TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW LIVE TOUR 2024 SPRING” Results

May 18, 2024

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW LIVE TOUR 2024 SPRING”, 18/05/2024
Shin-Kiba 1st RING
284 Fans – Super No Vacancy Full House

1. Nao Kakuta defeated Runa Okubo with the Shiden Kai (6:57).
2. Raku, Moka Miyamoto & Uta Takami defeated Arisu Endo, Kaya Toribami & Chika Nanase when Raku submitted Nanase with the Front Neck Lock (8:59).
3. 3 Way Match: Suzume defeated Mahiro Kiryu and Shino Suzuki when Suzume pinned Suzuki with the Ring A Bell (9:30).
4. Mizuki & Pom Harajuku defeated Shoko Nakajima & Haru Kazashiro when Mizuki submitted Kazashiro with the Face Lock (12:23).
5. Queen Of Asia Title & VPW Women’s Title: Yuki Kamifuku (c/c) defeated Alexis Lee with the Famouser (8:41).
*V2 for Queen Of Asia Title. V1 for VPW Women’s Title.
6. Miu Watanabe, Rika Tatsumi & HIMAWARI defeated Maki Itoh, Yuki Aino & Toga when Watanabe pinned Toga with the Tear Drop (16:34).

Daydream were impressed with HIMAWARI’s performance in the main event. Rika Tatsumi told her after the match it is hard to believe it’s only been a year since her pro wrestling debut. She’s not a monster yet like Miu Watanabe but she has already become a reliable wrestler. Watanabe objected to being called a monster.

For so long now whenever somebody from Tokyo Joshi Pro travelled across Asia to wrestle you could count on Alexis Lee to be one of their opponents. It was time for Lee to go the opposite direction and finally wrestle in TJPW. She was here today to fight Yuki Kamifuku for both the Queen Of Asia Title and the VPW Women’s Title. Kamifuku beat her for both championships in their previous matches together. She continued the winning streak, beating Lee with the Famouser to remain a double crown champion. Lee said she has now fought Kamifuku four times and today was the most nervous she’s been because it is her debut in Japan. Even though she lost she feels fulfilled because wrestling in Japan has been her ultimate goal. Kamifuku said when she won the brand new VPW Women’s Title a great looking Vietnamese guy congratulated her. If she was to lose in her first defence today she thinks the same guy would have told her “What’s wrong with you?”

It was announced that Hikaru Shida will return to TJPW on 9th June for a singles match against Moka Miyamoto. It will be Shida’s first match in TJPW since “SUMMER SUN PRINCESS ’22” in June 2022.


Kamiuku Teaming With Kong, Smile Squash Revival Continues, Sanshiro Vs Sasadango One Match Show

May 17, 2024

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW LIVE TOUR 2024 SPRING”, 18/05/2024
Shin-Kiba 1st RING

1. 3 Way Match: Suzume Vs Mahiro Kiryu Vs Shino Suzuki
2. Arisu Endo, Kaya Toribami & Chika Nanase Vs Raku, Moka Miyamoto & Uta Takami
3. Nao Kakuta Vs Runa Okubo
4. Shoko Nakajima & Haru Kazashiro Vs Mizuki & Pom Harajuku
5. Miu Watanabe, Rika Tatsumi & HIMAWARI Vs Maki Itoh, Yuki Aino & Toga
6. Queen Of Asia Title & VPW Women’s Title: Yuki Kamifuku (c/c) Vs Alexis Lee

Tomorrow’s show has to change a few matches because Kira Summer will be absent due to family circumstances.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW LIVE TOUR 2024 SPRING”, 25/05/2024
Kanagawa Fujisawa City Shonandai Cultural Center

1. Aja Kong & Yuki Kamifuku Vs Rika Tatsumi & Moka Miyamoto

When Tokyo Joshi Pro heads over to Yuki Kamifuku’s neck of the woods next week, she’ll be teaming up with Aja Kong! The two wrestlers paired up to face them are Rika Tatsumi & Moka Miyamoto.

Mizuki will be wrestling at a SETUP show in Thailand on the same day so she will be missing this show.

BASARA “BASARA 249 ~UTAGE~”, 28/05/2024
Shin-Kiba 1st RING

1. Ryuichi Sekine, Fuminori Abe & Gaia Hox Vs FUMA, KUBITO & Yasu Urano
2. Isami Kodaka, Takato Nakano & Masato Kamino Vs Lil’ Kraken, Tsutomu Oosugi & Banana Senga
3. SAGAT Vs Gouma Ryu
4. Iron Fist Tag Team Titles: Ryota Nakatsu & Kazusada Higuchi (c) Vs Takumi Tsukamoto & Judomaster
5. Union MAX Title: Minoru Fujita (c) Vs Daichi Kazato

Results for SAGAT have been going up and down recently in BASARA. If he is on a downslope then this can be Gouma Ryu’s best chance to beat him in a singles match.

DDT “WHAT ARE YOU DOING 2024 TOUR IN SHINJUKU”, 05/06/2024
Shinjuku FACE

1. Daisuke Kiso Referee 14th Anniversary Match ~ Special Tag Match: Keisuke Ishii & Shigehiro Irie Vs To-y & Yuni
2. CDK 5th Anniversary Match ~ Special Tag Match: Chris Brookes & Masahiro Takanashi Vs Makoto Oishi & Shiori Asahi
3. KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles: Daisuke Sasaki, KANON &MJ Paul (c) Vs HARASHIMA, Akito & Yasu Urano

Smile Squash has been revived in a bid to win the KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles for the first time. Akito has held the belts before but HARASHIMA & Yasu Urano both have not. They defeated DAMNATION T.A in a non-title match yesterday so put out the challenge for a rematch with the titles on the line.

DDT “SANSHIRO TAKAGI VS SUPER SASADANGO MACHINE ONE MATCH EVENT”, 26/06/2024
Shinjuku FACE

1. Special Single Match: Sanshiro Takagi Vs Super Sasadango Machine

As we get ever closer towards Sanshiro Takagi’s break from wrestling in matches, Super Sasadango Machine has emerged asking to wrestle him one on one. In order to fit the match into Takagi’s busy schedule the bout will take place as a one match show held inside Shinjuku FACE. If that is not enough of a unique selling point, there are going to be 50 types of tickets and seating options that will be put on sale for the show.


Endo’s Not Injured! Kamiyu Is Now A Double Crown Champion, Tominaga Finds A CWP Tag Partner

May 8, 2024

DDT “KING OF DDT ~20TH ANNIVERSARY~ 2ND ROUND”, 11/05/2024
Yokohama Radiant Hall

1. 3 Way Tag Match: KANON & MJ Paul Vs Yuki Iino & Akito Vs Kazuki Hirata & Soma Takao
2. Yuki Ueno & Shunma Katsumata Vs Yukio Naya & Keigo Nakamura
3. Special 6-Man Tag Match: Poison Sawada JULIE, HARASHIMA & Danshoku Dieno Vs Takeshi Masada, Yuya Koroku & Kazuma Sumi
4. King Of DDT 20th Anniversary – Round 2: To-y Vs MAO
5. King Of DDT 20th Anniversary – Round 2: Daisuke Sasaki Vs Sanshiro Takagi
6. King Of DDT 20th Anniversary – Round 2: Shuji Ishikawa Vs Kazusada Higuchi
7. King Of DDT 20th Anniversary – Round 2: Chris Brookes Vs Tetsuya Endo

A minor left heel injury suffered on Sunday’s DDT show took Tetsuya Endo off of the “ALL TOGETHER” show that happened the next day. Thankfully after getting it examined Endo found out his heel has not been fractured and he is cleared to continue competing in the King Of DDT this weekend.

Even though Poison Sawada JULIE was eliminated from the tournament, he will be hanging around for a little while longer. He gets to form a DDT Legend team with HARASHIMA & Danshoku Dieno to take on the young blood.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW LIVE TOUR 2024 SPRING”, 11/05/2024
Osaka Azalea Taisho Hall

1. Mahiro Kiryu Vs Chika Nanase
2. Rika Tatsumi Vs Shino Suzuki
3. Yuki Aino Vs Toga
4. Yuki Kamifuku & Uta Takami Vs Raku & Pom Harajuku
5. Shoko Nakajima, Wakana Uehara & HIMAWARI Vs Maki Itoh, Haru Kazashiro & Runa Okubo
6. Miu Watanabe, Suzume & Arisu Endo Vs Mizuki, Moka Miyamoto & Kaya Toribami

The new champions cleared their first defences over the weekend and will be teaming up in Osaka. Also Shino Suzuki is rewarded for earning her first singles win by getting to wrestle Rika Tatsumi one on one.

Nao Kakuta is not at the show because she will be performing in a stage play. Kira Summer has been feeling unwell lately so she will not be at the show either.

BASARA “BASARA 248 ~TAKAGARI 24~”, 11/05/2024
Tokyo Takashimadaira Kumin Center

1. FUMA, KUBITO & Yasu Urano Vs Lil’ Kraken, Leo Isaka & Takahiro Katori
2. Takato Nakano & Masato Kamino Vs Chicharito Shoki & Daiju Wakamatsu
3. Ryuichi Sekine & Ryota Nakatsu Vs Takumi Tsukamoto & Judomaster
4. Minoru Fujita Vs SAGAT
5. Union MAX Title Next Challenger Match: Isami Kodaka Vs Daichi Kazato

No. 1 Contendership is on the line when Isami Kodaka and Daichi Kazato fight for who gets the next Union MAX Title shot. Kodaka has built up his case but Kazato hit a speed bump at the most recent BASARA show when he lost his match. Can he get the job done without the momentum that took him up to this point?

