Dream Slam Weekly (Vol. 8): Rin Kadokura Joins In-Laws on National TV

June 18, 2022 Karen Peterson Exclusives, NEWS, RECOMMENDED

Dream Slam Weekly (vol. 8)!

By: Karen Peterson

Someone put me on a plane to Japan because the more of these shows that get announced, the more and more I wish I could be over there watching them all live! So many wonderful shows are on the docket as we prepare to close out June and get into the height of summer in Japan. For those who have never been there, summers are hot and humid, and virtually every weekend (and sometimes on the weekdays), there are festivals galore. While it’s also the rainy season and the constant buzz of cicadas is in the air, summertime over there reminds me of summertime here in Florida.

The other great thing I love seeing are new faces packing their bags and heading to Japan for their first tours like RHIO who just finished hers or —OMG I AM OVER THE MOON– Willow Nightingale heading over in July with TJPW. Amazon is also killing it over in SEAdLINNG, too. I can’t say enough wonderful things about TJPW, Marvelous and even some freelancers skipping out on Tokyo to come to the US and Europe well. I guess my only complaint, is that I can’t be there to see all these amazing matches and the world seems to march further on toward feeling “like normal” once more. 

International Excursions & Adventures

Results!

  • Miyu Yamashita defeated Miyuki Takase at Deadlock Pro’s No Pressure (June 11th Broadcast; 15:27) 

This Weekend!

Pro-Wrestling EVE’s SHE-1 (June 18th-19th) – VENY (Asuka) & Takumi Iroha join ten other exceptionally talented women in this four-show, three-block, two-day wrestling spectacular. Blocks were assigned on June 15th.

  • A Block: VENY, RHIO, Skye Smitson (EVE Tag Team Champion), & Alex Windsor
  • B Block: KASEY, Rhia O’Reilly (EVE Tag Team Champion), Laura Di Matteo, & Jetta (EVE Champion)
  • C Block: Charlie Morgan, Takumi Iroha (Marvelous), Emersyn Jayne, & TBA

*UPDATE* Jamie Hayter (2019 SHE-1 Winner) was scheduled to compete as a participant in C Block, but due to travel complications, they will not be able to make their scheduled date.  

Live Streams – The first half will be aired free with the second half exclusive to YouTube members only. The archive will be YT Channel Members on the EVE CHampion ($9.99) EVEonDemand Tier.

Coming Soon!

Introductions & Round-up (alphabetical)

DIANA

Post di Amistad (6/12) Results

  • Singles Match: Ayako Sato defeated Kaketsu Sekiguchi (11:35)
  • Tag Team Match: Jaguar Yokota/Miran defeated Himiko/Kyoko Inoue (12:05)
  • Best 2-of-3 Falls Match: Nanami defeated Deborah K:  [2:1] (18:06) 
  • Tag Match: Luminous (Haruka Umesaki/Miyuki Takase) defeated Madeline/Rina Amikura (16:35) – Non-title tag match

Yamagata (6/25) Match Card

    • Opening Singles Match: Himiko vs. Miran
  • DEWA ProWorks Exhibition Tag Match
  • Singles Match: Miyuki Takase & Deborah K 
  • Tag Match: Mika Iwata & Madelaine  vs. Yuu & Chihiro Hashimoto
  • 6-Woman Tag match: Ayako Sato, Jaguar Yokota & Haruka Umesaki vs. Kyoko Inoue, Aja Kong & Nanami

Yamagata (6/26) Match Card

    • Opening Singles Match: Nanami vs. Miran
  • DEWA ProWorks Exhibition 6-Man Tag Match
  • Singles Match: Yuu & Deborah K 
  • Tag Match: Miyuki Takase & Haruka Umesaki vs. AKINO & Himiko
  • 6-Woman Tag match: Kyoko Inoue, Mayumi Ozaki & Ayako Sato vs. Jaguar Yokota, Aja Kong & Madelaine

Gatoh Move & ChocoPro

  • ChocoPro Live! #234 – Best Bros. vs. Mizumori/Koishikawa
  • ChocoPro Live! #235 – Killer Queens vs. Dragon Ninja Sayuri/Choun Shinryu

Upcoming Appearances

Ganbare☆Pro Wrestling

Wrestle Sekigahara (7/10)

  • GanPro/DDT Trios Match: GP (Shinichiro Tominaga, Mizuki Watase, & Moeka Haruhi) vs. Eruption (Yukio Sakaguchi, Saki Akai & Hideki Okatani)
  • Singles Match: Yuna Manase (GanPro) vs. Unagi Sayaka (Stardom) 

Upcoming Appearances: 

  • YuuRi vs. Mai Sakurai (Stardom) New Blood 3 (7/8)

Girls’ Pro-Wrestling Unit COLOR’S
Next Big Event: Yes, My Way 3 (7/15) ShinKiba 1st Ring

  • Three-Way Battle (1/15): Maika Ozaki vs. Kakeru Sekiguchi vs. Momo Tani
  • Singles Match (1/20): Yuko Sakurai (COLOR’S) vs. Yumiko Hotta
  • Tag Match (1/20): Hikari Shimizu (COLOR’S) & Tae Honma vs. Kako Kobayashi & Sakuran Bonita
  • Semi-Final Singles Match (1/20): Rina Amikura (COLOR’S) vs. Takumi Iroha
  • Main Event 6-Woman Tag (1/30): SAKI (COLOR’S), Riko Kawahata & Makoto vs. Kaori Yoneyama, Momoka Hanazono & Yuna Mizumori

Upcoming Appearances

  • Stardom: SAKI & Hikari Shimizu (6/28) Korakuen Hall; 8-Woman Tag with Pink Kabuki (Mina Shirakawa & Unagi Sayaka) against Queen’s Quest (UtamiHayashishita, Saya Kamitani, AZM & Lady C)

