HIKARU SATO SURVIVES MASATO TANAKA TO WIN THE GHC HARDCORE OPENWEIGHT TITLE ON MONDAY MORNING MAGIC
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Ever since the GHC Hardcore Openweight Championship was reintroduced to Pro Wrestling NOAH on October 23, 2023, the performer most synonymous with it has been Masato Tanaka.
The Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling legend, Tanaka’s undeniable toughness has been displayed on both sides of the world in Japan and in the United States as a member of Extreme Championship Wrestling.
Back on February 9, 2026, on an episode of Monday Morning Magic, Tanaka defeated the skilled upstart Titus Alexander to begin his second reign as GHC Hardcore Openweight Champion.
In between title defenses, Tanaka has kept up his rigorous schedule, performing all across Japan, as well as in Las Vegas during WrestleMania Weekend. At 53 years old, Tanaka has never slowed down. Truly the personification of the term WARRIOR.
On the flip side, Hikaru Sato has continued the same path as a journeyman through the Japanese wrestling scene. Best known as a tag team specialist, he has held multiple tag team titles, including the All Japan Pro Wrestling All-Asia Tag Team Championships five times over his illustrious career. Sato, who has experience in Sumo and Mixed Martial Arts, and gained his strength throwing a shot-put prior to wrestling, is as tough as they come.
Yesterday, during an episode of Monday Morning Magic at Shinjuku FACE in Tokyo, both Tanaka and Satu did battle over the GHC Hardcore Openweight Championship in the main event.
As Tanaka’s famous theme “Dangan” hit the PA system, I got vibes of Tanaka from 25 years ago, winning the ECW World Heavyweight Title from Mike Awesome in December 1999.
However, it was short-lived, as Satu jumped him as he entered the ring. Taking off his ring garb, Satu wrapped his martial-arts brown belt around Tanaka’s neck and then hung him over the top rope!
Tanaka tried to gain his bearings, throwing chairs into the ring and onto the ramp. When he went to suplex Sato, he was stopped and then bodyslammed on the pile of steel instead!
Sato kept up the assault, but Tanaka fought back, leveling him with a chair and then placed on a table set outside on the floor. Tanaka went to the top rope and delivered a high-impact splash!
The champion continued the assault in the ring, taking his kendo stick and, in homage to the Sandman, dropped Sato with a White Russian Legsweep!
The battle continued with heavy strikes and submissions. Sato’s sole goal was to lock on the jujigatime armbar, trying at will at any opportunity. At one point, Sato transferred a triangle choke into a jujigatime. As Tanaka fought to the ropes, not fully locked, Sato switched over to a Kimura lock!
Tanaka, showing Fighting Spirit, countered the Kimura and then leveled Sato with a Sliding D! Sato kicked out at two. Then, the GHC Hardcore Openweight Champion went for it all with a Frog Splash, but Sato got his knees up.
Moments later, Sato really locked on a jujigatime to a prone Tanaka, and he quickly TAPPED!
Hikaru Sato is the new GHC Hardcore Openweight Champion!
After the match, Sato absolutely struggled getting to his feet, barely able to celebrate his win. The fight with Tanaka really expended all of his energy.
I love two old school competitors just throwing bombs at one another, trying to prove they are still the baddest dog in the yard. On this occasion, Sato survived. I would love to see this rematch down the line.
Check out this match on Wrestle Universe. It truly was as much an old school heavyweight boxing fight as you can imagine. That’s how much the GHC Hardcore Openweight meant to both Sato and Tanaka.
Bankie Bruce
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