While I didn’t go to quite as much wrestling in July as I had the previous few months, I still made my way to a fair few shows and had some bits and pieces I fancied writing about. We’ve got old men being bastards, exciting rookies and ChocoPro giving Miya Yotsuba a huge win. If all of that sounds of interest to you, read on!
Fuminori Abe, Yuki Ishikawa & Shuji Ishikawa vs Kazunari Murakami, Daisuke Ikeda & Ali Najima, Kakuto Tanteidan V ~ One Last Dance (1/7/26), KTDan
Once again, KT Dan delivered a wild, violent tag match in the main event spot. If history is anything to go by, this won’t be as widely praised as something like Fuminori Abe vs Takuya Nomura or even Abe vs Hikaru Sato. Unfortunately, that’s an example of people being wrong Maybe it’s because I’ve been in the room for the two best examples, this match and Murakami and Nomura vs Abe and Ishikawa, but I adore watching everything descend into chaos. At one point, after brawling through the crowd with Ali Najima, giving everyone the ultimate front-row view, Abe yelled, 「この試合は何で」. Essentially, ‘what is this match?’
Najima’s role in it all was particularly enjoyable. The opener threw four young wrestlers at each other with the promise that the winner would get a spot in the main event. It was he who earned that honour, and one has to assume he was well aware of what he was getting himself into. Big Shuj, Ishikawa and Abe beat the shit out of him. The lad fought valiantly, making sure he always went down swinging, but he never stood a chance. Slaps, headbutts, kicks, everything that was thrown his way was delivered with the spitefulness of a group of grumpy old vets putting a kid in his place. The poor fucker.
And part of why I love these matches is because that violence always seems to teeter on the edge of comedy. Go back and listen to the crowd, and you’ll quickly realise that their reaction is almost equal parts horror and delight. There is something hilarious about one lad punching another square in the head. I think it hits the same funny bone as Jackass. The knowledge that everyone involved has accepted it is part of the deal, makes it impossible not to delight in the pain they inflict on each other.
Of course, the star was, as he is always is when I see him live, Murakami. In a match with the always tetchy pairing of Ikeda and Ishikawa, he still managed to be the one who pissed everyone off. He was constantly getting in people’s faces, jabbing away at them while still being the coolest man in the room. Much like in his brilliant showdown with Fujiwara at Strong Style Evolved, he ended up busted open by an exchange of headbutts with Fuminori, and I don’t think there is anything more badass than Murakami with a smear of blood dripping down his forehead. He is in a league of his own.
Every pairing here was great, though. Whether it was the dads throwing spiteful digs fuelled by years of hatred or Najima desperately trying to hang with some of the best, it was a match where there was always something to enjoy. Christ, I’m sure I missed some of it, as I was caught up in watching one pairing brawl through the crowd while another was going at it elsewhere. It was the perfect live show experience, and while I haven’t watched it back yet, I can’t imagine that will be completely lost on a screen.
Maria vs Ruka Amahane, Marvelous (2/7/26), Marvelous
God, Maria is good. It’s a bit of a shame that the Marvelous crowd will never truly embrace booing one of their own. She clearly loves working heel and has really settled into that role in the last few months, but she’s far too beloved to get the reaction she craves. Instead, she and Riko are treated like a couple of beloved scamps. Booed in the moment, then quickly forgiven for their actions. Still, it’s working for them, and they’re reaching Mio Momono levels of consistency on these smaller shows, even if the situation isn’t entirely ideal.
The focus here was on young Ruka, though, who is developing quickly. You can see the confidence that working regularly brings, and while she’s still only 13, she’s dealing with the pressure of it well. This was the first time we’ve seen her bite back, as she yelled at at Maria when she was messing around early on (which also caused Chig to unleash her inner Neville Southall, pointing out Ruka’s age when Maria got a bit cocky). Like all Marvelous rookies, she’s not doing anything fancy, but everything has that great scrappy energy that is in all my favourite youngsters. There was a great battle for a slam here, the two of them going back and forth as they fought to see who could power the other up. Yes, it got a bit messy, Ruka clearly struggling as she tired. However, that only added to the excitement. As long as you react to them well, not panicking and repeating yourself, those kinds of mistakes never bother me. If anything, I appreciate them. It plays into the feeling that Ruka isn’t going to win by out-wrestling a more experienced opponent, so she has to rely on pure determination and will.
And Marvelous aren’t hiding her away in tags. It’s the silver lining of Hajiri being injured early on, leaving her as the lone youngster, as these openers have quickly become a highlight of their shows. You know what beats they’re going to hit, and there isn’t anything particularly unique in their presentation, but they’re fun. She’s likeable and hard-working, battling away even when the odds are insurmountable. Marvelous are never in a rush to let their rookies loose, and with how young she is, it might be a long time until we see the momentum start to swing in her direction. However, judging by the first couple of months, there is a lot of potential in this kid.