GLEAT 

G Pro-Wrestling #27 Results (6/11; Umeda Stella Hall, Osaka) 

  • Max Voltage (Ryo Mizunami & Nanae Takahashi) defeated GLEAT (Michiko Miyagi/Yukari Hosokawa

G Pro-Wrestling #28 Preview (6/19; Sapporo ii-one Stadium, Hokkaido) 

  • Tag Match: Michiko Miyagi & Hamuko Hoshi (Ice Ribbon) vs. Ami Kanda (Hokuto PW) & Yappy (Ice Ribbon)

Next Big Event: Anniversary Show (7/1; Tokyo Dome City Hall) 

  • Nanae Takahashi, Michiko Miyagi & Yukari Hosokawa versus Sendai Girls (Dash Chisako, Yurika Oka & Mika Iwata)

Ice Ribbon

New Ice Ribbon #1205 (6/11) Results

  • Exhibition Match: Kaho Matsushita defeated Arisa Shinose [1:0] (3:00)
  • Singles Match: Madeline defeated Yappy (7:32)
  • Singles Match: Sumika Yanagawa vs.  Yuko Sakurai (10:00) – Time Limit Draw
  • Tam Match: Amin (Rina Amikura)/Totoro Satsuki defeated CREA/Kaho Matsushita (11:12)
  • Singles Match: Tae Honma defeated Asahi (10:22)

CMLL to send Superestrellas to Ice Ribbon! On June 8th, CMLL announced on their program CMLL Informa that Dalys and Stephanie Vaquer will be Japan bound in late July. They will participate on IR’s 7/31 card at Korakuen Hall.

Princess’ Party Vol 3 (6/15)

The show also had a live solo singing performance by A-min (Amikura) scheduled, but due to her voice not being in good condition, this portion of the party got canceled. 

  • Tag Match: Asahi & Kaho Matsushita defeated Yappy & YuuRi (GanPro) (11:49)
  • Tag Match: A-min (Rina Amikura; COLOR’S) & Haruka Umesaki defeated Yuko Sakurai (COLOR’S) & Sumika Yanagawa (JTO) (15:49)

Next Show: Yokohama Ribbon (Tournament Quarter-Finals; 6/18) – Yokohama Radiant Hall

  • Exhibition Match (1/3): Hamiko Hoshi vs. Arisa Shinose
  • Tournament Match: Tae Honma vs. Totoro Satsuki (6/18)
  • Tag Match (1/20): Cherry & Kiku vs. Asahi & Kaho Matsushita
  • 8-Woman Match (1/30): Ram Kaicho (666), Rina Yamashita, Maya Yukihi & Saran vs. Hami Hoshi, Yuko Sakurai (COLOR’S), Sumika Yanagawa (JTO), NATSUMI (ChoHanabi)
  • Tournament Match: Saori Anou vs. A~min (Rina Amikura)
  • Tournament Match: Makoto vs. Yuki Mashiro
  • Tournament Match: Maika Ozaki vs. Ibuki Hoshi

ICE RIBBON 2022 Schedule

    • IR 1209 (6/25)
    • IR (6/26) Korakuen Hall
    • Princess’ Party Vol. 4 (6/29)
  • Full schedule at link above

JUST TAP OUT 

The Queen of JTO Tournament finals will see Tomoka Inaba and Aoi square off at JTO’s Third Anniversary Show on July 9th. Misa Kagura, rhythm & Sumika Yanagawa are also listed on the poster, but no matches announced for them yet. 

Marvelous

Mio Momono Return Show Live Stream Tickets (6/24) Momono has been out for quite some time with an injury but recently, she announced her clearance and return to in-ring action. Marvelous is heavily promoting her return, complete with English instructions on how to order the live stream in English!

Newlywed Rin Kadokura Joins In-Laws on National TV On the June 13th broadcast of Shabekuri 007, a variety TV show hosted by seven popular Japanese comedians, Rin Kadokura and her husband, Kennousuke Sasaki, joined her new father-in-law Kensuke Sasaki and mother-in-law, Akira Hokuto in their first TV appearance since their marriage. Whether or not the newlyweds will also make an eventual foray into variety TV programming like Sasaki/Hokuto remains to be seen, but it seems that Rin will continue wrestling for the time being. 

Both Sasaki and Hokuto have been popular TV talents with Sasaki continuing to wrestle until his retirement in 2014. Hokuto retired from wrestling in 2002, and among her countless projects is her wildly popular YouTube Cooking channel (with over 231K subscribers). 

Sapporo Two-Days Tour Results TBA (6/11-12)

Last weekend, Marvelous had two shows in Hokkaido, however between the traveling to and from northern Japan and Takumi Iroha and Chigusa Nagayo heading to London for Pro-Wrestling EVE’s SHE-1 this weekend. As the company hasn’t posted any concrete results, aside from the AAAW Tag Team Defense for Aoki/Kadokura, the matches are listed here with full results pending.  

