Moka Miyamoto is an easy wrestler to take for granted. Part of that comes from her being the person TJPW trusts to fill the gaps. She’s the one who takes the fall in the tag match with the big-name outsider or is tasked with shaving some of the rough edges off the latest idol who has decided to give wrestling a go. It’s a talent that every company needs, someone who can fill any role on the card, but it can also be an unforgiving spot to find yourself in. The spotlight is rarely shone your way because of something you did, and I would imagine that can be frustrating.
Miyamoto could be more than that. Watching her performance in this match, where she works towards trying to beat Mizuki with her Bishamon submission, you can see the framework of a wrestler who could main event shows. Moka is focused and aggressive, attacking the rabbit’s arm early on and battling to lock that hold in deep. She’s one of those performers who understands how to make this look hard, every fight for a submission feeling like an effort. When she rolls through to keep Bishamon on Mizuki, it’s a chance to win, but it also takes something out of her. She’s made a sacrifice, and when it doesn’t pay off, it makes it a little bit easier for her opponent to drag her to the ropes.
It was also a match where you saw the Emi Sakura in Mizyupon. She starts dismissive of Moka, walking off without shaking her hand, but then finds herself getting dragged into trouble, her bullying hubris coming back to bite her. Of course, that’s hardly a formula unique to Sakura, but the lineage is there, and when Mizuki is scrambling to try and regain control of the action, just the hint of panic in her movement, you can see the influence of her old mentor. She’s so good at giving someone just the right amount of space to sprinkle a touch of doubt into the action, the fans biting on a late counter that saw Miyamoto bundle her up for a long two. The winning pin being met with a sigh of disappointment, said it all. They’d succeeded in twisting the fans’ affection away from the always popular rabbit onto the underdog.
To be clear, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with filling the role Moka Miyamoto does. It’s not that long ago that I was praising Nao Kakuta for exactly that, and with her stepping away from wrestling, the need for someone like Miyamoto in TJPW is even bigger than before. However, it shouldn’t be a room she’s stuck in forever. There is an opportunity to create something special with Moka. To give her a run that finally sees all her hard work and perseverance pay off. Whether it’s the tag belts, a dalliance with the International Title or even something as simple as a Korakuen main event with the holder of the biggest prize, she’s earned the right to get her moment as the main character.
Sadly, Mizuki ensured it wouldn’t happen in this Princess Cup, but I hope it’s something that Miyamoto finds somewhere down the road. As this match shows, she deserves better than being the wrestler everyone always overlooks.
Watch Tokyo Joshi Pro: https://www.wrestle-universe.com/en/videos?labels=-tjpw.
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