees return guest spots for Kodai Nozaki and Naoki Sakurajima of Kyushu Pro, as well as for Kazuaki Mihara, currently at Move One. All are a joy to watch and a welcome presence at this event, particularly as both Naoki and Mihara started off their careers at Osaka Pro. Keep an eye on Aran Sano, the new Osaka Pro’s first home-grown trainee, who scored his first big win in September this year over former champion Quiet Storm.
Super Delfin, Dump Matsumoto, ZAP & Tsubasa vs. Billy Ken Kid, The Bodyguard, Ebessan and Kuishinbo Kamen
The original founder of Osaka Pro, two joshi wrestling legends, and a Japanese luchador take on another Japanese luchador, a bodybuilder who happens to also be the oldest man in Osaka Pro, a god of good fortune, and a character initially based in fart jokes. This match is likely to be as silly as it sounds, but perhaps with more good wrestling than you might expect.
Tigers Mask, CIMA & Minoru Tanaka vs Shuji Ishikawa, Goliath & Yuuto Kikuchi
This just has to be experienced. Kikuchi and Tigers Mask have a two year history of conflict, so there may well be some spirited clashes between the Osaka Pro legend and the Dotonbori Pro Champion. Other things to look forward to will be Goliath trying to crush CIMA’s head, Kikuchi bringing some high flying, and just about everything Shuji Ishikawa does.
The Title Matches
Meibutsu Sekaiichi Championship Match: Kanjuro Matsuyama (World No. 1) vs. Joichiro Osaka
It’s a quirk of this title that its holder is not the champion, but instead the ‘World No. 1.’ In this match, the wrestlers are truly fighting to prove themselves the best. The best at what exactly is sometimes a little unclear! Champion Matsuyama is a multiple time holder of the Meibutsu Sekaiichi and considered one of Japan’s best comedy wrestlers. His character is modelled on kabuki, a classic form of Japanese theatre involving dance and sometimes offbeat and flamboyant performances, a style he takes to extremes. The challenger is an original character from the new era of Osaka Pro – apparently a completely reasonable cross between Osaka Castle and famous boxer Joichiro Tatsuyoshi. He was also the previous champion and held the belt for a whopping 258 days in his second reign. This match will probably not be an all-time classic, even by comedy standards, but if you like rope walking or seeing someone get repeatedly crotched, there will be something for you here.
Osaka Pro Tag Team Championship Match: Yasutaka Oosera & Shu Asakawa (c) vs. Quiet Storm & Shigehiro Irie
This match pits the relatively recent Rogue Nation partnership of Oosera and Asakawa against their faction’s former leader and the widely popular Irie. Stylistically, we get the big boys vs the sneaky technicians, as well as a rerun of the recent Irie vs Asakawa match from September’s Tennozan tournament. Irie came out on top for that, partly using Asakawa’s own sneaky tactics against him. In terms of story, Quiet Storm was the leader of Rogue Nation before he was kicked out only two months ago, for getting in the way of the faction’s ambitions to challenge the more “boring” aspects of Osaka Pro. He saved Irie from the attacks of Rogue Nation at November’s show but theirs is a hastily formed team. Will they have the same unity as champions Asakawa and Oosera? We also have two former attendees of Osaka Pro’s kids classes in Irie and Asakawa – one is the much beloved babyface, the other helped found Rogue Nation. Who has chosen the path that leads to being tag champion at the end of the year?
In theory, the team some are calling ‘Beast Storm’ have a strong advantage on size alone, but Rogue Nation may well have tricks up their sleeve. Fittingly for a company with Tigers Mask as trainer, Osaka Pro does not tend to put its juniors solely in second billing, so either way, real competition between the teams is to be expected.
Osaka Light Heavyweight Championship Match: Ryuya Matsufusa (c) vs. SUZAKU
It was this show last year that saw Ryuya Matsufusa take the Light Heavyweight title from its first holder, Tigers Mask, and begin a dominant reign that saw him defeat nearly every junior legend in the company. His opponent, the masked man known as SUZAKU, has barely been with the company for two months, and only wrestled on a total of four events. However, he made an immediate impression on both Matsufusa and Osaka Pro fans with his physical ability, appearance and his polite but pointed challenge to the Light Heavyweight champion. SUZAKU beat Matsufusa convincingly on day one – and two – of his time in Osaka Pro and despite an aggressive response, Matsufusa has not yet managed to even up the score.
