TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW SPRING TOUR ’22”, 15/05/2022 Tokyo Ryogoku KFC Hall 164 Fans
1. Maki Itoh defeate Kaya Toribami with the Itoh Punish (8:11).
2. Yuki Aino & Miu Watanabe defeated Suzume & Haruna Neko when Watanabe pinned Neko with the Tear Drop (11:36).
3. 3 Way Match: Raku defeated Hikari Noa and Mahiro Kiryu when Raku pinned Kiryu with the Hurricane Turn (6:29).
4. Yuki Kamifuku & Nao Kakuta defeated Miyu Yamashita & Pom Harajuku when Kamifuku pinned Harajuku with the Famouser (9:29).
5. Rika Tatsumi defeated Moka Miyamoto with the Twist Of Fate (10:02).
6. Shoko Nakajima & Hyper Misao defeated Mizuki & Arisu Endo when Misao pinned Endo with the Hypami Returns (13:42).
Today was a new chapter for Kyoraku Kyomei. It was their first time teaming together in three months and since then Shoko Nakajima defended the Princess Of Princess Title against Hyper Misao. They showed they are still on the same page by beating Mizuki & Arisu Endo in the main event. Misao said this new and improved version of Kyoraku Kyomei feels comfortable and she is convinced they are the best tag team in Tokyo Joshi Pro history! So without consulting Nakajima, Misao asked for a Princess Tag Team Titles match against the Magical Sugar Rabbits. Even though Yuka Sakazaki was absent, Mizuki accepted the challenged (Sakazaki watched the show live from America and her tweets quickly went from “Refuse!” to “I’ll do it!”). Nakajima asked for the match to take place at Korakuen Hall on 19th June, a week after “CYBERFIGHT FESTIVAL 2022”. She promised to become TJPW’s first Double Crown Princess Champion!
Both Miyu Yamashita and Maki Itoh commented on their upcoming trip to America for Prestige Wrestling at the end of the month. Itoh will be defending the International Princess Title against Mia Yim on the 28th May show in Portland, Oregon. She said she wants to crush the former NXT wrestler to increase the value of her championship. The belt has been waiting for her so Itoh promises to do her best so she can come back to Japan with her heart held high. Yamashita’s opponent on the 28th is Masha Slamovich. Yamashita describes her as a ferocious opponent from Impact Wrestling so she wants to kick her ass. Yamashita and Itoh will face each other on the second Prestige show taking place the next night.
English wrestler “The Unbreakable” Rhio will begin her first tour of TJPW on 29th May as part of the company’s relationship with Pro Wrestling EVE. Rhio is 25 years old, born in Lancashire and been wrestling for seven years. She is 163cm tall, weighs 70kg and has a background in both Karate and Taekwondo. She will be the first foreign wrestler to enter TJPW in two and a half years.
1. Punch Drunker Vs Strong Zero Drunker: Tyson Maeguchi Vs Soma Takao
2. GanJo Super Fight In Chiba: Moeka Haruhi & YuuRI Vs HARUKAZE & Ann Cham
3. Yuna Manase Triumphant Special 6-Man Tag Match: Yumehito Imanari, Kaji Tomato & Yuna Manase Vs Keisuke Ishii, Shota & Ayame Sasamura
4. Nippon University Alumni Association In 2AW Square: Ken Ohka Vs Kyu Mogami
5. Shinichiro Tominaga 2nd Hometown Triumph Match: GENTARO & Yasu Urano Vs Shuichiro Katsumura & Shinichiro Tominaga
6. Special Tag Match: Shigehiro Irie & Kouki Iwasaki Vs Naoya Nomura & Mizuki Watase
The entry of REAL BLOOD into Ganabre☆Pro headlines the show tomorrow.
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW SPRING TOUR ’22”, 15/05/2022 Tokyo Ryogoku KFC Hall
1. Maki Itoh Vs Kaya Toribami
2. 3 Way Match: Hikari Noa Vs Raku Vs Mahiro Kiryu
3. Rika Tatsumi Vs Moka Miyamoto
4. Yuki Aino & Miu Watanabe VsSuzume & Haruna Neko
5. Miyu Yamashita & Pom Harajuku Vs Yuki Kamifuku & Nao Kakuta
6. Shoko Nakajima & Hyper Misao Vs Mizuki & Arisu Endo
All is well and good between Kyoraku Kyomei after the Princess Of Princess Title earlier this month. Yuka Sakazaki is staying in America for the rest of this month so it is up to Mizuki & Arisu Endo to fight Shoko Nakajima & Hyper Misao on her behalf.
This will be Miyu Yamashita and Maki Itoh’s last match in Japan this month before they go over to America for their bookings with Prestige Wrestling. Your guess is as good as mine if there are any suprise appearances either will make between now and then.
As mentioned above, Sakazaki’s excursion to AEW will last for the rest of the month so she will not be on this show. Her first match back in Tokyo Joshi Pro will be on 4th June. TJPW have said that more international bookings for their roster will happen after June and they will inform the fans about them when they happen.
DDT “AUDIENCE 2022”, 22/05/2022 Tokyo Korakuen Hall
1. Naomi Yoshimura Vs Yuki Ishida
2. Yuki “Sexy” Iino, Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno & Akito Vs HARASHIMA, Toru Owashi & Antonio Honda
3. Tetsuya Endo, Jun Akiyama, Yusuke Okada & Yuya Koroku Vs Yuji Hino, Yukio Naya, Ilusion & El Unicorn
4. Special Single Match: Yuki Ueno Vs Kazuki Hirata
5. Super Hardcore Girls Vs Prominence Full-Scale Battle ~ Special Hardcore Match: Carousel❤️Shun & Elizabeth❤️Toy Vs Suzu Suzuki & Akane Fujita
6. KO-D Tag Team Titles: Chris Brookes & Masahiro Takanashi (c) Vs MAO & Asuka
7. KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles Tournament – Final: Daisuke Sasaki, MJ Paul & KANON Vs Kazusada Higuchi, Yukio Sakaguchi & Hideki Okatani
Akito has been convinced to audition for Pheromones to keep the unit under control. The implication that doing this will earn Akito enough trust from CyberFight that he will then some day be promoted to company president is motivating him to go along with the plan. He promised to take it further by gaining Pheromones’ trust before destroying them from the inside. They are going to try out a few warm up tag team matches before fully committing to the big 8-Man Tag Match at “CYBERFIGHT FESTIVAL 2022”. This changes the first two matches on the card to accommodate this new plan.
