Dream Slam Monthly (Vol. 1) New Year New Joshi Journey

2023 is off to a strong start with the arrival of Mercedes Mone, further easing of restrictions, and Wrestle Mania Week shows announced!

January 28, 2023 Karen Peterson NEWS
Photo (c) NJPW

Happy 2023!

I hope everyone had a great New Year’s and the first month of 2023! January blew past me in a blur, ringing in the Year of the Rabbit with a remote-Wrestle Kingdom week. Between watching NOAH, STARDOM, TJPW, and NJPW in the span of one week, with the time zone differential and the sheer super card after super card after super card… I had that Wrestle Mania-tier exhaustion without even leaving my house!

Speaking of Mania Week! It’s Royal Rumble Weekend and with New Year Japan Week over… now is the sprint toward Wrestle Mania Week. Shows are already getting announced for the final weekend in March, and it’s killing me how expensive flights to LA are from Orlando at the moment. It’ll be Mania from home, but with TJPW, DDT, and New Japan already announcing stand-alone shows, I’ll be saving those flight dollars for charcuterie boards and streaming packages. 

The Monthly format of Dream Slam… is definitely a work in progress! I hadn’t realized how much happened, but I hope that you enjoy digest format. The wheels are set in motion for 2023 to be a crazy, dizzy, and wonderful year of women’s wrestling around the world. 

2AW (Active Advance Pro-Wrestling)

Ayame Sasamura is the only woman currently wrestling in 2AW, and while she has opportunities to compete against her colleagues in 2AW, but she has not held any of the championships in the company. She’s held titles in DIANA, SEAdLiNNNG and Sendai Girls.

2AW New Year Battle Beginning (1/2) – 2AW Square

  • Tag Match: Ayame Sasamura & Kyu Mogami defeated Kaori Yoneyama & Kunio Toshima (8:46)

2AW ChiBattle 151 (1/8) – 2AW Square

  • Singles Match: Ayame Sasamura defeated Takuro Niki (7:43) – via count out

2AW Infinity ~ 2023 New Year ~ (1/9) – 2AW Square

  • Singles Match: Ayame Sasamura defeated Ai Houzan (MARVELOUS)

2AW ChiBattle 153 (1/21) – 2AW Square

  • Tag Match: Koen (Kunio Toshima, Takuro Niki & Tatsuya Hanami) defeated Ayame Sasamura, Kotaro Yoshino & Kyu Mogami (12:00)

All Japan Pro-Wrestling (AJPW)

In Dream Slam Weekly v.33, I mentioned AJPW featuring a mixed 6-person tag between Shuji Ishikawa, Chihiro Hashimoto & Yuu vs. Suwama, Mayuki Ozaki & Maya Yukihi. At AJPW XMas Maniax, things did not go Team 333KG’s way, as they were defeated by Suwama and Ozaki-gun! (18:04)

The match is available on AJPW’s streaming service, but wanted everyone to appreciate Suwama’s loud shirt and getting lectured by Mayuki Ozaki, including him absolutely lamu by hanging out by the playground by himself.

World Woman Pro-Wrestling DIANA

Current Champions – All champions are currently in their third reigns

  • Queen Elizabeth Championship: Jagua Yokota 
  • Diana Tag Team Championship: LUMINOUS (Haruka Umesaki & Miyuki Takase)
  • Diana World Championship: Ayako Sato 

DIANA (1/8) Post Di Amistad 

  • Tag Match: Miyuki Takase & Natsu Sumire defeated Himiko & Kaho Kobayashi (16:57)
  • Tag Match: Jaguar Yokota & Miran defeat Deborah K & Kohaku (10:42)
  • Singles Match: Ayako Sato vs. Hanako Nakamori (15:00) – Time Limit Draw 
  • Three Way: Kyoko Inoue defeats Madeline and Nanami (10:40)

DIANA (1/21) Culttz Kawasaki 

  • 6-Woman Tag: Ayame Sasamura, Kakeru Sekiguchi & Madeline defeated Miran, Rina Amikura & Tae Honma (9:53)
  • Three Way: Sakura Hirota defeats Himiko and Kaho Kobayashi (8:43)
  • 6-Man Tag: Koen (Kengo Mashimo, Takuro Niki & Tatsuya Hanami) defeated Hayato Mashita, Ikuto Hidaka & Super Tiger (16:51)
  • Tag Match: Jaguar Yokota & Makoto defeated Sae & Tiger Queen (13:39)
  • Singles Match: Unagi Sayaka defeats Nanami (11:28)
  • Tag Match: Deborah K & Kyoko Inoue defeated Aja Kong & Kaori Yoneyama (16:30)
  • World Woman Pro-Wrestling Diana Tag Team Championship: Luminous (Haruka Umesaki & Miyuki Takase) defeated Ayako Sato & Hanako Nakamori (18:53)