Marvelous, Be Ambitious! (6/11) Results Pending

  • Opening Match (1/15): Maria vs. Ai Houzan
  • Singles Match (1/15): Noriyuki Yoshida vs. Leo Isaka
  • Three-Way Match (1/15): Itsuki Aoki vs. Riko Kawahata vs. Yurika Oka
  • Semi-Final (1/15): Rin Kadokura vs. Chie Ozora
  • Main Event: Tag Team Match (1/30): Tomoko Watanabe & Takumi Iroha vs. SAKI (COLOR’S) & Chikayo Nagashima

Marvelous, Be Ambitious! (6/12) Results Pending

  • Opening Three-Way Match (1/15): Chikayo Nagashima vs. SAKI (COLOR’S) vs. Chie Ozora
  • Singles Match (1/15): Noriyuki Yoshida vs. Leo Isaka
  • Singles Match (1/15): Tomoko Watanabe vs. Yurika Oka
  • Semi-Final (1/15): Takumi Iroha vs. Ai Houzan
  • Main Event: AAAW Tag Team Championship (1/30): Itsuki Aoki & Rin Kadokura defeated Maria & Riko Kawahata (16:20); This was the champions’ first successful defense

Maria & Riko Kawahata (T-HEARTS) form MAGENTA! While on tour in Sapporo, Marvelous’ Maria and T-HEART’s Riko Kawahata debuted a new tag team entrance theme complete with a dance routine! Can’t wait to see where they take this next!

Enjoy Chigusa Nagayo (?) losing her mind over Rin Kadokura’s new entrance gown… a handmade gift from her new mother-in-law Akira Hakuto!!

Hikaru Shida Returns for MAKAI Vol. 70! FIREBALL, the next stage production by MAKAI will be on July 15th at Nakano Zero Hall. Shida reprises her role as ‘Tsuruhime’ in the historical drama with a modern musical twist. 

https://twitter.com/shidahikaru/status/1526474656017813505?s=20

Marvelous 2022 Calendar

  • ShinKiba 1st Ring (6/24)
  • Kariya (7/9) Aiai Hall, Kariya City Industrial Promotion Center, Aichi Prefecture
  • Osaka (7/10) 176BOX, Osaka Prefecture
  • ShinKiba 1st Ring (7/22)
  • Korakuen (8/8) 
  • Yokohama (8/14) venue TBA
  • ShinKiba 1st Ring (8/23)
  • Tochigi (9/4) Oyama City Culture Center, Tochigi Prefecture 
  • Oita (9/11) Nakatsu Sports Center, Oita Prefecture
  • ShinKiba 1st Ring (9/16)
  • Chiba (9/23) TKP Garden City

NOMADS’ Freelance Summit! Volume 2 (8/5) Shinjuku FACE

At the conclusion of their first Freelance Summit in May, the NOMADS’ Event Committee announced the date for volume 2! Just in time for the height of summer and fireworks festivals all over Japan, this time around NOMADS’ selected a summer theme! The first talent announcements include Hiroyo Matsumoto, Yuu, and all four members of GPU COLOR’S (SAKI, Yuki Sakurai, Hikari Shimizu & Rina Amikura). This time around all four members of the event committee (Rina Yamashita, Maya Yukihi, Sumire Natsu & Miyuki Takase) are also expected to
participate.

OZ Academy (6/19) Shinjuku FACE

  • Opening Singles Match (1/20): Hiroyo Matsumoto vs. Itsuki Aoki
  • Tag Match (1/30): Tsubasa Kuragaki & X vs. Maya Yukihi & Saori Anou
  • Semi-Main Event: OZ Academy Pioneer3-Way Championship Match (1/30) OZ Academy Rina Yamashita vs. Mayumi Ozaki vs. Momoka Hanazono
  • Main Event: 6-Woman Tag Match (Three Falls/60-Minute Time Limit!) AKINO & 
  • AKINO, Sonoko Kato, & Kakeru Sekiguchi vs. Aja Kong, Kaori Yoneyama & Yuu

OZ Academy 2022 Calendar 

  • Shinjuku FACE (7/18)
  • Nagoya Diamond Hall (7/31)
  • Bad Moon Rising (9/11) Shinjuku FACE 
  • Bad Moon Rising Osaka (9/18) 176BOX
  • Battle Big Bonus in Okinawa (10/16)
  • Nagoya Diamond Hall (11/27)
  • Bad Moon Rising Osaka (12/11) 176BOX

PleinsGaz! 20th Anniversary Show

It seems I am going to need to hop on the NicoNico Douga streaming platform train because I didn’t know about this show until I saw photos of the main event involving Yuu and Minoru Suzuki!! The archive requires the purchase of a live stream ticket! While I am not all that familiar with the brand, they seem to be in the wrestling gear-making game as well.

  • Opening Tag Match: Kotaro Nasu & Nobuhiro Shimatani defeated Keiichi Sato & Rocky Kawamura 2 by TKO (13:49)
  • Singles Match: Takumi Iroha defeated YAKO (9:27)
  • Singles Match: Jake Lee defeated Fuminori Abe (12:40)
  • Tag Team Match: Maya Yukihi & Nagisa Nozaki vs. Miyuki Takase & SAKI – Time Limit Draw (20:00)
  • Main Event Six-Person Mixed Tag Match: Minoru Suzuki, PG Hidy & PG Melty defeated Hikaru Sato, Masato Shibata & Yuu (18:28)

Prominence 

At CyberFight Festival, Prominence hung out at the Miyako Matsumoto Event Booth. They played games, jumped rope… and well… street fight wrestling broke out. Even Naomi Marufuji went from casual spectator to doling out chops!

