HERO 48 〜16th Anniversary Show 〜 Results (Eng)

HERO 48 〜16th Anniversary Show 〜 Results

HERO Barrier-Free Pro-Wrestling

HERO 48 〜16th Anniversary Show〜

February 21st 2026 (Saturday)

Tokyo, Shin-kiba 1st Ring (6:45pm)

Attendance not announced

Opening Act, ActWrestling Offer Match, 15mins 1 fall 

Nagisa Shiotsuki and Natsuki vrp. Wild Bunny and MARU

Natsuki defeated W. Bunny (7mins 58s, Fisherman's Suplex Hold).

Opening Match, Inaugural WBC Singles Champion Determination Tournament First Round Match, 15mins 1 fall

Keisuke Goto vs. Hashinosuke

Goto defeated Hashinosuke (6mins 47s, Jackhammer -> single leg pinfall).

Second Match, Inaugural WBC Singles Champion Determination Tournament First Round Match, 15mins 1 fall

Tomonori Chiba vs. Hiroshi Yamato

Chiba defeated Yamato (4mins 46s, win by ring out).

Third Match, Women's Tag Match, 15mins 1 fall

Makoto and MARIA vs. Ayame Sasamura  and Misa Kagura

Match ended in a time limit expiration draw.

Fourth Match, Inaugural WBC Singles Champion Determination Tournament First Round Match, 15mins 1 fall

Masked Mystery vs. Shigeo Kato

Mystery defeated Kato (9mins 41s, Lariat -> pinfall).

Semifinal, World Tomato Championship Match, 20mins 1 fall

＜Challenger＞ Tomato Kaji vs. ＜Champion＞ Mineo Fujita

Kaji defeated Fujita (3mins 53s, Tiger Suplex Hold).

The third champion, Mineo Fujita, failed in his first title defence. Tomato Kaji became the fourth champion.

Main Event, Inaugural WBC Singles Champion Determination Tournament First Round Match, 15mins 1 fall

Wild Bear vs. Ricky Fuji

Bear defeated Fuji (9mins 16s, pinfall).

DDT's Recommended Wrestler for 2026 is...

English translation

週刊プロレス Weekly Pro-Wrestling, 

2026/1/28 No. 2394, p.53

DDT's Recommended Wrestler for 2026 is... Kazuma Sumi

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

After a year of making great strides, he has confidence in his technique, and he's now aiming for victory in the DGC!

At present, Kazuma Sumi is three years and four months into his career, and until now, he has had worries every day. However, with 2025 seeing him challenging for the KO-D Openweight Championship, among other things, he made some dramatic development. Sumi has realized this, too, and as a result, he had made his aim for this year to "shake up the hierarchy".

"In DDT right now, there are young wrestlers from the D GENERATIONS era making their

way up the ranks. Ueno-san, MAO-san and Chris-san and others above us are well-established, and I want to be up there, too, so I want to shake up the hierarchy. For that reason, of course, I'm gonna win the D GENERATIONS CUP.

The key to Sumi's success is the young wrestlers' league tournament, the DGC, which started in Shinjuku on January 5th. With his momentum from last year leading him to challenge for the KO-D 6 Man Tag Championship at Korakuen Hall on January 3rd, perhaps he is a contender to win the DGC. If he can win there, then he can go for another "first challenge" by challenging for the Universal Championship. Incidentally, the 6 Man Tag Championship challenge will see him in his first main event at Korakuen Hall, aside from his Any Time Any Place Right to Challenge usage. 

In the afore-mentioned days that he worried every day, he believed, "Even if I wait for my chance, it'll never come". But, it's because he thought that way that he had the motivation to throw himself into his training, so if his chance did come, he'd be ready to give it everything he had. So, it can be said that the steady stream of "firsts" that Sumi is experiencing is a testament to his growth, and proof that he has arrived. "It's linked to my "efforts", so it's proven to me that I'm not where I am now by mistake".

Naturally, as well as the generation above him, he's naturally aware of the DGS generation. Regarding this year's DGC, he says, "I'm keeping everyone in mind". To-y is currently the EXTREME Champion and a 6 Man Tag Champion, and Takeshi Masada challenged for the KO-D Openweight Championship at the end of last year in an unforgettable match. There are many wrestlers, who, like himself, made a lot of progress last year, and are looking to seize the opportunities brought about by their experiences in the DGC, as well as seeing who has made the most development.

Sumi did not get the victory in the last three tournaments, but he also feels like "I haven't "won" anything in my life. I've never been number one in anything".

Here, he will once again experience a "first". He also speaks of showing his growth in the ring through his techniques.

"When I challenged for the KO-D Openweight Championship in September, I used some new moves. Also, my biggest weapon, the Schoolboy, has been refined a lot in the last year, compared to how it was in the past, so I'm a lot more confident with using it. In the past, I was like, "If I just do this, will it be OK...?", and I was anxious about it. But, now, I really feel that I can win with it".

