DDT “DDT PRO WRESTLING IN SHINGASHI”, 02/11/2024 Saitama Takashina Elementary School ??? Fans – Unannounced
1. Shunma Katsumata, To-y & Kazuma Sumi defeated Yukio Naya, Yuya Koroku & Yuki Ishida when Katsumata pinned Ishida with the Totonou Splash (10:43).
2. Special Tag Match: Makoto Oishi & Yoshiko Hasegawa submitted Akito & Kaya Toribami when Hasegawa submitted Toribami with the Muffler Hold (8:14).
3. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Danshoku Dieno, HARASHIMA & Tetsuya Endo defeated Chris Brookes, Takeshi Masada & Keigo Nakamura when HARASHIMA pinned Nakamura with the Somato (19:24).
Rainy weather in Saitama resulted in a messy day for DDT. They held a short outdoor wrestling show at the Takashina Elementary School and had the ring set up in the middle of a muddy school yard. A lot of kids were in the crowd so the wrestlers encouraged them to chant “Go baldy” at Keigo Nakamura. Even Chris Brookes bullied him a bit despite being on the same team. Brookes and Danshoku Dieno both held Nakamura upside down and spun his head around on the muddy ground. But Nakamura became the children’s favorite as the match went on. Too bad he ended up losing to HARASHIMA.
Yoshiko Hasegawa also had a lot of support from the crowd because she is from Saitama. Akito targeted her throughout the match but Hasegawa was able to put Kaya Toribami in the Muffler Hold after she dodged the Rolling Senton. Akito was also caught in Makoto Oishi’s Fujiyama Knee Lock at the time so he couldn’t stop Toribami from giving up.
DDT “AKOS X DDT EKIMAE PRO WRESTLING”, 26/10/2024 Saitama AKOS Event Square
1. Danshoku Dieno, Kazuki Hirata & Shunma Katsumata Vs HARASHIMA, Yuki Ishida & Kazuma Sumi
2. Tetsuya Endo, Yuki Iino & Yuya Koroku Vs Jun Akiyama, Yukio Naya & Keigo Nakamura
3. The 37KAMIINA Vs SCHADENFREUDE International!: Yuki Ueno, MAO & To-y Vs Chris Brookes, Antonio Honda & Takeshi Masada
The weekend begins with a short and free DDT show over in a Saitama plaza.
DDT “FUKUSHIMA ADATARA ONSEN HOTEL PARADISE HILLS BOX OFFICE”, 27/10/2024 Fukushima Adatara Onsen Hotel Paradise Hills Sakura Campground Special Venue
1. Yukio Naya Vs Keigo Nakamura
2. MJ Paul Vs Yuki Ishida
3. Danshoku Dieno & Kazuki Hirata Vs To-y & Kazuma Sumi
4. Special Tag Match: Tetsuya Endo & Makoto Oishi Vs Chris Brookes & Takeshi Masada
5. Yuki Iino, Akito, Yuni & Yuya Koroku Vs Daisuke Sasaki, KANON, Demus & Ilusion
6. Sakura Campground Will Be Used In Its Entirety! Paradise-Style Falls Count Anywhere 6-Man Tag Match: Yuki Ueno, MAO & Shunma Katsumata Vs Jun Akiyama, HARASHIMA & Antonio Honda
This is going to be an outdoor show. If the weather in Paradise Hills is bad on Sunday then the ring will be moved to an area with shelter.
DDT “DDT PRO WRESTLING IN SHINGASHI”, 02/11/2024 Saitama Takashina Elementary School
1. Shunma Katsumata, To-y & Kazuma Sumi Vs Yukio Naya, Yuya Koroku & Yuki Ishida
2. Special Tag Match: Makoto Oishi & Yoshiko Hasegawa Vs Akito & Kaya Toribami
3. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Danshoku Dieno, HARASHIMA & Tetsuya Endo Vs Chris Brookes, Takeshi Masada & Keigo Nakamura
Next weekend DDT will be doing another outdoor free show in Saitama, this time at an elementary school. Yoshiko Hasegawa and Kaya Toribami are coming along for the ride too.
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “MAHIRO KIRYU TRIUMPHANT RETURN ~TOKYO JOSHI SHINOYABO~”, 03/11/2024 Gunma G-Messe Main Hall C (Takasaki City)
1. 3 Way Match: Rika Tatsumi Vs Pom Harajuku Vs Arisu Endo
2. Suzume & Haruna Neko Vs Kaya Toribami & Toga
3. Maki Itoh & Kira Summer Vs Shoko Nakajima & HIMAWARI
4. Yoshiko Hasegawa Vs Uta Takami
5. Next Generation Tournament ’24 – Round 1D: Wakana Uehara Vs Chika Nanase
6. Miu Watanabe, Raku & Shino Suzuki Vs Mizuki, Yuki Aino & Haru Kazashiro
7. Miyu Yamashita & Moka Miyamoto Vs Yuki Kamifuku & Mahiro Kiryu
Gunma is Mahiro Kiryu’s territory so she gets the main event spot. She is also teaming with Yuki Kamifuku which means Toyo Mates are back together for the first time in a long while. The Karate Tag pair of Miyu Yamashita & Moka Miyamoto will be their opponents.
DDT/DEFY “DDT IN UTERO”, 09/11/2024 Washington Hall, Seattle, Washington, USA
1. Danshoku Dieno Vs Randy Myers
2. Gringo Loco Vs Yuni
3. Special Tag Match: Daisuke Sasaki & Artemis Spencer Vs Gurv Shira & Harv Shira
4. 3 Way Tag Match: Cody Chhun & Guillermo Rosas Vs Bryan Keith & Shota Vs Eddie Pearl & Ricky Gibson
5. DDT Universal Title – 3 Way Match: MAO (c) Vs Miyu Yamashita Vs X
6. Special Single Match: KONOSUKE TAKESHITA Vs Kohei Kinoshita
Seattle is where MAO will have his first defence of his latest DDT Universal Title reign. It’s going to be a 3 Way Match and Yamashita is one of the opponents, making it her first time she will be properly fighting for a DDT championship (other than the Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title). The other opponent is a mystery for now.
One of the other new matches on the show is on the DEFY end of things. Cody Chhun & Guillermo Rosas are known together as C4 and they are the current DEFY Tag Team Champions. One of the other regular teams is Eddie Pearl & Ricky Gibson, aka Midnight Heat. The third team have previously been opponents against each other. Bryan Keith was somebody that Shota faced during one of his American excursions two years ago.
Marina Shafir will be on the show. If Kazuki Hirata isn’t her opponent then what are we doing here (I’m predicting Yoshihiko is in the 3 Way Match)?
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “LOOKING AROUND THE WORLD, ISN’T JAPAN AMAZING AFTER ALL!?”, 10/11/2024 Tokyo Ryogoku KFC Hall
1. Rakuhan Vs Pom-chan Army: X Vs X
2. Rakuhan Vs Pom-chan Army: X Vs X
3. Rakuhan Vs Pom-chan Army: X Vs X
4. Rakuhan Vs Pom-chan Army: X Vs X
5. Rakuhan Vs Pom-chan Army: X & X Vs X & X
6. Rakuhan Vs Pom-chan Army: X & X Vs X & X
Around a dozen wrestlers from Tokyo Joshi Pro will be in Seattle for the DEFY weekend in November. Meanwhile everyone else left behind in Japan will be running a TJPW show built around a team challenge with a luxurious prize on the line. Raku and Pom Harajuku will each captain a team and will draft their members out of a pool of 16 wrestlers (14 from TJPW plus 2 guests). The teams will be drafted this Sunday before that day’s show begins.
DDT “GET ALIVE 2024 TOUR IN YOKOHAMA”, 16/11/2024 Yokohama Radiant Hall
1. Danshoku Dieno & Kazuki Hirata Vs Soma Takao & Kazuma Sumi
2. HARASHIMA, Toru Owashi & Keigo Nakamura Vs Akito, Yukio Naya & Diego
3. Special Tag Match: Shinya Aoki & Jun Akiyama Vs Yuki Ueno & To-y
Once “CHARISMANIA” is over and done with, Diego will be sticking around for another DDT show.
