Whether it was intentional or not, the theme of this year’s Grand Princess was love. Pom vs Raku, Endo vs Suzume and Rika vs Mizuki were all matches defined by the love between the wrestlers involved. Did that lead to greatness? Or did it sizzle out on a Sunday afternoon in Ota Ward? Let’s find out.
Yoshiko ‘Yoppy’ Hasegawa & Mifu Ashida defeated HIMAWARI & Shino Suzuki
There was a period during our opener when they seemed to lose the ringside mic (at least on the Japanese commentary feed). It transformed the Wrestle Universe stream into one of those awful Niconico efforts when they would have the show audio on a pitiful volume so we could hear a couple of wrestlers chatting and eating in a large, echoey room. Thankfully, it didn’t last, but it was a good reminder that wrestling is as much an aural medium as a visual one. As I watched the wrestlers float across the mat, their strides and strikes losing all impact from the lack of sound, it all felt a bit pointless. It’s when you hear the creak of the ring or the thud of a forearm that this stuff sparks into life. The thing I always notice first when attending live is the sound of the ring, and while I am veering away from talking about this match, taking it away will always hurt what I’m watching.
Despite the sound issue, these four delivered a solid opener. If you were arranging this card on hierarchy alone, you’d probably swap the first two matches, but there’s a reason TJPW entrusted them to cut the metaphorical ribbon. The most experienced wrestler (Hasegawa) might only have a touch under 150 matches to their name, but they have the steady hands needed to wield the giant scissors. It already feels like Ashida and Yoppy have been wrestling in TJPW their whole careers, as I have been forced to rescind all my pondering about how good Mifu actually is. She’s far from the finished product, but with that cheerleading background, she provides a touch of flash to these undercard affairs. Her flexibility allows her to do some cool things offensively while also opening her up to some fun counters, which HIMAWARI and Shino both took advantage of.
It was one of those matches where it felt like everyone understood their role. Yoppy was the anchor that held it all together, while charisma bomb HIMAWARI was out there whipping her hair around and being delightful. However, in what is becoming a recurring theme, Shino Suzuki was the person who made me care. I can’t help it. I believe in her. She commits to everything she does, debuting a new belly-to-belly throw that felt like it took a gargantuan effort to pull off. Like a Mio Momono or Eddie Kingston, I’m not entirely sure she knows this stuff is staged, as she appears to commit 100% every time she steps through the ropes. I’m not suggesting she’s on their level (few are), but there’s a similar charm there, and every time she locks on that sleeper, I feel like I’m right beside her, willing her on to not let go.
Not that I want to overplay this opener. Shino was impressive, but the match wasn’t a show stealer. It was solid work, setting the table for what was to come and ensuring we got things off on the right foot.
Verdict: Let Me Hear That Ring
Mahiro Kiryu, Kakeru Sekiguchi, Haruna Neko & Ivy Steele defeated Kaya Toribami, Uta Takami, Chika Nanase & Kira Summer
A lot has been made of Mahiro and Kakeru looking alike. It caused poor Uta to have the kind of breakdown typically reserved for a child who has missed their afternoon nap when she was confronted with the two of them early in this match. However, their innate ability to be the most awkward people in the room is equally enjoyable. Before they’d even made it to the ring, they’d both managed at least one moment of awkwardness and talent like that should be appreciated.
Outside of that, this was what you’d expect it to be. With eight people crammed into a short match, it was mainly about playing the hits. There were a couple of highlights. I thought Kira benefitted from having someone her size to bounce off in Ivy, as she seemed to be leaning into everything a touch more than usual. Then there was Uta, who joins Shino in being one of the reasons I’ll never skip through a TJPW undercard. I know some people find the joshi screaming off-putting, but hearing Uta squeak her way through a match is almost as vital as the ring noises. She’s such a wonderfully expressive wee thing.
On the whole, though, if you’re picking one match on this show to skip, it probably is this one. It was a get-everyone-on-the-card affair, and while there were a couple of fun moments, there was nothing here you need to see.
Verdict: It Was What You’d Expect
Max the Impaler defeated Moka Miyamoto
I frequently see people criticising wrestling matches for being too predictable. It’s one (of the many) things that I don’t quite understand when it comes to what folk want from this wonderful nonsense. Sure, there is joy in twisty tales, but the vast majority of stories are predictable. Look at a match like this one. We all knew it would end in a Max victory, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth getting invested in. The pleasure comes in seeing how they get there.