Prominence 3: Haten Kouen (Catching Fire) (6/25) – ShinKiba 1st Ring

  • Suzu Suzuki 10 Match Challenge Match #1: Violent Jack vs. Suzu Suzuki
  • DUAL SHOCK WAVE Tag Match (1/30): Yuki Miyazaki & Hibiscus Mii © vs. Mongol & Mochi Natsumi
  • Tag Match: Risa Sera & Chris Brookes vs. Miyako Matsumoto & Toshiyuki Sakuda
  • Singles Match: Kohei Sato vs. Akane Fujita
  • Have a Nice DIE Special Match: Yoshihisa Uto vs. Super Hardcore Machine

Prominence 4 (7/17) Kurumi Hiiragi Returns! – Card TBA

PURE-J

Results (6/12) Kame Dojo, Tokyo

  • Singles Match: Rydeen Hagane defeated Momo Tani (7:21)
  • Singles Match: Hanako Nakamori defeated AKARI (11:03)
  • Tag Match: Cherry/KAZUKI defeated CREA/Leon (17:16)

Next Show Line Up (6/19) Kame Dojo, Tokyo

  • Because They’re Young Tag Match: CREA/AKARI vs. Momo Tani/Chie Ozora
  • 3-Way Match (with Penalty Game): Leon vs. Madeline (DIANA) vs. Rydeen Hagane
  • No Dirty Words/Polite Speech Only Match: CREA vs. KAZUKI

Next Show: ShinKiba (6/26) Tag Tournament Participants

What I love about the concept of this tournament, is the pairing of wrestlers who are of the same career length! There are match-ups with a long grounded history and others that are first-time in their careers. The links feature interviews with some of the participants where they announce who their partner is and each one has a free match included! If you are curious, please check them out! The matches have not yet been announced, and I am not sure if this is the complete list of participants just yet, but this is a fun way to hook people into PURE-J and some other smaller promotions. 

A representative from each tag drew cards (numbered one through seven) to determine the bracket placement. Lucky 7 gets a first-round bye and faces the winner of five vs. six later on the same show.

Round One Matches – links connect to the tag team announcements.

  1. Leon/Kaori Yoneyama (YMZ) VS.
  2. Hanako Nakamori/Hiroyo Matsumoto
  3. KAZUKI/Megumi Yabushita VS.
  4. Chie Ozora/Rico Kaiju (SEAdLINNNG)
  5. Rydeen Hagane/SAKI (COLOR’s) VS.
  6. CREA/AKARI
  7. First-Round Bye: Momo Tani/A-Min (Rina Amikura; COLOR’S)

SEAdLINNNG

ShinKiba Night (6/10) – ShinKiba 1st Ring

  • Singles Match (1/20): Hanako Nakamori (PURE-J) defeated Misa Kagura (JTO) (10:49)
    • High Speed Three-Way Match (1/20): Yuu (EVE) defeated Ryo Mizunami and Miyuki Takase (10:43) via OTTR Rule
    • 6-Woman Match (1/30): Makoto, ASUKA, & Ayame Sasamura (2AW) and Amazon, Hiroyo Matsumoto & Itsuki Aoki (17:40) Double Count Out
  • Tag Match (1/30): SAKI (COLOR’S) & Riko Kawahata (T-HEARTS) defeated Arisa Nakajima & Rico Kaiju (20:29) Running Brain Buster & Pin Combo

~Early Summer Games~ (6/30) – Korakuen Hall

  • 6-Woman Tag Match (1/30): Misa Kagura (JTO), Hanako Nakamori (PURE-j) & Arisa Nakajima © vs. SAKI & Yuko Sakurao (COLOR’S) & Riko Kawahata (T-HEARTS)
  • Single Match (1/15): Ayame Sasamura (2AW) vs. Rico Kaiju (SEAdLINNNG)
  • BEYOND THE SEA Tag Championship (1/30): ASUKA/MAKOTO vs. Amazon/Rina Yamashita

SEAdLINNNG 2022 Calendar

  • Rico Kaiju’s Debut Anniversary Celebration (7/13) ShinKiba 1st Ring 
    • ShinKiba 1st Ring (7/26)
  • SEAdLINNNG Seven Anniversary Show (8/17) Korakuen Hall
  • ShinKiba 1st Ring (8/31)
    • Shinjuku FACE (9/22)
    • Korakuen Hall (10/19)
  • Yokohama Flash 2022 (11/12) Yokohama Radiant Hall
  • SEAdLINNNG of the Year 2022 (12/28) Korakuen Hall

Sendai Girls

~The Sky is The Limit~ (6/16) Results ShinKiba 1st Ring 

  • Single Match (1/15): Saori Anou defeated Manami (9:34)
  • Tag Match (1/20): Ryo Mizunami/Yurika Oka defeated Ayame Sasamura/Tomoko Inaba (18:38) – with Oka pinning Inaba, leading to a title match challenge on 7/10.
  • Hardcore Rules Tag Match (1/30): Prominence (Risa Sera/Mochi Natsumi) defeated Reiwa ULTEMA Powers (Dash Chisako/Hiroyo Matsumoto) 19:56) – with assistance from Suzu Suzuki
  • SG World Tag Championship (1/30): Team 200KG (Chihiro Hashimoto & Yuu) © defeated Red Energy (Mika Iwata & Miyuki Takase) 23:28)

Next Big Show: Miyagino Ward Cultural Center (6/19)

  • Single Match (1/15): Manami vs. Tomoko Inaba (JTO)
  • Single Match (1/15): Yurika Oka vs. Ryo Mizunami
  • Single Match (1/20): Chihiro Hashimoto vs. Maria (Marvelous)
  • Tag Match (1/30): Dash Chisako/Kaho KobayashiOka vs. Mika Iwata/Miyuki Takase

Korakuen Hall (7/10)

  • Hardcore Match (1/30): Dash Chisako vs. Suzu Suzuki (Prominence)
  • SJ Junior Championship (1/30): Tomoko Inaba © (JTO) vs. Yurika Oka

SenJo Upcoming Appearances:

  • DIANA (6/25): Chihiro Hashimoto & Mika Iwata
  • GLEAT Anniversary Show (7/1) Dash Chisako, Miya Iwata & Yurika Oka