DDT “MAO TRIUMPHANT RETURN! DRAMATIC DREAM TAISEIKAN ~THE VILLAGE IS WHERE THE SCHOOL IS~ 2024”, 17/11/2024 Miyagi Osaki City Matsuyama B&G Marine Center
1. Makoto Oishi Vs Kazuma Sumi
2. Jun Akiyama & HARASHIMA Vs Keigo Nakamura & Yuki Ishida
3. Special Tag Match: MAO & Yuki Ueno Vs Minoru Suzuki & Chris Brookes
Imagine coming home to wrestle in front of your friends, family and adoring fans but Minoru Suzuki is also there and he wants to kill you. That will keep MAO on his toes.
BJW “KING OF DEATHMATCH WORLD GP TOURNAMENT”, 31/12/2024 Tokyo Korakuen Hall
The annual New Year’s Eve show that Big Japan, DDT and others have held together for almost two decades is not going ahead this year. Instead of doing a Shuffle Tag Tournament with DDT, Big Japan will instead hold their own one night international death match tournament. BJW’s president Eiji Tosaka wants to show the power of Japan’s death matches to the world especially since next year will be the company’s 30th Anniversary. He asked DDT for their blessing and they agreed to let him do this show at Korakuen Hall instead of the usual Shuffle Tag Tournament.
It’s a disappointing decision but also one I understand. DDT will be running Sumo Hall a few days before New Year’s Eve so that will be their priority for the end of 2024. Also the New Year’s Eve show itself has been dwindling in popularity and interest over the last few years, particularly coming out of the covid pandemic where the show can’t even be held close to midnight anymore. So while I will miss the Shuffle Tag Tournament, the truth is it’s time to try something different. Big Japan’s idea kind of reminds me of the annual “BLOOD X’MAS” shows that FREEDOMS and Jun Kasai both produce every Christmas. Can they reach the same heights though? If there are any DDT wrestlers entering the tournament (Shunma Katsumata would be the likely choice) I will post updates and the show results when they happen. If not then at least that’s less stuff for me to worry about on New Year’s Eve.
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW LIVE TOUR 2024 AUTUMN”, 19/10/2024 Miyagi Yume Messe Miyagi West Building Hall 159 Fans
1. Moka Miyamoto defeated Chika Nanase with the Rashomon (6:44).
2. 3 Way Match: Mahiro Kiryu defeated Kaya Toribami and Haru Kazashiro when Kiryu pinned Kazashiro with the Spinebuster (8:01).
3. Next Generation Tournament ’24 – Round 1: Kira Summer defeated Shino Suzuki with the Samoan Drop (6:14).
4. Yuki Aino, Raku & Pom Harajuku defeated Maki Itoh, Toga & Uta Takami when Aino pinned Takami with the Venus DDT (11:32).
5. Mizuki defeated Yoshiko Hasegawa with the Cutie Special (9:54).
6. Rika Tatsumi & Suzume defeated Shoko Nakajima & Wakana Uehara when Suzume pinned Uehara with the Ring A Bell (13:51).
7. Miu Watanabe & Arisu Endo defeated Yuki Kamifuku & HIMAWARI when Watanabe pinned HIMAWARI with the Tear Drop (12:46).
Miu Watanabe celebrated her 25th birthday (it was also Sayuri Namba’s 31st birthday) by picking up the win with Arisu Endo in today’s main event. Since she is another year older she has noticed the wrestlers younger than her are getting stronger so she cannot afford to lose against them. She also enjoyed wrestling in the Sendai region again because it’s been a year since Tokyo Joshi Pro last held a show here. Endo said she wants to conquer Tohoku too!
Match #4 began with all of Love Triangle deciding to fall asleep in the ring instead of shaking their opponents’ hands. Maki Itoh knew what they were up to though and told Toga & Uta Takami to take a nap with her too. Pom Harajuku got up to attack Itoh but was Cradled into a nearfall instead. Itoh was then able to get everyone crowded up in the corner to do the World Cutest Knuckle Punch on Yuki Aino, Raku & Harajuku. Somehow Harajuku got her hands on a Date Masamune helmet and put it on to power herself up.
One of the semi-finals of the Next Generation Tournament is now set. Kira Summer won her opening round match by beating Shino Suzuki. She countered Suzuki’s Sleeper Hold by standing back up to reposition Suzuki into the Samoan Drop for the victory. Summer said it feels like a dream and she will carry Suzuki’s feelings along with her own for the rest of the tournament. She will be facing Toga in the next round. Suzuki is despondent over losing and doesn’t know what to do anymore. She works hard but now she is losing to her juniors. She thought she would start catching up to her peers but now it feels like she can’t even have the chance to do that anymore.
Mahiro Kiryu pretended to be the referee and body checked her two opponents before the 3 Way Match began. She then ordered Kaya Toribami and Haru Kazashiro to fight each other before attempting to roll them up in a bid to quickly win the match. She of course apologised for her behaviour when the plan didn’t work.
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “ALL RISE ’24”, 06/10/2024 Tokyo Korakuen Hall 611 Fans
1. Wakana Uehara & Haru Kazahiro defeated Toga & Uta Takami when Uehara submitted Takami with the Banana Pillow (9:43).
2. Yuki Aino, Raku & Pom Harajuku defeated Kakeru Sekiguchi, Kira Summer & Chika Nanase when Aino pinned Nanase with the Venus DDT (10:02).
3. Suzume & Yoshiko Hasegawa defeated Moka Miyamoto & Kaya Toribami when Hasegawa pinned Toribami with the Diving Double Knee Attack (10:08).
4. Mizuki & Mahiro Kiryu defeated Andreza Giant Panda & Shino Suzuki when Mizuki pinned Suzuki with the Cutie Special (7:53).
5. Maki Itoh & Rika Tatsumi defeated Yuna Manase & HIMAWARI when Tatsumi pinned HIMAWARI with an Inside Cradle (10:23).
6. Yuki Kamifuku defeated Kuroshio TOKYO Japan with an Ikemen Clutch Counter (5:58).
7. Ryo Mizunami defeated Arisu Endo with the HOT LIMIT (10:20).
8. Special Tag Match: Meiko Satomura & Shoko Nakajima defeated Miu Watanabe & Miyu Yamashita when Satomura pinned Yamashita with the Death Valley Bomb (18:40).
A grudge from seven years ago has been rekindled. Meiko Satomura first entered Tokyo Joshi Pro in 2017 to have a match against Miyu Yamashita and didn’t see the hype about her at all. She defeated her in an overwhelming fashion and that result has stuck with Yamashita all this time. So when news came out that Satomura will retire from wrestling next year, Yamashita quickly convinced TJPW to bring Satomura back so she can get a crack at revenge. It was decided that Yamashita will team with Miu Watanabe, bringing Momoiro Sparkling back together. It would also give Satomura a chance to wrestle the new top star of the promotion. Meanwhile Satomura was paired with Shoko Nakajima, partly because both of them are from Niigata so they at least had one reason to get along.
Satomura was the big target for Momoiro Sparkling. Yamashita in particular threw everything she had at her. She escaped the Death Valley Bomb to hit the Skull Kick but Satomura kicked out of it. She then went for the Crash Rabbit Heat but Satomura blocked it and returned fire with a Back Drop. Yamashita had the Scorpio Rising scouted and looked to have turned the tables again but Nakajima cut her momentum off before wiping out Watanabe with a Topé con Hilo. From there Satomura took over, landing two Death Valley Bombs on Yamashita. She then used the Scorpio Rising but didn’t hit the move right so she went back to using one more Death Valley Bomb to pin Yamashita for the three count.
After the match Yamashita stared and Satomura and wanted to strike her. Satomura stopped Yamashita and ordered her to stand back in her corner with Watanabe. She then got on the microphone and said even though TJPW’s style is different from other promotions, once you step inside the ring everyone becomes your enemy! Satomura will be retiring in six months time and before that happens she is planning to come back to TJPW for another match. So if there is anyone who in TJPW who wants to fight her again she will be waiting for them! Backstage Yamashita wasted little time in telling reporters she wants a singles match against Satomura because she cannot let her retire without finally being able to kick her down. Watanabe and Nakajima also showed interest in wanting to fight Satomura more after they heard her post-match speech.