DDT “DRAMATIC DREAM TOUR 2024 IN MIYAGI”, 12/05/2024
Miyagi Yume Messe West Building Hall

1. Akito & Yuya Koroku Vs Makoto Oishi & Yukio Naya
2. Danshoku Dieno, Kazusada Higuchi & Kazuki Hirata Vs Chris Brookes, Takeshi Masada & Kazuma Sumi
3. Yuki Ueno & To-y Vs Jun Akiyama & Tomomitsu Matsunaga
4. Special Tag Match: Tetsuya Endo & Yuki Iino Vs HARASHIMA & Keigo Nakamura
5. Special Single Match: Yoshitatsu Vs MJ Paul
6. The 37KAMIINA Vs DAMNATION T.A!: MAO & Shunma Katsumata Vs Daisuke Sasaki & KANON

Rukiya is still out injured so Tomomitsu Matsunaga will be replacing him in Match #3.

A year ago Keigo Nakamura teamed with HARASHIMA to challenge for the KO-D Tag Team Titles. They reunite this weekend to face the current champions BURNING in a non-title match.

DDT “EARLY SUMMER BEER GARDEN PRO WRESTLING – DAY 1”, 16/05/2024
Tokyo Ueno Park Outdoor Stage

1. Soma Takao Vs Ilusion
2. Sanshiro Takagi & Jun Akiyama Vs Yukio Naya & Keigo Nakamura
3. Early Summer Beer Garden Specialty NG Behaviour Penalty Match: Tetsuya Endo, Yuki Iino & Yuya Koroku Vs Shunma Katsumata, Toru Owashi & Makoto Oishi
4. Early Summer Beer Garden Specialty Doki Doki! Special Rules Match: Chris Brookes & Masahiro Takanashi Vs Danshoku Dieno & Kazuki Hirata
5. Yuki Ishida Return Match ~ The 37KAMIINA Vs Harimao!: Yuki Ueno, MAO & To-y Vs Kazusada Higuchi, Ryota Nakatsu & Yuki Ishida
6. Smile Squash Vs DAMNATION T.A!: HARASHIMA, Yasu Urano & Akito Vs Daisuke Sasaki, KANON & MJ Paul

We only just recently had Smile Squash back together again so let’s keep it going for one of the Beer Garden shows. Also on the undercard are two tag matches each with different special rules applied.

DDT “EARLY SUMMER BEER GARDEN PRO WRESTLING – DAY 2”, 17/05/2024
Tokyo Ueno Park Outdoor Stage

1. Chris Brookes Vs Yuya Koroku
2. Kazusada Higuchi & Yuki Ishida Vs HARASHIMA & Keigo Nakamura
3. Daisuke Sasaki, KANON & MJ Paul Vs Jun Akiyama, Yukio Naya & Makoto Oishi
4. MAO & To-y Vs Toru Owashi & Akito
5. Special Tag Match: Tetsuya Endo & Yuki Iino Vs Yuki Ueno & Kazuki Hirata
6. Danshoku Dieno Birthday Eve Commemorative Match ~ Special 3 Way Match: Takeshi Masada Vs Kazuma Sumi Vs Rukiya (Special Referee: Danshoku Dieno)
7. DDT Extreme Title: Shunma Katsumata (c) Vs Antonio Honda

Oh there’s Toru Owashi. He disappeared from DDT for a minute there. I only just noticed now.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW LIVE TOUR 2024 SPRING”, 18/05/2024
Shin-Kiba 1st RING

1. Queen Of Asia Title & VPW Women’s Title: Yuki Kamifuku (c/c) Vs Alexis Lee

All of a sudden Yuki Kamifuku has created an Asian Double Crown championship! She has held the Queen Of Asia Title since last November and just a few days ago won the brand new VPW Women’s Title in Vietnam. Both of those title wins came from Kamifuku defeating Alexis Lee, a 10 year veteran of the Southeast Asian wrestling scene. Her name has come up a lot in my DDT Around The World reports because she is the go-to opponent for whenever somebody from Tokyo Joshi Pro travels to Singapore. Lee has not given up on getting revenge for losing both championships to Kamifuku and is coming to TJPW for a double title rematch!

Wakana Uehara will not be at the show because she will be performing at a stage show elsewhere that day.

GANBARE☆PRO “EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE 2024”, 18/05/2024
Shin-Kiba 1st RING

1. Shota Kawakami Debut Match: Ken Ohka Vs Shota Kawakami
2. Kitsune World Title: Sayaka Unagi (c) Vs YuuRI
3. Spirit Of Ganbare World Tag Team Titles: Shuichiro Katsumura & Takuya Wada (c) Vs Shinichiro Tominaga & Daisuke®️
4. Spirit Of Ganbare World Openweight Title: Keisuke Ishii (c) Vs Kouki Iwasaki

Shinichiro Tominaga had to go looking through the student pro wrestling scene for a partner so he can challenge GROUND ABSOLUTE for the Spirit Of Ganbare Tag Team Titles. What he found is Daisuke®️ from Tomginaga’s other home promotion CWP. Daisuke®️ is allegedly a former trainee from another company whose name he cannot reveal. He’s been wrestling in CWP since 2019 with the dragon gene in his heart and his goal is to one day open CWP’s dream gate.

BASARA “BASARA 249 ~UTAGE~”, 28/05/2024
Shin-Kiba 1st RING

1. Iron Fist Tag Team Titles: Ryota Nakatsu & Kazusada Higuchi (c) Vs Takumi Tsukamoto & Judomaster

There is a very slight naming change to the IRON FIST Tag Team Titles. BASARA noticed that the media and wrestlers keep writing the name of the championship in katakana instead of using the upper case “IRON FIST”. So from now on they decided it will be written as “Iron Fist Tag Team Titles” (アイアンフィストタッグ選手権).

Also something to note is BASARA themselves aren’t quite sure where Judomaster belongs to. His affiliation is written as “Free?” on their website.

DDT “SPA & POOL AQUA YUKARI – SAUNA ROJO PRO WRESTLING”, 21/06/2024
Chiba Aqua Yukari

1. Shunma Katsumata Vs X

The next street wrestling match DDT has come up with will be at the Aqua Yukari hot spring in Chiba. Shunma Katsumata is the first wrestler announced to take part.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “UP! UP! TJPW (2) ~TANABATA FESITVAL WITH NIKI-CHAN~”, 07/07/2024
Tokyo Ueno Park Outdoor Stage

1. X Vs X
2. X Vs X
3. X Vs X
4. X Vs X

TJPW is teaming up with one of the other versions of The Up Up Girls for an outdoor show held at Ueno Park. The event will feature concerts from both Up Up Girls (2) and Up Up Girls (Pro Wrestling). There will also be a short TJPW show taking place with 4 or 5 matches scheduled to happen.

DDT “WRESTLE PETER PAN 2024”, 21/07/2024
Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan

1. KO-D Openweight Title: Yuki Ueno (c) Vs X

Minoru Suzuki will be on the show, joining Konosuke Takeshita and El Desperado among the first bunch of names announced.


TOKYO JOSHI PRO “YES! WONDERLAND ’24” Results

May 6, 2024

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “YES! WONDERLAND ’24”, 06/05/2024
Tokyo Korakuen Hall
756 Fans

1. Shino Suzuki defeated Toga with a Backward Rolling Cradle (8:21).
2. Moka Miyamoto, Kaya Toribami & Uta Takami defeated Mahiro Kiryu, Chika Nanase & Kira Summer when Toribami submitted Nanase with the Bird Cage (9:43).
3. Yuna Manase defeated Runa Okubo with the Suzuki Dynamic (5:45).
4. Maki Itoh defeated Haru Kazashiro with the Itoh Punish (9:42).
5. Rika Tatsumi & Yuki Aino defeated Raku & Pom Harajuku when Aino submitted Harajuku with the Full Nelson Of Love And Flame (12:02).
6. Yuki Arai & Yuki Kamifuku defeated Mizuki & Nao Kakuta when Arai pinned Kakuta with the Finally (10:38).
7. Princess Tag Team Titles: Suzume & Arisu Endo (c) defeated Wakana Uehara & HIMAWARI when Endo pinned HIMAWARI with the Ju no Okite (15:01).
*V1 for Daisy Monkey.
8. Princess Of Princess Title: Miu Watanabe (c) defeated Shoko Nakajima with the Tear Drop (21:11).
*V1 for Miu Watanabe.

If this really is the start of a new era in Tokyo Joshi Pro then the new champions have shown what they can do when you give them the ball. Miu Watanabe’s first defence of the Princess Of Princess Title was against two-time former champion Shoko Nakajima. The two started off the match with lock-ups leading into Monkey Flips. Nakajima took control with a 619 and then targeted Watanabe’s neck with submission holds and Neckbreakers. She also countered the Giant Swing into the Unmanned Local Train Hold. Watanabe was in trouble when Nakajima landed the Diving Senton on the apron followed by the Northern Lights Suplex for a nearfall. Watanabe stopped her from doing another Diving Senton and quickly put her into the Giant Swing. Nakajima fought back with another Northern Lights Suplex but the Locomotion version was blocked and turned into a Power Slam. The Tear Drop was countered into a Hurricanrana for a two count which turned out to be Nakajima’s last chance to win. Watanabe hit her with a Double Sledgehammer, the Laserbeam and then the Tear Drop for the three count.

Watanabe told the fans how happy she was to fight Nakajima for the title and win because she has now grown as a champion. TJPW is in a new era but that means each and every member of the roster is part of the new era. She wants to defend the title against everyone and do her best to make TJPW grow. She loves wrestling so much and hopes to bring in more fans who love it just as much. Backstage Nakajima said she was disappointed to lose and has no choice but to try again. She put her heart into this match so didn’t hold back from the beginning. Watanabe has not decided on who she wants her next challenger to be. She mentioned Mizuki and Rika Tatsumi because they are former champions but is just as interested in facing somebody she cannot even imagine so it will help her grow even more. If that person ever shows up then Watanabe will welcome her challenge.

