It feels like we went a while without any TJPW Korakuens, and now we’ve had two fairly close together. I won’t lie, the card for this one didn’t excite me as much as the last, but it wouldn’t be the first time Teej exceeded my expectations. Let’s have a ramble about what went down.
Rika Tatsumi, Ryo ‘Aniki’ Mizunami, Chika Nanase & Ren Konatsu defeated Hyper Misao, Kekeru Sekiguchi, Mahiro Kiryu & Mifu Ashida
Kira Summer was ill (you can tell we’ve hit flu season by the number of people who have dropped off cards recently), so we had an X situation. It was eventually revealed to be Aniki, but her delayed entry gave Misao a chance to lead an attack before she arrived. Of course, Aniki also wasn’t going to rush her entrance, so the beatdown was free to continue for a while, which was a good gag.
With this being more star-studded than a lot of these TJPW multi-person openers typically are, we got some big interactions here. As is often the case when an outsider comes in, Aniki was at the centre of a lot of those, generally bulldozing her way through the TJPW lot’s antics. She had no worries about Mahiro and Kakeru’s doppleganger shtick (which they also used to great effect for an Ironman skit on Twitter) while Misao’s spray can was sent flying. It makes sense. Aniki is incredibly popular, so letting her run wild is an easy win.
It did, however, mean that the people who usually occupy these matches faded into the background. We didn’t see as much of Mifu, Ren or Chika as we normally would. Is that a disaster? No, but I do appreciate that TJPW typically gives those further down the totem pole plenty of space on these Korakuen cards, and it’s a shame when they’re not given that. Still, we got to see Nanase continue to make clocking people in the chin a go-to move (I’m a bit baffled as to why she is the one doing that rather than, say, Toga), and Ashida had a decent run with Rika towards the end. It feels like she is a couple of good singles match performances away from getting that first International Princess title shot on a smaller show.
My minor nitpicking aside, it was a fun opener. Everyone hit the beats you’d expect from them, but that’s kind of the point of matches like this. To set the bar, warm the crowd up and leave plenty of room for everyone else to better it. With that in mind, you can’t fault it.
Verdict: A Solid Opener
Mizuki & Suzume defeated Yuki Aino & Haru Kazashiro, Miyu Yamashita & Kaya Toribami and Raku & Pom Harajuku in a four-way tag match
I really like this pairing of Miyu and Torippi. The bird has shown that she can deliver if you put her in the right spot, her match with Shoko is one of my underrated favourites of the year, but she often seems to struggle to assert herself. Having the Ace next to her is a good way to deal with that issue.
Anyway, this was a more light-hearted affair, as Pom and Raku led everyone down the nonsense road. With four teams and only a handful of minutes, there is only so much you can do, so going for a more vibes-based affair is by no means the wrong choice. I guess you could complain that Aino followed up her brilliant performance last month by doing something of little value, but that’s the TJPW way. They cycle people down the card until they’re needed again. Plus, she was one of those singled out to get a moment to shine, as she got to show off those muscles.
What this lacked in substance, it made up for by being an easy watch. With so many people around, they never had to put their foot on the brake, and the whole thing flew past very quickly. It also made me quite excited for next year’s Max Heart tournament, as I imagine all of these teams, apart from Mizuki and Suzume, would be involved. With a few big names missing this year, it felt like a downgrade, but 2026 has potential.
Anyway, Suzume got the win, which I mention as it becomes important later in the show, and I had a good time with this.
Verdict: Fun
Hiroyo Matsumoto & Yuki Arai defeated Hot Shots (Yuna Manase & Toga)
Can I admit that the Arai and Hiroyo pairing doesn’t do anything for me? I know it’s playing off the history of Matsumoto training Yuki for Tofu-Pro Wrestling, but why would I care about that? Part of it is that I feel Hiroyo has been coasting for years, only really putting the effort in for special occasions. However, it also falls into the growing category of matches seemingly designed to give the illusion that TJPW has something for Arai to do. It’s okay to shove her in a routine tag, I’m sure her legions will still turn up.