Gokigen Festival #3 (5/7/26), Gokigen Pro Wrestling
Kaori Yoneyama must be protected. Not because I think anything is going to happen to her – I assume she’s fairly safe – but because I think people like her are vital to the scene. Yoneyama exists in the gaps. While she’s been a regular in Stardom for years, she’s also a frequent face in Oz Academy, Ice Ribbon, ChocoPro and countless other places. If you can name it, Yoneyama has probably wrestled there. Meanwhile, on top of all that, she continues to plug away in her own promotion, giving a home to some disparate weirdos who might not find it elsewhere.
And Gokigen Fes was something of a celebration of that. A card that brought together Marvelous, SEAdLINNNG, grappling and fortune telling. It was where Shinno Hagane chose to return from injury and also where Matsuzawa-san paid tribute to Hikaru Sato after his death (he’s not dead). I know it gets ignored by the vast majority of people because Gokigen (and YMZ before it) doesn’t deliver the kind of wrestling that makes for good GIFs or convinces the wrestling intelligentsia to rave about it, but there is nothing else like it. Yone has created something unique. And unique things should be treasured.
When I go to shows like this, they make me feel good about wrestling. There is a sense of people pulling together, working around a production held together by sticky tape and doing it for the love of the game. It’s also one where Yone will look after others in the scene. Where she’ll find a spot for injured wrestlers, making sure there’s a few quid in their pockets in exchange for them getting involved in some nonsense. Yes, there wasn’t a match that I’ll be remembering come the end of the year, and Yoneyama herself is picking her spots more and more as time ticks away, but that’s not always what this shit is about. Especially when you’re going to it live. Gokigen is its own little community, and while I’ve been somewhat negligent in contributing since moving to Tokyo, this reminded me of why previous YMZ shows have been highlights of my trips to Japan.
I know it pissed off some people at the time, but it was a very good day for wrestling when Yoneyama decided that she wasn’t actually going to retire. Let’s hope she continues to make that decision for many years to come.
Aja Kong & Miku Kanae vs YUNA & Reina Takano, Senjo The Biggest (12/7/26), Sendai Girls
I think I’ve probably written enough about the unusual pressure surrounding Reina Takano on her debut, so I’m going to grab this opportunity to appreciate how perfect this all was. Sakaguchi must have been grinning from ear to ear as he filmed Reina repeatedly booting Aja Kong in the head. It’s obviously not going to be the conclusion of the Senjo Spirit series, that’s set for Budokan, but it will be the perfect end to this mini Reina arc.
I also think this served as something of a conclusion for YUNA. She went from cleaning the Dojo by herself to teaching Reina the ropes to standing by her side here. On top of that, she had a good showing here. It’s easy to focus on Takano taking the fight to Aja Kong, but YUNA stood her ground, too, throwing herself at the legend. If you went back and watched her last year of matches, I’m sure you would see her growing in confidence week to week. She’s coming out of her shell, and while I think her quiet likeability is what makes her so relatable, her worries about not standing out from the crowd are becoming less and less relevant.
Ultimately, though, this was the Reina show. She’s not a super rookie in the style of Senka or Seri, but she’s got something to her. There’s a stubborn determination under that shy smile. Who knows what the next few years will hold. It’s impossible to predict anything in wrestling. However, this felt like the start of something. I hope I get to watch it to the end.
Mei Suruga vs Miya Yotsuba, It’s Time (14/7/26), ChocoPro
Wow, it turns out ChocoPro are going all in on Miya Yotsuba.
I assumed this was the end of her time with the belt. Mei is Mei. Not only is she ChocoPro’s Ace, she’s coming off defeating Akki (who doesn’t lose often, particularly to other members of the roster), and it genuinely feels like a bit of an honour to regularly watch her wrestle at the moment. She’s incredible. My assumption was that Miya would beat Mei eventually. I just didn’t think it would be now. Instead, they’ve thrown it all at the wall, trusting that Ichigaya’s Lucky Charm is the one to get behind.
And the longer this title run goes on, the more I see it. That’s not to suggest I didn’t think Miya was good before (I’ve liked her since day one), but she’s starting to flourish in this role. I talked above about YUNA’s growing confidence, and you could say the same about Yotsuba, except it’s manifesting in a very different way. It’s a confidence that could be mistaken for sitting somewhere between arrogance and madness. Her repeated announcements of her status have become something of a running joke, and it’s hard to tell if that was the intention or not, but it’s working for her. Being champ comes with certain responsibilities, and while she’s shouldering them, one sometimes gets the impression it’s more by sheer force of will than any actual understanding of what she’s supposed to be doing.
Despite that, this went almost exactly to plan for Yotsuba. They kept it simple in the build. Miya was confident that her size and power would see her through, while Mei scoffed at such things. It was a story that ran right into the match itself. While Mei was quicker and smarter, often dancing just out of Miya’s reach, whenever she did stray into grabbing territory, she was instantly in trouble. Time after time, Miya hoisted her up and down across that knee, softening up Suruga’s back. The longer that went on, the more Mei was struggling, and while it never felt like Yotsuba completely took control, there was a sense that one big move would see it off.