GANBARE☆PRO “CRAZY THUNDER ROAD 2022”, 26/05/2022 Shin-Kiba 1st RING
1. PocchaJo Vs GanJo Full-Scale Battle: Yuna Manase, Maika Ozaki & Yappy Vs Moeka Haruhi, HARUKAZE & YuuRI
2. Road To SEKIGAHARA Special 6-Man Tag Match: Yumehito Imanari, Soma Takao & Kouki Iwasaki Vs Ken Ohka, Shuichiro Katsumura & Shigehiro Irie
The build up to “WRESTLE SEKIGAHARA” goes up a notch here. Yumehito Imanari and Ken Ohka are now wrestling in the same matches to prepare for the Spirit Of Ganbare Title bout.
Pocchari Joshi has a new lease of life with the new additions of Maika Ozaki & Yappy to the brand. Yuna Manase now wants to gather together with them and test what they are made of against the regular Ganbare☆Joshi group.
Wrestlers advertised to appear include Tatsuhito Takaiwa, Tsuyoshi Okada, Naoya Nomura, Tyson Maeguchi and Ryuya Matsufusa.
DDT “WHAT ARE YOU DOING 2022 TOUR IN FUKUOKA”, 28/05/2022 Fukuoka Nishitetsu Hall
1. MJ Paul Vs Yuya Koroku
2. Chris Brookes, Naomi Yoshimura & Saki Akai Vs Soma Takao, Yukio Naya & Maya Yukihi
3. Daisuke Sasaki & KANON Vs Yuji Hino & Yuki Ishida
4. MAO & Toru Owashi Vs Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno
5. Special Single Match: Azul Dragon Vs Kazuki Hirata
6. BURNING Vs Eruption!: Tetsuya Endo, Jun Akiyama & Yusuke Okada Vs Kazusada Higuchi, Yukio Sakaguchi & Hideki Okatani
7. Fukuoka Specialty Special 6-Man Tag Match: Atsushi Onita, HARASHIMA & Shinya Aoki Vs Yuki Ueno, Shunma Katsumata & Toui Kojima
Fukuoka is getting the unusual trio of Atsushi Onita, HARASHIMA & Shinya Aoki teaming together to take on The 37KAMIINA.
The DDT Universal Champion and the DDT Extreme Champion are against each other in Match #4.
DDT “WHAT ARE YOU DOING 2022 TOUR IN KUMAMOTO”, 29/05/2022 Kumamoto Castle Hall Civic Hall
1. MAO Vs Toi Kojima
2. Chris Brookes Vs Hideki Okatani
3. 3 Way Tag Match: Yuki “Sexy” Iino & Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno Vs Toru Owashi & Kazuki Hirata Vs Yuki Ueno & Soma Takao
4. Daisuke Sasaki, MJ Paul & KANON Vs Kazusada Higuchi, Yukio Sakaguchi & Yuya Koroku
5. Special Tag Match: Shinya Aoki & Shunma Katsumata Vs Yuji Hino & Yukio Naya
6. Special Single Match: Saki Akai Vs Maya Yukihi
7. Kumamoto Specialty Special 6-Man Tag Match: Tetsuya Endo, Jun Akiyama & Yusuke Okada Vs HARASHIMA, Naomi Yoshimura & Yuki Ishida
Yuki Ishida gets to be the homecoming hero taking on the might of BURNING. He has HARASHIMA & Naomi Yoshimura backing him up so it won’t be a hopeless challenge for the youngster.
DDT “WHAT ARE YOU DOING 2022”, 01/06/2022 Tokyo Korakuen Hall
0. Dark Match: Yusuke Okada Vs Yuya Koroku
1. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title – Battle Royal: Shinichiro Kawamatsu (c) (w/ Nobutatsu Suzuki) Vs Toru Owashi Vs Thanomusaku Toba Vs Antonio Honda Vs Kazuki Hirata Vs Gota Ihashi
2. Chris Brookes, Yukio Sakaguchi, Saki Akai & Hideki Okatani Vs Yuji Hino, Yukio Naya, Maya Yukihi & Asuka
3. DAMNATION T.A Vs The 37KAMIINA!: Daisuke Sasaki, MJ Paul & KANON Vs Yuki Ueno, Shunma Katsumata & Toi Kojima
4. Road To CyberFight Festival 2022! Special 6-Man Tag Match: Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno, Yumehito “Fantastic” Imanari & Akito Vs Sanshiro Takagi, Shinya Aoki & Yuki Ishida
5. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Tetsuya Endo, Jun Akiyama & Kazusada Higuchi Vs HARASHIMA, Naomi Yoshimura & Soma Takao
6. DDT Extreme Title: Yuki “Sexy” Iino (c) Vs AKIRA
7. DDT Universal Title: MAO (c) Vs Masahiro Takanashi
A warm up tag match for Tetsuya Endo, Jun Akiyama & Kazusada Higuchi before “CYBERFIGHT FESTIVAL 2022”. Higuchi’s comments on their match against the NOAH team shows he isn’t on the same page with BURNING at the moment. It’s not out of skill level or opinions on each other. More that he has his own idea of beating NOAH that doesn’t mix with how the other two think they can win.
There are more and more announcements coming out involving DDT and Tokyo Joshi Pro wrestlers getting bookings outside of Japan. I haven’t been posting about them here, just retweeting the news from the official accounts as they happen. I figured I should gather them together for posts every once in a while. So if this keeps up there will be catch up posts maybe once a month.