Arisu Endo was also given a big wall to climb for her match. Both she and Ryo Mizunami were coming off of title match defeats at “WRESTLE PRINCESS V” so they were hungry for a bounce back victory. Endo used a Sleeper Hold to take Mizunami down to the mat to move into the Camel Clutch. But Mizunami was too stubborn to stay down from Endo’s further attacks and escaped from the Ju no Okite. She turned Endo inside out with a Lariat and then won the match with the HOT LIMIT. She said Endo has a long way to go but what’s charming about her is her incredible originality. She can tell Endo is starting to enjoy wrestling and feel fulfilled by it. She could become a fearsome wrestler in two or three years time. Endo thinks she gained more than she lost from this match. Mizunami’s power and passion motivates her to take another step forward.
With the Asian Double Crown match postponed until Xia Zhao can sort out her visa problem, Yuki Kamifuku was given a mystery opponent instead. The dreaded X turned out to be Kuroshio TOKYO Japan, full blown entrance and all! Kamifuku was confused by Kuroshio’s delayed entrance especially when the song ended and he left the room, only to return when the song restarted. When he was finally ready to start the match he told Kamifuku he heard she would like to have a match with him some day. So when he found out she needed an opponent on short notice, he was happy to answer the call. Kamifuku said that is true but she doesn’t want to do the match today. She then called him an idiot for not understanding how women feel. Kuroshio took offence and attacked her. He then brought her out to the front row just so he could attack her in front of one of her biggest fans. Back in the ring Kamifuku fought back and hit the Famouser for a nearfall. Kuroshio made a comeback but his Ikemen Clutch finisher was countered out of nowhere, resulting in Kamifuku pulling off the upset victory. She later praised Kuroshio for being the surprise opponent. She appreciated that he came dressed like someone from TJPW would and thinks they could even team together next time. Kuroshio though wanted to make it clear this appearance wasn’t meant to be a polite gesture. He really wanted to win and then challenge Kamifuku for her two championships.
Can you believe today was the very first time Maki Itoh & Rika Tatsumi teamed up together for a regular tag match? Maybe it’s for a good reason because Tatsumi was really enthusiastic for Itoh’s singing entrance. It was enough to annoy Itoh and throw off their team dynamic before the match even began. Yuna Manase & HIMAWARI were a little off-kilter too by they had the teamwork to make up for it. As the match went on Itoh dragged HIMAWARI out of the ring and tied her hair up against the bleacher handrail by the entrance. While Manase went over to free her, Itoh & Tatsumi started in-fighting again and even attacked each other. Things calmed down between them until Itoh missed a Headbutt aimed for HIMAWARI that hit Tatsumi instead. HIMAWARI then tricked Tatsumi into choking Itoh in the corner. Sensing victory, HIMAWARI tried to put Tatsumi in a Half Crab Hold but it was countered into an Inside Cradle for the three count. Tatsumi shook Itoh’s hand after the match but Itoh responded by giving her the middle finger.
Trust the bunny rabbit to bring a weapon for a fight against a giant panda. Mizuki carried a Pico Pico Hammer to the ring, jumped off the top rope and landed a direct hit right onto Andreza Giant Panda’s noggin. Mahiro Kiryu was horrified by her partner’s actions and forced Mizuki to apologise with her. Andreza recovered and knocked back Kiryu with a Spinning Back Fist. Shino Suzuki tagged in to do the heavy lifting while Andreza recovered out of the ring. He returned but was cut off by Kiryu demanded that he too should apologise to everyone. Andreza took a moment to consider before kneeling down on the canvas to apologise dogeza style. Then he got back up and immediately Headbutted Kiryu. Andreza went for another Headbutt that missed Mizuki and hit Suzuki instead. Mizuki brought out a rope and ran circles around Andreza to make him trip over. She then hit a Diving Foot Stomp and had Kiryu keep the panda down so she could pin Suzuki with the Cutie Special. Backstage Andreza apologised to Suzuki via his handler.
With Endo busy being a singles wrestler today, Suzume went to team with Yoshiko Hasegawa. The pairing worked out well and the two of them defeated Moka Miyamoto & Kaya Toribami. Miyamoto did her part in getting rid of Suzume but Toribami found herself going back and forth against Hasegawa. It ended in Hasegawa’s favour with her hitting the Diving Double Knee Attack for the win.
Halloween is this month so the Love Triangle were in a trick or treat mood. Yuki Aino brought out a brand new red and pink costume for the match while Pom Harajuku wore a paper mask of Mahiro Kiryu’s face to make fun of Kakeru Sekiguchi. She even tried to copy Kiryu’s apology as a joke but Sekiguchi told her to do it properly. Aino almost pinned Chika Nanase with a Senton but Kira Summer broke the pin. Sekiguchi tried to follow up but was taken out by the teamwork of Raku & Harajuku. Aino was then clear to beat Nanase with the Venus DDT.
The opening match was a preview for the Next Generation Tournament beginning later this month with four of the eight participants facing off in a tag bout. Toga & Uta Takami were both fired up to fight last year’s winner Wakana Uehara. However Haru Kazahiro took out Toga with a Low Cross Body and while Takami put up a passionate fight, Uehara made her tap out to the Banana Pillow.
At the start of the show Haruna Neko announced she is finally cleared to start wrestling again and her comeback match will take place on 27th October. She had been out of action since last September when she tore both her ACL and her meniscus. During her time off to recover she was able to be an advertised second at ringside for some of TJPW’s major shows.
Two new trainees who were introduced to the audience. Kana is a 19 year old from Kanagawa who is also a trainee for The Up Up Girls (Pro Wrestling). Her trainee role was already revealed by The Up Up Girls back in July but today is the first time TJPW is acknowledging her. The other trainee is Konatsu, a 23 year old from Shizuoka. She was inspired by Suzume to become a pro wrestler. TJPW also announced they will be holding more auditions for new trainees throughout the rest of the month.
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “WRESTLE PRINCESS V”, 22/09/2024 Chiba Makuhari Messe International Exhibition Hall 756 Fans
1. Haru Kazashiro defeated Runa Okubo with the Fisherman Suplex (6:25).
2. Yoshiko Hasegawa, Kaya Toribami & HIMAWARI defeated Kira Summer, Chika Nanase & Uta Takami when Toribami pinned Nanase with the Sento Choryu (10:13).
3. Kakeru Sekiguchi & Mahiro Kiryu defeated Wakana Uehara & Toga when Kiryu pinned Toga with the Spinebuster (9:41).
4. Ram Kaichow defeated Raku ny Pinfall (7:01).
5. Aja Kong, Max The Impaler & Pom Harajuku defeated Rika Tatsumi, Yuki Aino & Shino Suzuki when Kong pinned Suzuki with the Back Drop (14:55). *Special Referee: Shiori Aoki.
6. Emi Sakura defeated Shoko Nakajima with the Queen’s Gambit (13:47).
7. Xia Zhao & Mizuki defeated Yuki Kamifuku & VENY when Zhao pinned Kamifuku with the Thunder Strike (12:50).
8. International Princess Title: Yuki Arai (c) defeated Moka Miyamoto with the Finally (15:33) *V5 for Yuki Arai.
9. Princess Tag Team Titles: Miyu Yamashita & Maki Itoh defeated Suzume & Arisu Endo (c) when Yamashita pinned Endo with the Crash Rabbit Heat (23:22). *Daisy Monkey fails in V3. 121000000 becomes the 17th Princess Tag Team Champions!