Daisy Monkey are now seeing what it’s like on the other side of the fence. It was not that long ago they were the young tag team looking to beat the Princess Tag Team Champions. Now they are the champions defending against the young tag teams! Wakana Uehara put Arisu Endo in her version of the Tringle Lancer called the BANANA PILLOW but Endo escaped it. Instead Daisy Monkey’s level of teamwork was too high for the challengers to overcome. Suzume & Endo dropped HIMAWARI with a Double Team Facebuster. Endo then pinned HIMAWARI with the Ju no Okite. Endo said backstage the challengers were a tougher fight than she expected. Suzume now understands the position they are in as champions. Everyone is going to be chasing after them! TJPW will be returning to Endo’s hometown in September. She absolutely wants to defend the tag titles on that show.

Yuki Arai got to show everyone the spot she has established for herself on the 3rd anniversary of her debut match. She wore a new costume covered in stars and teamed with Yuki Kamifuku to beat Mizuki & Nao Kakuta. Arai even scored the pinfall by hitting Kakuta with the Rookie Award followed by the Finally. Backstage Kamifuku joked that each star on Arai’s costume represents the people she wants to crush in the ring. She then pointed to a star on Arai’s dress and asked if that one is for Miyu Yamashita? Arai denied it and explained when Sanshiro Takagi scouted her for TJPW, he said he was going to make her a star. Sadly for Kakuta she is starting to feel her time is running out. She would like to team with Mizuki at least three more times before her graduation. Mizuki promised the next time they team up they will win.

The mind games on display during the start of Match #5 were something to behold. Raku & Pom Harajuku offered the customary pre-match handshake when Tatsumi & Yuki Aino both collapsed and fell asleep. Rather than attack them, Raku & Harajuku decided to lie down next to them and fell asleep too. Tatsumi & Aino noticed that and tried to pin them but RakuPom kept rolling away until they were outside the ring. They then sprung their own surprise after they were Irish Whipped into each other and swung back around to attack the other two. Raku armed herself with a pillow and attacked Tatsumi with it. Harajuku went to finish Aino off with the Pom de Justice. She missed the move though and Aino put her in the Full Nelson Of Love And Flame to make her give up. Aino enjoyed getting to wrestle Raku & Harajuku who she often teams with. Tatsumi called them a great Love Triangle. She’d like to join in to make it a 4 Way but reckons she is better off being a lone wolf. Aino admits she hangs out with Tatsumi more than the other two anyway but Tatsumi told her to keep that a secret.

Maki Itoh defeated Haru Kazashiro and had some words for her afterward. Just as she expected, Kazashiro is a loser but just by working hard today she will have encouraged some of these fans to do their best at work or in school tomorrow. Itoh thinks there is already someone out there who looks up to Kazashiro the same way Kazashiro looks up to her but if she really wants to become a hero then she should make it her goal to destroy Itoh! Later backstage Itoh said she is really looking forward to their next match together just based on the look in Kazashiro’s eyes during her speech. Kazashiro said she was so scared about today’s match she thought about running away. Itoh was even stronger that she expected but if she gets to fight her again she wants to beat her.

There was another big test given to one of the young rookies when Runa Okubo fought Yuna Manase. Okubo tried to match power with power but eventually lost to the Suzuki Dynamic. Manase was impressed with her and would like to have more matches together because of their similar wrestling style. She also called herself a relative of TJPW and noticed there are more new kids being added to the family. Just for her sake don’t ever call them grandkids. Okubo doesn’t want to use her age as an excuse for losing and trained hard for this match. She has regrets but is ready to keep training after Manase told her they should fight again.

Last month Kaya Toribami helped save America from a kappa invasion and today she continued that momentum by winning another wrestling match! The trios match was also the first time Chika Nanase, Kira Summer and Uta Takami all got to wrestle in Korakuen Hall. Both Mahiro Kiryu and Moka Miyamoto talked about how nervous they must have been before the match.

The opening match marked a big milestone for Shino Suzuki. By beating Toga she has earned her first ever singles win! The result came when Suzuki countered the Rock Bottom into a Backwards Rolling Cradle off of the ropes for the flash pin. She believes she won thanks to the support of everyone around her. With this under her belt she feels she can now catch up to the rest of her class. Toga had already beaten Suzuki twice before so she admits her overconfidence got the better of her. She is looking forward to her next match though and is now determined not to lose.

This past weekend Kamifuku went to wrestle for Vietnam Pro Wrestling and became the company’s first ever women’s champion. She still holds the Queen Of Asia Title so she is now a double crown champion of Southeast Asia! She plans to defend both titles in a singles match on 18th May and her opponent will be the TJPW debut of Alexis Lee! Kamifuku defeated Lee in Vietnam to win the VPW Women’s Title. She also beat Lee in Singapore last November to win the Queen Of Asia Title.

There was a group of special guests for The Up Up Girls mini concert held at the start of the show. The pro wrestling version of the unit were joined by another section of the idol group called Up Up Girls (2). They were there to announce TJPW and The Up Up Girls will be holding an outdoor collaborative show at Ueno Park on 7th July.


The Numbers Mizuki, What Do They Mean?

May 3, 2024

Let’s not even pretend where the inspiration for this idea came from. The brand new Marigold joshi promotion is using a jersey number system for their roster (not a new idea from Rossy Ogawa, he used a similar gimmick for Arsion). All of a sudden Tokyo Joshi Pro has come up with new merchandise that is also based on jersey numbers. Fancy that! Almost everyone in TJPW were asked to pick a number for themselves. People noticed Yuki Arai and none of The Up Up Girls were included. I guess that might be them being careful not to step into another idol group’s gimmick. Some of the numbers have deep meanings behind them, others are based on basic trivia about the women and some are just wordplay on their names.

Credit goes to @dweebyllo, @cmvenus_, @deesforta and @nampei1983 on Twitter for all taking the time to gather the names, numbers and explanations. I’m writing this post using all of the info they collected along with what the wrestlers tweeted out themselves.

1. Miyu Yamashita – She is the ace.
3. HIMAWARI – 3 means Sun, as in Sunflower.
04. Mahiro Kiryu – She is a FC Schalke 04 fan.
08. Suzume – 08 means Bee (8 = Hachi).
15. Rika Tatsumi – She changed her ring name to Rika Tatsumi in 2015.
25. Yuki Aino – Her birthday is 25th October.
39. Chika Nanase – Her birthday is 9th March.
46. Pom Harajuku – 46 means Pom (4 = Po, 6 = Mu).
70. Nao Kakuta – 70 means Nao (7 = Na, 0 = O).
82. Kira Summer – She hasn’t revealed her reason yet.
83. Yuki Kamifuku (Kamiyu) – Her inseam length is 83cm.
98. Arisu Endo – She was born in 1998.
110. Maki Itoh – 110 means Itoh (1 = I, 10 = To).
147. Shoko Nakajima – Her height is 147cm.
222. Haruna Neko – Nyan, Nyan, Nyan (2 = Nyan).
227. Toga – Her birthday is 27th February.
316. Mizuki – Her birthday is 16th March.
318. Moka Miyamoto – Her birthday is 18th March.
328. Haru Kazashiro – Her birthday is 28th March.
513. Wakana Uehara – Her birthday is 13th May.
615. Runa Okubo – Her birthday is 15th June.
708. Sayuri Namba – 708 means Namba (7 = Na, 0 = M, 8 = Ba).
810. Kaya Toribami – 810 means Bird (8 = Bir, 10 = Do).
1201. TJPW – The date of TJPW’s launch event was 1st December.
8183. Hyper Misao – 8183 means Hypami (8 = Ha, 1 = I, 8 = Pa, 3 = Mi).

Edit: In August TJPW released more jerseys for all of the idols who were left out of the first batch.


7. Shino Suzuki – She was born in July.
19. Miu Watanabe – Her birthday is 19th October.
42. Yuki Arai – 42 is Arai’s number from her junior high school exam.
329. Uta Takami – Her birthday is 29th March.
700. Raku – References the N700 Series Shinkansen train.


Unagi Eats Unagi, TJPW Golden Week Card, Shunma Wants To Surpass Honda

April 22, 2024

DDT “DDT X ZEEKSTAR TOKYO SPECIAL PERFORMANCE ~ DDZT”, 26/04/2024
Tokyo Sumida Ward General Gymnasium

0. Dark Match – 3 Way Match: Yuni Vs Ilusion V Kazuma Sumi
1. DDT Universal Title: MAO (c) Vs Keigo Nakamura
2. Kazusada Higuchi & Yuya Koroku Vs Yukio Naya & Rukiya
3. KO-D 10-Man Tag Team Titles: Chris Brookes, Masahiro Takanashi, Antonio Honda, Takeshi Masada & Mecha Mummy (c) Vs Toru Owashi, Hiroshi Yamato, Tomomitsu Matsunaga, Soma Takao & Shinichiro Kawamatsu
4. Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title: Sayaka Unagi (c) Vs Sanshiro Takagi
5. BURNING Vs The 37KAMIINA!: Tetsuya Endo & Yuki Iino Vs Shunma Katsumata & To-y
6. Special Single Match: HARASHIMA Vs Kazuki Hirata
7. KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Titles: Jun Akiyama, Danshoku Dieno & Makoto Oishi (c) Vs Daisuke Sasaki, KANON & MJ Paul
8. KO-D Openweight Title: Yuki Ueno (c) Vs Akito

Last week Sanshiro Takagi hatched a plan to get the Iron Man Heavymetalweight Title off of Sayaka Unagi. He no longer trusts Unagi to protect the belt after she lost it to an unknown person in America last month and risked it disappearing from DDT forever. Takagi’s plan was to attack Unagi with a pack of Grilled Unagi in her dressing room before a press conference. Takagi choked Unagi with the unagi and she tapped out. The referee was about to hand Takagi the belt when he instead told him to give it to the Grilled Unagi! Sayaka Unagi got revenge during the press conference when she opened the pack of unagi, filled it in a bowl with rice and began to eat it. After taking a few bites, the referee checked on the unagi for any movement and ruled it had been knocked out which means Sayaka Unagi is the champion again! She then promised to defeat Takagi on behalf of all kinds of Unagi.