SenJo 2022 Calendar

    • SenJo Chronicle (7/10) Korakuen Hall
    • SenJo Chronicle  (7/15) Miyagino Ward Cultural Center
    • SenJo (8/13) Miyagino Ward Cultural Center
    • SenJo (9/3) ShinKiba 1st Ring
  • SenJo (9/14) Miyagino Ward Cultural Center
  • SenJo Keep Burning (10/10) Shinjuku FACE
  • Women’s Pro-Wrestling BIG SHOW in Niigata (10/30) Niigata City Gymnasium
  • SenJo Queen of the Ring (11/20) Korakuen Hall 11:30AM

Stardom 

Utami Hayashita Interviewed about STARDOM x NJPW The Ace of Stardom dropped two very big names in a recent interview with Tokyo Sports. When asked about the dual-branded show with Stardom’s sibling promotion, she confessed that she would like to tag with none other than Kazuchika Okada. When prodded about being a Tetsuya Naito fan since she was in middle school, she replied, “He’s welcomed to stand diagonally across from (us; in the opposite corner).” While both Stardom and NJPW are keeping the details locked up tight. Bushiroad Owner, Takaaki Kidani is also cited in the article, suggesting “the possibility of two or three mixed tag matches.” Personal note: until the official matches are announced… don’t let your imaginations run … completely away with you!

Osaka 2-Days (6/11): Osaka Edion Arena Hall 2

  • Purple Stars A-Block: Momo Kohgo [2] defeated Waka Tsukiyama [0] (6:52) with Nectar Peach
  • Purple Stars B-Block: Lady C [2] defeated Saya Iida [1] (7:42) with Giant Back Breaker
  • Tag Match: DDM (Mai Sakurai/Giulia) defeated OET (Momo Watanabe/Ruaka) (9:53)
  • Tag Match: AphroditE (Saya Kamitani © Wonder/Utami Hayashishita) vs. God’s Eye (MIRAI/Ami Sorei) (11:15) – Double Count Out
  • 6-Woman Tag Match: Cosmic Angels (Tam Nakano, Mina Shirakawa & Unagi Sayaka) defeated DDM (Natsupoi, Himeka, Maika) (12:01)
  • Three-Way Battle: Syuri © World vs. Mayu Iwatani © SWA vs. Starlight Kid © Artist (15:00) – Time Limit Draw
  • Main Event: Goddesses of Stardom Tag Team Championship: FWC (Hazuki/Koguma) defeated OET (Sai Kashima/Fukigen Death) (10:44) – 24th Champions’ second successful defense; God’s Eye’s MIRAI/Ami Sorei challenged after the match

KAIRI Appeared in Osaka It seems the next chapter of the Return of the Pirate Queen has begun and she is charting a course for Saya Kamitani and the Wonder of Stardom Championship. However, as a precursor to a potential singles match, the former Wonder of Stardom Champion brought the current one a present in the form of a tag match challenge. KAIRI’s tag partner is TBA, but Tam Nakano is already wondering if WHITE KNIGHTS are about to become a one-hit wonder!

“It doesn’t matter if it’s a tag or a singles match. It doesn’t matter who the opponent is!” – Saya Kamitani (in response)

Osaka 2-Days (6/12): Osaka Edion Arena Hall 2

  • Purple Stars B-Block: Saya Iida [3] defeated Mai Sakurai [2] (6:52) with Iidabashi
  • Purple Stars A-Block: Ami Sorei [6] defeated Waka Tsukiyama [0] (6:41) with an Argentine Back Breaker
  • Single Match: Momo Kohgo defeated Ruaka (6:20) with Peach Magic* (Mahika de Peach)
  • Three-Way Battle: Natsupoi defeated Mina Shirakawa vs. Momo Watanabe (7:58) due to the disqualification of Watanabe
  • Tag Match: God’s Eye (MIRAI/Syuri © World) vs. Cosmic Angels (Tam Nakano/Unagi Sayaka) via MIRAMARE (12:44)
  • 6-Woman Tag Match: STARS (Mayu Iwatani ©SWA, Hazuki/Koguma ©Goddess) vs. DDM (Maika, Himeka, Giulia) (15:00) – Time Limit Draw
  • 6-Woman Tag Match: OET (Starlight Kid, Fukigen Death & Saki Kashima) defeated Queen’s Quest (Lady C, Saya Kamitani & Utami Hayashishita) (16:48) Kishikaisei

Fortune Dream 7 (Korakuen Hall; 6/15) This special event was produced by Kenta Kobashi, and featured Himeka and Lady C clashing in a battle listed as the “Women’s version of Jumbo Tsuruta and Giant Baba.” The Jumbo Princess and the Human Tower not only represented Stardom but the entire women’s scene as the only women’s match on the entire card. In the Queen’s Dream Match (1/20),  Himeka defeated Lady C with a Running Power Bomb. (10:56). 

This was the first time in three years Kobashi has produced a show. Other notable names on the show included Minoru Suzuki, AJPW’s Jake Lee and Yuma Aoyagi, GLEAT’s Takanori Ito, and #STRONGHEARTS led by CIMA.