10. Princess Of Princess Title: Miu Watanabe (c) defeated Ryo Mizunami with the Tear Drop (21:19). *V4 for Miu Watanabe.
The power of Princess Aniki has met her match in Tokyo Joshi Pro! Today saw Miu Watanabe cement her Princess Of Princess Title reign by beating Ryo Mizunami in her fourth defence. It is also the first time Mizunami has been beaten in TJPW. Mizunami made it a fight to remember by throwing Chops and Leg Drops on the champion as well as slamming her into the corner post outside the ring. She even dared Watanabe to try and spin her around in the Giant Swing. It took some effort but Watanabe pulled off the move. She also had the strength to use the Swinging Backbreaker and Batting Hammer strikes. Mizunami was able to drop Watanabe with the HOT LIMIT but took too much damage to go for the pin. She later climbed the top rope but Watanabe followed and took her down with an Avalanche Tear Drop. She then used the normal version of her finisher twice but a stubborn Mizunami refused to stay lying down. Watanabe then lifted her into the Canadian Backbreaker but it turned out to be an Inverted Tear Drop instead. She then hit Mizunami from behind with a Batting Hammer to the back of the head, followed it with the Laserbeam chop and got the three count with one last Tear Drop.
Watanabe was happy to have won the match and defend the title in front of such a warm atmosphere today. She thanked Mizunami for being a tough opponent but the title means too much for her to lose it now. Backstage Mizunami said she Watanabe was stronger today, maybe because she has the pride of a champion. Mizunami believes her own wrestling career is not about how many times she won but how many times she got back up after she lost. She’s going to get back up from today’s defeat because she now has more reasons to fight in TJPW. Watanabe said with four successful defences under her belt she now has a lot more confidence to become a perfect champion who will make TJPW grow even bigger! The Canadian Backbreaker Tear Drop was an idea she thought of a long time ago but she instead focused on perfecting the regular version of the move. When she saw Mizunami keep on getting up it forced her to try out the new version. Since it helped lead her to victory she is thinking about using it more for the rest of her title reign.
121000000 have regained the Princess Tag Team Titles! Sadly it comes at the cost of Daisy Monkey’s reign. Some rusty teamwork from the challengers was taken advantage of by the champions using their speed. Arisu Endo ducked out of a sandwich attack causing Miyu Yamashita to knee Maki Itoh in the head by accident. Suzume gave Yamashita the Ring A Bell, Itoh came back to give Suzume a Stunner and Endo flipped her over with a Waterwheel Drop. Endo avoided the Attitude Adjustment to put Yamashita in the Camel Clutch while Suzume held Itoh down in a Sleeper Hold. Itoh was able to grab Yamashita’s hand giving her the encourgement to stand back up and use the Attitude Adjustment to throw Endo on top of Suzume to break up the two submission holds. 121000000 later used the DDT/German Suplex combo on Endo and Yamashita followed it up with the Skull Kick. Suzume was there to break the pin but she then ate the Headbutt/High Knee sandwich attack. Itoh kept her out of the picture so Yamashita could finish off Endo. There was one last gasp of life left from Endo but Yamashita stopped her with a Buzzsaw Kick and scored the pin with the Crash Rabbit Heat.
Yamashita & Itoh now get to re-do their tag title run that only lasted two weeks the first time around. Itoh admitted she’s never been more scared or sorry for herself than for this match but she got through it and won because Yamashita was by her side. Yamashita is ready to defend the titles right away. She already thinks there is one happening in two weeks time but Itoh told her nothing was decided yet. Itoh also welcomes Daisy Monkey to a rematch with the titles on the line. Suzume is obviously upset to lose the title but she thinks it is not going to be out of reach for her. Endo said Daisy Monkey will make their dream of becoming the strongest come true again.
A championship record was broken today when Yuki Arai defended the International Princess Title for the fifth time. That is now the most successful defences for one reign in the title’s history. Moka Miyamoto switched up her attacks by targeting Arai’s legs and then her arms. Arai used a Big Boot as a vital counter as well as the Scorpion Death Lock. Miyamoto would do her best to keep fighting but ultimately fell to the Full Nelson Buster followed by the Finally. Miyamoto was disappointed she couldn’t live up to everyone’s expectations and she is upset she couldn’t avenge the first time she lost to Arai three years ago. She still wants to grab every opportunity she can to wrestle for championships and be in big matches. She also wants to continue having matches with Arai both as opponents and as tag partners. Arai is happy with how much heart she is putting into her matches. She wants even more title defences so she can become a champion that nobody will ever beat! She also felt at home wrestling in Makuhari Messe because she often performs as an idol here away from TJPW.
Xia Zhao wanted to make an impact for her first time wrestling in Japan. The former WWE wrestler did just that by pinning Yuki Kamifuku and spoiling the VENYU reunion. Mizuki used the Whirling Candy to wipe out VENY and Zhao used a Cyclone Kick called the Thunder Strike to get the win on Kamifuku. After the match Zhao made a challenge for both the Queen Of Asia Title and the VPW Women’s Title, henceforth collectively known as the Asian Double Crown. Kamifuku wasn’t happy to find herself in this situation but she accepted the challenge for sometime down the road. Backstage Kamifuku also apologised to VENY for losing and wants to make it up to her by doing something overseas together. She explained she prefers to defend both of her titles together because if she was to lose, she would prefer to lose both belts at the same time. But if she wins she looks twice as cool for defending two titles at once. Zhao said it was a great honor to wrestle in Japan and have her first match here be in TJPW. She is sure the next time she comes back will be for the title match.
In the leadup to the match between Shoko Nakajima and Emi Sakura both women talked about their long history with each other unknown to most wrestling fans. However the kind words and friendly feelings were not on show when Sakura made it to the ring. She rejected Nakajima’s pre-match handshake. She also beat Nakajima’s chest red with Machine Gun Chops. The match went back and forth with nearfalls from Sakura using La Magistral Cradle and the Double Arm Backbreaker while Nakajima used the Northern Lights Suplex and Double Arm DDT. But Sakura took down Nakajima from the top rope and hit the Queen’s Gambit for the victory. Sakura offered to shake Nakajima’s hand after the match but this time Nakajima ignored it. That would lead to Sakura interrupting Nakajima’s post-match interview backstage. She taunted her for crying and accused Nakajima of being happy that she lost instead of being mad because she now has a new challenge to overcome. Sakura also said there is a new rookie in ChocoPro who just debuted and she admires Nakajima. Sakura would love to see Yawata Hiyori face her hero some day but she’s also sure Hiyori is upset that Nakajima lost today. Sakura suggested maybe they can both go cry with Hiyori together!
A match mixing team of monsters with an inexperienced celebrity referee was bound to be chaotic. Aja Kong & Max The Impaler made sure Pom Harajuku would go through the match with them whether she wanted to be there or not. Shiori Aoki (formerly from SKE48) wasn’t concerned about that because she wanted to focus on doing cartwheels while counting pinfalls. She also joined in line when Kong & Max used Harajuku as a jump rope for the other team to hop over. The match also turned into a brawl outside the ring but to give Aoki credit she got everyone back in by using fast counts. Things fell apart when Aoki stopped Kong from using the Steel Can as a weapon. While they were both holding it, Shino Suzuki pushed Kong and made her knock out Aoki with the can! Daisuke Kiso ran in as the substitute ref but he would also get knocked out. The fans chanted Aoki’s name to revive her and she was able to count Kong pinning Suzuki with the Back Drop. Aoki thinks she did a good job and took it seriously. This is supposed to be the last time she will be a wrestling referee but she is open to doing this again if she’s asked to. Yuki Aino thought her team would have won if Harajuku would have stopped running away from them. Kong & Max were also annoyed by that but Harajuku swears she was just wandering around a bit, not hiding. Rika Tatsumi blamed Suzuki over the loss and gave her an Airplane Spin backstage as punishment.
Raku and Ram Kaichow believe there is not enough romance in wrestling so they decided to treat their match against each other like a date. For example the opening lock-up spot instead turned out to be Raku giving Kaichow a hug. The fans then got upset at Yukinori Matsui whenever he tried to order the two to wrestle each other. They then went to a table set up outside the ring with cake and soft drinks for the happy couple to enjoy while Matsui started counting them out. Raku snuck back into the ring early while Kaichow decided to finish the cake in time to make it back by the 19 count. Kaichow finally decided to take the match seriously when Raku tried to pin her with the Oyasumi Express. After a few proper wrestling moves, Raku then sang Kaichow to sleep with a lullaby and decided to take a nap with her in the middle of the ring. Matsui started a 10 count and made it to 9 when Kaichow woke up and got back to her feet. But she was too sleepy to continue and fell on top of a still napping Raku. Matsui decided it looked like a pin and made the three count so Kaichow won the match. Raku was still asleep though so Kaichow gave her a little kiss to wake her up. Backstage Kaichow was still sleepy but was happy that their “wedding night” took place in the ring. But then she started thinking today was all a dream and she decided to go back to sleep.
