Ramblings About’s Matches of the Month for April 2025

April into May is my busiest time of the year, so please excuse this list being a touch less fleshed out than usual. I had to leave a bunch of matches I would have liked to write about on the cutting room floor, and the to-watch list is pretty hefty coming into May (I still haven’t even seen the Satomura retirement show). Still, hopefully, there’s something here you haven’t seen or at least an interesting opinion on something you have. Enjoy!

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01/05/2025 0

Mizuki vs Miyu Yamashita, TJPW Live in Las Vegas (18/4/25)

I was going to do a full review of this show, but having done my initial watch with friends, and therefore not exactly spent time taking notes, that would require watching it all again, and I can’t put up with that much of the fucking atrocious commentary and ring announcing. That shit is always excruciating in America (and Britain, to be fair), but it’s even worse when it’s about something you like.

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24/04/2025 0

TJPW Grand Princess (16/3/25) Review

That’s one way to block Whirling Candy. Credit: TJPW

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.

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17/03/2025 0

Ramblings About’s Matches of the Month for February 2025

Raku is in charge of the train now. Credit: TJPW

It doesn’t matter if the month is long or short – I always get to the end of it feeling like there are at least twenty matches I haven’t got to yet. Despite that, I think February’s ramble has a nice selection of gems to get excited about. There’s all the usual stuff (Ice Ribbon, ChocoPro and TJPW), but also a bit more lucha, a touch of New Japan and a trip over to Evolution, who are becoming one of my favourite promotions outside of my typical fare to keep up with. Hopefully, there is something there that you’ll enjoy, and if you think I’m missing anything particularly exciting, drop it in the comments.

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01/03/2025 2

TJPW Max Heart Tournament Final (8/2/25), TJPW Review

That’s one way to stop them. Credit: TJPW

The Max Heart comes to an end, as TJPW managed to find the one team I might not complain about beating Kyoraku Kyomei. It should be Shoko and Misao’s time, but there is no world in which I would get grumpy about a Pompaler win. That Koda is a sneaky bugger. Anyway, you probably already know the result because it was several days ago, so let’s get on with the rambles.

(I want to quickly mention that you should be checking out friend-of-the-site Sebastian’s TJPW reviews. They’re a brilliant writer, and while I hope you’ll continue to read mine, you’re missing out if you’re not reading them.)

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11/02/2025 0

Tokyo Joshi Pro ’25 (4/1/25) Review

Mizuki doing Mizuki things. Credit: TJPW

Should I make the joke? Let’s make the joke. It’s Ittenyon, so it’s time to enjoy the biggest show in town. Yup, TJPW made their annual trip to Korakuen Hall, and as usual, they’ve put together a hell of a card for it. Would they deliver? I certainly wouldn’t bet against them, but let’s find out.

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06/01/2025 0

TJPW Wrestle Princess 5 (22/9/24) Review

Gearing up for one more hit. Credit: TJPW

I know it’s how time works, but I’m still unsure how a year has passed since Miyu Yamashita defeated Mizuki for the Princess of Princess title at Wrestle Princess 4. Yet, somehow, here we are, Wrestle Princess 5. Neither Yamashita nor Mizuki were in the main event, as the shining new face of Miu Watanabe looked to defend her title from outsider and Princess Cup holder, Ryo Mizunami. Elsewhere, Tokyo Joshi’s favourite god and ghost married couple go head-to-head, Pom has got some big pals, and Daisy Monkey’s title reign faces its biggest threat yet. Sounds like a good day, right? Let’s find out if it was.

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24/09/2024 1

Gatoh Move – To The Future

Gatoh Move probably shouldn’t have survived the last five years. When COVID shut down wrestling in Japan as we knew it, things looked bleak for even the big promotions, never mind the tiny one that inhabits an old dentist’s in Ichigaya. Emi Sakura has admitted that she thought it was the end, and honestly, with the world seemingly burning down, would anyone have blamed her for giving up? Thankfully, she’s made of tougher stuff. Instead of curling up in a ball, she took a wild swing, calling on an old friend in Minoru Suzuki and putting on a show intended entirely for YouTube. On that day, ChocoPro was born, and while we didn’t know it yet, Gatoh Move was saved.

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09/09/2024 0

Ramblings About’s Matches of the Month for August 2024

He’s a bit good that Dragon. Credit: AEW

August saw me attend some wrestling live as I put myself through the nightmare that was an MJF vs Will Ospreay match to see AEW at Wembley, alongside a wee jaunt to RevPro and EVE. More on that later. It was also another relatively busy month for me, so I haven’t quite hit everything I would have liked to see, but that’s just how it goes. There’s still plenty of good wrestling to enjoy!

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02/09/2024 2

TJPW Princess Cup Final (25/8/24) Review

2024’s Princess Cup was guaranteed a first-time winner, as we had a battle between TJPW stalwart Yuki Aino and outsider Ryo Mizunami. I think there’s an argument that neither was an obvious choice at the start of the tournament, although perhaps Mizunami should have been. However, I wouldn’t complain about either of them getting a match with Miu Watanabe, so I’ll be happy regardless. We’re also down a few roster members, as Miyu Yamashita, Raku, HIMAWARI and Mahiro Kiryu were in the UK wrestling for EVE (a show I was at). Anyway, on with the fun.

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28/08/2024 0