I do have a lot more time for Hot Shots, so it’s not like I wasn’t looking forward to this. The apathy I feel towards Hiroyo is definitely not there for Manase, who I’m sure must have phoned it in at some point in her career, but does a damn good job of convincing you that she couldn’t. When Hot Shots took control of this match, buoyed by Manase’s constant cheerleading, the whole thing came to life. Sadly, the opposite was true when Arai did. It wasn’t long, but she spent a couple of minutes working over Toga, and it was very clear that it wasn’t the role for her. Arai’s best matches have all come when she’s been under the cosh of a more experienced wrestler, plugging her in to hit her spots, and when she’s asked to be the one controlling the action, everything noticeably slows.
I feel like I’m being very harsh on this, but there was plenty to enjoy. For all my ragging on Matsumoto, you can’t really deny her and Manase bashing into each other. That’s easy maths. Also, while I think Toga and Arai’s roles were somewhat miscast, I do think the rookie is getting a lot from Hot Shots. She’s never going to be as expressive as Manase (that’s not her charm), but there is a growing urgency to her in-ring work, as she challenged herself to take down Lady Godzilla (although they did seem to have some communication issues towards the end). More of that will go a long way with her.
Overall, it was a decent match. Nothing that I’m going to be raving about, but much more enjoyable than my whining might have you believe. Am I excited for the inevitable Matsumoto and Arai title shot? No, but I’ve no doubt that will end up being better than I expect it to be, too.
Verdict: Better That I’m Giving It Credit For
Shoko Nakajima defeated Viva Van to retain the MLW Women’s World Featherweight title
I generally think TJPW is a brilliantly booked company, and most of the complaints about Koda are silly. However, his deference towards foreign talent is getting a tad frustrating. It’s cool to bring people over, but do they all have to get title shots? Of the six matches Viva Van has had in TJPW, half of them have been for a belt. I know it’s the MLW one, so who gives a shit, but have any of those matches actually been good?
Still, if anyone was going to reverse that trend, it’s the best wrestler in the world right now, Shoko Nakajima. A huge part of Shoko’s appeal is her ability to adapt. On the last Korakuen, we saw her taunt Uta, wrestling with one hand behind her back as she put the rookie through her paces. Here, against the bigger and stronger Van, she was the one in the underdog role. Viva went after Shoko’s leg, working it over and looking to keep Nakajima as grounded as possible.
And we know Shoko can do great limb matches. The aforementioned showing with Kaya Toribami was proof of that. However, this one didn’t quite work. Partly because I don’t think Van was particularly great at attacking said leg. There were a couple of moments where she was standing, holding it as she tried to figure out what to do next. However, it wasn’t all down to Van. I also don’t think it’s the best limb to attack when facing Shoko. She’s much more suited to selling the arm as so much of her offence works off those bursts of pace. The work wasn’t forgotten until the end, but there was a lot of doing a big move flawlessly and then shaking it out.
Again, this didn’t suck. I don’t think any Shoko match this year could. Nakajima is a frantic, engaging wrestler, and Van was slotted in nicely, playing the outside force well. As I mentioned, I can’t remember them particularly well, but I think this was better than any of her title matches with Kamiyu. Would it have been even better if you’d put another TJPW wrestler in there to challenge for the belt? Almost certainly, but I can’t review something we didn’t get, and what we were delivered was some perfectly enjoyable wrestling.
Verdict: Better Than I Expected
Arisu Endo defeated Uta Takami to retain the International Princess Title
I tend to avoid going full play-by-play, but there was a moment in this match that summed up why I thought the whole thing was brilliant. It came when Arisu was trying to get the Camel Clutch on Uta, so the Wee Koala responded by clasping her hands together, making it impossible to do so. In response, Arisu slapped on a chinlock, forcing Uta to release her own counter to reach for the ropes. However, when Endo then reached out for one of those grasping arms, Uta grabbed the opportunity and managed to twist and turn until she actually found her way into the Koala Clutch. It was smart, intricate and well-thought-out wrestling that only lasted twenty seconds or so, but showed off the level of detail these two were working with. It’s not necessarily the kind of thing I would pinpoint as either of their strengths, but it was there all the same.