Matsufusa has vowed to keep the title for a full year and, as he gets closer to that point, he appears to be increasingly willing to go to whatever lengths necessary to keep his promise. As HUB once noted, Matsufusa is the kind of guy to get a little scary if his switch is flipped. SUZAKU seems like just the kind of guy to flip that switch. Expect this to be fast and furious.
As an aside, this match is also a clash between two of the four symbols and mythological creatures of the Chinese zodiac – the azure dragon (Ryu meaning Dragon) and the vermillion bird (also known as Suzaku). The other two guardians are the white tiger (likely represented by Tigers Mask) and the black tortoise/snake (likely HUB). Osaka Pro likes a theme. They are even holding a zodiac themed match the day before Excalibur. It should also not escape mention that the year in which Ryuya Matsufusa has held the Light Heavyweight Championship is the year of the dragon, and we are heading into the year of the snake. This match will give us a hint as to whether it will also be SUZAKU’s year.
Osaka Pro Wrestling Championship Match: Zeus (c) vs. TORU
This isn’t the first time TORU has challenged Zeus for the top belt in the company but he, as well as his position in Osaka Pro, have changed somewhat since that first challenge in May 2023. Perhaps most significantly, his win over Zeus in the second round of this year’s Tennozan tournament represents a major shift, as Zeus has consistently been a wall that TORU has struggled to overcome in singles competition – first being unable to capture the belt from him in 2023, then losing to him in the Tennozan finals later that same year. After conquering a personal milestone in winning Tennozan 2024, TORU was finally afforded the right to this challenge. He had been a finalist in every Tennozan tournament since Osaka Pro was relaunched in 2022 and his victory in this year’s final over fellow Osaka Pro kid’s class trainee Shigehiro Irie was a long-awaited emotional moment.
This is more than just a clash of individuals however, as Zeus and TORU also stand on opposing sides in an ideological battle over Osaka Pro’s future. Although both have an ambition to make Osaka Pro the best company in Japan, they have different ideas of how to get there. Zeus is focused on building the business of Osaka Pro, with strength and skill determining the Champions who will lead and represent the company. TORU, meanwhile, may not be President, but as a former fan, an attendee of Osaka Pro kids classes in his youth, and long-time regular in both the Osaka and Tokyo indie scenes, he has his own claims to understanding what Osaka Pro wrestling should embody. He believes that Osaka Pro needs more conflict and excitement to be the best, and that using weapons and distraction tactics are legitimate ways to increase competitiveness among Osaka Pro wrestlers.
Initially, TORU was content to follow Zeus, grateful for the opportunities the President had given him. However, three months after his first title challenge, TORU attacked Zeus and became a founding member of the rudo group Rogue Nation, who align with TORU’s vision for a stronger Osaka Pro. Rudo groups have been a core part of Osaka Pro’s history but had not existed under Zeus’ leadership of the company, and he does not seem particularly impressed by this one either. TORU’s Tennozan victory speech set out his deep affection for Osaka Pro’s wrestling, the wrestling he knows, loves and equates himself with. He argues that is is that affection that drives his opposition to Zeus’ “boring” new version of Osaka Pro. This clash is not simply a matter of ‘good guy President vs. villainous rebel’, as TORU is well loved by the Osaka crowd and Zeus, in being both President and Champion, is also the voice of authority and order.
In the build up to this match, although not beating him directly, TORU has been provoking Zeus, even using Zeus’ signature, the Jackhammer, to beat Takoyakida while Zeus watched on. TORU used sneaky tactics to get the win over Zeus in his Tennozan victory and he has no moral reservations about using whatever resources at his disposal to get a win. Zeus will be less likely to resort to the weapons, distraction or interference used by Rogue Nation, but he’s not shy about violence. Their matches have all gone at least 20 minutes, so don’t expect a quick resolution to some complicated stakes. The future direction of the company could rest on the outcome.
The final thing to look forward to with regards to Excalibur will be the entrances. Last year, Zeus had his (excellent) entrance sung a capella in the venue. It will be interesting to see whether he can top that this year.