Rambles about the wonderful world of wrestling.
Between music festivals, weddings, trips to lochs and catching COVID for the first time, July was a busy month for me, so I can’t promise I saw all the good wrestling that was available (not that I ever do). However, I can promise I managed to find time to watch some (mainly during the COVID part of the month), so there will be plenty for you to get your teeth into. We’ve got Baka Gaijin, Sendai Girls and more! Enjoy.
Continue reading “Ramblings About’s Matches of the Months for July 2024”
It is sometimes easy to forget during these emotional wrestling goodbyes that the person leaving isn’t dying or even retiring in the traditional sense. Nao Kakuta is 37. She is young enough to live a whole other life – two if she fancies it. By the time actual retirement comes around, wrestling will be something she used to do. A part of her time on this planet that people she talks to in pubs don’t believe happened. Yet, even knowing all of that, the emotion is so real. Solid, dependable Nao, who makes every TJPW undercard match at least 20% better, is vanishing from the world through which we interact with her. Sure, she might pop up now and then, but the (hopefully healthy) parasocial relationship we’ve established with her is dead, and that’s always going to be a sad thing.
Continue reading “Nao Kakuta vs Mizuki, Nao Kakuta Graduation Commemorative (25/7/24), TJPW Review”
While the Princess Cup is just around the corner, Miu Watanabe had one more challenge to overcome before she got there. Her Daydream partner, Rika Tatsumi, wanted a shot at the title. Not only was it another one of the names that made TJPW what it is, but in their three previous meetings, Miu had never picked up the win. Could she finally overcome her good friend? Or was the White Dragon about to throttle her way to a second run with the belt? Let’s find out!
Continue reading “TJPW Summer Sun Princess ’24 (20/7/24) Review”
Tokyo Joshi returned to Korakuen Hall with a show that, on paper, is one of their weaker big efforts this year. There were some intriguing combos scattered through the undercard, but with the title matches involving foreign talent I either know nothing about or have little investment in, it’s hard to get too excited about it. Still, you never know when the next Max the Impaler might turn up, and there is every chance someone will blow me away.
Continue reading “TJPW Prism ’24 (9/6/24) Review”
It’s been a bit of a sad weekend to be a TJPW fan. The announcement that Hikari Noa would be graduating from both the Up Up Girls and the company wasn’t surprising, but it still hurt. Noa has been an integral part of Tokyo Joshi since I started watching, and someone I’ve always had a lot of time for, so to see her depart so unceremoniously leaves a bitter taste in the mouth. One suspects that idol politics is at play, but I have no wish to delve into those murky waters. I simply hope she’s okay and that, if she wishes, we see her pop up somewhere else.
Away from the sadness, TJPW were in Shinkiba for the latest stop of their Spring tour. Let’s see what went down.Â
Continue reading “TJPW Spring Live Tour (18/5/24) Review”
With all their big shows and adventures in America, it feels like a long time since we got a Tokyo Joshi trip to Korakuen Hall. I know they do grander things now, but this company in that room occupies a special place in my heart. So, let’s see what went down.Â
Continue reading “TJPW Yes! Wonderland ’24 (6/5/24) Review”
Korakuen Hall is on the horizon, and with an intriguing card already booked, TJPW were back in Kitazawa to try and get us just that little more excited. Would they be successful? Let’s find out.Â
Continue reading “TJPW Live Tour Spring (27/4/24) Review”
Gatoh Move continued their Road to Korakuen with a trip to Kitazawa Town Hall, rocking up on the same day TJPW held an enjoyable show headlined by Juria Nagano’s retirement. Did Gatoh make it two for two? Let’s find out.
Continue reading “Gatoh Move Road to Korakuen – Challengers (13/4/24) Review”
Goodbyes suck, but sadly, as a wrestling fan, you get used to them. Juria Nagano hasn’t been around as long as some of the people we have had to wave farewell to, but she’s still hollowed out a little niche for herself as part of the TJPW roster, so she deserves a rousing send-off. Let’s see if that’s what she got.
Continue reading “TJPW Live Tour 2024 Spring (13/4/24) Review”
Tokyo Joshi returned to Sumo Hall for one of the most important shows of the year (it’s certainly the one I care about the most). Fittingly, they’ve gone all out. We’ve got giant pandas, Kyoraku Kyomei trying to take down kaiju, and Miu Watanabe getting her shot at the Ace! That’s just the beginning, too. It is a card that only gets better the longer you look at it, so let’s see what went down.
Continue reading “TJPW Grand Princess ’24 (21/3/24) Review”
Ramblings About Wrestling 