A lot of this is going to be about Konosuke Takeshita in AEW along with his US indie appearances. However we’re already seeing some TJPW related bookings in America and Europe happening too. Hopefully it won’t get repetitive.
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Videos
Video starts at 15:32 for the match AEW “DARK ELEVATION”, 25/04/2022 Petersen Events Center, Pittsburgh, USA
1. Konosuke Takeshita Vs Brandon Cutler
Video starts at 9:12 for the match AEW “DARK ELEVATION”, 02/05/2022 Liacouras Center, Philadelphia, USA
1. Konosuke Takeshita Vs Rhett Titus
AEW “RAMPAGE”, 06/05/2022 Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena, Baltimore, USA
1. Owen Hart Foundation Women’s Tournament – Qualifier: Yuka Sakazaki Vs Riho
AEW “RAMPAGE”, 06/05/2022 Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena, Baltimore, USA
2. Konosuke Takeshita Vs Jay Lethal
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Results
AEW “DARK ELEVATION”, 20/04/2022 (Aired 25/04/2022) Petersen Events Center, Pittsburgh, USA
1. Konosuke Takeshita defeated Brandon Cutler with the Jumping Knee Strike (4:57).
Takeshita’s US excursion began with a win over Brandon Cutler on the higher tier of AEW’s two Youtube wrestling shows. Notable moments include a nasty looking Elbow Strike from Takeshita, Cutler’ overly animated elbow drop and the commentary team of Paul Wight & Mark Henry heaping piles of praise towards the newcomer.
EVE “GLOBAL WOMEN STRIKE 3”, 23/04/2022 229 The Venue, London, England
1. Shoko Nakajima defeated Alex Windsor with the Diving Senton (14:17).
Over to England where Shoko Nakajima began her long goal to wrestle in 100 countries other than Japan. England brings her current number to three (along with USA and Mexico) and she left with a victory against Alex Windsor. The match had a 15 minute time limit so the Diving Senton in the final minute was what made the difference.
AEW “DARK ELEVATION”, 27/04/2022 (Aired 02/05/2022) Liacouras Center, Philadelphia, USA
1. Konosuke Takeshita defeated Rhett Titus with the Jumping Knee Strike (4:40).
Back in AEW Takeshita’s second week saw him defeat Rhett Titus, the former ROH TV Champion. The Jumping Knee Strike was the key to victory again although this time it was more of a sudden flash win rather than a decisive knockout. Jun Akiyama requested to Tony Khan on Twitter for commentary to correctly call it the Jumping Knee instead of the Flying Knee.
PWG “DELIVERING THE GOODS”, 01/05/2022 Globe Theatre, Los Angeles, USA
1. Konosuke Takeshita defeated Aramis by Pinfall (10:02).
Takeshita’s American road trip next took him over to Southern California to wrestle on the big show when it comes to the US indies. He watched a lot of PWG growing up so now it’s time to wrestle there! Takeshita impressed the hardcore crowd with his win against the luchador Aramis. The two wrestlers had money thrown at them by fans afterwards for a job well done. That was not the end of his night. During the show’s conclusion the new PWG World Champion and fellow AEW wrestler Daniel Garcia called him out. Garcia decided he will defend the PWG Title against Takeshita at their next show, which does not have a date announced yet.
1. Owen Hart Foundation Women’s Tournament – Qualifier: Riho defeated Yuka Sakazaki with the Gannosuke Clutch (9:18).
2. Jay Lethal (w/ Satnam Singh & Sonjay Dutt) defeated Konosuke Takeshita with the Lethal Injection (9:38).
Then it was back to AEW for Takeshita’s first appearance on national TV. In the week leading up to the match Jay Lethal showed jealousy towards all the welcoming attention Takeshita received so he challenged him to a match. Takeshita came close to winning but Sonjay Dutt distracted the referee so the pin count was delayed long enough for Lethal to kick out. Lethal regained his positioning to hit the Lethal Injection and hand Takeshita his first singles loss in AEW. On the bright side at least Akiyama was happy to hear his move called correctly on commentary.
Yuka Sakazaki’s sudden invite back to AEW was for a qualifying match in the Owen Hart Foundation Women’s Tournament. Her match was against Riho who was also returning to AEW after taking time off with an injury. Sakazaki was building up a head of steam when Riho suddenly caught her in the Gannosuke Clutch for the three count out of nowhere. It is currently unknown when Sakazaki will return to Japan but don’t be surprised if she sticks around AEW for another week to wrestle on Elevation before going home.
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Upcoming Appearances
DPW “FIRE VOL. 3”, 15/05/2022 Sheraton Raleigh Hotel, Raleigh, USA
1. Konosuke Takeshita Vs Adam Brooks
The boys are back in town! North Carolina’s Deadlock Pro Wrestling is Takeshita’s next date on the indies. He takes on Australia’s Adam Brooks, a man who kept himself busy in his home country during the pandemic and is chomping at the bit to have his breakout moment overseas.
PRESTIGE “ROSELAND 3 – NIGHT 1”, 28/05/2022 Roseland Theater, Portland, USA
1. Miyu Yamashita Vs Masha Slamovich
2. Interational Princess Title: Maki Itoh (c) Vs Mia Yim
TJPW’s new partnership with Prestige Wrestling begins with Miyu Yamashita and Maki Itoh heading over to Portland. Their matches have now become TJPW Vs Impact bouts even if that wasn’t the case when they were first put together. Yamashita’s opponent on night one is against Masha Slamovich in what promises to be hard hitting from bell to bell. Itoh gets a big challenge against Impact’s newest signing Mia Yim.
EDIT: A few hours after I posted this, Prestige announced on Twitter that Itoh Vs Yim is now for the International Princess Title. The championship is finally being used for its original purpose!
PRESTIGE “ROSELAND 3 – NIGHT 2”, 29/05/2022 Roseland Theater, Portland, USA
1. Maki Itoh Vs Miyu Yamashita
Night two of Prestige pits Yamashita and Itoh against each other.