The last time Kakeru Sekiguchi was in TJPW some people claimed she looks identical to Mahiro Kiryu. So TJPW decided to team the two of them together today. Any argument against the claim wasn’t helped by Wakana Uehara & Toga struggling to figure out who was who. Even worse, Sekiguchi also copied Kiryu’s Apology Knee Drop spot. But there was nothing for Kiryu & Sekiguchi to worry about after that because they went on to win the match. They properly introduced themselves to each other afterwards and told reporters there was always something that got in the way of them meeting each other until today. Sekiguchi told Kiryu that people think even their voices sound alike! The two had fun though and would like to team up again. Uehara described how the match felt like she was surrounded by handsome people. Toga thinks she is more handsome than either Kiryu or Sekiguchi so even though she lost the tag match, at least she won the battle of good looks.
Today was the first time all three members of the 2024 Class got to team together in a 6-Woman Tag Match. Meanwhile the other team all found something in common by wearing fluffy wrestling boots. Uta Takami was able to hit a Missile Dropkick on Kaya Toribami and Kira Summer followed up by using the Samoan Drop. Chika Nanase applied the Inari Torii but Toribami countered it into the Bird Cage while her teammates cleared the ring. Toribami then Arm Dragged Nanase into the centre of the ring so she could go to the ropes and hit the Sento Choryu for the three count. She admitted backstage she didn’t expect the other team to work together so beautifully. HIMAWARI pointed out they must have been fired to team up together for the first time. Yoshiko Hasegawa now knows what the heat is like from the 2024 Class and will have to work hard so she won’t lose to them.
Almost one year after their first singles match against each other it was time for Runa Okubo and Haru Kazashiro to face off for Round 2. This time it was Kazashiro who won the match by pinning Okubo with the Fisherman Suplex. She cried over the result but it wasn’t with tears of joy. She admits she made a lot of mistakes during the match doesn’t believe she gave it her all to deserve the victory. She would like to wrestle Okubo again and work harder so her next win will feel like a proper one.
A special tag match was announced for the next Korakuen Hall show on 6th October. Miu Watanabe & Miyu Yamashita will team up to take on Meiko Satomura & Shoko Nakajima! Satomura is planning to retire from pro wrestling next year but she was due to appear in TJPW one more time to settle some unfinished business with Yamashita. Watanabe is looking forward to it because the first TJPW show she attended after passing her audition for The Up Up Girls was the one where Satomura beat Yamashita in a singles match.
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “ARISU ENDO LOCAL TRIUMPH 2024”, 14/09/2024 Fukushima Aizuwakamatsu City Tsurugajo Gymnasium 462 Fans – Super No Vacancy
1. Toga defeated Uta Takami with the Rock Bottom (5:01).
2. Pom Harajuku defeated Chika Nanase with the Pom de Justice (5:19).
3. Yoshiko Hasegawa & Runa Okubo defeated Yuki Aino & Shino Suzuki when Hasegawa submitted Suzuki with the Muffler Hold (8:10).
4. Moka Miyamoto defeated Wakana Uehara with the Korokan (6:45).
5. Miu Watanabe & HIMAWARI defeated Mizuki & Haru Kazashiro when Watanabe submitted Kazashiro with the Reverse Paradox (12:24).
6. Aja Kong & Raku defeated Rika Tatsumi & Mahiro Kiryu when Kong pinned Kiryu with the 2nd Rope Diving Elbow Drop (11:57).
7. Suzume & Arisu Endo defeated Miyu Yamashita & Kaya Toribami when Endo pinned Toribami with the Ju no Okite (13:23).
Arisu Endo received a hero’s welcome for Tokyo Joshi Pro’s return to Aizuwakamatsu. She entered the main event accompanied by banner wavers as well as Akabe the local mascot. Suzume also got a little bit of love too by being Endo’s tag team partner. The match also gave Daisy Monkey one last chance to prepare for 121000000 because Miyu Yamashita was one of her opponents. She was teaming with Kaya Toribami but the pairing wasn’t strong enough. Daisy Monkey got rid of Yamashita with a Double Team Facecrusher and Endo went on to pin Toribami with the Ju no Okite. Endo & Suzume each received 30kg of locally grown rice as their prize for winning the main event.
After the match Endo said she is happy because every time TJPW comes to her hometown they draw more fans and move up to bigger venues. She also lived up to her promise of wrestling in Aizuwakamatsu as a champion. Suzume is happy they were able to make that dream come true together. Yamashita enjoyed the match despite the result not going her way. She isn’t mad at Toribami for losing and in fact would like to have matches with her more often. Later backstage a reporter asked Yamashita if she’s been in contact with Maki Itoh while her tag partner is in America? She hasn’t but doesn’t need to because they can communicate to each other from their hearts. She thinks Itoh would tell her she did a great job today and she knows Itoh is doing her best in America.
What an unstoppable force Aja Kong & Raku turned out to be! Both of them took a nap in the ring when the match began then performed the Oyasumi Express together. Raku also used her pillow as a weapon against Rika Tatsumi during the same time Aja Kong attacked Mahiro Kiryu with the steel can.
The next time Kong shows up in TJPW she will be teaming with Max The Impaler & Pom Harajuku. To prepare for this Harajuku decided the best thing to do is learn how to hide so Kong & Max won’t use her as a projectile against their opponents. She practiced it today by running away from Chika Nanase and using Akabe the mascot as an obstacle while Nanase chased after her.
DDT “TETSUYA ENDO LOCAL TRIUMPH! DRAMATIC INFINITY 2024 TOUR IN SHIROISHI”, 14/09/2024 Miyagi Shiroishi White Cube
1. Chris Brookes, Takeshi Masada & Ilusion Vs Yukio Naya, Akito & To-y
2. Daisuke Sasaki, KANON & MJ Paul Vs Yuki Ueno, Shunma Katsumata & Kazuma Sumi
3. Yuki Iino Vs Yuki Ishida
4. Jun Akiyama Vs Yuya Koroku
5. Special 6-Man Tag Match: MAO, Gorgeous Matsuno & Keigo Nakamura Vs HARASHIMA, Danshoku Dieno & Kazuki Hirata
6. Shiroishi Specialty Special Single Match: Tetsuya Endo Vs Makoto Oishi
The main event has more going on for it after yesterday’s show. Makoto Oishi lost to Shinya Aoki while Tetsuya Endo watched from a distance. Oishi hopes learned at least something from it that he can use in this weekend’s KO-D Openweight Title match with Aoki. A few days later Endo and Oishi will face each other for Endo’s homecoming match. It’s a match that already means a lot to both of them and it could mean a little more if Endo goes into it as the new KO-D Champion.
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “ARISU ENDO LOCAL TRIUMPH 2024”, 14/09/2024 Fukushima Aizuwakamatsu City Tsurugajo Gymnasium
1. 3 Way Match: Pom Harajuku Vs Shino Suzuki Vs Chika Nanase
2. Toga Vs Uta Takami
3. Yuki Aino & Kira Summer Vs Yoshiko Hasegawa & Runa Okubo
4. Moka Miyamoto Vs Wakana Uehara
5. Miu Watanabe & HIMAWARI Vs Mizuki & Haru Kazashiro
6. Aja Kong & Raku Vs Rika Tatsumi & Mahiro Kiryu
7. Arisu Endo & Suzume Vs Miyu Yamashita & Kaya Toribami
We’ll find out this weekend if Arisu Endo will make it to Aizuwakamatsu City as a double champion. Even if she doesn’t it will still be Daisy Monkey in the main event facing Miyu Yamashita in a non-title preview for “WRESTLE PRINCESS V”. Yamashita will be without Maki Itoh because Itoh will be back in America for GCW by that point. Kaya Toribami is going to be Yamashita’s partner instead.