And I thought Moka dealt with this brilliantly. She’s not a natural Max opponent, being neither small enough to be launched across the ring nor big enough to slam the Non-Binary Nightmare, but she approached this perfectly. I loved catching a glimpse of her standing at ringside during Max’s entrance, staring them down as they walked past her, her hands on her hips as she did so. Then, throughout the match, there was a real sense of her trying to maintain her stoicism but being unable to when confronted with the reality of Max’s power. Even then, though, she didn’t give up. Moka figured that if one move weren’t enough, she’d pile them up, delivering multiple punches to the gut when one would typically suffice.
It was enough to break through one of Moka’s weaknesses. She’s a good wrestler, but she’s reserved, and I think that’s hurt her connection with the fans. Here, they were cheering her on, chanting her name as she tried to pull herself to her feet. The match couldn’t have gone much more than five minutes, but, in that time, she stared down the monster and dared to stand her ground, and it’s hard not to support someone who can do that.
Credit also has to go to Max, who I hope never stops wrestling in Tokyo Joshi. They have found a home there, an unexpected one, but a home all the same, and they bring so much to it. There is no one like them on that roster, and every time they turn up, it feels like a treat. A match like this was the perfect use of them, as they always seem to know how much to give, coming away holding their arm awkwardly in the aftermath to show that Moka had chipped through their defences. They ensured, alongside Miyamoto, that while we all knew how this would end, the journey was still worth the effort.
Verdict: A Story Worth Telling
Aja Kong, Yuki Kamifuku & Wakana Uehara defeated Yuki Aino, Toga & Haru Kazashiro
I’m unsure what Yuki Aino needs to do to reach the next level. She’s in a weird position where she’s a long-term roster member who consistently performs well but never feels ready to take that next step. These Aja Kong matches kind of sum up the issue. She’s regularly put across the ring from the legend, and I always think she holds up her end of the bargain, but I’m not sure it’s ever done her perception any good. In this one, she took Aja off her feet with a flying shoulder barge before hitting the Venus DDT, which should be a big deal, but I struggle to imagine it leading to anything. Regular readers will know I have no issue with wrestlers being life-long mid-carders (I think it’s the perfect spot for some), but I’d love to see Aino tap into whatever it is she needs to grow.
The other impressive Aja combination here was Toga, who had the touch of the Mirai Maiumi in her interactions with Kong. She wasn’t gifted as much as Mirai was back when the legend first appeared in TJPW, but there was a sense of Toga finding her bearings as she built up to slaying the monster. In a lovely touch, the one moment she did succeed in taking Kong off her feet, it was thanks to a Haru assist, as the sometimes rookie partners found a way to scratch the invincible armour of one of wrestling’s greatest bullies. I think Toga would benefit a lot from becoming one of the regulars in these Aja matches, as if there’s anyone who is going to bring the fire out of her, it’s Aja fucking Kong.
Away from Aja, the surprise hit here was Kamiyu vs Haru. Then again, the more I think about it, the less surprising it feels. Kamiyu excels at the mean girl shtick, and with Kazashiro (and I say this lovingly) being one of life’s natural nerds, there’s a fun contrast between the two. Having Kamiyu bully the younger wrestler makes all the sense in the world, and you can add that one to my list of potential Princess Cup match-ups that I’d be happy to get.
It all added up to an enjoyable, if somewhat unremarkable, showing. Like Max, you know what you’re getting from Aja in TJPW, but that doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy it. She puts more effort into these matches than she does in many other places, and even without her usual pals, Pom and Raku, you can tell she’s having a good time. This one probably won’t enter the upper echelon of her Tokyo Joshi appearances, but there was still enough here to make it worth your time.
Verdict: What Is Aino Missing?
Raku defeated Pom Harajuku to win the SETUP All Asia Women’s Title
Silly as it might be to say about a match featuring Pom sniffing what I assume were smelling salts to defeat Raku’s magic sleep powers, but this meant a lot to me. Pom and Raku, the arguable heads of the Tokyo Joshi nonsense squad, got to face off for a title on a big show. That, in itself, is a huge deal. It’s proof that TJPW recognises their talents and that they’re not somehow lesser than wrestlers who aren’t funny. However, so often with this stuff, what you get in this situation is two comedy wrestlers turned serious. They’re in the major leagues now, so it’s time to shape up etc. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case. They delivered a pure Raku and Pom match. From the pillow to the angel wings, this was two close friends doing what they always do.