WEST COAST PRO “’93 TIL INFINITY”, 10/06/2022 The State Room, South San Francisco, USA
1. Mike Bailey Vs Konosuke Takeshita
Takeshita and Mike Bailey together again! Oh I think I’m going to cry, it’s been so long. West Coast Pro has been running shows since 2018 and has some sort of partnership with Prestige if their co-promoted doubleheader from March is anything to go by.
PRESTIGE “THE NEW REALITY”, 18/06/2022 The Glass House, Pomona, USA
1. Lee Moriarty Vs Konosuke Takeshita
Takeshita makes his Prestige debut although this show is in California instead of Oregon. His match is keeping it AEW with the talented Lee Moriarty and his “TAIGASTYLE” standing across the ring from him.
Yamashita returns to Europe for the first time since 2019 when she goes to Spain for RCW. She is the only announced wrestler for the show so far.
GARDEN STATE PRO “WELCOME TO EDEN”, 23/07/2022 The Heart Ballroom, Newark, USA
1. 3 Way Match: Billie Starkz Vs Miyu Yamashita Vs Janai Kai
2. Konosuke Takeshita Vs Josh Alexander
The debut show of Garden State Pro Wrestling in New Jersey features both Takeshita and Yamashita. Takeshita is already reaching the point where his indie bookings are more exciting than his AEW bookings because he is taking on the Impact World Champion himself Josh Alexander!
Yamashita finds herself in a 3 Way Match against two of the most recognizable fresh faces in the scene since the US indies came out of the pandemic. Billie Starkz and Janai Kai are two women who would benefit greatly by touring Japan someday so maybe this match will open some opportunities in the future.
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “GO GO DO IT”, 05/05/2022 Osaka Edion Arena #2 348 Fans – Super No Vacancy
1. Yuki Aino defeated Haruna Neko with the Venus DDT (6:51).
2. Osaka Ultra Quiz Match: Hyper Misao (2) defeated Kaya Toribami (1) (10:24).
2a. Kaya Toribami (1) defeated Hyper Misao (0) with the answer “Kenchiki” (0:25).
2b. Hyper Misao (1) defeated Kaya Toribami (1) with the answer “Taro Okamoto” (7:34).
2c. Hyper Misao (2) defeated Kaya Toribami (1) with the answer “Abeno Harukas” (10:24).
3. Hikari Noa & Nao Kakuta defeated Raku & Pom Harajuku when Kakuta pinned Harajuku with the Shiden Kai (8:40).
4. Yuna Manase defeated Mahiro Kiryu with the Lariat (7:02).
5. Saki Akai & Yuki Kamifuku defeated Miyu Yamashita & Miu Watanabe when Kamifuku pinned Watanabe with the Famouser (16:17).
6. Osaka Special 8-Woman Tag Match – Best 2 Out Of 3 Falls: Shoko Nakajima, Mizuki, Maki Itoh & Rika Tatsumi (2) defeated Yuki Arai, Suzume, Moka Miyamoto & Arisu Endo (0).
6a. Rika Tatsumi submitted Arisu Endo with the Dragon Sleeper (16:01).
6b. Shoko Nakajima pinned Yuki Arai with the Diving Senton (13:48).
A team of champions old and new achieved a clean sweep against the “1998 Class” of Tokyo Joshi Pro by winning two falls to zero in the main event. Rika Tatsumi stepped in for Yuka Sakazaki and scored the first fall by making Arisu Endo submit to the Dragon Sleeper. The 1998 Class scrambled to even the score in the second fall. Moka Miyamoto & Yuki Arai both went for Shoko Nakajima & Maki Itoh while Suzume & Endo targeted Mizuki. That backfired when Mizuki wiped out most of the opposition with a dive to the outside. Nakajima then finished things off by beating Arai with the Diving Senton. Nakajima said it wasn’t an easy victory but as long as she is the Princess Of Princess Champion she cannot afford to lose.
The tall ladies Saki Akai & Yuki Kamifuku were victorious over Momoiro Sparkling. The latter team attempted their new finisher Kick de Bakoon! on Kamifuku but Akai stopped the move from happening. Akai and Miyu Yamashita cancelled each other out with their kicks so it was up to Kamifuku to break the deadlock by pinning Miu Watanabe with the Famouser. Akai remembers the first time she met Kamifuku was at a DDT show when Kamifuku wasn’t even training to be a wrestler. She thought a pretty girl like her would make a good wrestler but was worried Kamifuku would get the same criticisms she got when she was a rookie. After today Akai has seen how much Kamifuku has improved since their last match together and would like to work with her again, either as a team or as opponents. She will continue looking over her like a sister living next door.
The quiz match between Hyper Misao and Kaya Toribami involved trivia about Osaka. The goal was to answer two questions correctly while they wrestled each other.
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “YES! WONDERLAND 2022 ~SPREAD THE WINGS OF YOUR DREAMS~”, 03/05/2022 Tokyo Korakuen Hall 695 Fans – Super No Vacancy Full House
1. Princess Tag Team Titles: Yuka Sakazaki & Mizuki (c) defeated Hikari Noa & Nao Kakuta when Mizuki pinned Noa with the Cutie Special (13:53). *V4 for The Magical Sugar Rabbits.
2. Reika Saiki Retirement – Exhibition Match: Reika Saiki Vs Arisu Endo ended in a Time Limit Draw (3:00).
3. Yuki Kamifuku & Mahiro Kiryu defeated Haruna Neko & Kaya Toribami when Kiryu submitted Toribami with a Crab Hold (10:09).
4. Suzume defeated Juria Nagano with the Ring A Bell (5:46).
5. Rika Tatsumi, Miu Watanabe & Yuki Arai defeated Yuki Aino, Raku & Pom Harajuku when Arai pinned Harajuku with the Finally (13:41).
6. Miyu Yamashita & Maki Itoh defeated Hikaru Shida & Moka Miyamoto when Yamashita pinned Miyamoto with the Skull Kick (15:02).
