Ren Konatsu vs Suzume, Spring Tour In Nagoya (1/6/25), TJPW

The Arai influence comes through in the facial expressions. Credit: TJPW

When looking at a wrestler’s debut, I think it’s important to focus on what is there rather than what’s lacking. Despite what some like to claim, no one turns fully formed, and as brilliant as the likes of Mio Momono and Mei Suruga proved to be in their rookie years, they’ve only improved since. I’ve previously joked that I consider it a successful first match if they can make it through without hiding under the ring, crying (too much) or dropping someone on their head, but there’s a degree of truth to it. This isn’t music, no one’s best showing is their debut, so if you can get through it without messing up and, in the process, give the world a glimpse of what makes you special, then you’ve done damn well.

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Ramblings About’s Matches of the Month for May 2025

The bee and the chappy. Credit: TJPW

For the second month in a row, I’ve left a whole bunch of matches I would have loved to write about on the table. That’s partly because I was still incredibly busy at the start of May, so I’m working my way through my backlog, and partly because my brain hasn’t been playing fair recently, and I’ve been struggling to do, well, anything. However, I did manage to get a few words down, so hopefully, there’s something here to enjoy! Fingers crossed that normal service will be resumed next month.

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Marvelous 9th Anniversary (5/5/25) Ramblings

Credit: Marvelous

I hate reviewing one-day tournaments. The nature of the beast is that you end up with a bunch of short, simple matches that don’t necessarily lend themselves to my usual ramblings. I could, of course, cut it all back, but I don’t really see the point. Writing a 100 words that don’t say anything isn’t quite as mind-numbingly stupid as describing a match move-for-move, but it’s equally valueless. However, there was still stuff I wanted to talk about on this show, so I’m not going to skip it entirely. Instead of the usual shtick, here’s some semi-organised ramblings about Marvelous’s latest trip to Korakuen.

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Ramblings About’s Matches of the Month for April 2025

Things got violent. Credit: DDT

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

Everyone had a good time. Credit: TJPW

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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Aja Kong vs Senka Akatsuki, Marvelous (17/4/25)

A lot of people have looked up at Aja Kong like that. Credit: Screenshot

There was a lot of stuff going down over WrestleMania weekend, and while it would be easy for me to be comically dismissive of it, there was actually a decent amount that caught me eye. Thanks to TJPW putting together a Korakuen-level card and a host of my favourites making the journey to Las Vegas, there were nuggets of gold to be found amongst the usual troupe of interchangeable white men (I swear the same guy came out about twenty times during the Clusterfuck). And yet, out of all the wrestling that was happening, the match that stood out to me was a standard rookie vs legend showdown, the type you can see on nearly any card in Japan most weekends. Why? Senka Akatsuki, that’s why.

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Takumi Iroha vs Sora Ayame, Marvelous (6/4/24)

Ow. Credit: Here

Takumi Iroha frustrates me. She has all the tools required to be an incredible Ace, but all too often, it feels like she’s holding back. It’s most evident in her tendency to slap her thigh rather than really punish people with those kicks, but it also shows elsewhere. She’s too cool (and protected) to convincingly play the underdog, but she also never seems to dominate people quite like I’d hope. I suspect it’s why my favourite matches of hers are often against other Marvelous wrestlers. Facing off with a Mio Momono or even an Ai Houzan, she feels comfortable enough to unleash. Yet, when you put her up against Mayumi Ozaki, setting her up to avenge Marvelous’s beatings, she doesn’t have the grit to make it feel definitive. Sadly for Sora Ayame, she had no such qualms when facing her.

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Ramblings About’s Matches of the Month for March 2025

My hero. Credit: TJPW

I thought I hadn’t watched that much wrestling this month, but the length of this list would suggest otherwise. Maybe I was only tuning into the good stuff? It also nips to a few of my less-visited locales, as we stop off in America, Mexico and Germany alongside all the usual Japanese nonsense. Does that sound like a good time? I certainly hope so.

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Sendai Girls The Top of Joshi Wrestling (19/3/25) Review

Oka always succeeds at being weird. Credit: Sendai Girls

Not many wrestlers can claim to be unbeaten against Meiko Satomura one-on-one, but Chihiro Hashimoto has the honour. With Satomura’s retirement on the horizon, they butted heads one last time. Would Meiko end her career by finally getting one over her prized pupil? Well, this show happened several days ago, so I imagine you already know, but hey, let’s keep the non-existent tension going.

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