And that’s one of those simple stories that will almost always work. Genius vs power. Suruga had answers to so much of what Miya threw at her, but for the first time in their relationship, she wasn’t alone in that. Yotsuba has spent her entire career watching Mei, and now she’s at the point where she’s good enough to use that knowledge. Whenever Mei threw out her winning hand, it turned out Miya had a hidden Ace up her sleeve, ready to ruin her day and take the pot back home. It was the student catching up with the master, and proving they’re capable of meeting them on equal ground.
Which isn’t the same as being better than them. Miya beat Mei on this day, but it wasn’t definitive. While it was her first win, and that’s a big one, it wasn’t a passing of the torch. Suruga will be back, ready to take her place at the top of the company again. Until then, a more exciting figure has emerged. When Miya won this belt, I pointed out that while the cameras were focused on Mei, one Chie Koishikawa was standing in front of me, fury painted across her face. While Miya turned her eyes towards Suruga, she forgot about the person she barged past in the queue. Maybe, just maybe, the reason it’s not Mei’s time, is that it’s Chie’s time.
Aja Kong vs Arisu Endo, Summer Sun Princess (18/7/26), TJPW
Arisu Endo has found something this year. She’s been good for ages, but between her scene-stealing performance against Spark Rush and this match, she’s really stepped up a level. It’s funny, for a long time, Suzume was ahead of her, and then at the height of their tag run I thought Endo overtook her partner. Now, while they’re doing quite different things, I couldn’t split them. They’re both excelling with every opportunity they get.
And Endo’s recent growth has benefited greatly from being positioned as an underdog with a point to prove. Against Spark Rush, it was because Takumi and Sareee were overlooking her. Against Aja, it was from a desire to prove she’d learnt the lesson Kong passed down to her after that match. That, when you’re going to take a beating, it’s always better to at least leave your mark. There were a bunch of great moments here, with Arisu punching Aja across the jaw being an obvious highlight. However, I also loved the point where she got her hands on the bin. For a second, I was worried they were pulling the often cringeworthy idea of the babyface refusing to bend the rules despite everything being against them, but they were smarter than that. While she might not have cracked it over Aja’s head, she threw it into her hands before following up with a superkick, which had much the same effect.
I made this point already in my main review, but as great as Arisu was, this was also Aja Kong’s match. She was so good here. Dominant and powerful, while being willing to give Endo exactly what she needed. She showed the perfect amount of vulnerability before finally cutting her off. Yes, Arisu was never actually going to win, but that didn’t matter. What mattered was that she stared Kong in the eye, gave it her all, and went down swinging. Coming out of this match, she feels set-up to do basically anything. I’d be happy with her winning the Princess Cup and having a go at the big belt, challenging her pal Suzume or simply being entrusted with these prestige matches on big shows. Whatever it is, on current form, I’m fairly confident she’ll continue to smash it.
Chihiro Hashimoto vs Syuri, Sendai Girls 20th Anniversary (20/7/26), Sendai Girls
Big Hash does it again.
Sendai Girls are hot right now. Shows are selling out months in advance, and the crowd that is turning up are invested. Earlier on this card, the woman next to me was openly weeping as Reina Takano wrestled. Thanks to Senjo Spirit, people have an emotional attachment to the wrestlers that most companies would kill for. It gave this main event the feeling of a home game. Big Hash was on her turf, battling against an outsider who, while popular, is crucially not one of the fan’s wrestlers. Apart from one stubborn voice, the room was united in Hashimoto’s corner.
And I think this would have been a great match regardless, but that really elevated it. There was a moment towards the end when Syuri grabbed the sleeper that won her their previous encounter, and it felt like everyone rose as one, desperate for it not to end the same way again. It was a perfect piece of wrestling. With a second of thought, you realise they’re not going to pull the same trick twice. In the moment, you’re not thinking about that. Caught up in the emotion of the room, you can’t stop yourself from going with it. You react the same way you do when a striker is slipped through and is charging towards your keeper, a combo of panic and desperate hope that someone can save the day.
Thankfully, here, Big Hash did. God, I love watching her wrestle. There’s such a physicality to her. It’s not just the suplexes and the clubbing blows, but the way she carries herself. While she’s far from the tallest person in the world, she has such a huge presence. When she hits something, it stays hit, and I could watch her throw wrestlers around all day. I should also praise Syuri, though. I’ve probably been harsh on her in recent years. She’s become, much like Utami, connected with that awful Stardom main event style in my head. Thankfully, this was a reminder of the wrestler I was a huge fan of before she made that move. She might not be the force of nature Hashimoto is, but everything looks great, and her offence is strong enough to make her feel like a threat. If you were to throw an unfair criticism at Hashimoto, she’s perhaps a touch too unbeatable. It’s hard to see anyone bringing her down. Luckily, Syuri finds a way to break through that.
It made for one of those perfect storms. Two great wrestlers, with strong chemistry, coming together in front of a committed crowd. I can’t imagine not enjoying this, as they avoided most of the pitfalls of this main event style to create something thrilling. Let’s hope it’s not the last time we see these two square off.
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