So, of course, I loved it. I feel somewhat confident that no one in the world has written more about Raku and Pom than me, and if we limit that to English speakers, I’m almost certain it’s true. They’re two of my all-time favourites, and while they’re never going to be for everyone, this match was a perfect summary of what I love about them. They escalated through Pom’s bag of tricks to the shin work to a finish that made me more than a bit emotional. In doing so, they showed that not only are these two funny, but they’ve worked their arses off to become decent wrestlers. They won’t be doing head drops or tiresome forearm exchanges, but that’s not a fault. Because in place of those things, they have solid, well-worked matches that are a breeze to watch. They’ve perfected being Pom and Raku, and there is no one better at that than them.
I think they deserved this. Pom and Raku will never be regular main eventers or perhaps even get to challenge for the big belt. That’s not their role, and I suspect they’re content with that. However, being given this stage, even if it is not at the very top of the card, means something. They’ve proven their worth time after time, and it would have been a damn shame if they weren’t rewarded for it. This match was their moment, and while in the grand scheme of things, it was a small one, that didn’t make it any less impactful.
Verdict: My Favourites
Willow Nightingale defeated Miu Watanabe
Confession, but I have seen very little Willow Nightingale (I can’t remember watching any matches outside of her TJPW appearances). That’s not a slight on her (I’ve only heard good things), but there are only so many hours in a day. Either way, this match-up made a lot of sense, even when you remove the context of their previously scheduled showdown being cancelled. You’ve got two smiley powerhouses. Let’s throw them at each other!
And a decent chunk of this fell into ‘anything you can do, I can do better’ territory. Willow would take Miu down with a shoulder block so Watanabe would return the favour. You know the deal. It’s been done a million times before. However, I don’t know what it was, but it never quite clicked with me. The film critic Mark Kermode has previously put forward the theory that when people have a lot of fun filming comedies, it often leads to the worst kind of film, as they lean into the kind of self-indulgent shite that close friends use to make each other laugh (he doesn’t quite phrase it that way). Now, I actually don’t think that applies to wrestling most of the time, but there was a real lack of bite to this. While Miu and Willow looked like they were having a lovely time, I wanted to see them crashing into each other.
That’s not to say it was awful. The final act kicked up a gear, and Miu getting the Giant Swing on Willow was the payoff everyone was waiting for. However, it never crossed over into anything more than a nice day out. The best inter-promotional clashes are fuelled by hate, and I didn’t expect that here, but this felt a bit like a charity-friendly. Everyone was happy to attend but not all that worried about the result. Although, of course, the result went in AEW’s favour because even if they can’t be arsed promoting the match on their TV, DDT and TJPW continue to be woefully deferential to them. Not that I find that annoying or anything.
Anyway, I feel like I’m being a grump with this one, and there’s every chance I’ll go back to it later and find something I missed the first time around, but it was fine. They gave us a fun showdown between two likeable wrestlers. I just hope that someday we get to see what this looks like when there is something to fight for.
Verdict: It Fell Short
Meiko Satomura defeated Yuki Arai
There was a nice symmetry to this pairing. As Arai transitions to wrestling full-time, Satomura is riding off into the sunset, and this may well be her final appearance in TJPW. Of course, unlike Willow vs Miu, you don’t have to worry about Meiko turning up and being content with having a nice time as she says goodbye. That’s not how Satomura has ever done things. She might be on her way out, but this is still her world. If Arai wants to make her way into it, she’ll have to fight for it.
There was a brutal honesty to the way Meiko approached this match. Nothing Arai took from it was given for free, as every big boot or forearm was paid back twice over. To be honest, I was surprised Yuki got as much as she did, as Satomura showed a slither of vulnerability when the soon-to-be former idol broke through her defences with an onslaught of well-aimed boots. Of course, it never lasted long, and there was always a stiff forearm to the throat or a kick across the head to even things up, but this was more proof of how much people see in Arai. Meiko has eaten up people with more pedigree than her.
Not that it felt unearned. Arai had come prepared for a fight. She took a beating, but she kept coming, screaming in defiance as she pulled herself back to her feet. Yes, there were awkward moments, the transition into the Cloverleaf being one of the more obvious ones, but it never bothered me. If anything, it played into the narrative of the match. She was scrabbling for anything, clinging to the action as the legend kicked the shit out of her. There’s a very thin line between awkward and scrappy, and on the whole, I thought Arai managed to push most of this match towards the latter. Besides, one can understand not managing to do everything smoothly when your head has been kicked in.