Nice to see Aja Kong and Raku be put together as a team again.
Also missing the show due to overseas obligations are Shoko Nakajima and Yuki Kamifuku. Nakajima will be in America that weekend on a Deadlock Pro show while Kamifuku is busy defending the Queen Of Asia Title in China for Middle Kingdom Wrestling.
DDT “DRAMATIC INFINITY 2024 TOUR IN SAPPORO – DAY 1”, 15/09/2024 Hokkaido Sapporo Sun Plaza
1. Kazuki Hirata Vs Kazuma Sumi
2. Yukio Naya Vs Yuya Koroku
3. Tetsuya Endo & Yuki Iino Vs Noriyuki Yoshida & Yuki Ishida
4. Jun Akiyama, Tomoya & Danshoku Dieno Vs Chris Brookes, Akito & Ilusion
5. Special Single Match: Takeshi Masada Vs Makoro Oishi
6. Special Tag Match: Shinya Aoki & HARASHIMA Vs MAO & Keigo Nakamura
7. KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles: Daisuke Sasaki, KANON & MJ Paul (c) Vs Yuki Ueno, Shunma Katsumata & To-y
For some reason DDT is still advertising Match #6 as a 6-Man Tag even though it only has four people written down on the lineup, two versus two. It has to be a typo.
DDT “DRAMATIC INFINITY 2024 TOUR IN SAPPORO – DAY 2”, 16/09/2024 Hokkaido Sapporo Sun Plaza
1. Daisuke Sasaki & KANON Vs Yuki Ishida & Ilusion
2. Tetsuya Endo, Yuki Iino & Makoto Oishi Vs Tomoya, Akito & Kazuki Hirata
3. Special Tag Match: Jun Akiyama & Noriyuki Yoshida Vs Yuki Ueno & Keigo Nakamura
4. Special 6-Man Tag Match: MAO, Shunma Katsumata & To-y Vs HARASHIMA, Yukio Naya & Kazuma Sumi
5. Special Single Match: Shinya Aoki Vs Yuya Koroku
6. Special Single Match: Chris Brookes Vs Danshoku Dieno
One of Noriyuki Yoshida’s matches for DDT’s weekend in Sapporo has him teaming with Jun Akiyama again. It’s pretty much an annual tradition at this point given the old NOAH connection between the two.
Some of the undercard matches have been changed around. The trio of Tomoya, Akito & Kazuki Hirata are no longer facing DAMNATION T.A. Their new opponents are Endo, Yuki Iino & Oishi. The DAMNATION T.A change is because MJ Paul is no longer on the card. He was pulled from yesterday’s meet and greet after suffering food poisoning. Apparently he’s been eating too much raw meat from the wild animals he hunts down.
The end of the summer turned out to not go as planned for a few people. Maki Itoh suffered a hand injury that cut short her latest GCW tour. Yuna Manase had some travel problems get in the way of her first time visit to America but at least her story ended happily for her. She ended up winning a championship over there! Things went smoother for Tokyo Joshi Pro as their co-promoted show with EVE in England was a big success. The EVE promoters have their own stories to tell about searching for venues, dealing with the ticket operators and having last minute changes with their production team but once the show began it could not have gone any better in the venue s far as I could tell. Miyu Yamashita also had time to wrestle in a few other places before she heads back to Japan.
The end of the month also had Konosuke Takeshita return to AEW. After his performance in the G1 Climax reminded everyone of his talents (not that we should need any reminding), there is understandably a lack of enthusiasm online to see him go back to AEW where his main role is to stand behind Don Callis’ shoulder week after week. That his first match back happened on Rampage doesn’t do much to quell those worries. With that said though it was a cracking match anyway. If the second Continental Classic happens this year we’re probably still over a month or to away from it.
Heading into September we’re going to see Itoh go back to America. It does not sound like she’s at 100% but she isn’t going to say no to making some more money over there if she’s in any way able to. Some TJPW wrestlers will be spreading their wings around Asia with championships there for the taking. There is a new company opening up in Canada that Takeshita and Yamashita will appear in. Wrestling fans in general might do well to pay attention to that place in regards to whether or not it will effect TNA in the long run given who has been associated with it so far. But if you don’t care about that and want to keep talk to just DDT and TJPW, there is the road to Seattle coming up. We’ll be there before you know it!
AEW “RAMPAGE”, 28/08/2024 (Aired 30/08/2024) State Farm Arena, Champaign, Illinois, USA
1. 4 Way Match: Konosuke Takeshita Vs The Beast Mortos Vs Komander Vs Lio Rush
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Results
GCW “NOW AND FOREVER”, 02/08/2024 TempleLive Cleveland Masonic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
1. GCW Extreme Title: Maki Itoh (c) defeated John Wayne Murdoch with a School Boy (5:51). *V2 for Maki Itoh.
Itoh’s first GCW appearance of her tour was against one of the promotion’s death match specialists John Wayne Murdoch. It was also made into a GCW Extreme Title defence. Murdoch got under Itoh’s skin early when he grabbed a “Respect Maki Itoh Or Die” sign and stomped on it in the ring. He then tried to win her over by allowing Itoh to sing for the fans but that was only so he could attack her from behind. Murdhoch brought in a steel chair and tried to Suplex Itoh onto it. Itoh avoided the move and gave Murdoch a Stunner, making him land back and head first into the chair. She then rolled him up with a School Boy to win the match and retain the Extreme Title.
GCW “CAN I TRUST YOU?”, 04/08/2024 House Of Independents, Asbury Park, New Jersey, USA
1. GCW Extreme Title: Maki Itoh (c) defeated Allie Katch with a Mouse Trap (8:32). *V3 for Maki Itoh.
Later in the weekend Itoh had another Extreme Title defence, this time against Allie Katch. The two get along and have teamed together in the past so their match was all trying to outdo each other. Itoh tried to trick Katch with crocodile tears so Katch decided to lie down and let Itoh do a Kokeshi Headbutt. Except Katch got back up and cut her off to take control of the match. Itoh fired up when her head hit the turnbuckle and she hit a Draping DDT onto the ring apron. The fight came down to duelling strikes and then Itoh trying several different pinning combinations. She finally got the three count on Katch by giving her the Mouse Trap cradle.
SPW “HARDCORE ISLAND 2: A FINE CITY”, 16/08/2024 Foo Chow Building, Singapore
1. 3 Way Match: Alexis Lee defeated Miyu Yamashita and Kaya Toribami when Lee pinned Toribami after the Skull Kick from Yamashita (?:??).
Over in Singapore both Yamashita and Kaya Toribami were flying the flag for TJPW in a 3 Way Match against Alexis Lee. It was every woman for herself and Lee took advantage of that. Yamashita knocked down Toribami with the Skull Kick only for Lee to steal the pin.
KITSUNE “YABAI!”, 18/08/2024 1110 Bates Ave, Los Angeles, California, USA
1. Kitsune World Title: Yuna Manase defeated Megan Bayne and J-Rod when Manase pinned J-Rod with a Lariat (10:11). *Yuna Manase becomes the 2nd Kitsune World Champion!
It was a long journey for Manase to get to America (more details at the end of the report) but she finally got there and ended up winning a championship! Due to circumstances with her visa, Sayaka Unagi couldn’t make the show and had to vacate the Kitsune World Title. It was now up for grabs in the 3 Way Match that Manase was booked in against J-Rod and Megan Bayne. At one point Manase and Bayne worked together and gave J-Rod the Doomsday Device. Bayne was then taken out of play by J-Rod’s Spear. J-Rod went for the same move on Manase but missed and hit the corner. Manase knocked her down with the Lariat and got the three count to win the title! She celebrated by getting the fans to shout “We are Ganbare!” along with her.