DIANA (1/27) Post Di Amistad

  • Singles Match: Miyuki Takase defeated Miran (10:00)
  • Three Way: Madeline defeated Ayame Sasamura and Deborah K (7:33)
  • Singles Match: Nanami defeated Himiko (9:30)
  • Tag Match: Ayako Sato & Haruka Umesaki defeated Makoto & Rina Amikura (18:12)

DDT/Ganbare Pro

Neither DDT nor GanbarePro currently have a women’s championship. However, female competitors are able to challenge for the Spirit of Ganbare Openweight Championship or for various championships in DDT. 

Currently, Saki Akai is the DDT Iron Man Heavy Metal Champion (for the 23rd time… it’s like WWE’s 24/7 Championship). She’s also held the KO-D 6-Man Tag titles with fellow Eruption members Kazusada Higuchi and Yukio Sakaguchi.

ASUKA (VENY) previously held the KO-D Tag Championship with MAO from 37 KAMINA as well as the KO-D 8-Man Tag Championship and had three different reigns with the DDT Iron Man Heavy Metal Championship.

ADRENALINE 2023 (1/5/23) Itabashi Green Hall

  • GanJo Singles Match: Riko Kawahata (T-HEARTS) defeated YuuRI (9:26)
  • GanJo Tag Match: HARUKAZE & Moeka Haruhi defeated Yoshiko Hasegawa & Yuna Manase (11:04)

Gatoh Move/ChocoPro

Feature: Baka Gaijin (Stupid Foreigners) & Friends II

  • Singles Match: Fuminori Abe defeated Death Worm (8:33)
  • Singles Match: Drew Parker defeated Tanomusaku Toba (7:07)
  • Tag Team Match: Onryo & Ram Kaicho defeated Calamari Drunken Kings (Chris Brookes & Masahiro Takanashi) (18:41)

January ChocoPro Streams – all held at Ichigaya Chocolate Square unless otherwise noted 

  • Choco Pro #282 (1/1/23)
  • Choco Pro #283 (1/2/23)
  • Choco Pro #284 (1/3/23)
  • Choco Pro #285 (1/8/23)
  • Choco Pro #286 (1/9/23)
  • Choco Pro #287 (1/21/23) – in SINGAPORE!
  • Choco Pro #288 (1/22/23)
  • TODAY! Choco Pro #289 (1/28/23)

COLOR’S (Girls’ Pro-Wrestling Unit)

RESULTS: SAKI’s 10th Anniversary KING of the KAWAILD (12/26) Shinjuku FACE

  • Battle Royal: Riko Kawahata, Hibiscus Mii, Hikari Shimizu, Kakeru Sekiguchi, Miyuki Takase, Momo Tani, SAKI, Sakura Hirota, Tae Honma and Yuko Sakurai (19:19)
  • Six Man Tag Team Match: Kaho Kobayashi, Nene Dai & Shota Nakagawa defeated Ayumu Honda, Momoka Hanazono & TAMURA (15:05)
  • Tag Team Match: Risa Sera & Rydeen Hagane defeated Rina Amikura & Yuna Mizumori (18:16)
  • Tag Team Match: Mizuki & SAKI defeated Emi Sakura & Mizuki Endo (22:58)

Yes, My Way, vol. 5 will be held on February 25 at Takashima Community Hall in Itabashi Ward. SAKI will defend her COLOR’S Championship against fell unit mate, Rina Amikura. Full card to be announced at a later date. No streaming available as COLOR’s tends to release their events on DVD after the fact.

GLEAT

GLEAT does not have any women’s championships. However, the match-ups they’ve brought in for Michiko Miyagi, Maya Fukuda and Yukari Hosoda have been quite interesting. The company also allowed mixed tags. GLEAT offered standard pro-wrestling, LIDET UWF rules wrestling and have recently launched an MMA brand.