An ace up his sleeve is his reverse 450° splash, which he used for the first time in his match against Ueno. Advice from MAO convinced him to use it. Three years ago, in the first DGC, Sumi's participation ended in a total loss. Sumi asked MAO what he should do, saying a normal Firebird Splash isn't interesting. The answer was the reverse splash, which Sumi started practicing from then on. However, he wasn't always able to pull it off. He gave up on it for some time, but he eventually started practicing it again, and at last, it took shape. This is because he has grown as a wrestler. With three special techniques at his disposal, and his strong faith in the Schoolboy, Sumi aims to shake up the hierarchy of DDT.

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

The thing he did in 2025 that left the biggest impression was... Using his Any Time Any Place (Right to Challenge) to challenge Ueno for the Openweight Championship!

On September 28th at Korakuen Hall, Yuki Ueno used his Any Time Any Place Right to Challenge and defeated Kazuki Hirata to become the KO-D Openweight Champion. Right after that, Sumi used the final Right to Challenge for his first shot at that same championship. Although Sumi was drawing close to the peak of DDT as one of their top young wrestlers, a stubborn Ueno was successful in his title defence. However, Sumi's usage of new techniques caused a stir in the venue and showed proof of his strenuous efforts.

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

*Please note, this interview took place before the January 3rd Korakuen Hall show.

Written by Tomoki Ishii for Weekly Pro-Wrestling magazine (Japanese).

Translated into English by Michelle @puroresueikaiwa

Please do not use without permission and credit.

AJPW's Recommended Wrestler for 2026 is...

English translation

週刊プロレス Weekly Pro-Wrestling, 

2026/1/28 No. 2394, p.51

AJPW's Recommended Wrestler for 2026 is... Shota Kofuji

Guided to AJPW after encountering his rival, he continues to carry his memory through his own work

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

In recent years, it has become a tradition for AJPW's first Korakuen Hall show of the new year to have announcements of new signings, and this year saw the addition of another good asset to the company.

Players association chairman Kento Miyahara declared, "I'd like to announce a new signing. It's this wrestler. Here!", and Kofuji's entrance music played as he got into the ring, but at first, many people didn't know who he was. With his short black hair, he looked completely different from before, like a different person. "Everyone, it's nice to meet you. I'm AJPW's Shota Kofuji. In 2026, I will be signed to both OSW and AJPW, and I want to liven up AJPW's junior division. I look forward to working with you!". When AJPW's fans finally realized who he was, they responded by erupting in cheers for Kofuji. He was pretty happy about that, too, but the fact that fate led him on this path is something that has touched the hearts of many AJPW fans.

Thinking about last year, "It was a year of meetings and farewells", said Kofuji. "Because I met Taishin Nagao, I also came into contact with AJPW, so I think meeting him was the most important thing that happened to me".

Kofuji, who debuted in OSW, made his first appearance in AJPW in a tag match at Shin-kiba 1st Ring on March 23rd 2025, and standing across from him in the ring was Taishin Nagao, who had made his debut two months before Kofuji. For Nagao, he was naturally aware that, although it had been only a matter of months, this was the first time he would wrestle someone with less experience than himself. With that, the story of their rivalry began.

On May 18th in Ota-ku, Nagao faced Kofuji in a singles match, and earned his first victory. As this happened in a dark match, Kofuji and Nagao swore that they would rise up the ranks together. Baring his teeth in frustration, Kofuji declared, "Next time, I will definitely make you give up!". However, "next time" would never come to pass. Nagao passed away due to an accident. Kofuji was his final opponent. "I never beat him even once, but he beat me. It may be a little selfish of me, but I will always consider him my rival. I will always carry Taishin Nagao with me, so part of him will always be there. I entered AJPW as his rival, and I will continue to carry his memory through my own work".

That became his main reason for signing with AJPW. After his fateful encounter with Nagao, Kofuji can no longer defeat him, but in the ring of his rival's beloved AJPW, he hopes to liven up the junior division, no matter what it takes. Someday, he wants to show everyone what he can do. 

At the start of the year, he entered the dormitory, and he gained a stronger sense of what it means to be signed to AJPW. From now, as he focuses on certain aspects of AJPW matches, he will take part in OSW shows, while being aware of being part of AJPW. 

When asked to write his aim for the year on his sign board, he wrote "World Junior" without hesitation. In other words, his heart is set on this. Right from his first time participating in AJPW, he has always thought, "If there's a chance, I'm going to take it".

Although the two young men had been expected to compete with each other for the World Jr. Championship, Kofuji will fight against his seniors, all the while keeping his eye on his goal.

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

The thing he did in 2025 that left the biggest impression was... His first All Asia Tag Championship challenge! 

United by their love of cats, Kofuji formed

"Aggressive Cats" with the veteran, Hideki Suzuki. He fought with an aggressive fighting style that was enough to keep his partner on his toes, and although he lost, "This is the start". This match was the turning point that further strengthened Kofuji's resolution to make his mark on All Japan.

Written by Kenji Takao for Weekly Pro-Wrestling magazine (Japanese).

Translated into English by Michelle @puroresueikaiwa

Please do not use without permission and credit.