New episode title(s) has/have been added to the database. Title: サトシ対コテツ！ 秘密兵器サザンドラ！！ / 第５回ポケスマ最強王座決定大会、前回王者のしょこたん部長に初代王者・馬場隊員や第３回王者・山本隊員らが挑む！/Satoshi tai Kotetsu! Himitsuheiki Sazandora!! / Dai5kai PokéSma saikyō ōza kettei taikai, zenkai ōja no Shokotan-buchō ni shodai ōja Baba-taiin ya dai3kai ōja Yamamoto-taiinra ga idomu!. Please comment below! Thanks, your friendly PM.Net AnimeBot

Shigeki Morimoto is scheduled to appear once again in this episode according to Junichi Masuda's Twitter feed. Contrary to what many fansites are speculating about his appearance, this is a scheduled appearance as the last time he was on Smash was for the 4th Smash tournament as a judge/spectator.

Shigeki Morimoto Bio: http://www.pocketmonsters.net/characters/Shigeki_Morimoto
Smash 4th Tournament Summary: http://www.pocketmonsters.net/episodes/1311#Summary

He will be taking a similar role in this episode as he did in the previous episode. Despite there being a large announcement on January 8th, 2013, it is VERY unlikely that Masuda or Morimoto will announce anything on Smash 117 as most of the live action part of the episode will be filled with the tournament like last time. There is even more participants in this 5th tournament than in the 4th tournament, so they will already be stretched for time.

It is also VERY unlikely that The Pokemon Company would trump their own announcement by two days. Whatever the announcement is, Smash will cover it in their Marketing Department segment sometime mid to late January 2013.

I thought Shoko had it for sure! That tournament was full of crazy hijinks status ailment hjinks!