Don’t worry. Their strengths were also there. In her first title match, Uta was at both her most expressive and her squeakiest. I talk a lot about commitment to the bit, and Takami commits. She’s this tiny wee thing, but when she charges across that ring to hit a dropkick, she throws everything behind it. Of course, Endo is hardly Akebono, but there is more heft behind her work, and yet I buy that Uta can take her down. I believe that if she keeps going, hurling herself at the champ, there is a chance that she can win. When you combine that with the touch of Surugaist magic that she picked up from teaming with Mei (I mentioned it before, but that step-up head scissors she does is pure Suruga), it’s a mighty combination. She’s got that Choco lightness with the commitment of someone determined to reach the top.
And having had all her previous title matches against imports, this was the first time Endo felt like a champ. She was the experienced head in this match, the one with the expectations on her shoulders, and she wrestled like that. Early on, she made the mistake of trying to one-up Uta, matching her for speed, but quickly found it wasn’t as easy as she thought. So she was forced to adapt, to start out-muscling rather than out-pacing the squeaky one. I mentioned Shoko’s adaptability earlier, and that is what makes a great champion. The ability to adjust to find the best way to approach a match against a wide range of opponents. It’s feels like a while since Arisu won a big outing with the Camel Clutch, but that was what she went to. She was pushed to go back to the simplest route possible. Wrenching back on Uta until she tapped.
If you can’t tell, I loved this. I am so incredibly excited about the wrestler that Uta is becoming. That blend of the TJPW influence with Mei and her own little touch of magic keeps getting better, and the fact that she went out and held her own in a title match hints that there isn’t a limit on where she can take it. Endo, meanwhile, was finally handed an opponent who gave her something more to work with, and she showed why she’s been due for this title run for a while. It was a perfect blend of champion and challenger, and I hope this is a match we get to see a lot more of over the years.
Verdict: Fantastic
Ober Eats (Yuki Kamifuku & Wakana Uehara) defeated Bumping gRitters (HIMAWARI & Shino Suzuki) to retain the Princess Tag Titles
People underestimate the power of sincerity. Trying to be cool is easy. It’s what everyone is doing. Being honest and vulnerable and real is much harder. Look at Shino Suzuki in this match. When she’s paired up with Kamiyu, she’s on the back foot in every sense of the word. Kamiyu is bigger, more experienced and, let’s face it, cooler than her. When she’s in the ring with Shino, she’s downright mean, stepping over her dismissively as she beats her down. In comparison, Suzuki seems to shrink, but she never gives up. She takes her beating, selling the pain of it and using it to fuel her. I like Kamiyu, I always have, but Shino is a wrestler you love. She is someone you want to root for with your whole heart.
And that’s at the core of this whole match. Kamiyu and Wakana are the obvious choices – the beautiful tag team who make everything look easy. When Wakana effortlessly cartwheels over HIMAWARI’s dropdown spot, it feels like a brag. A ‘look at what I can do’. In contrast, HIMAWARI and Shino’s progress is worked for. They’re both great, and HIMAWARI in particular has been good since her debut, but you can see the effort – the need to work hard and keep pushing yourself. I wouldn’t class them as wrestling weirdos in the way that some of their roster mates are, but they’re not traditionally cool. They’re more out there, forging their own path rather than the obvious one.
That translated into their wrestling. HIMAWARI and Shino had to fight for this. They were always the ones coming from behind, trying to catch up with the champion. When Shino stands, throwing forearms at Wakana, there’s a desperation to it, one that is only amplified further when she locks on that sleeper. HIMAWARI is a bit calmer, but even she comes with this ball of energy approach, hectic and wild. Everything Ober Eats does feels planned and controlled, from their entrance to their team pose when they win, while Shino and HIMAWARI give the impression of people who are figuring it out as they go.