I alluded to it above, but this really did feel like the antithesis of the previous match. There wasn’t hate in this performance, but there was aggression. The aggression of Satomura testing to see just how much Arai wants this. That she earned a long hug from Meiko afterwards suggests that she might just have passed, and if Meiko Satomura thinks that’s the case, who are we to argue?
Verdict: Arai Steps Up Again
Suzume defeated Arisu Endo to retain in the International Princess Title
There were a couple of moments early in this match when I thought Arisu and Suzume were about to peel away from an intricate sequence and have one of those epic staredowns that are all the fashion these days. Thankfully, they’re good wrestlers. So, they didn’t waste time posing and got straight back to fighting.
In a small way, this match told the story of Daisy Monkey. One of the great things about them as a pairing was observing how they changed each other. With a speedy pal by her side, Endo focused on powering up, transforming into a wee hoss. Suzume, meanwhile, got a bit meaner. She developed an edge she didn’t have before, which worked nicely with her talent for a well-timed counter. It was those attributes that influenced the flow of the action. Suzume needed to stay a step ahead, even deploying a face crusher on the outside, to ensure that Endo couldn’t start throwing her around. They’re evenly matched, so the slightest advantage would always be the difference maker.
It also created a real sense of escalation. Suzume’s early advantage was never going to last, so the longer this went, the more inventive she was forced to get. Endo’s power was beginning to dictate the pace, but her pal always had an answer to the big stuff. When Arisu went for that bounce-up dropkick out of the corner, Suzume met her up there, bringing her down with another face crusher. You got the impression that if Endo could get a hold of bee, she would be able to make short work of her, but Suzume was too smart to let that happen. Whenever Arisu was in danger of taking control away from her, she found something extra, pulling out the right counter or a kneeling Ring-a-Bell. She was clinging to the advantage, but that was enough.
I like matches like this. You could feel the affection these two have for each other pulsating out of the ring. Suzume and Endo are special talents, and if there is any justice in the world, this will be the first of many big matches between them. The finish here felt a touch abrupt, Suzume deploying the springboard Ring-a-Bell again (not as well as the first time) to get the conclusive win when it felt like there was more to give, but that’s how TJPW does things. You have to earn the right to stay in the fight past the first big punch. I suspect these two will get there, though, and even with a sudden finish, this was a hell of a first chapter to their showdowns on the biggest stage. I can’t wait to watch the rest.
Verdict: I Love Daisy Monkey
Kyoraku Kyomei (Shoko Nakajima & Hyper Misao) defeated 121000000 (Miyu Yamashita & Maki Itoh) to win the Princess Tag Titles
Finally! Who holds what belt is pretty low on my list of wrestling priorities, so it’s not often I say this, but I needed Kyoraku Kyomei to win these titles. Part of it is that I’m a 121000000 sceptic. I think Itoh and Miyu bring the worst out of each other, pushing each other to play ‘great wrestlers’ rather than focusing on what they’re actually good at. More than that, though, Misao and Shoko deserve this. Kyoraku Kyomei have been consistently brilliant for years, producing inspired stuff when wrestling everyone from Andreza the Giant Panda to Daydream. While both already have careers they can be incredibly proud of, it would have felt remiss if they weren’t rewarded for that. They had promised each other they would win those belts, and I would have raised hell if they hadn’t kept it.
For the first half of the action, I thought it would be more about the crowning than the match. The opening was great, with Misao and Shoko unleashing the nonsense and Mahiro inevitably becoming the victim of the Hyper Mobile. However, once things settled down, 121000000 took control, and things became a touch more pedestrian. I get what they were going for, raising doubts about this being Kyoraku Kyomei’s moment, and in the grand scheme of things, it probably was the right call. I just didn’t buy it. Miyu, sure. She can control a match and the tempo. But Itoh? It’s not where she excels. I know she’s a very different wrestler now, and I should probably let it go, but I think it’s the least interesting way to use her.
Thankfully, I needn’t have worried too much. The final act was breathtaking. The turning point was when Misao was unmasked while taking a Yamashita German. From that moment on, this boiled down to her vs Miyu, and my stomach began to sink. We’ve been here before. How many times has Yamashita stood across the ring from a challenger we’re all sure is ready to be crowned, only to have our dreams booted into the last row? Plus, it’s Misao! I love her, but she’s not going to pin the Ace, right? And yet, she didn’t stop. Even as a grin spread across Miyu’s face, as she revelled in her role as the dominant bastard, Misao wouldn’t stop. Time after time, Miyu booted her down, only for her to keep fighting, battling on even as all seemed lost. If it had only been about her, she might have given up, but they’d made a promise. A promise that pulled Shoko free from Poison Sawada JULIE’s snake magic and now meant Misao couldn’t lose.