Keigo Nakamura asked MAO to put the DDT Universal Title on the line in their match. MAO likes the idea because the story of a wrestler winning the title in his comeback match from injury hasn’t happened before with the Universal Championship. He wants to do unprecedented things in his title reign and that matches what he is looking for. Nakamura developed a desire to win that particular championship while he was rehabbing from his injury.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW LIVE TOUR 2024 SPRING”, 27/04/2024
Tokyo Kitazawa Town Hall

1. 3 Way Match: Rika Tatsumi Vs Nao Kakuta vs Chika Nanase
2. Mahiro Kiryu Vs Kira Summer
3. Maki Itoh & Uta Takami Vs Yuki Kamifuku & Toga
4. Mizuki & Shino Suzuki Vs Raku & Pom Harajuku
5. Suzume, Arisu Endo & Haru Kazashiro Vs Wakana Uehara & HIMAWARI & Runa Okubo
6. Miu Watanabe & Moka Miyamoto Vs Shoko Nakajima & Yuki Aino

This week Maki Itoh returns from America while Kaya Toribami will be travelling over to America.

BASARA “BASARA 246 ~UTAGE~”, 30/04/2024
Shin-Kiba 1st RING

1. SAGAT & Gouma Ryu Vs Tsutomu Oosugi & Banana Senga
2. Ryuichi Sekine & Masato Kamino Vs Yasu Urano & Yuki Ishikawa
3. Ryota Nakatsu & Fuminori Abe Vs Takumi Tsukamoto & Judomaster
4. Isami Kodaka, Takato Nakano & Gaia Hox Vs FUMA, KUBITO & Daichi Kazato
5. Union MAX Title: Minoru Fujita (c) Vs Lil’ Kraken

Gaia Hox makes his BASARA debut.

The next challengers for the IRON FIST Tag Team Titles are Takumi Tsukamoto & Judomaster. They don’t have a date for the match yet so first Ryota Nakatsu will meet them in a prelim match with Fuminori Abe as his partner.

DDT “KING OF DDT ~20TH ANNIVERSARY~ 1ST ROUND”, 05/05/2024
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

0. Dark Match: Yuni, Keigo Nakamura & Yuya Koroku Vs Ilusion, Kazuma Sumi & Rukiya
0. Dark Match: Shunma Katsumata, Akito & Kazuki Hirata Vs Jun Akiyama, Makoto Oishi & Tomomitsu Matsunaga
1. King Of DDT 20th Anniversary – Round 1A: MAO Vs Poison Sawada JULIE
2. King Of DDT 20th Anniversary – Round 1B: KANON Vs To-y
3. King Of DDT 20th Anniversary – Round 1C: Yuki Ueno Vs Sanshiro Takagi
4. King Of DDT 20th Anniversary – Round 1D: Yuki Iino Vs Daisuke Sasaki
5. King Of DDT 20th Anniversary – Round 1E: Kazusada Higuchi Vs Yukio Naya
6. King Of DDT 20th Anniversary – Round 1F: HARASHIMA Vs Shuji Ishikawa
7. King Of DDT 20th Anniversary – Round 1G: Tetsuya Endo Vs Danshoku Dieno
8. King Of DDT 20th Anniversary – Round 1H: Chris Brookes Vs Takeshi Masada

The King Of DDT 1st Round takes up the entire main card lineup so the other matches have to take place on the pre-show.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “YES! WONDERLAND ’24”, 06/05/2024
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Toga Vs Shino Suzuki
2. Mahiro Kiryu, Chika Nanase & Kira Summer Vs Moka Miyamoto, Kaya Toribami & Uta Takami
3. Yuna Manase Vs Runa Okubo
4. Maki Itoh Vs Haru Kazashiro
5. Rika Tatsumi & Yuki Aino Vs Raku & Pom Harajuku
6. Yuki Arai & Yuki Kamifuku Vs Mizuki & Nao Kakuta
7. Princess Tag Team Titles: Suzume & Arisu Endo Vs Wakana Uehara & HIMAWARI
8. Princess Of Princess Title: Miu Watanabe (c) Vs Shoko Nakajima

This is the full card for this year’s Tokyo Joshi Pro Golden Week show. Rika Tatsumi & Yuki Aino are teaming up using the name Burning Dragon. Also coming in is Yuna Manase for her first appearance on a TJPW solo show since October 2022. Runa Okubo is her opponent for her return.

DDT “EARLY SUMMER BEER GARDEN PRO WRESTLING – DAY 2”, 17/05/2024
Tokyo Ueno Park Outdoor Stage

1. Danshoku Dieno Birthday Eve Commemorative Match: Danshoku Dieno Vs X
2. DDT Extreme Title: Shunma Katsumata (c) Vs Antonio Honda

There have been so many ways Antonio Honda has left his mark in DDT over the years. Shunma Katsumata believes Honda left his biggest mark with his DDT Extreme Title reigns. So much so that Katsumata now sees it as his mission to make his current reign surpass all of Honda’s. He nominated Honda as his next challenger and will come up with a match stipulation that will fit the Beer Garden vibe.

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “NAO KAKUTA GRADUATION COMMEMORATION ~KIMITACHIHA ISSHOUNO TAKARAMONO~”, 25/07/2024
Shin-Kiba 1st RING

1. Nao Kakuta Graduation Match: Nao Kakuta Vs X

The end of July sees Nao Kakuta having her final match and graduating from TJPW.


TOKYO JOSHI PRO “HYPER MISAO PRODUCE ~ HYPE! 2” Results

April 19, 2024

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “HYPER MISAO PRODUCE ~ HYPE! 2”, 19/04/2024
Tokyo Kitazawa Town Hall
227 Fans – Super No Vacancy

1. Aja Kong defeated Raku with the Back Drop (7:44).

Last May Hyper Misao produced her first show called “HYPE!” and it got such a good reception she put together a second one almost a year later. And just like last year Misao was not going to be the hero of today’s story. Instead the show began inside a packed train entering Suidobashi Station. Raku was among the passengers squeezing through the crowd when she suddenly tripped to the ground. When she got back up, a hooded stranger handed her a bag thinking it belonged to her. The stranger disappeared before Raku could correct her and hand the bag back.

Suddenly a voice coming from inside the bag called out to Raku. Inside was a stuffed rabbit toy who was really a Battle Fairy named Shokopple who is searching for a masked idol named Re:. Shokopple believed Raku was Re: using an alter ego to hide in public. Raku didn’t understand so Shokopple explained that Re: is a magical idol who is powered by Entertainment Energy. She is meant to be at a sold out solo concert at the Tokyo Dome today. However 3 days ago Re: suddenly tweeted that she was quitting with immediate effect. The shocking news drove the city into chaos which caused Shokopple to go in search of Re:, which brought her to Raku. Sirens then went off and a commanding voice gave orders for Re: to go solve an incident happening in Shibuya. Shokopple gave Raku no choice but to follow the order.

A gang of Ganguro Gals have been going around Shibuya kidnapping innocent people like Sayuri Namba and transforming them into even more Ganguro Gals! The three Gals named Miupipi, Mokachamu and the newly transformed Bassa danced to “Night Of Fire” and revealed their plan to turn all of humanity into Ganguro Gals! Raku arrived to stop them but was mistaken for someone who was next to join the group. The Gals all surrounded her and Raku was in trouble. Shokopple told Raku there is a mask in her bag that will transform her into a magical hero. Raku grabbed the mask, put it on and transformed into Re:! During the transformation Shokopple also powered up into human form. Together they defeated the Gals in a fight. Afterwards Re: transformed back to Raku and the Gals regained their normal personalities. All were horrified that they had turned Ganguro but Miu seemed to recognise Raku. Before they could talk, the siren went off again and Shokopple dragged Raku off to the next mission.

Deep in the heart of Tokyo there is a host club called $hoot $hin. Shokopple could sense there was something evil about the place but all they could find were the three handsome hosts Kiryuin, Tosuke and Haruki serving female customers in a charming manner. They performed the song “Shuchishin” which made Shokopple notice Entertainment Energy filling the room. Raku was then handed a bill for 32.1 million yen! That was when they realized the host club was just a front for a gambling gang! Raku transformed into Re: for the next fight scene. The hosts tried to use Love Story powers but Re: resisted them and left them in a beaten pile. The hosts were snapped out of their senses and Kiryuin seemed to recognise Raku. But the siren went off again and Raku was gone just as quickly.

Along the way there was a breaking news story on TV. Ace reporter Azusa Takigawa was near the Tokyo Dome where the planned Re: concert was being hijacked by the heavy metal band Kokuchumu! The band members Kuroharu, Yukinojo & Bird took over the show to perform “Boukyoku no Sora”. Raku arrived when they had finished but when she put on the mask, she didn’t transform into Re:. While they tried to figure out what was wrong, Kokuchumu attacked them. The lead singer Kuroharu then grabbed the mask and revealed to Shokopple that she was Re: all along, not Raku! Re: only wanted to be an artist and she remembered how much fun music is when she met the other members of the band. They then attacked Shokopple but Raku stopped them. She tried to reason with Re: but she wouldn’t change her mind. They would have to fight.