7. Princess Of Princess Title: Shoko Nakajima (c) defeated Hyper Misao with the Diving Senton (14:29). *V2 for Shoko Nakajima.
No time to rest just because the Golden Week show is over because “CYBERFIGHT FESTIVAL 2022” is coming up on the horizon. Shoko Nakajima defeated her partner in crime (figure of speech) Hyper Misao for her second defence of the Princess Of Princess Title. Misao wanted to prove she would fight fair to the best of her ability and placed down all of her hidden sprays before the match. She didn’t cheat but her plan was to find a way to beat Nakajima as quickly as possible. Nakajima’s gameplan was to target Misao’s arm and it paid off when Misao couldn’t use the Vanitas late in the match. Nakajima saw her moment to strike and dropped Misao with a Double Arm DDT before pinning her with the Diving Senton.
Nakajima told Misao she is amazing because she can do anything. Misao sees Nakajima as the main character but Nakajima thinks that does not mean the second best wrestler can never become champion. Both of them felt each other’s pain today and Kyoraku Kyomei will become an even better team because of it. Nakajima wants Misao to help her grab the box of toys that is Tokyo Joshi Pro and turn it upside down together. Next for the champion is to defend the belt at “CYBERFIGHT FESTIVAL 2022” in Saitama Super Arena on 12th June. The previous women who held the Princess Title have all been great champions and Nakajima wants to surpass them all!
Hikaru Shida got to experience both sides of 121000000 for her return to TJPW. Maki Itoh attempted to hit Shida in the head with a microphone like she did in AEW a year ago. But this time Shida grabbed the mic off her and whacked her over the head with it. Itoh’s big head no sold it. A new experience for Shida was getting to fight Miyu Yamashita and they two went at it. Moka Miyamoto benefitted with her own actions in the match. Her rush of attacks had Yamashita on the defensive until she stopped her momentum with a Front Kick. The end then came when Yamashita hit the Skull Kick for the win. Yamashita has expressed interest in a singles match with Shida. The two of them also praised Miyamoto for exceeding their expectations. Itoh however found the match to be a frustrating experience. She wants to go back to America so she can get stronger!
One year into her career Yuki Arai is still shining bright. Miu Watanabe was her tag partner in her debut so it was only fitting she was by her side again along with Rika Tatsumi bringing up the rear. The three of them all put Yuki Aino, Raku & Pom Harajuku in separate submission holds. Harajuku changed course and almost had Arai beat with the Pom de Justice but it was broken it up. They cleaned out the ring so Arai could pin Harajuku with the Finally Axe Kick. She is happy to show everyone how much she has grown in one year. Tatsumi joked that Arai will overtake her someday but she isn’t going to lose to her.
Juria Nagano’s third pro wrestling match pitted her against Suzume. Her standing strikes are something to fear but her weakness continues to be what happens when she is taken to the ground. Suzume got to work on some submission holds this way and cut off Nagano’s comeback with a Facebuster before winning with the Ring A Bell. Suzume credited her recent singles match with Yamashita as a sign she can overwhelm lesser experienced opponents. Nagano said she wants fight more like a pro wrestler in her next match without relying on Karate. She would like to participate in TJPW more often but she has patients to protect as a nurse so she can only wrestle once a month for the time being.
Match #3 had an unexpected guest at ringside. Yuna Manase appeared before the match to promote the Ganbare☆Pro show taking place later in the evening. She stayed to watch the Toyo University Tag defeat Haruna Neko & Kaya Toribami. The finish came when Yuki Kamifuku & Mahiro Kiryu gave Toribami a Big Boot/Spinebuster combo. Kiryu then turned her over into a Crab Hold to make her submit. Kiryu exchanged some words with Manase by the commentary table after the match. The two will be facing each other in a singles match on 5th May.
Almost three years ago Reika Saiki’s pro wrestling career got sidelined when she got a broken jaw. Although she recovered, her return to the ring never came and she eventually made the decision to retire both from pro wrestling and bodybuilding. She chose Tokyo Joshi Pro to host her retirement ceremony, although there was a shoutout to her other home promotion when she wore a wristband with the WRESTLE-1 logo on it. The retirement match was only a three minute exhibition bout against Arisu Endo, a fellow member of the Cheer♡1 idol group they both came from. The match ended in a draw but it was Endo who had the upper hand in the final seconds when she applied a Camel Clutch and Saiki struggled to reach the ropes.
The ceremony had Saiki receive gifts from the roster (news reports also said Saori Anou was there to congratulate her backstage). She said it’s been two years and eight months since she last wrestled and her time here was too short. She loves pro wrestling and was happy to remember what it is like to be a wrestler for three more minutes. The Arisu Endo she briefly fought today isn’t the same person she knew from Cheer♡1 but she has turned into a good wrestler. Saiki’s wrestling career only lasted 3 and a half years and most of it was in TJPW. She will continue to love TJPW for that reason.
A sudden change in travel schedules for Yuka Sakazaki moved the Princess Tag Team Titles match to the opening spot on the show. Free WiFi relied on their plan to remove the turnbuckle pad because it’s been working for them so far. Both Mizuki and Yuka Sakazaki ended up feeling the exposed metal of the corner because of it. However The Magical Sugar Rabbits turned things around to defend the titles. Sakazaki took care of Nao Kakuta with the Magical Merry-Go-Round and after that Mizuki pinned Hikari Noa with the Cutie Special. Sakazaki was relieved with the win because it means she can go to the United States with confidence. She also admitted she could finally sense a little bit Free WiFi’s good receptions. Kakuta called the result a complete defeat but promised her team with Noa is just getting started.
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW SPRING TOUR ’22”, 30/04/2022 Tokyo Ryogoku KFC Hall 155 Fans
1. Suzume defeated Kaya Toribami with the Ring A Bell (9:50).
2. Yuki Aino defeated Arisu Endo with the Full Nelson Of Love And Fire (8:48).
3. 3 Way Match: Raku defeated Rika Tatsumi and Haruna Neko when Raku pinned Neko with the Doctor Yellow (7:43).