And she did it. Not only did Misao win the belts, but she did it by pinning Miyu Yamashita. It was astonishing. Misao has long been brilliant, but I’m not sure she’s ever been better than when she was holding Miyu in a submission, refusing to let go as Itoh hammered away at her, trusting in the knowledge that Shoko would be there to back her up. The scream she let out towards the end, as she pushed through the final barrier, was pure emotion. I cried. A lot. Because I don’t care much about titles, but I care about these people and the stories they tell, and no one tells stories like Hyper Misao. Sure, they’re often silly, but they can also be beautiful and heartbreaking, and watching her cross the line was inspiring.
I don’t give a damn if Kyoraku Kyomei hold onto those belts for one week or one year. I’m just glad they got to hold them.
Verdict: My Hero!
Mizuki defeated Rika Tatsumi to retain the Princess of Princess Title
Rika Tatsumi claims to love Mizuki, but her attack on the rabbit’s leg didn’t feel like love. It felt like the prelude to a prison sentence.
I’m trapped between two minds about the nature of said attack. Tatsumi was fantastic. She was focused and brutal, wrapping it around the cable in the corner before dropkicking it into the ringpost. We’ve seen her employ this tactic to great effect in title matches before, and her Ittenyon victory over Yuka Sakazaki is one of my favourite TJPW main events ever. However, it does ask questions that opponents aren’t always willing to answer. Mizuki is a wrestler who makes significant use of her legs, and while she didn’t ignore it, there were a lot of double stomps that felt like they should have been a victim of Rika’s assault.
Yet, while I think that is a flaw of this match, it’s one I’m willing to forgive. For while Mizuki could have done more with her leg, she does enough that it’s never totally egregious. More importantly, she gets a lot of other stuff right. What becomes clear early in this match is that it’s not just emotional for Rika. Yes, she’s been chasing Mizuki for years, but it’s not a one-way bond. As Mizuki waved away Tatsumi’s offer of a handshake, there was a touch of emotion in her eyes, suggesting this first-time singles match meant just as much to her. Then, as the action progressed, Mizuki was the one being forced to improvise. Rika was so driven that she forced her out of her comfort zone. Yes, that involved some of the usual big match spots, including the double stomp to the floor, but it also saw her somehow rotating through the air for a crossbody (no idea how she did that) and hitting a Super Cutie Special. Tatsumi leapt on her every weakness and forced Mizuki to go bigger than ever.
And despite my issues with her leg selling, where she did succeed was in showing the accumulative wear of this match. By the end, there was a real sense of Mizyupon being on her last legs. I didn’t expect her to lose the belt here, but she was so beaten down that when Rika locked on the Dragon Sleeper, cranking it back, it felt inevitable. Those final minutes when she battled to stay alive before finally managing to twist it around to hit a Cutie Special and lock in a Crossface of her own were thrilling and continued TJPW’s recent trend of having some fantastic finishing stretch submission work. There is no sitting in these holds, letting time pass. Instead, it’s a constant contest, with both wrestlers doing everything they can to hold on. The final shots of Rika desperately crawling to the ropes before being dragged back to the centre of the ring, where the hold was cinched in tight, were heartbreaking and exciting in equal measure.
When you do that much right, it’s easy to forgive something that’s not quite perfect. Rika and Mizuki did a fantastic job, and having thought I’d already cried all my tears tonight watching Misao, Mizuki inviting Rika in for a cuddle meant we got a few more before the end. TJPW thrives off of years of interconnected relationships constructed over show after show, and in moments like this, they pay off. Rika didn’t get her belt, but she got a hug from her girl, and hopefully, that was enough to make the fight worthwhile.
Verdict: Flawed, But Brilliant
Overall Show
Love wins! That was a damn good show. There were a couple of niggles throughout, a few things that didn’t quite land with me, but when it came to the big, emotional climaxes, TJPW slotted it into the top corner. I didn’t mention it above, but this was our last big show with Namba, and I’m genuinely struggling to imagine Tokyo Joshi without her. Thankfully, they did her proud, proving, not for the first time, that when you give this roster the stage, there are very few better.
Watch Tokyo Joshi Pro: https://www.wrestle-universe.com/en/videos?labels=-tjpw.
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