All three of Kokuchumu then attacked Raku. When things looked their worst and Raku looked to be done for, all of the people she saved earlier in the show appeared on stage dancing to the ring. They all grouped around Raku reminding her that she is an idol. Memories of Raku’s entire wrestling career flashed through her mind as the voices all called out for her to wake up. Raku, now in her wrestling costume, fought off Kokuchumu until it came down to herself against Re:. She told her there was no reason to fight and told the story of how she became an idol. She then sang her song “Marshmellow Cacao Station” ending it by introducing herself as Raku from The Up Up Girls!

Raku told Re: she was forgetting the most important thing as an idol. It is to entertain the fans in front of you. Re: saw the error of her ways and settle her problems with Shokopple. It was now time for Raku to return home but nobody knew how until Shokopple figure it out. Raku is in the middle of her own dream and the only way to wake up is to go through a gruelling ordeal. Suddenly Aja Kong’s music played!

That’s right, Raku’s end to her story was to have a match against Aja Kong! Raku shook her hand and confirmed she wanted to do the match. She threw Chops after Chops but Kong wouldn’t budge. Raku then sang her a lullaby which did send Kong briefly to sleep but only for a two count. Kong then went on the attack, knocking her down and doing her own version of the Oyasumi Express! Raku escaped and used the Smile Train for another near fall. She then armed herself with a pillow to go against Kong’s Steel Can. Raku was able to disarm Kong and hit her over the head. She could have done it more but chose to fight on without any weapons. Kong easily overpowered her though and won by giving her the Back Drop.

Kong was apologetic after the match but she had to go hard against Raku to make it matter. She praised her for her performance throughout the show and didn’t expect her to sing a song at the end so that was a nice bonus for Kong. She was happy to wrestle Raku one on one for the first time on a show like this. Next time she wants them to team up. She suggested they can go look for the producer and crush her together!

The other cast members all gave their support for Raku too. Rika Tatsumi thanked her for all the hard work and said the match grabbed at her heart. Shoko Nakajima talked about how little time everyone had to prepare for the changes in the show after Misao got injured. But Raku was always the first to learn her lines and put in the most effort when she was given the lead role of the story. Raku told the audience that when Misao gave her the role, she also told her she was going to have a match. Raku immediately thought of Kong but was too nervous to do it. Misao convinced her to take it because it was a big opportunity for her.

Misao then explained that she got injured before the script was even finished. She even revealed HIMAWARI came in on a day’s notice to play the puppeteer for Shokopple in its rabbit form. Misao then told the fans she will need to get surgery on her injured ankle. She will be out for longer than she expected but she will come back! She also wants to produce more “HYPE!” shows so it can be a place where everyone can see that everybody in Tokyo Joshi Pro has talent. She ended the show by telling everyone “I get Hype! We get Hype!!”


GCW/TOKYO JOSHI PRO “GCW VS TJPW” Results

April 6, 2024

GCW/TOKYO JOSHI PRO “GCW VS TJPW”, 06/04/2024
Penns Landing Caterers Auditorium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
672 Fans – No Vacancy

1. 3 Way Match: Suzume defeated SAKI and Pom Harajuku when Suzume pinned Harajuku with the Ring A Bell (7:54).
2. Session Moth Martina defeated Raku with the Codebreaker (5:56).
3. Arisu Endo defeated Shazza McKenzie with the Ju no Okite (7:29).
4. Steph De Lander defeated Hyper Misao with the Steph Five onto a bulk of Lipstick Cases (8:10).
5. Dark Sheik defeated Yuki Kamifuku with the Diving Leg Drop (7:43).
6. Mizuki defeated Allie Katch with the Cutie Special (7:35).
7. Rika Tatsumi & Miu Watanabe defeated Billie Starkz & Janai Kai when Watanabe pinned Kai after the Daydream Eternity (13:27).
8. Special 6-Woman Tag Match: Rina Yamashita, Masha Slamovich & Maki Itoh defeated Miyu Yamashita, Shoko Nakajima & Yuki Aino when Itoh submitted Aino with the Itoh Deluxe (21:01).

Yesterday Tokyo Joshi Pro were welcomed into The Collective as esteemed guests of GCW getting to put on their own show. Today’s show had GCW as the home team taking on the visitors from TJPW. The main event showed just how much of a GCW show it was by placing Miyu Yamashita, Shoko Nakajima & Yuki Aino into a rare hardcore wrestling environment. For Maki Itoh it is home away from home at this point. The same can be said for Rina Yamashita and even Masha Slamovich. Nakajima tried to keep things familiar to TJPW by bringing out her large sack of kaiju toys from Japan (she claims it cost her an extra 10,000 yen in luggage fees to bring them over). She ended up getting Body Slammed onto them by Rina. Team GCW brought out a door to slam Aino through but in true GCW fashion the door collapsed on itself before that could happen. They found a replacement board to put Aino through instead. One by one each wrestler from both sides got their shots in until Itoh dropped Aino with a DDT and made her submit to the Itoh Deluxe.

Daydream made up for yesterday’s defeat by beating the GCW pairing of Billie Starkz & Janai Kai today. Miu Watanabe called it a clear and sunny victory. The result was just what Rika Tatsumi needed to forget about yesterday. She now wants Daydream to wrestle all over the world so they will now wait for any offers to do so. The feeling wasn’t so bright for Starkz & Kai. They argued with each other over who’s fault it was they lost. They teamed up today but they are not a tag team as far as Starkz is concerned.

I put in the warning in the preview that Mizuki likes to bite her opponents. Allie Katch found that out the hard way. She not only bit Katch’s arms to counter her moves but her thighs and stomach as well! It got Katch so mad she wrecklessly missed a Cannonball attack allowing Mizuki to pin her with the Cutie Special. Katch said she was looking forward to this match but now that she knows how Mizuki really fights she will prepare for her more properly next time.

Yuki Kamifuku claims Dark Sheik won their match today based on wrestling style but in terms of sexiness, Kamifuku was the real winner. With that said, Kamifuku learned a lot this week from people who are a bit crazy. She wants to bring that kind of culture back with her to Fujisawa City while putting her own sexy twist on it.

The match between Hyper Misao and Steph De Lander went hardcore with the use of bamboo skewers, chairs and even a box full of lipstick cases all being used as weapons. De Lander was able to win by giving Misao the Steph Five onto the remains that were left laying on the canvas. This may not be the last time TJPW will see De Lander too. If she does come back it won’t be to make friends or happy memories. She wants to win more championships. Sadly for Misao she seemed to have injured her ankle during the match.

Arisu Endo got to wrestle a foreign opponent one on one for the first time and came out of it with a win. Shazza McKenzine was on Team GCW for this show due to the promotion’s support for her in the past. She wants to work hard so she gets to fight more TJPW wrestlers and finally beat them.

Are pop idols usually allowed to drink alcohol during performances? Don’t let those in charge of The Up Up Girls hear about what happened to Raku when she fought Session Moth Martina then. Martina offered Raku a drink but she chose to take a nap on her pillow instead. Martina then decided to slowly pour the beer into Raku’s mouth, causing her to get into a drowsy level of drunk. She eventually sobered up and got her second wind but Martina countered the Doctor Yellow with a Headbutt and pinned Raku with the Codebreaker. Raku couldn’t tell if she was dreaming or if she was drunk. What she could notice is she now feels even stronger! She would like to team with Martina next time either in America or Japan.

The opening match was a 3 Way with no actual GCW wrestlers on it due to a lot of plans changing along the way. Suzume ended up defeating SAKI and Pom Harajuku. It is a result that makes Suzume very happy because she proved she is strong enough to win matches by herself. SAKI was disappointed she couldn’t team with Nao Kakuta when that was the reason why she was booked on the show in the first place. She feels like she has been deceived because of that. Harajuku is annoyed she lost because she thinks of herself as an expert in 3 Way Matches. She still had fun wrestling in America and will definitely win a match the next time she comes over here.


TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW LIVE IN PHILLY” Results

April 5, 2024

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW LIVE IN PHILLY”, 05/04/2024
Penn’s Landing Caterers Auditorium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
750 Fans – Super No Vacancy Full House

1. Suzume & Arisu Endo defeated Yuki Aino & Zara Zakher when Suzume pinned Zakher with the Twinkle Twinkle (11:01).
2. Billie Starkz defeated Hyper Misao with the Swanton Bomb (5:57).
3. Yuki Kamifuku & Viva Van defeated Raku & Trish Adora when Kamifuku pinned Raku with the Famouser (8:53).
4. Mizuki & Vert Vixen defeated Aja Kong & Pom Harajuku when Mizuki pinned Harajuku with the Cutie Special (10:31).
5. Shoko Nakajima defeated Rhio with the Senton Bomb (13:24).
6. Special Tag Match: Miyu Yamashita & Maki Itoh defeated Rika Tatsumi & Miu Watanabe when Yamashita pinned Tatsumi with the Skull Kick (19:04).

Third time’s the charm for 121000000. It took until the third Tokyo Joshi Pro show held in the USA for the team to win a main event tag match in America. That they beat Daydream only a couple of days after Miyu Yamashita lost the Princess Of Princess Title to Miu Watanabe shows that the former champion wasn’t letting that get to her. Maki Itoh was also fuelled up because she was among her GCW fanbase for the week in Philadelphia. Despite some trouble between 121000000’s teamwork, Itoh saved Yamashita from the Daydream Eternity. She then set up Rika Tatsumi with a DDT that flowed into Yamashita’s German Suplex, ending with Yamashita pinning Tatsumi with the Skull Kick to win.