4. Maki Itoh defeated Moka Miyamoto with the Itoh Punish (8:46).
5. Miyu Yamashita & Miu Watanabe defeated Yuki Kamifuku & Mahiro Kiryu when Watanabe pinned Kiryu after the Kick de Bakoon! (12:56).
6. Hyper Misao, Hikari Noa & Nao Kakuta defeated Shoko Nakajima, Yuka Sakazaki & Mizuki when Misao pinned Nakajima with the Vanitas (11:20).
Hyper Misao pins Shoko Nakajima just three days before their Princess Of Princess Title match! She wanted to prove she can beat the champion fair and square so Misao placed all of her spray cans in the middle of the ring before the match began. Oddly enough, for once the shenanigans during the match did not come from Misao. Instead Free WiFi again removed a turnbuckle pad to use against The Magical Sugar Rabbits. This time however MagiRabi blocked the attack and used the turnbuckle against their challengers instead. The two tag teams cancelled each other out, leaving Misao to avoid the Northern Lights Suplex and then pin Nakajima with the Vanitas. Misao afterwards said she wants to win the Princess Title from Nakajima to prove she is the main character of Kyoraku Kyomei! Nakajima promised to react on 3rd May with her actions instead of with her attitude. Free WiFi also gave their statement that they will win the Princess Tag Team Titles and do so with a good reception.
Momoiro Sparkling used a new double team move to win their match. The Kick de Bakoon! starts with Miu Watanabe putting the victim in a Canadian Backbreaker and then Miyu Yamashita jumps off the top rope with a Diving Knee Drop on top of them.
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW SPRING TOUR ’22”, 29/04/2022 Tokyo Ryogoku KFC Hall 150 Fans
1. Yuki Aino defeated Kaya Toribami with the Venus DDT (6:57).
2. Miu Watanabe defeated Haruna Neko with the Canadian Backbreaker (7:33).
3. Hikari Noa & Nao Kakuta defeated Rika Tatsumi & Arisu Endo when Kakuta pinned Endo with the Shiden Kai (11:20).
4. Miyu Yamashita defeated Moka Miyamoto with the Attitude Adjustment (8:25).
5. Yuka Sakazaki, Mizuki & Raku defeated Maki Itoh, Yuki Kamifuku & Mahiro Kiryu when Sakazaki pinned Kiryu after the Toy Story 4 (13:01).
6. Shoko Nakajima & Pom Harajuku defeated Hyper Misao & Suzume when Nakajima pinned Suzume with the Northern Lights Suplex (12:45).
Fresh back from England, Shoko Nakajima wanted to show off her manners she learned over there by shaking hands with Hyper Misao before the main event began. There was an accidental unmasking when Nakajima gave Misao a Hurricanrana but other than that tension was calm between the two. After the match Nakajima said wrestling outside of Tokyo Joshi Pro gave her a different view and she wants to bring everyone to that wider place. There is still another tag match between her and Misao tomorrow before the Princess Of Princess Title defence takes place next week. She is enthusiastic for it. Today was also a rare situation for Pom Harajuku. She is a winner in the main event! Even she can’t believe it and thinks it was a fluke. She won’t be at tomorrow’s show so she asked Nakajima to work 2.5 times as hard for her.
Another preview match for Korakuen Hall saw Miyu Yamashita beat Moka Miyamoto. Yamashita could feel that Miyamoto understands the importance of their tag match on 3rd May and it showed with her performance today. Miyamoto is disappointed with the loss but will use it for motivation when she takes on Maki Itoh tomorrow. By doing her best in her singles matches it means she will also do her best when she teams with Hikaru Shida next week.
It was announced that Reika Saiki will have a three minute exhibition match against Arisu Endo as part of her retirement ceremony on 3rd May. Saiki and Endo both came from Cheer♡1 and were even in the same “Yellow” role of the group. In fact, it was because of Saiki that Endo became a wrestler in the first place.
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW SPRING TOUR ’22”, 29/04/2022 Tokyo Ryogoku KFC Hall
1. Miu Watanabe Vs Haruna Neko
2. Yuki Aino Vs Kaya Toribami
3. Hikari Noa & Nao Kakuta Vs Rika Tatsumi & Arisu Endo
4. Miyu Yamashita Vs Moka Miyamoto
5. Shoko Nakajima & Pom Harajuku Vs Hyper Misao & Suzume
6. Yuka Sakazaki, Mizuki & Raku Vs Maki Itoh, Yuki Kamifuku & Mahiro Kiryu
The Golden Week pro wrestling schedule is about to begin or already begun depending on what companies you follow. I’m feeling antsy about it this year because over the last few days several wrestlers from across the scene have tested positive for covid. I wouldn’t be surprised if there will be more wrestlers getting sick and pulling out of these upcoming shows. Fingers crossed that everyone stays safe over the busiest time of the year in puroresu.
DDT “JUST BEFORE YOKOHAMA BUDOKAN! ROJO PRO WRESTLING IN I-CANAL STREET”, 29/04/2022 Yokohama i-Canal Street
1. Falls Count Anywhere 3 Way Tag Match: MAO & Shunma Katsumata Vs Kazusada Higuchi & Hideki Okatani Vs Yukio Naya & Yuki Ishida
The match will air live on DDT’s Youtube channel.
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW SPRING TOUR ’22”, 30/04/2022 Tokyo Ryogoku KFC Hall
1. Yuki Aino Vs Arisu Endo
2. Suzume Vs Kaya Toribami
3. Maki Itoh Vs Moka Miyamoto
4. 3 Way Match: Rika Tatsumi Vs Raku Vs Haruna Neko
5. Miyu Yamashita & Miu Watanabe Vs Yuki Kamifuku & Mahiro Kiryu
6. Shoko Nakajima, Yuka Sakazaki & Mizuki Vs Hyper Misao, Hikari Noa & Nao Kakuta
Pom Harajuku will not be at the show due to family reasons.