MIRAI’s Homecoming in Iwate (6/16) Morioka Gymnasium

  • Purple Stars B-Block: Mai Sakurai [3] vs. Lady C [3] (10:00) – Time Limit Draw
  • Three-Way Battle: Saya Iida defeated Waka Tsukiyama and Tam Nakano (7:58) – Iida pinned Tsukiyama with the Iidabashi
  • Tag Match: AphroditE (Saya Kamitani & Utami Hayashishita) defeated Pink Kabuki (Mina Shirakawa & Unagi Sayaka) (10:46) – with Hayashishita pinning Shirakawa with a German Suplex
  • 6-Woman Tag Match: God’s Eye (Syuri, MIRAI & Ami Sorei) vs. DDM (Giulia, Maika, & Himeka (15:00) – Time Limit Draw
  • 8-Woman Tag Match: STARS (Mayu Iwatani, Koguma, Hazuki & Momo Kogho) defeated OET (Saki Kashima, Ruaka, Starlight Kid & Momo Watanabe) (15:07) – with Iwatani pinning Ruaka after a Moonsault press/pin

5☆GP Purple Stars Week 2 Standings: 

    • 6 Points: Sorei
  • 3 Points: Iida, Sakurai, Lady C
  • 2 Points: Amasaki, Ruaka, Rina, Kohgo
    • 1 Point: Hina
  • 0 Points: Tsukiyama

NEXT WEEK: The Road to Fight in the Top

Miyagi Match Card (6/18) Sendai PIT

    • Purple Stars B-Block: Hina [2] vs. Lady C [3] 
  • Purple Stars A-Block: Miyu Amasaki 3] vs. Rina [3] 
  • 6-Woman Tag Match: God’s Eye (Syuri, MIRAI & Ami Sorei) vs. OET (Ruaka, Starlight Kid, & Ruaka)
  • 6-Woman Tag Match: STARS (Mayu Iwatani, Hanan & Hazuki) vs. Cosmic Angels (Tam Nakano, Mina Shirakawa, & Waka Tsukiyama) 
  • Tag Match: DDM (Giulia & Himeka) vs. STARS (Saya Iida & Momo Kohgo) 
  • Tag Match: AphroditE (Utami Hayashishita & Saya Kamitani) vs. DDM (Maika & Mai Sakurai) 
  • Three-Way Battle: Koguma vs. Unagi Sayaka vs. Saki Kashima 

Yamagata Match Card (6/19) Yamagata Big Wing

    • Purple Stars A-Block: Ami Sorei [6] vs. Momo Kohgo [3] 
  • Singles Match: Himeka (DDM) vs. Waka Tsukiyama (Cosmic Angels)
    • Singles Match: Maika (DDM) vs. Lady C
    • Tag Match: God’s Eye (Syuri/MIRAI) vs. DDM (Giulia/Mai Sakurai)
  • 6-Woman Tag Match: Queen’s Quest (Utami Hayashishita, Saya Kamitani & Miyu Amasaki) vs. Cosmic Angels (Tam Nakano, Mina Shirakawa & Unagi Sayaka) 
  • 8-Woman Tag Match: STARS (Mayu Iwatani, Hazuki, Koguma & Saya Iida) vs. OedoTai (Saki Kashima, Ruaka, Starlight Kid & Momo Watanabe) 

Remaining June 2022 Schedule

  • Kyoto (6/25) KBS Hall
  • Fight in the Top (6/26) Nagoya International Center (see below)
  • Korakuen Hall (6/28) – Purple Stars Block Finals, Future of Stardom & more!

Medical Updates

  • Thekla – pulled from all shows between June 4th and June 25th; no match announced for 6/26 or 6/28
  • AZM – pulled from Osaka shows on June 11th & 12th; not listed for June 16th-19th; currently scheduled for 6/25 in Kyoto & 6/26 Nagoya (Cage Match)
  • Natsupoi – pulled from shows on June 16th-19th; currently scheduled for 6/25 in Kyoto & 6/26 Nagoya (Cage Match)
  • Natsuko Tora – No announced in-ring return yet.

Fight in the Top Press Conference (June 26th)

  • Three-Way Battle: Unagi Sayaka vs. Waka Tsukiyama vs. Ruaka
  • Tag Match: STARS (Saya Iida & Momo Kohgo) vs Queen’s Quest (Lady C & Miyu Amasaki)
    • Singles Match: Himeka (DDM) vs. Mina Shirakawa (CA)
  • Artists of Stardom Three-Way Championship Match: OedoTai (Saki Kashima, Starlight Kid & Momo Watanabe) © vs. God’s Eye (Syuri, MIRAI & Ami Sorei) vs. Donna del Mondo (Giulia, Maika & Mai Sakurai)
  • Best of Two Challenge in a Cage Match: Tam Nakano (CA) vs. Natsupoi (DDM)
  • Trios Cage Match: STARS (Mayu Iwatani, Hazuki & Koguma) vs. Queen’s Quest (AZM, Utami Hayashishita, & Saya Kamitani)

New Blood 3 (7/8) Press Conference (6/14)

  • Single Match: Ami Sorei (GE) vs. Nanami (Marvelous)
  • Single Match: Mai Sakurai (DDM) vs. YuuRi (GanbarePro)
  • 6-Woman Match: STARS (Saya Iida, Hanan & Momo KOhgo) vs. Just Tap Out (Tomoko Inaba, Aoi & Misa Kagura)
  • Single Match: Miyu Amasaki (QQ) vs. Giulia (DDM)
  • 8-Woman Tag Match: Cosmic COLOR’s (Mina Shirakawa, Unagi Sakaya, Yuki Sakurai & Rina Amikura) vs. Young OED (Starlight Kid, Ruaka & Rina) and Haruna Umesaki (DIANA)
  • Singe Match: MIRAI (GE) vs. Suzu Suzuki (Prominence)
  • Single Match: Waka Tsukiyama (CA) vs. Ram Kaichou (Triple 6)

 

MidSummer Champions Tokyo Tachikawa Stage Garden  (7/9) Press Conference (6/14)