EVE/TOKYO JOSHI PRO “EVE X TJPW: JAPAN & UK WRESTLING UNITE!”, 24/08/2024 Conway Hall, London, England ??? Fans – Unannounced
0. Triple Threat Match: Skye Smitson defeated Anita Vaughan and Kasey when Smitson pinned Vaughan with the Smitson Effect (7:49)
1. Mahiro Kiryu defeated HIMAWARI with the Spinebuster (11:15).
2. Alex Windsor defeated Lena Kross with a Sharpshooter (11:46).
3. Raku defeated Session Moth Martina with the Hurricane Turn (6:18).
4. Zizi & Safire Reed Vs Aja Kong & Max The Impaler defeated Zizi & Safire Reed when Kong pinned Reed with the 2nd Rope Diving Elbow Drop (11:06).
5. EVE Title: Nina Samuels (c) defeated Miyu Yamashita with the Starstruck (19:39). *V5 for Nina Samuels.
AEW “RAMPAGE”, 28/08/2024 (Aired 30/08/2024) State Farm Arena, Champaign, Illinois, USA
1. 4 Way Match: Konosuke Takeshita defeated The Beast Mortos, Komander (w/ Alex Abrahantes) and Lio Rush when Takeshita pinned Komander with the Raging Fire (13:53).
Takeshita’s first appearance in AEW since returning from the G1 was for a wild 4 Way Match against The Beast Mortos, Komander and Lio Rush. He was back to using his actual AEW theme and Callis kept himself to the commentary table. The match was wild as you had the power and speed of Takeshita and Mortos along with the speed and agility of Komander and Rush all mixing up together. Mortos soon wiped out Rush with a Spear and broke Komander over his knee. Takeshita then hit Mortos with the Powerdrive Knee to get rid of him. Komander tried to roll up Takeshita but got a nearfall. Takeshita spun him into the Blue Thunder Bomb and used the Raging Fire to get the win.
MLW “SUMMER OF THE BEASTS”, 29/08/2024 Melrose Ballroom, New York City, New York, USA
1. Delmi Exo defeated Miyu Yamashita with the Delmi Driver (6:15).
In an MLW rematch from last December, Delmi Exo got her win back from Yamashita. By winning the match Exo declared herself the No. 1 contender for the MLW Women’s World Featherweight Title.
GCW “LIVE FAST DIE YOUNG”, 31/08/2024 Thalia Hall, Chicago, Illinois, USA
1. Megan Bayne defeated Miyu Yamashita by Disqualification when Broski Jimmy attacked Bayne with a Chair (15:38).
The rematch between Yamashita and Bayne from DREAMWAVE earlier this year took place in GCW but was ruined by outside interference. Bayne gave Yamashita a Choke Slam and was about to use the Tombstone Piledriver when Broski Jimmy ran into the ring with a chair and hit Bayne with it. Yamashita stopped the attack and gave Jimmy the Skull Kick. Bayne got her hands on him too with a Choke Slam and Yamashita followed up by hitting Jimmy over the head with the chair! Bayne then finished him off with the Tombstone. After that was done the two women had a stare down before deciding to shake each other’s hands.
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Upcoming Appearances
F1RST “SATURDAY NIGHT NITRO”, 07/09/2024 Mall Of America, Bloomington, Minnesota, USA
1. Allie Katch & Effy Vs Danhausen & Maki Itoh
The second half of Itoh’s American tour is going ahead despite her injury. One of her next matches will be to team with Danhausen to take on Bussy. That does not sound like the most physically demanding of matchups so even if her hand is not at 100% she’ll be find going out there. The F1RST show is also noteworthy because it is their annual visit to the Mall Of America were the first episode of WCW Nitro was famously taped. This is the third year in a row F1RST are running a show there.
MKW “CHAMPIONSHIP SUPERCARD FROM SHANGHAI”, 14/09/2024 Bandai Namco Shanghai Base, Shanghai, China
1. Queen Of Asia Title: Yuki Kamifuku (c) Vs Crystal
The next Queen Of Asia Title defence is taking place in China next month. Crystal believes Yuki Kamifuku is not ready to take on an opponent with her kind of wrath, tenacity and power.
GCW “BAD ONE”, 14/09/2024 Harpos Concert Center, Detroit, Michigan, USA
1. Maki Itoh Vs Kylie Rae
Even after Itoh pulled out of her August dates, GCW continued to promote her September appearances so they already knew how long her recovery would take. Her match with Kyle Rae that was meant to happen on 31st August will now take place on 14th September.
GCW “THA G-CODE”, 15/09/2024 Water Street Music Hall, Rochester, New York, USA
1. Maki Itoh Vs X
This will be the weekend before “WRESTLE PRINCESS V” back in Japan so she will at least get some ring rust off her before heading back to TJPW.
DPW “CAROLINA CLASSIC”, 15/09/2024 Durham Convention Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
1. Battle Of The Best – Round 2: Shoko Nakajima Vs Trish Adora
Another visit to Deadlock Pro for Shoko Nakajima as she continues the inaugural Battle Of The Best tournament. She faces Trish Adora in Round 2 and the winner advances to the final scheduled for 13th October.
SETUP “CHAOPHRAYA VOYAGE: 12TH ANNIVERSARY OF THAI WRESTLING”, 28/09/2024 The Circus Studio, G Village, Bangkok, Thailand
1. SETUP All Asia Women’s Title – 3 Way Match: Matcha (c) Vs Raku Vs Pom Harajuku
Fresh back from visiting England, Raku is going to travel again this time to Thailand and with Pom Harajuku following her. The travel buddies will be opponents though as they both take on Matcha for the SETUP All Asia Women’s Title in a 3 Way free for all.
MAPLE LEAF PRO “FORGED IN EXCELLENCE – NIGHT 1”, 19/10/2024 St. Clair College, Windsor, Ontario, Canada
1. Miyu Yamashita Vs X
2. Josh Alexander Vs Konosuke Takeshita?
Some interesting news coming out of the Canadian scene. Scott D’Amore was fired as president of TNA back in February and in the meantime went about establishing a new venture called Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling. Takeshita will be there for the debut weekend of shows. The first match announced for the weekend is Takeshita against Josh Alexander in a rematch of their 20 minute draw from Garden State Pro Wrestling back in July 2022. Maple Leaf Pro haven’t made clear yet if the match is happening on Night 1 or Night 2.
MAPLE LEAF PRO “FORGED IN EXCELLENCE – NIGHT 2”, 20/10/2024 St. Clair College, Windsor, Ontario, Canada
1. Miyu Yamashita Vs X
2. Josh Alexander Vs Konosuke Takeshita?
Yamashita will also be booked for both shows that weekend.
TOKYO JOSHI PRO/DEFY “BRIGHT EYES”, 09/11/2024 Washington Hall, Seattle, Washington, USA
The twelve wrestlers from TJPW making the trip are Miu Watanabe, Suzume, Arisu Endo, Yuki Kamifuku, Miyu Yamashita, Shoko Nakajima, Rika Tatsumi, Mizuki, Maki Itoh, Yuki Aino, Moka Miyamoto and Wakana Uehara. There will be around 6-8 local or American wrestlers also on the card for a total of 6 or 7 matches.
DDT/DEFY “DDT IN UTERO”, 09/11/2024 Washington Hall, Seattle, Washington, USA
Takeshita is the first DDT wrestler announced to be on the show.
DDT/TOKYO JOSHI PRO/DEFY “TRIANGLER DTD”, 10/11/2024 Washington Hall, Seattle, Washington, USA
Both Takeshita and the dozen TJPW wrestlers will also be at the weekend finale.
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Cancelled Appearances
KITSUNE “LOVE MY SHOW!”, 17/08/2024 Brick X Brick, Los Angeles, California, USA
1. Aspyn Rose & Yuna Manase Vs Aria Perkins & Delmi Exo
As mentioned above Manase had a hell of an ordeal to go through just to make it to America. Travel from Japan was heavily effected by an incoming typhoon that week and her flight was delayed by many hours. So her first match for Kitsune the day before her title match had to be changed into something without her. Then when she finally made it to America it still took a few more hours to get through immigration customs.