As already mentioned, Itoh had her GCW fans in the venue so when it came time to promote tomorrow’s “GCW VS TJPW” show, she had no problem telling the crowd she is on Team GCW. Yamashita tried to combat the GCW chants by leading a TJP chant. It caused some tension to grow between Itoh and Yamashita but they hugged it out in the end. Itoh then gave her the middle finger and Yamashita raised her fist up to it in response. 121000000 have their own seperate plans going on in the immediate future but both of them are thinking about winning back the Princess Tag Team Titles if the timing works out for them. Meanwhile Tatsumi said a lot of swear words in English to complain about losing the match. Watanabe had to apologise to the viewers over it.

Shoko Nakajima was put to the test against the mighty power of Rhio. Her plan to combat against the Suplexes and slams was to keep it speedy and knock Rhio off base with Rider Kicks and 619s. She finally got Rhio down with the Double Arm DDT long enough to hit the Diving Senton for the victory. Nakajima described Rhio as a super ace from EVE who she has become good friends with. She was excited to have this match today and it made her even more ready to do her best at “GCW VS TJPW” tomorrow. Rhio said Nakajima has a small body packed with power and it took her beyond her limits.

Sadly there was no Pompaler reunion on the cards due to Max The Impaler suddenly falling ill. So instead Pom Harajuku was given Aja Kong as her new tag team partner! It led to a mixed bag of a challenge for Mizuki & Vert Vixen. They had to fight the undeniable power of Kong while also dealing with the childish antics of Harajuku. Mizuki’s solution was to steal Harajuku’s shoes from her feet and throw them out of the ring. Vixen gave Kong a Stunner and Mizuki followed up with a Diving Foot Stomp. She then hit Harajuku with her own shoe before pinning her with the Cutie Special. Kong tried to cheer Harajuku backstage by telling her she was more popular with the American fans than Mizuki. If they can get Max to team with them again then the trio will be unstoppable! Harajuku will have to be thrown like a weapon but she will accept that fate as long as she is the main character of the team.

There may be some longer legs to The Casual Vixens than first thought after they won their match today. Yuki Kamifuku & Viva Van focused on fighting Raku while Trish Adora did what she could to keep her team in the match. Van and Adora were left scrambling outside the ring giving Kamifuku clearance to beat Raku with the Famouser. No matter how the results went, both teams were happy to have been paired together. Kamifuku said she gets to be best friends with Asia’s sexiest wrestler while Raku was happy to bring Adora along on the Oyasumi Express.

There was an unexpected surprise in Billie Starkz’s corner. Athena walked out behind her during the entrances and was there to watch her minion do battle against Hyper Misao. She also saved the match for Starkz by pulling her foot on top of the rope while Misao had her pinned with the Hypami Returns. Misao dealt with Athena by blinding her with the spray can. But the distraction allowed Starkz to hit Misao with a Topé Suicida followed by the Swanton Bomb back in the ring to win the match.

The show began with the new Princess Tag Champs in action against one-half of the former champs. Daisy Monkey fought Yuki Aino again and this time Aino had Zara Zakher as her partner. It wasn’t the teamwork of Suzume & Arisu Endo that made them stand tall in the end. In fact the champions were in trouble when Aino gave Endo the Venus DDT while Zakher hit Suzume with a Jumping Knee. Suzume fought back with and used a series of Rolling Cradles called the Twinkle Twinkle that kept going and going until Zakher was pinned for the three count. Daisy Monkey admit they are still immature and would be happy if everyone around the world continues to support them.

The show began with a mini performance from The Up Up Girls who were in attendance. Watanabe & Raku sang “Upper Kick” together. Watanabe also broke one of the cameras at ringside, making it a true TJPW experience!


Guide To TJPW In Philadelphia

April 2, 2024

TOKYO JOSHI PRO “TJPW LIVE IN PHILLY”, 05/04/2024
Penn’s Landing Caterers Auditorium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

1. Hyper Misao Vs Billie Starkz
2. Shoko Nakajima Vs “The Unbreakable” Rhio
3. Yuki Aino & Raku Vs Yuki Kamifuku & Viva Van
4. Suzume & Arisu Endo Vs Nao Kakuta & Zara Zakher
5. Mizuki & Vert Vixen Vs Max The Impaler & Pom Harajuku
6. Special Tag Match: Miyu Yamashita & Maki Itoh Vs Rika Tatsumi & Miu Watanabe

Back once again on American soil, Tokyo Joshi Pro is entering this year’s Wrestlemania Week as part of The Collective series of indie shows. This time around TJPW will be involved across two days: one show will be held on their own and the next day they have an inter-promotional event with GCW. It just goes to show how much DDT’s little sister has taken the international spotlight away from them in recent years. Looking at the Mania schedule this year, you can say that about the offerings of Japanese wrestling in general with the joshi shows getting more hype than what the other puroresu companies are sending over. These two shows will be happening only a few days after TJPW holds “GRAND PRINCESS ’24” at Sumo Hall so fans around the world will get to see the promotion take their next step coming out of such an important show. Have you seen the gifs of the Skull Kicks and Giant Swings? Are you curious to know curious to know why a foul mouthed ex-idol has so many simps or why that crazy woman in white likes to choke people so much? Would you like to see a superhero crash her bicycle? Do you write for a wrestling website and mistook this for a Stardom show? Are you wondering what ever happened to Hikari Noa? Well you won’t get an answer to that last question but for everything else, this guide is for you!

Where and when are the shows taking place?

Both shows will be held at Penn’s Landing Caterers Auditorium in Philadelphia. “TJPW LIVE IN PHILLY” is taking place on Friday, 5th April at 11:00am Eastern time. “GCW VS TJPW” will happen on Saturday, 6th April at 2:30pm Eastern time.

Where can I watch it online?

Both shows will air live on Triller TV (or FITE as it used to be called) with English commentary through the TrillerTV+ subscription service. The on-demand versions of both shows will be available to watch on Wrestle Universe a few weeks after the live broadcast.

Is this a proper TJPW show?

Yes. On paper I would put it on the level of their B shows when it comes to the card layout just without the matches built around the younger wrestlers and rookies. This is not like last year when they put together a lineup fitting for a Korakuen Hall show. What we have here fits in more for an event at Shinjuku FACE or Ryogoku KFC Hall. That’s not to say the show quality will be low or uninteresting. It’s more that you are getting to see TJPW at its status quo. The guest wrestlers booked have all appeared in TJPW over the past few years, some on a regular basis so none of the names stick out like a sore thumb. I assure you this will be as close to a genuine TJPW experience you can get without going over to Japan.

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1. Hyper Misao Vs Billie Starkz

It’s a super hero against a Minion In Training! Hyper Misao often delights the fans with her endless crazy ideas to protect love and peace in TJPW. But the chaos she creates is the same kind of environment Billie Starkz feels most at home in. The hero and villain in this match may be more alike then they both realize.

Hyper Misao – When love and peace is under threat in TJPW, you can always rely on Hyper Misao to come to the rescue. Just don’t be surprised if her plan to save the world turns out not to be as heroic as she looks. Sometimes she will get on the microphone, greet the audience with “Hello big children!” and reveal her plans to save the day. Other times she arrives to the ring riding on the Hypami Dramatic Dream combat bike. She has the talent to win fair fights but prefers using underhanded tactics like blinding her opponents with cold spray or crashing the Hypami DD into them. Hey, the Madame Web movie showed that vehicular manslaughter is a heroic trait so it’s acceptable for Misao to do it too!
Moves To Watch Out For: Hypami Returns (Final Cut), I Am A Hero (Diving Cross Body), Crossface Chickenwing, Vanitas (Double Arm Facebuster), Cold Spray Attack

Billie Starkz – Since the last time we saw her in TJPW, “Space Jesus” has gone from indie darling to a Minion In Training that you can rely on. Ring Of Honor is where you will find Starkz on most days but she still finds the time to pop up in GCW plus a few other indies every now and then. In fact this match kind of serves as a warm up for her because hours after this show is finished she will be competing in a tournament final to crown the first ever ROH Women’s World TV Champion.
Moves To Watch Out For: Swanton Bomb, Sugoi Driver (Double Legged One-Winged Angel sometimes on the ring apron), Starkz Driver (Tombstone Piledriver), Star 10 (CRII)

2. Shoko Nakajima Vs “The Unbreakable” Rhio

No, that’s not a typo for those seeing the second name and thinking of somebody else. This match is Japan versus England when one of TJPW’s most decorated wrestlers Shoko Nakajima takes on “The Unbreakable” Rhio, a rising female star from the British scene. Because when a kaiju is on the loose you need to put something unbreakable in the way to keep the rampage under control.