DDT “MEGA MAX BUMP 2022 TOUR IN YOKOHAMA”, 01/05/2022 Yokohama Budokan
0. Dark Match: KANON Vs Yuya Koroku
0. Dark Match: Toru Owashi & Naomi Yoshimura Vs Antonio Honda & Yuki Ishida
1. Shinya Aoki Vs Toui Kojima
2. KO-D 10-Man Tag Team Titles: Poison Sawada JULIE, Takashi Sasaki, GENTARO, MIKAMI & Thanomsak Toba (w/ Naomi Susan) (c) Vs Sanshiro Takagi, Yoshiaki Yatsu, Akito, Kazuki Hirata & Gota Ihashi
3. Saki Akai & Hideki Okatani Vs Maya Yukihi & Shunma Katsumata
4. Special 6-Man Tag Match ~ Pheromones Vs GM Imabayashi Final Battle: Yuki “Sexy” Iino, Danshoku “Dandy” Dieno & Yumehito “Fantastic” Imanari Vs Hisaya Imabayashi, AKIRA & Muscle Sakai
5. Daisuke Sasaki, MJ Paul & X Vs Yuji Hino, Yukio Naya & Soma Takao
6. Special Tag Match: HARASHIMA & Hikaru Sato Vs Kazusada Higuchi & Yukio Sakaguchi
7. DDT Universal Title: MAO (c) Vs Asuka
8. KO-D Tag Team Titles – Kitai Jisho Group K.O. GYM Presents: Chris Brookes & Masahiro Takanashi (c) Vs Jun Akiyama & Yusuke Okada
9. KO-D Openweight Title: Tetsuya Endo (c) Vs Yuki Ueno
Gorgeous Matsuno will not be at the show due to family circumstances. Gota Ihashi will take his place in the KO-D 10-Man Tag Team Titles match.
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “YES! WONDERLAND 2022 ~SPREAD THE WINGS OF YOUR DREAMS~”, 03/05/2022 Tokyo Korakuen Hall
1. Miyu Yamashita & Maki Itoh Vs Hikaru Shida & Moka Miyamoto
2. Princess Tag Team Titles: Yuka Sakazaki & Mizuki (c) Vs Hikari Noa & Nao Kakuta
3. Princess Of Princess Title: Shoko Nakajima (c) Vs Hyper Misao
They’re leaving it late to put out the full card. No need to worry though, it will likely be revealed after this weekend’s shows. Yuki Arai and Juria Nagano are advertised for the show along with Reika Saiki’s retirement ceremony.
GANBARE☆PRO “LOVE PHANTOM 2022”, 03/05/2022 Tokyo Korakuen Hall
1. Punch Drunker Vs Nobleman Of The Spirit World: Tyson Maeguchi Vs Onryo
2. Ganpro Specialty Mixed Tag Match: Yuu Yamagata & Shinichiro Tominaga Vs HARUKAZE & Tsuyoshi Okada
3. Nippon Ganbare Union Vs VENYU Full-Scale Battle: Yuna Manase & YuuRI Vs Yuki Kamifuku & Asuka
4. Ganpro’s Famous 3 Way Battle! ROMANCE DAWN Vs ChocoPro Vs BASARA: Shota & Soma Takao Vs Chris Brookes & Antonio Honda Vs Takumi Tsukamoto & Yasu Urano
5. LOVE PHANTOM 2022 ~Special Tag Match~: Keisuke Ishii & Kouki Iwasaki Vs Shuichiro Katsumura & Mizuki Watase
6. Ganpro Special Single Match ~A Better Tomorrow~: Ken Ohka Vs Muscle Sakai
7. Spirit Of Ganbare World Openweight Title: Tatsuhito Takaiwa (c) Vs Yumehito Imanari
In a Yahoo interview promoting the show, Shuichiro Katsumura calls his match a Ganbare Pure Blood Tag Match. He wants to have a match that will make fans think he should be the next challenger for the Spirit Of Ganbare Title.
Earlier this week Moeka Haruhi tested positive for covid and missed the Pocchari Joshi show. She will also be absent from this show. Yuu Yamagata takes her place in the mixed tag match. It’s a chance for HARUKAZE to show her first hand how much she has grown since they were last together.
A donation box for Shinjiro Otani will be set up in the venue. Ganbare☆Pro will also be selling Otani portraits with all proceeds going toward his medical expenses.
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “GO GO DO IT”, 05/05/2022 Osaka Edion Arena #2
1. Miyu Yamashita & Miu Watanabe Vs Saki Akai & Yuki Kamifuku
2. Osaka Special 8-Woman Tag Match: Yuki Arai, Suzume, Moka Miyamoto & Arisu Endo Vs Maki Itoh, Princess Of Princess Champion & Princess Tag Team Champions
The aftermath of Korakuen Hall will be filled with matches based on the results of that show. Saki Akai & Yuki Kamifuku wanted to team together so they will get a match against Momoiro Sparkling. It will be interesting to see how Akai and Miyu Yamashita will act towards each other. Their history in Tokyo Joshi Pro has been retconned into Yamashita feuding with Sakisama. But if anyone asks one doesn’t have anything to do with the other, wink wink.
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW SPRING TOUR ’22”, 24/04/2022 Tokyo Ryogoku KFC Hall 205 Fans – Super No Vacancy Full House
1. Yuki Aino defeated Mahiro Kiryu with the Venus DDT (8:18).
2. Rika Tatsumi defeated Kaya Toribami with the Figure 4 Leg Lock (8:00).
3. Suzume & Arisu Endo defeated Yuki Kamkifuku & Haruna Neko when Suzume pinned Neko with the Ring A Bell (12:16).
4. Hyper Misao defeated Raku with a Modified Chicken Wing Face Lock (7:02).
5. Miyu Yamashita & Maki Itoh defeated Miu Watanabe & Pom Harajuku when Itoh submitted Harajuku with the Itoh Punish (11:23).
6. Hikari Noa, Nao Kakuta & Moka Miyamoto defeated Yuka Sakazaki, Mizuki & Yuki Arai when Noa pinned Mizuki with the Rotating Foot Hold (11:39).