  • Single Match: Lady C (QQ) vs Hina (QQ)
  • Single Maych: Hanan © Future vs. Waka Tsukiyama
  • Tag Match: Queen’s Quest (Utami Hayashishita & Miyu Amasaki) vs. God’s Eye (MIRAI & Ami Sorei).
    • 8-Woman Tag Match: STARS (Mayu Iwatani, Hazuki & Koguma ©, Saya Iida)vs. OET (Saki Kashima, Fukigen Death, Ruaka, & Rina)
    • 12-Woman Elimination Match: Cosmic x COLOR’s (Tam Nakano, Mina Shirakawa, Unagi Sayaka, and SAKI, Yuko Sakurai & Hikari Shimizu) vs. Donna del Mondo (Giulia, Maika, Himeka, Natsupoi, Thekla & Mai Sakurai)
    • High Speed Championship (1/30): AZM © vs. Momo Kohgo
    • Wonder of Stardom Championship (1/30): Saya Kamtani © (QQ) vs. Starlight Kid (OET)
  • World of Stardom Championship (1/30): Syuri © (GE) vs. Momo Watanabe (OET)

 

Stardom 2022 Calendar

  • New Blood 3 (7/8)
  • MidSummer Champions (7/9)
  • Stardom in Showcase (7/23)
  • MidSummer Champions Nagoya (7/24)
  • Five Star Grand Prix 2022 Opening Weekend (7/30-31)
    • Five Star Grand Prix 2022 – Hamamatsu, Shizuoka (8/28) – possible mid-tournament PPV
    • Five Star Grand Prix 2022 Finals (10/1) – Musashino Forest Sports Center
  • STARDOM x NJPW (11/20) – Ariake Arena

 

Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling (TJPW)

My full CyberFight Festival Event Report is now available! If you are interested in a crash course in everything TJPW-GanPro-NOAH-DDT, check out my report and perhaps check out the entire event over on Wrestle Universe.

 

Additional Attack (6/19) Card – with English Commentary by Chris Brookes & Baliyan Akki

    • Singles Match: Arisu Endo vs. Kaya Toribami
  • Tag Match: Mahiro Kiryu/Yuki Kamifuku vs. Nao Kakuta/Neko Haruna
    • Three-Way Match: Yuki Aino vs. Raku vs. Pom Harajuku
    • Singles Match: Miu Watanabe vs. Juria Nagano
  • Tag Match: Suzume/Rika Tatsumi vs. Maki Itoh/Hikari Noa
  • Tag Match: Moka Miyamoto/Miyu Yamashita vs. Saki Akai/Yuki Arai (SKE48)
  • Princess Tag Team Championship: Magical Sugar Rabbits (Yuka Sakazaki/Mizuki) © vs. Shoko Nakajima/Hyper Misao – The 9th Champions’ 5th Defense

 

Willow Nightingale makes her debut in Japan at Summer Sun Princess!! Words cannot describe how over the moon I am to see Willow going over to Japan with TJPW! She’s a ray of sunshine. I am confident the fans in Japan are going to love her as much as we do!!

 

 

Next Marquee Event: Summer Sun Princess (7/9) Ota Ward Gymnasium

  • Tag Match: Suzume/Mei Sugura (Gatoh Move) vs. TBA – likely dependent on the outcome of Additional Attack (6/19) Main Event
  • International Princess Championship: Maki Itoh © vs. TBA International Guest Wrestler
  • Princess of Princess Championship: Shoko Nakajima © vs. Rika Tatsumi
    • Announced Talent: Hikaru Shida, Riho, Aja Kong, Yuki Arai (SKE48), Juria Nagano
    • Other matches are To Be Announced soon…

TJPW 2022 Calendar

  • The Tokyo Princess Cup 2022 Tournament: (7/15-8/13) various locations; seven dates
  • Wrestle Princess III: (10/9) Tokyo Dome City Hall

WAVE

I truly hope by next year, I’ll understand all the intricacies of the CATCH THE WAVE Tournament, but I can best describe it as a multi-genre wrestling tournament, covering the various styles of wrestling available to discover the most well-balanced wrestler!

Detras de Lazona vol. 5 Results (6/11) Kawasaki (POST di AMISTAD)

  • Tag Match: Nagisa Nozaki/Yuki Miyazaki defeated Kohaku/Sakura Hirota (7:07)
  • Future Block: Haruka Umesaki (DIANA) [4] vs. Suzu Suzuki (Prominence) [4] (15:00) – Time Limit Draw
  • Tag Match: Kohaku/Yuki Miyazaki defeated Nagisa Nozaki/Sakura Hirota (8:43)
  • Strong Arm Block: Miyuki Takase [1] vs. Yuu [3] (15:00) – Time Limit Draw
  • Tag Match: Sakura Hirota/Yuki Miyazaki defeated Nagisa Nozaki/Kohaku (6:15)

CATCH THE WAVE 2022 BLOCK STANDINGS (as of 6/16)

Kicking Block – [Points Total] 

  • Nagisa Nozaki [4] –  block matches finished 
  • Hanako Nakamori [3] 6/18 Sae
  • Hikari Shimizu [3] –  block matches finished 
  • Sae [0] 6/18 Nakamori

Strong Arm Block – [Points Total]  

  • Miyuki Takase [1] – 6/22 Sasamura
  • Yuu [3] –  block matches finished 
  • Itsuki Aoki [4] –  6/18 Sasamura
  • Ayame Sasamura [0] 6/18 Aoki; 6/22 Takase 

Hardcore Block – [Points Total] 

  • Yumi Ohka [0] –  block matches finished 
  • Yuki Miyazaki [5] –  block matches finished
  • Risa Sera (Prominence) [3] 6/18 SAKI
  • SAKI (COLOR’s) [2] 6/18 Sera

Comical Block – [Points Total] 