Yet, for once, I didn’t actually want my favourites to win this match. Less so HIMAWARI, but Shino should lose. She should lose again and again and again. Truthfully, as much as I loved her first victory, I kind of wish she still hadn’t won at all. That she was still desperately trying to get over the line. One day, I would have her win these belts, but she should be beaten into the ground a million times before it happens, milking her tears in defeat for as long as they can. What this match gets right, and I say this with love, is that Shino is one of life’s great losers. She’s someone who is at her best when she’s put upon and beaten down. She can come close, but she can’t go all the way. Not yet, anyway.
Verdict: Sincerity For The Win
Miu Watanabe defeated J-Rod to retain the Princess of Princess Title
I mean, I feel like I’ve kind of already made my feelings clear on this style of match. They were fighting something of an uphill battle from the start.
It doesn’t help that I don’t quite get what J-Rod is going for. She’s doing the Ultimate Athlete shtick, which, fair enough, that’s a classic gimmick, but her characterisation of it comes across as petulant rather than arrogant. It is quite funny in comparison to Miu, the least petulant person in the world. Mainly because she clearly inhabits her own little version of it.
We’ve seen Watanabe work this style of match before. TJPW bring in a bigger, stronger outsider to challenge Miu’s position as the wee hoss. Christ, you could argue that was part of what Aino was doing last month, although there was nothing half as exciting in this match as her and Miu bashing into each other repeatedly. J-Rod worked a much more traditional big lass style, even doing the old snake eyes into a big boot combo at one point. She’s a throwback, but one that was lacking the meanness I think you need to make this gimmick work. An American coming in to outpower a Japanese wrestler is puro 101, but there needs to be more of a threat. It felt a lot like J-Rod was going through the motions, hitting her spots until Miu was ready for her comeback. I wanted to see her get nasty. To make it feel like Miu was actually in trouble.
They never got there, though. You only had to listen to the fans to see that. They cheered in the right places, enjoyed Miu managing to do the Giant Swing, but there was never worry behind it. If you go back to Endo vs Priscilla Kelly, a match I really didn’t like, you can hear their fear that their girl is going to lose to this outsider. They rally behind her. There was very little of that here. Even Miu’s sudden decision to hit a big dive to the outside didn’t get much of a reaction (to be fair, it definitely didn’t go as planned). Everything about this match had the feel of a challenger of the month, J-Rod coming in to fill a spot and then be ushered out after a defeat. Obviously, we all know that’s the case, but you want the wrestlers to convince you otherwise, to trick you into believing that your favourite is in trouble.
It joins the long list of these TJPW vs foreign talent matches that don’t quite work for me. I feel like I often sound like I’m blaming the outsiders, and while it is sometimes that they suck, I should make it clear that it’s not really that simple. This was J-Rod’s second match in Japan, and her first was a three-minute squash, yet she found herself in Korakuen working a main event. According to Cagematch, she has worked around 130 matches, a lot of which were five minutes and under. In contrast, rookie Chika Nanase has worked 101. I like Chika, but there is no way TJPW are throwing her into a main event and seeing if she can swim in twenty-nine matches time. They are battling the odds from the start, and while there is always a chance they will click, this one wasn’t one of the ones that did.
Verdict: Meh
As I hinted at earlier, Suzume made her way down afterwards to challenge, and not just for any old show, either, but for Ittenyon. That’s a perfect choice. It’s a bit of a risk, but it’s on a show that you know will sell well (and I think already is), so not a huge one, and Suzume vs Miu is a great matchup. I’ve been very moany in this review, but I am happy with that. Miu was also delighted, as she ended up crying happy tears while they talked.
Overall Show
I loved TJPW’s last Korakuen, so this one has to go down as a bit of a disappointment. There was stuff I liked. The undercard was fun, and both the International and Tag Title matches were very good, but there was too much that left me cold. Still, any show with Uta vs Arisu isn’t going to be a total disaster, so I’m not about to cancel my Wrestle Universe subscription any time soon.
Watch Tokyo Joshi Pro: https://www.wrestle-universe.com/en/videos?labels=-tjpw.
Ramblings About Wrestling 