Shoko Nakajima – Meet the Big Kaiju, all 147cm of her! Nakajima has pretty much done it all in TJPW as one of the promotion’s longest serving wrestlers. Usually quick and speedy, she also has the strength to put away opponents with the Northern Lights Suplex. The Diving Senton she uses is nothing to sneeze at either. When put in Hardcore Match situations her favourite weapon is a pile of kaiju toys that she slams her opponents onto. She’s a Swiss Army Knife that can adapt to any kind of situation wrestling can throw at her.
Moves To Watch Out For: Northern Lights Suplex, Diving Senton, Unmanned Local Train Hold (Yurikamome submission hold), 619, Rider Kick (One-Legged Dropkick)

“The Unbreakable” Rhio – A working relationship between TJPW and British women’s promotion EVE opened the doors for Rhio to tour in Japan. She impressed with her power built on her background in Karate and Taekwondo. Since then she has been all over the European scene and has won the Women’s Championship in companies such as Progress and ICW (the Scottish one, not the chains one). She hasn’t been back to Japan since that tour but whenever a TJPW wrestler travels over to England you can count on her to be a likely opponent for them.
Moves To Watch Out For: Dreaded End (Neck Screw Hold), Package Piledriver, Pumphandle Bomb

3. Yuki Aino & Raku Vs Yuki Kamifuku & Viva Van

Here is a battle between sweetness versus seduction, love versus desire and naps versus partying. Among the many friendships that have formed within the promotion, Yuki Aino & Raku is one that has captured a lot of the fanbase’s attention. There’s just something about a sleepy trainspotting pop singer that people just can’t deny. The team facing them have quickly become friends too. Yuki Kamifuku & Viva Van were meant to be put together as opponents but admired each other’s beauty so much they got immediately got along. When Van wanted to come up with a team name for this match, Kamifuku came up with The Casual Vixens. Let’s see if that sticks.

Yuki Aino – It happened so long ago that it’s hard to remember Aino originally debuted in TJPW as a ring announcer before turning pro so she could team with her sister. Tag team wrestling remains her forte and she is one of few wrestlers in TJPW to have held tag title gold with different partners. Love and the fiery power it can bring is what drives her as you can see from the names she gives her moves below. She also adores the woman she gets to team with on the show.
Moves To Watch Out For: Venus DDT (Inverted DDT), UBV/Unlimited Burning Venus (Double Arm Side Buster), Full Nelson Of Love And Fire (Full Nelson Camel Clutch), Side Suplex

Raku – The first of two members from The Up Up Girls you will see on the show. The Up Up Girls are a pop idol group that created a pro wrestling spin off unit in TJPW. The members often perform songs at the start of the show before wrestling in matches later in the card. Raku’s entire personality can be summed down to naps and trains. She knows so much railway trivia she often has a Train Of The Day to tell the audience on every show. Will SEPTA be up to her standards? Her moveset is built around sending her opponents to sleep so she can run over them with the Oyasumi Express. Somehow this entire package has made her absolutely adored to the point where she may as well be God to some people.
Moves To Watch Out For: Doctor Yellow (Jumping Neckbreaker), Hurricane Turn (Cross-Arm Backslide Pin), Oyasumi Express (running on top of the opponent over and over), Good Night Sleeper, Poppo Chop! (Brain Chop)

Yuki Kamifuku – Also known by her nickname Kamiyu, she is “The Casual Beauty” of TJPW. She knows how to get under her opponent’s skin with harsh and catty opinions. But there is another side to her where she is loyal and sympathetic to her friends. She is also proud of her modelling background because her accomplishments in the ring is proof you do not need to be a die hard pro wrestling fan to succeed in the business. Grew up in Ohio during her junior high school years so she knows the most English out of the bunch. Also really loves Zac Efron and after watching “The Iron Claw” it is now her dream to wrestle a match with him. She is currently the Queen Of Asia Champion after winning the belt in Singapore last November.
Moves To Watch Out For: Famouser (Jumping Leg Drop), Big Boot, Yahoo 83cm (Headscissors DDT), Manjigatame, Thumb To The Eye

Viva Van – One of the more recent foreign guests in TJPW is nicknamed “The Hellbent Vixen”. This Vietnamese-American wrestler has gathered together a large amount of championships in recent times but her attempt to dethrone Kamifuku as the Queen Of Asia ended in failure. However even before that match took place the two of them got along anyway because of how good looking they both are. It’s no surprise the two of them are definitely happy they get to reunite in America. Kamifuku even suggested one time they go on the lookout for a third attractive Asian wrestler to join them so they can be a trio Charlie’s Angels style. But don’t let that kind of attitude fool you, Van has been climbing up the ranks high enough to get matches in AEW and AAA as well as New Japan’s USA shows.
Moves To Watch Out For: Hellevator (Electric Chair spun into a Power Bomb), Ocean Cyclone Suplex, Code Red, Meteora, Butterfly Suplex

4. Suzume & Arisu Endo Vs Nao Kakuta & Zara Zakher

When it comes to tag teams in TJPW you can expect a lot of creative team names. Some of the names have elaborate reasons behind them, others not so much. Daisy Monkey is so called because Suzume is like a flower and Arisu Endo is like a monkey. That’s it. Simple enough. Out of all of the pairings in TJPW currently Daisy Monkey have perhaps the closest bond together. The two of them are pretty much inseparable. It’s that kind of friendship that led to them finally winning the Princess Tag Team Titles recently. Facing them is the first time pairing of Nao Kakuta & Zara Zakher. This match will likely be Kakuta’s last time wrestling in America while Zakher’s wrestling career is really only just beginning.

Suzume – As sharp as a wasp, Suzume is the Daisy half of Daisy Monkey. She begun her career as a fast learner, only spending seven months in training before making her pro debut. Just on the looks of her aesthetic alone it is of no surprise that speed is the name of her game. As part of the Daisy Monkey team she has held a desire over the last two years (if not longer) to win the Princess Tag Titles so the two of them could reach the same level as the previous champions they fought and admired.
Moves To Watch Out For: Ring A Bell (RKO), Mikazuki Meteor Shower (Diving Cross Body), Twinkle (Twisting School Boy), Flying Facecrusher

Arisu Endo – The Monkey half of Daisy Monkey, please welcome Aizuwakamatsu City’s most cheerful tourism ambassador. She’s always ready to give fans the thumbs up with a smile. Endo also has a habit of constantly dying her hair in new ways, using every colour in the world you can think of. She has so much pride in where she comes from that she named many of her moves after local destinations and traditions. Together with Suzume, Daisy Monkey have established themselves as TJPW’s top tag team of the new generation.
Moves To Watch Out For: Ju no Okite (Hercules Cutter), Camel Clutch, Mt. Bandai (2nd Rope Springboard Dropkick), Tsuruga Castle (Guillotine Knee Drop)

Nao Kakuta – Soon to retire from pro wrestling, Kakuta gets a chance to say goodbye to her American fans. She was previously a kindergarten teacher, a social welfare director and a camp instructor before becoming a stage actress and pro wrestler. Her wrestling career begun in the original class of Actwres girl’Z before she jumped over to TJPW, where she will stay until this July when she graduates from the industry. There are not a lot of heels in TJPW but Kakuta’s wrestling style is closer to that line than pretty much the rest of the regular roster.
Moves To Watch Out For: Shiden Kai (Fireman’s Carry into a Stunner), Kamitaka (Cross-Legged Front Neck Lock), Tarantula Headscissors, Kenka Kick

Zara Zakher – This past February a new young wrestler from California was given a week long tour of Japan to compete in TJPW. With only a year of experience under her belt at that point, Zakher was thrown straight into the fire with both matches being against former champions. Short in frame but deceptively strong, Zakher had an impressive showing despite coming out on the losing end in both matches. She left enough of a good impression that TJPW fans get to see her again here in Philly.
Moves To Watch Out For: Control Z (Screw Bomb), Lariat, Standing Moonsault

5. Mizuki & Vert Vixen Vs Max The Impaler & Pom Harajuku

Another international tag but this one with a far wilder selection of wrestlers involved. Mizuki joins forces with Vert Vixen for the first time ever. The two were opponents in America once before now everyone gets to see how well they fare as a team. Going against them is one of the most unlikely but heartwarming friendships you will ever find. What happens when you put a wasteland warrior like Max The Impaler with the childlike innocence of Pom Harajuku? You get a buddy-buddy tag team the likes of which would leave Pixar producers seething with jealousy because they hadn’t thought of it first.

Mizuki – The Popping Sugar Rabbit did not start her wrestling career in TJPW but she has established herself as one of the company’s all time best with multiple championship reigns and big show main events to her name. Don’t trust that smiling face of hers, she is vicious when she wants to be which is often. Constantly goes viral for using the Whirling Candy as well as Diving Double Stomps that leave those who see the moves locked in a state of inspiration and amazement. She doesn’t understand what U3+4 means but she is the closest pro wrestling can get to ever creating a real life Lili from Tekken. Just watch out for the biting. She can take the rabbit stuff a bit too literally sometimes.
Moves To Watch Out For: Cutie Special (Bridging Fall Away Slam), Whirling Candy (Spinning Cross Body Block), Diving Foot Stomp, Face Lock

Vert Vixen – Going from what I see online you can spell the name as either VertVixen or Vert Vixen. At last year’s American shows she made her DDT debut and took her first steps into the CyberFight universe. From there she did a month long tour in Japan with TJPW and returned in the summertime to defend the DEFY Women’s Championship, a title she still holds to this day. Obsessed with video games, her ring gear is often inspired by something gaming related. She is nicknamed Player One because Player One always wins!
Moves To Watch Out For: Game Over (Ki Crusher), Blue Thunder Bomb, Rolling Stunner, Sharpshooter

Max The Impaler – Puroresu has a history of bringing over wild rampaging warriors from the western world to cause chaos in their rings. Who could have guess TJPW of all companies would join in the tradition? Whenever “The Non-Binary Nightmare” comes over to TJPW you can expect a path of chaos being left in their wake. And yet Max has ended up becoming really well liked by the roster. Sure the times they rip the building apart gets management a little worried about future bookings with those venues but Max has become a part of the family at this point. And there is one wrestler more than anyone else who Max has established a strong attachment with.
Moves To Watch Out For: Welcome To The Wasteland (Canadian Backbreaker Drop), Short-Range Lariat, Body Block