GCW “NO SIGNAL IN THE HILLS PT. 4”, 17/08/2024 Ukrainian Culture Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
1. Nick Gage & Maki Itoh Vs Mance Warner & Broski Jimmy
Itoh’s injury cancelled not one but two matches against Mance Warner this month. She would have faced him for the GCW World Title in Japan and then a tag match in America a few days later.
GCW “SAVE ME”, 18/08/2024 Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
1. Maki Itoh Vs X
No appearance at Salt Lake City for Itoh either.
GCW “HOMECOMING – NIGHT 1”, 24/08/2024 The Showboat, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA
1. Maki Itoh Vs Kerry Morton
I think Kerry Morton lost his booking because he didn’t wrestle on the show from what I could find.
GCW “HOMECOMING – NIGHT 2”, 25/08/2024 The Showboat, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA
1. Maki Itoh Vs X
Itoh probably missed out on a few extra Extreme Title defences because of her injury. She is still the champion as far as I’m aware.
GCW “LIVE FAST DIE YOUNG”, 31/08/2024 Thalia Hall, Chicago, Illinois, USA
1. Maki Itoh Vs Kylie Rae
Kylie Rae ended up facing Brooke Havok instead.
INSPIRE A.D. “MAY THE CIRCLE BE UNBROKEN”, 01/09/2024 Empire Control Room, Austin, Texas, USA
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TOKYO PRINCESS CUP”, 25/08/2024 Tokyo Korakuen Hall 604 Fans
1. Runa Okubo defeated Chika Nanase with the Jelly Poison (4:41).
2. Pom Harajuku defeated Shino Suzuki with the Pom de Justice (4:28).
3. Mizuki & Haru Kazashiro defeated Mei Suruga & Uta Takami when Mizuki pinned Takami with the Cutie Special (8:49).
4. Shoko Nakajima defeated Yoshiko Hasegawa with the Northern Lights Suplex (10:30).
5. Zara Zakher & Moka Miyamoto defeated Rika Tatsumi & Kaya Toribami when Zakher pinned Toribami with the Control Z (12:28).
6. Miu Watanabe, Yuki Arai, Suzume & Arisu Endo defeated Yuki Kamifuku, Wakana Uehara, Toga & Kira Summer when Endo pinned Uehara with the Ju no Okite (16:26).
7. Tokyo Princess Cup – Final: Ryo Mizunami defeated Yuki Aino with the HOT LIMIT (13:47).
One of the busiest weekends of the year for Tokyo Joshi Pro wrapped up today with the finale of this year’s Tokyo Princess Cup tournament. While a small portion of the roster were off in England to run a show over in London, the majority of the crew remained in Tokyo for an eventful show at Korakuen Hall. The final was a fated meeting between the two wrestlers that make up Yukiniki. Back in January Yuki Aino and Ryo Mizunami won the Princess Tag Team Titles together and now here we are at the end of the summer where they had to fight each other for the Princess Cup. Aino tried to match Mizunami’s power by going for Shoulder Attacks, Side Suplexes, Venus DDT and the Full Nelson Of Love And Flame. But Mizunami relied on the Uranage to stay ahead and pinned Aino with the HOT LIMIT to win the tournament.
Mizunami told Aino after the match not to keep her head down for losing. She knows Aino always wanted a singles match against her and it finally happened today. The frustrated look on Aino’s face is a sign that she is getting stronger and it won’t end here with them. Aino said she will fight Mizunami again and she asked her for another match some day. Mizunami said she has high expectations for Aino from here on out. Aino then bowed to every side of Korakuen and left the ring. Backstage she talked to reporters about the fans supporting her and she’ll keep fighting so she can face Mizunami again.
Back in the ring Mizunami declared that Princess Aniki has been born! She called Miu Watanabe down to the ring and challenged her for the Princess Of Princess Title. Watanabe never thought the day would come and accepted the match. It will happen at “WRESTLE PRINCESS V” on 22nd September. She said she cannot give up a championship this important to TJPW. Mizunami closed out the show by telling the fans about how she was close to retirement five years ago. Then she got an offer to wrestle for AEW and that connection helped lead her over to TJPW where she won the Tag Titles with Aino. She’s now been wrestling for 17 years and it just goes to show you never know what will happen in life! She will treasure all of the chants for Aniki and can’t wait to see everyone at “WRESTLE PRINCESS V”.
All four current TJPW Champions teamed together for an 8-Woman Tag Match. The Princess Champion Watanabe was joined by Yuki Arai with the International Princess Title and also the Princess Tag Champions Daisy Monkey. Their opponents were the ragtag collection of Yuki Kamifuku, Wakana Uehara, Toga & Kira Summer. The finish came with Suzume diving onto everyone outside the ring leaving Arisu Endo to pin Uehara with the Ju no Okite.
The four champions celebrated their victory but as they all left the ring, Endo asked Arai to stay behind with her. Endo admits she is starting to feel greedy and wants to hold another championship before TJPW returns to her hometown of Aizuwakamatsu on 14th September. So she is challenging Arai for the International Title in Nagoya on the 8th! Arai is happy to accept the challenge because Endo was one of her opponents in her debut match three years ago and they have become good friends outside of the ring. Nagoya is also like a second home for Arai so she is determined not to lose her title there.
Zara Zakher’s final appearance for this tour with TJPW ends with her arms raised in victory. Rika Tatsumi tried to lull her into a false sense of security by calling her a friend in English but it was just to set up a sneak attack. Zakher fought back and along with Moka Miyamoto went on to beat Tatsumi & Kaya Toribami. Zakher even scored the pin on Toribami with the Control Z. She said she is grateful for TJPW letting her stay with them for so long and treating her as part of the team. She is already going to miss them and hopes to come back to Japan again.
One of the newsworthy announcements at the start of the show involves Yoshiko Hasegawa. The former member of Ganbare☆Pro went freelance earlier this year but revealed that from September onwards she will regularly wrestle on TJPW shows! So this match with Shoko Nakajima was kind of an early welcome into the TJPW family for her. Nakajima was able to win with the Northern Lights Suplex and thinks TJPW shows will heat up even more now that Hasegawa will be on the cards. Hasegawa calls Nakajima one of the best wrestlers in TJPW and she experienced first hand just how thick the walls are. There are a lot of people in TJPW she wants to fight and her goal is to win one of the championships here.
The Super Cute Sisters have been realised but they are not going to use that name after all! Mei Suruga & Uta Takami tried out being a tag team today after hitting it off so well as opponents last month. The two acted like brats for Mizuki & Haru Kazashiro to figure out how to handle. Mizuki ended up using high risk moves to great effect. Kazashiro even got ahead of Suruga by giving her the Fisherman Suplex. Mizuki then overwhelmed Takami with Elbow Strikes before pinning her with the Cutie Special. Kazashiro said the other team were a hundred times more crazy than she expected. Takami apologised to Suruga for losing but Suruga told her there was nothing to be upset about. She also knows Takami came up with a tag team name for them. Together they are… Apple Ice Cream? However Takami had second thoughts after saying it out loud so she will come up with a different name the next time they team up.
There was one thing Pom Harajuku wasn’t able to do this summer and that was attend an idol concert as a fan. She asked Shino Suzuki to perform one of her songs so she could cheer her on with penlights. However it was all a trap so Harajuku could ambush her and take control of the match. Later Harajuku told everyone there was something she wanted to shout out but Suzuki covered her mouth. Harajuku kicked her in the shin and hit the Pom de Justice to get the three count.
Beware of the Jelly Poison because that is the name of Runa Okubo’s new submission finisher! She used the Arm Clutch Half Crab Hold to make Chika Nanase give up in the opening match.
A few more matches were announced for “WRESTLE PRINCESS V”. Mizuki will team with Xia Zhao (the former Xia Li from WWE) to take on VENY & Yuki Kamifuku. It will be the first time VENYU have teamed together in a while. Shoko Nakajima will face Emi Sakura one on one. Sakura is somebody Nakajima says has been close with her ever since her debut. Back when TJPW hardly ran any shows Nakajima would go to Ichigaya to see Sakura. Aja Kong, Max The Impaler & Pom Harajuku will team up for a 6-Woman Tag Match with Shiori Aoki from SKE48 as the special referee.