The Magical Sugar Rabbits took a rare direct loss in the main event when Hikari Noa pinned Mizuki under dubious circumstances. The blue turnbuckle pad was loosened up at some point during the match and Nao Kakuta pulled it off right when Noa threw Mizuki into the corner. Mizuki hit the exposed turnbuckle face first and was pinned with a roll up aftarward. Yuka Sakazaki responded badly to the result and attacked Free WiFi with the corner pad after the match. When MagiRabi & Yuki Arai left, Free WiFi laughed over how mad Sakazaki was. They also encouraged Moka Miyamoto not to let her guard down just because they won today. Free WiFi also understood that the audience were expecting MagiRabi to close out the show today with their usual “Happy Happy” catchphrase, so they had to think of their own cute catchphrase on the spot. They decided on “Denpa Ryoko (Clear Radio Waves) Bibibibi!”
After a while away from each other, Miyu Yamashita & Maki Itoh are back on the same page as tag team. Yamashita wonders if keeping some distance from Itoh every now and then is the key to make 121000000 successful. Itoh agrees because she once heard that time spent not seeing each other is what nurtures love. Yamashita hasn’t stopped smiling since she found out she will wrestle against Hikaru Shida and she sees how meaningful it is for Miyamoto to team with her. Itoh wants to beat Shida so she can influence AEW and the world. She does not have any martial arts experience but she has a black belt in cuteness!
Recently on Twitter Raku has been doing a project comparing DDT wrestlers to their train counterparts. Hyper Misao asked her to figure out what kind of train she is and Raku picked the Green Giant train from China. Misao did not like that answer because she wanted to be the Hayabusa Express. She used today’s match as an excuse to take her frustration out on Raku over it.
TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW SPRING TOUR ’22”, 17/04/2022 Tokyo Ryogoku KFC Hall 270 Fans – Super No Vacancy Full House
1. Hikari Noa & Nao Kakuta defeated Yuki Aino & Pom Harajuku when Noa pinned Harajuku with a Rotating Foot Hold (8:59).
2. Miyu Yamashita, Raku & Yuki Arai defeated Rika Tatsumi, Yuki Kamifku & Mahiro Kiryu when Yamashita pinned Kiryu with the Attitude Adjustment (12:50).
3. Yuka Sakazaki & Mizuki defeated Maki Itoh & Haruna Neko when Sakazaki pinned Neko with the Magical Merry-Go-Round (13:45).
4. Hyper Misao, Miu Watanabe & Moka Miyamoto defeated Shoko Nakajima, Suzume & Arisu Endo when Misao pinned Endo with the Hypami Returns (12:52).
5. Marika Kobashi Graduation Commemorative Match – 1 Vs 20 Handicap Tag Match: Shoko Nakajima, Yuka Sakazaki, Mizuki, Maki Itoh, Miyu Yamashita, Rika Tatsumi, Hyper Misao, Yuki Aino, Miu Watanabe, Raku, Hikari Noa, Nao Kakuta, Yuki Kamifuku, Suzume, Arisu Endo, Moka Miyamoto, Pom Harajuku, Haruna Neko, Mahiro Kiryu & Yuki Arai (3) defeated Marika Kobashi (0) (21:10).
5a. Everyone pinned Marika Kobashi with the Goodnight Express (2:26).
5b. Raku submitted Marika Kobashi with a Front Neck Lock (17:41).
5c. Miyu Yamashita pinned Marika Kobashi with the Attitude Adjustment (21:10).
Marika Kobashi has called time on her wrestling career in Tokyo Joshi Pro. While it is not a full on retirement from pro wrestling, she wants to focus on other priorities for the remainder of her college life. So who knows, maybe this won’t be the last time we see her in the squared circle again somewhere. Her final match was a special 1 Vs 20 Handicap match with the goal for either side to win three falls. The first fall began with Kobashi taking on Shoko Nakajima. Soon Raku was tagged in and her Goodnight Express spot ended up with the entire team of 20 all piling on top of Kobashi to pin her. In the second fall, the team launched a Train Attack on Kobashi. Tetsuya Koda was forced by Yuka Sakazaki to join in. Kobashi cut him off with a kick and pinned him with the Bakachinga Elbow but it didn’t count. Raku instead got involved again and used Kobashi’s signature submission hold the Front Neck Lock against her to secure the second fall. The third fall ended up being the final one when Miyu Yamashita pinned Kobashi with the Attitude Adjustment.
After the match Kobashi was given gifts and bouquets from the roster. She said when she first joined TJPW she didn’t know how to interact with everyone. She hit her walls but pro wrestling was always there to support her. It is what made her into the strong and affectionate person she is today. She reminded everyone her decision is to graduate, not to retire, because she has a desire to move onto new things that are not pro wrestling. She hopes these new experiences will make her a more wonderful pro wrestler and that some day she can meet everyone in TJPW again. She made a promise to beat Abdullah Kobayashi so neither of them can retire until it happens.
Today’s preview match between Shoko Nakajima and Hyper Misao saw the upcoming challenger get the better of the champion. Misao did so by attacking Nakajima with the Princess Of Princess Title belt! Misao grabbed the title and posed with it during her pre-bell ambush, then later used it as a weapon after a ref bump. She took out Nakajima with the Hypami Returns and used the same move on Arisu Endo to win the match. Misao thinks Nakajima’s upcoming visit to England is not an excursion but a desertion. Today’s win is good for Misao because she believes it sends out the message that the title will belong to her sooner or later. Nakajima said she always has fun whenever she teams with Misao but being on the other end of her pranks and tactics in the ring makes her angry.
The 9th annual Tokyo Princess Cup will began with three consecutive shows at Ryogoku KFC Hall on the 16th, 17th and 18th July. It will move over to Shinjuku FACE on the 23rd, then the Quarter Finals will take place in Otemachi Mitsui Hall on the 31st. The semi-finals are at Korakuen Hall on 13th August and the final will be in the same venue on the 14th.