Pom Harajuku – Bright and colourful costumes, loud screaming and plenty of kicks aimed at shins. Pom Harajuku’s fighting style can be most compared to that of a three year old throwing a temper tantrum. In recent years she has become the centre of Max The Impaler’s attention. Originally opponents in matches that more resembled a monster chasing down their prey, Max & Pom gradually developed respect for each other leading to them joining forces as a team called Pompaler. That is what happens when Max takes a liking to cute things and discovers just how effective it is to throw those cute things at other people. Even without Max, Harajuku can be a lot to handle by herself. And that’s just from the screaming.
Moves To Watch Out For: Pom de Justice (Step-Up Guillotine Leg Drop), Laforet Harajuku (Satellite Headscissors), Shin Kick, Denden Taiko (beating the opponent’s chest like a drum)

6. Special Tag Match: Miyu Yamashita & Maki Itoh Vs Rika Tatsumi & Miu Watanabe

Similar to last year’s show the main event pits two of TJPW’s strongest ever tag teams against each other. 121000000 (pronounced “One To Million” because together their power increases from one to a million) consists of Miyu Yamashita & Maki Itoh. Both of them are feature players in the company yet in the last year they seem to spend more and more time wrestling overseas. Facing them is a team that can go by two names. Their Japanese name is Hakuchumu but I prefer using the English name Daydream. Together Rika Tatsumi & Miu Watanabe are just as accomplished as their opponents and also have the edge of being the more established tag team. The match is also happening in the aftermath of “GRAND PRINCESS ’24” that just took place in Sumo Hall. Watanabe defeated Yamashita to become the new Princess Of Princess Champion in the main event and here they are fighting each other again. The result of this match may have the consequence of setting up the next Princess Title match back in Japan.

Miyu Yamashita – The Pink Striker has been part of TJPW since they first ran events and is never far away from the Princess Title. She is such a major part of the company that her dominance has long become a big fish in a small pond scenario. The Skull Kick she uses is one of the most deadliest looking finishers around. In recent years she has taken time away from TJPW to wrestle in America and Europe just like her tag team partner. That trend continues because after this show takes place Yamashita will begin a fresh stay in America that will last from April until June.
Moves To Watch Out For: Skull Kick (Backspin High Kick to the head), Crash Rabbit Heat (Running Knee Kick), Attitude Adjustment, Return Crash (Triangle Kick off the turnbuckles)

Maki Itoh – A failed idol who won her way into the hearts of wrestling fans after she transformed into a foul mouthed psychopath with an endless appetite for fame. When she’s about to punch her opponent in the corner she always shouts “Who is the cutest in the world?” and the audience respond with “Itoh-chan!” She struggled for years to become a success in Japan only to start making it big in America wrestling for AEW and GCW. In fact, nowadays you’re more likely to see Itoh carving up opponents with a pizza cutter in GCW than you will trying to be a popstar in TJPW! She recently became the new GCW Extreme Champion. It’s only a matter of time before she takes over the whole place!
Moves To Watch Out For: Itoh Special/Deluxe/Punish (Variations of the Texas Cloverleaf), Flying Big Head (Diving Headbutt), I.S.D/Itoh Suicide DDT (Flying DDT from the top rope), The Cutest Knuckle Punch In The World

Rika Tatsumi – The White Dragon originally took her name and some of her moveset from Tatsumi Fujinami and she also developed hips as hard of diamonds thanks to some special training with Shiro Koshinaka. She is one of only two grand slam champions in TJPW, having won the Princess Title, the Princess Tag Titles and the International Princess Title. But turning into such a powerful creature eventually comes at a cost and she has gradually become a little bit crazy. When you step into the ring with Tatsumi she will find a way to strangle you. She claims it is just her way of making friends. She would also happily run her opponents over with the company tour bus if she knew how to drive it.
Moves To Watch Out For: White Dragon Sleeper, Twist Of Fate, Hip Attack, “Let’s Go!” Elbow Drop, Choking Opponents

Miu Watanabe – The second Up Up Girl appearing on the show and also the strongest. She has found the most success outside of the group by becoming the second ever grand slam champion along with headlining “GRAND PRINCESS ’24” in Sumo Hall just a few days ago. It is the first step towards an Up Up Girl’s ultimate goal of performing in the Nippon Budokan. Always full of energy, she uses big hand gestures to spell out L-O-V-E along with her theme song during her entrances. You need to see her doing the Giant Swing because she knows several ways to put opponents into the move. She’s no one hit wonder though. There are a variety of ways Watanabe gets to show off her strength in the ring. Everyone could see for years that she is TJPW’s next breakout star. It’s only just recently that the booking finally caught up to that opinion.
Moves To Watch Out For: Tear Drop (Modified Flapjack), Laserbeam (Overhand Chop to the chest), Giant Swing, Canadian Backbreaker, Swinging Backbreaker

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GCW/TOKYO JOSHI PRO “GCW VS TJPW”, 06/04/2024
Penns Landing Caterers Auditorium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

1. Suzume & Pom Harajuku Vs SAKI & Nao Kakuta
2. Session Moth Martina Vs Raku
3. Dark Sheik Vs Yuki Kamifuku
4. Steph De Lander Vs Hyper Misao
5. Shazza McKenzie Vs Arisu Endo
6. Allie Katch Vs Mizuki
7. Billie Starkz & Janai Kai Vs Rika Tatsumi & Miu Watanabe
8. Special 6-Woman Tag Match: Rina Yamashita, Masha Slamovich & Maki Itoh Vs Miyu Yamashita, Shoko Nakajima & Yuki Aino

The next afternoon TJPW goes head to head against GCW with a show dedicated almost entirely to inter-promotion matches between the two companies. I’ve written about GCW before when DDT worked with them last year so if you don’t mind I’ll repeat my opinions of them here. GCW is a promotion I like but don’t love. I’ve gotten to attend a variety of their events before, most of them during WrestleMania week. They’re really fun to attend in person and I enjoy watching live on Triller whenever I get to chance to do so. Watching the shows on-demand a day or two later though isn’t the same because the energy never carries through the screen. It’s a promotion that does not give its viewers a lot of time to let things soak in because as soon as one show ends they go right into promoting their next events. It can make following them online a bit of a blur at times.

The “GCW Vs X” shows often come off feeling like the lesser event of their doubleshot weekends and I fear the same has happened here despite the admirable effort on GCW’s end to provide an all women’s lineup. It doesn’t help that this show will be on Saturday afternoon and ends only a couple of hours before the first night of WrestleMania opens its doors. I’ve been to other wrestling shows held the same day as WrestleMania in the past and the atmosphere was always poor because the majority of the crowd spends the show keeping an eye on the exits for the entire time. I’m trying to be polite here because the undercard has the potential to be atrocious. Matches #3 up to #6 could be an absolute slog to sit through if some of those style clashes don’t work out. The card was changed a little bit because Sawyer Wreck was originally part of it. A broken hand put her out of action and caused a small reshuffle which includes SAKI getting a last minute booking so she can team with Kakuta. I don’t know what how Allie Katch Vs Mizuki will turn out. That feels like a coin flip as to whether or not the match will be good.

There is something I like about the lineup and that’s the main event. Itoh being on the GCW side makes sense given how she’s been booked in both companies over the last two years. The GCW team consisting of three of their hardest pushed wrestlers against three of TJPW’s longest serving mainstays is a really good idea. And I don’t just mean GCW’s hardest pushed women. Itoh, Rina Yamashita and Masha Slamovich have been among the hardest pushed wrestlers out of the GCW roster in general. That trio is the GCW Ultraviolent Champion, the GCW Extreme Champion and the JCW Champion all joining forces together. Miyu and Masha are great in the ring together while Nakajima and Rina had some fun interactions teaming together during Saki Akai’s retirement road last year. The wild card of the match is Yuki Aino. She might just be there to eat the pin but stranger things have happened.

The penultimate tag match looks fine. I don’t have any complaints about it. I’m a little concerned that Billie Starkz & Janai Kai might be a little tired because of their busy schedules in Philadelphia that week. They both have a bunch of matches already booked and by the time this show happens Starkz will have had a crazy No Rules match with MAO on the DDT show, a possibly crazy match with Misao in TJPW and a championship match in ROH. That kind of schedule is sure to leave some bruises. But other than that they should do good against Daydream.

Last thing to note is the GCW side ran out of women so the opener is all TJPW, even before the card change was made to include SAKI. That is unless Suzume and Pom Harajuku were on the GCW side all along. Has Suzume been the third member of Los Macizos and Pom Harajuku part of the Second Gear Crew this entire time?!?

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There’s at least one other chance to see Maki Itoh during the week. Here is another show at The Collective she will be wrestling on.


GCW “JOEY JANELA’S SPRING BREAK 8”, 05/04/2024
Penns Landing Caterers Auditorium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

1. Nick Gage & Maki Itoh Vs Danhausen & Ram Kaichow

While Itoh went back to Japan to wrestle for TJPW again, Gage went and teamed with Danhausen to challenge for the GCW Tag Team Titles. They lost and Danhausen blamed the result on Gage. That caused Gage to come up with a challenge. He and Itoh will fight Danhausen and a partner of his choice at some point during The Collective. All signs pointed towards the annual Spring Break show as the destination for the match. Then Joey Janela broke the news that Danhausen chose Ram Kaichow to be his teammate! Itoh and Kaichow have never crossed paths in the ring before because Kaichow’s TJPW appearances are often contained within the Rakuverse


GCW “JJSB: CLUSTERF*CK FOREVER!”, 06/04/2024
Penns Landing Caterers Auditorium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

1. Clusterfuck Match: X Vs X

I’m including this because there are apparently going to be 88 contestants entering this year’s annual Clusterfuck Match so maybe a few TJPW entries could show up in it? Perhaps Itoh will have an Extreme Title defence on the card too.