  • Kyusei Sakura Hirota [2] –  6/22 Hibiscus Mii 
  • Kaori Yoneyama [3] –  block matches finished
  • Hibiscus Mii [2] –  6/22 Hirota 
  • Miyako Matsumoto [3] –  block matches finished

Future Block – [Points Total] 

  • Kohaku [4] –  block matches finished 
  • Suzu Suzuki [4] 6/18 Kawahata
  • Riko Kawahata [4] –  block matches finished
  • Haruka Umesaki [3] –  block matches finished 
  • Chie Ozora [2] –  block matches finished

 

NEXT CATCH THE WAVE Matches

CHIBA WAVE vol. 1 (6/18) 2AW Square, Chiba Prefecture

  • Hardcore Block: SAKI (COLOR’S) vs. Risa Sera (Prominence)
  • Strong Arm Block: Itsuki Aoki vs. Ayame Sasamura (2AW)
  • Future Block: Suzu Suzuki (Prominence) vs. Riko Kawahata (T-HEARTS)
  • Kicking Block: Hanako Nakamori vs. Sae
  • Scramble WAVE: Nagisa Ngoako/Sakura Hirota vs Kohaku, Miyuki Takase & Hikari Shimizu (COLOR’S) – Yuki Miyazaki was removed to injury.

 

Weekday WAVE vol. 125 (6/22) – Shinjuku FACE

  • Strong Arm Block: Miyuki Takase vs. Ayame Sasamura (2AW)
  • Comical Block: Kyusei Sakura Hirota vs. Hibiscus Mii

 

WAVE 2022 Calendar

  • NAMI 1 JUL22 (7/1) Shinjuku FACE
  • Osaka Rhapsody vol. 55 (7/2) Azalea Takagi Hall
    • Nagoya Wave (7/3) Chuu Sports Center
    • CATCH THE WAVE 2022 FINALS (7/17) Korakuen Hall
    • NAMI 1 AUG22 (8/1) Shinjuku FACE
    • 15th Anniversary Carnival Wave (8/13; 2PM & 6PM) Shinjuku FACE
    • 15th Anniversary Carnival Wave (8/14; 12PM, 3PM & 6PM) Shinjuku FACE
    • Osaka (9/18) 176BOX
    • Sapporo (10/9) Hokkaido
  • Asahikawa Wave (10/10) Sapporo, Hokkaido
  • Korakuen Hall (11/6)
  • Osaka (12/11) 176BOX

 

YMZ Pro

Gokigenna Kawasaki 14 (6/18) Kawasaki

  • Makoto vs. Nanami
  • Haruka Umesaki vs. Matsuzawa-san
  • Hikaru Sato/Sayaka vs. Kaori Yoneyama/Yuu
  • Kengo Mashimo vs. Yuna Mizumori

 

YMZ 2022 Calendar

    • Gokigenna Kawasaki 15 (6/25) Post di Amistad, Kawasaki
    • Gokigenna Kawasaki 16 (7/6) Post di Amistad, Kawasaki
  • Gokigenna Kawasaki 17 (7/16) Post di Amistad, Kawasaki
    • Gokigenna Kawasaki 18 (7/30) Post di Amistad, Kawasaki
  • Gokigenna Kawasaki 19 (8/3) Post di Amistad, Kawasaki
  • Gokigenna Kawasaki 20 (8/6) Post di Amistad, Kawasaki
  • Gokigenna Kawasaki 21 (8/9) Post di Amistad, Kawasaki
  • Gokigenna Kawasaki 22 (8/15) Post di Amistad, Kawasaki
    • YMZ Summer Festival 2022 (8/21) Ouji Basement Monstar
    • Gokigenna Kawasaki 23 (8/26) Post di Amistad, Kawasaki

Meanwhile in America…

Sarray to NXT UK Confirmed?! Sarray’s headed across The Pond to the United Kingdom to take on the best NXT UK has to offer, and she’s made it no secret that NXT UK Women’s Champion, Meiko Satomura is at the top of her list. With a roster that includes several talents with Japan scene experience like Blair Davenport (as Bea Priestley), Stevie Turner (as Bobbi Tyler), and Xia Brookside, Sarray has an opportunity to not only bring more eyes to her own work, but to NXT UK as a whole. This is likely a temporary tour and not a permanent transfer of brands.

Weekly Match Selection

Before it vanishes into the ether, I wanted to take a moment to appreciate the “ENGLISH PROHIBITED” three-way match Stardom recently had. The concept is that everyone, including the referee and ring announcer, must use only Japanese for everything once the gong rings. If someone breaks the rule, there is a punishment (squeaky mallet, paper fan). Even simple responses like “OK,” “COVER!” or the Referee counting the match counts as eligible for punishment!

I picked this because this was such a fun match, and it really makes you realize how much English is incorporated in wrestling matches. Stardom doesn’t have that many comedy gimmick matches, and I wanted to pick something light and fun before they all throw themselves into the highly competitive 5 Star GP! Honestly, I would love a little more fun and stakes in the undercard matches from time to time. 

Stardom Official YouTube

  • Promotion: Stardom
  • Show: House Show (June 4, 2022)
  • Competitors: Unagi Sayaka (Cosmic Angels) vs. AZM (Queen’s Quest) © High Speed vs. Koguma (STARS)
  • Venue: Aoyagi Municipal Gymnasium, Mito City, Ibaraki Prefecture 

Thanks for reading! Have a great week!

About Karen Peterson 119 Articles
Occasionally drops by wrestling podcasts, but remains rather elusive. Joined the Japanese wrestling fan scene in summer 2017, and continues to work on bridging the language gap between fans. Outside of wrestling, she’s a dog mom, perpetual Japanese learner, and when conditions permit, world traveler. Never skips dessert.
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