25), TJPW

I adore how Shoko has used the 619 recently. Credit: TJPW

The times they are a-changing in TJPW. I can’t quite pinpoint when it started, but there has been a noticeable shift towards working a limb. My completely baseless assumption is that with Yuka Sakazaki gone and Miyu Yamashita spending more time working overseas, it’s a consequence of the growing influence of Shoko Nakajima (and perhaps, to a lesser extent, Rika Tatsumi), which could never be a bad thing. It’s been particularly evident in 2025’s Princess Cup. Both semi-finals saw at least one body part being treated most unkindly, and I don’t think that would have been the case a year ago, never mind even further back. It’s a noticeable shift in the house style that seems to be carving itself into the company’s roots.

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19/08/2025 1

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

Suzume vs Yuki Arai, Princess Cup (10/8/24), TJPW Review

If all else fails, drop a boot on her head. Credit: TJPW

Suzume is a great tournament wrestler. In real sports, that speaks to an ability to eke out victories, finding a way to win one-off games against teams that you might not be expecting to beat. In wrestling, I think it speaks more to someone’s versatility. Whether TJPW asks her to make a deep run, lose in the first round or land anywhere in between, you can always rely on Suzume to impress in the Princess Cup. Part of that is that she is incredibly talented, but it’s also because she finds a way to be so against a host of different people.

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13/08/2024 0

Ryo Mizunami vs Haru Kazashiro, Princess Cup (3/8/24), TJPW Review

Welcome to the party, Haru. Credit: TJPW

I find it hard to divorce my feelings about this match from the picture that Haru posted on Twitter afterwards. In it, she has a huge smile plastered across her face as she shows off the damage a match worth of Aniki’s offence does to one’s chest. It tells you everything you need to know. Wrestling nerd Haru, who came into this company as a shy and awkward wee thing, stepped into the ring with someone who has been doing this since before she was born, and while she didn’t win, she did survive. She took her licks, proved her toughness and, in the process, even gave Aniki a scare or two.

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04/08/2024 0

Moka Miyamoto vs Mizuki, Tokyo Princess Cup (28/7/24), TJPW Review

Moka Miyamoto is an easy wrestler to take for granted. Part of that comes from her being the person TJPW trusts to fill the gaps. She’s the one who takes the fall in the tag match with the big-name outsider or is tasked with shaving some of the rough edges off the latest idol who has decided to give wrestling a go. It’s a talent that every company needs, someone who can fill any role on the card, but it can also be an unforgiving spot to find yourself in. The spotlight is rarely shone your way because of something you did, and I would imagine that can be frustrating.

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31/07/2024 0

Ramblings About’s 2022 Match of the Year: Miu Watanabe vs Yuka Sakazaki

Coming into 2022’s Princess Cup Final, it felt like the focus was entirely on Miu Watanabe. With good reason, too. Miu going deep in the tournament, beating Shoko Nakajima and Miyu Yamashita on the way, felt like the stepping up of Tokyo Joshi’s next generation. Yes, they’ve made it to main events and battled for titles before, but no one had ever done it by going through two of the heads on TJPW’s Mount Rushmore. Miu was brute forcing her way to the top, breaking down walls for those who followed, and people were desperate for her to go the distance.

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30/12/2022 1

TJPW Princess Cup (15/8/21) Review

After a mindbogglingly good first day at Korakuen, Tokyo Joshi is back to wrap up these Princess Cup shenanigans. My prediction of a Mizuki vs Shoko final didn’t come to be, but I did predict Shoko to win, so I might not have got it completely wrong. I guess it’s time to find out.

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16/08/2021 1

TJPW Princess Cup (31/8/21) Review

A rare chance to catch The Ace off-guard. Credit: TJPW

It’s quarter-final time in the Princess Cup, and while certain other joshi tournaments might be kicking off, we all know this is where the real action is. Coming in, I was fairly confident how one of these matches would end but could have easily been convinced either way with the other three, so we are in exciting territory here.

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03/08/2021 0

TJPW Princess Cup (25/7/21) Review

Day four of four, as Tokyo Joshi finished up their run at Shinkiba with the rest of the Princess Cup Second Round. Everything they’ve done so far has been enjoyable, so let’s see if they can keep it up.

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26/07/2021 0