 GLEAT Ver. 4 – (12/30/22)Tokyo Dome City Hall in Tokyo, Japan

UWF Rules Tag Team: Maya Fukuda & Michiko Miyagi defeat Mika Iwata & Yura Suzuki by KO (6:22)

 GLEAT Ver. 5 (1/8/23) EDION Arena Osaka #2; Osaka, Japan

  • UWF Rules: Yura Suzuki defeated Maya Fukuda (4:20)
  • Tag Match: Jack Cartwheel, Shigeko Deluxe & STRONGHEARTS (CIMA & T-Hawk) defeated Keiichi Sato, Muchiko Miyagi (Michiko Miyagi), Septimo Dragon & Soma Watanabe (7:23)

GLEAT G PRO WRESTLING Ver. 42 ~ Origin (1/18/23) Shinjuku FACE in Tokyo, Japan

  • Singles Match: Kyoko Inoue defeated Michiko Miyagi (9:15)

Upcoming Events

  • G PRO WRESTLING Ver. 43 ~Origin~ (2/12) 
  • G PRO WRESTLING Ver. 44 ~Origin~ (2/15) Full Card TBA
  • LIDET UWF Ver. 3 (3/7) Shinjuku FACE

2023 Schedule

  • G PRO WRESTLING Ver. 45 ~Origin~ (2/23) Chuu Sports Center
  • LIDET UWF Ver. 3 (3/7) Shinjuku FACE
  • G PRO WRESTLING Ver. 46 ~Origin~ (3/15) Shinjuku FACE
  • G PRO WRESTLING Ver. 47 ~Origin~ (3/21) Gorilla Hall Osaka
  • G PRO WRESTLING Ver. 48 ~Origin~ (4/2) Naha City Tenbusu Fureai Hall, Okinawa
  • G PRO WRESTLING Ver. 49 ~Origin~ (4/12) Naha City Tenbusu Fureai Hall, Okinawa
  • G PRO WRESTLING Ver. 50 ~Origin~ (4/23) Korakuen Hall
  • G PRO WRESTLING Ver. 51 ~Origin~ (5/6) Korakuen Hall
  • G PRO WRESTLING Ver. 52 ~Origin~ (5/14) Sapporo e1 Stadium
  • G PRO WRESTLING Ver. 53 ~Origin~ (5/21) Umeda Sky Building, Osaka
  • GLEAT Ver. 6 Second Anniversary Show (7/1) Tokyo Dome City Hall

Hana Kimura Memorial Show: PINX (5/23/23) #木村花ピンクス

In the preparation for third celebration of life since the passing of Hana Kimura, Kyoko Kimura requested that everyone keep May 23rd open back on January 7th. On Friday (is 1/27) Kimura released some key details for PINX, this year’s event. 

The two previous Hana Kimura Memorial Shows — Mata, Ne! (5/23/2021) and BAGUS! (5/23/2022) are both still available on FITE TV. No live or international streaming information has been made available yet for PINX.

  • Location: Korakuen Hall
  • Date: 5/23/2023
  • Time: Doors at 5:30PM and 6:30PM START!
  • NOTE: WITH VOCAL CHEERING!!

Currently available on the event website: multiple show sponsorship levels. However, Kimura also mentioned two key dates:  admission tickets for a special on sale event (2/7) and a formal online on sale date of February 15th. 

Ice Ribbon

Current Champions

  • FantastICE Champion: Akane Fujita (PROMINENCE)
  • ICExInfinity Champion: Saori Anou
  • International Ribbon Tag Team Champions: Hikaru Shira (AEW) & Ibuki Hoshi
  • Triangle Ribbon Championship: Vacant; It was vacated last month with the retirement of Yuki Mashiro

IR #1251: NEW ICE RIBBON (1/3) Ice Ribbon Dojo

  • Singles Match: Totoro Satsuki defeated Chie Ozora (9:55)
  • Tag Match: Kaho Matsushita & Makoto defeated Kyuri & Saran (12:23)
  • Singles Match: Ibuki Hoshi defeated Nao Ishikawa (9:33)
  • Tag Match: Asahi & Sumika Yanagawa defeated Tsukina Umino & YuuRI (15:30)

IR #1252: NEW ICE RIBBON (1/7) Ice Ribbon Dojo

  • Tag Match: Sumika Yanagawa & YuuRI defeated Chie Ozora & Saran (9:54)
  • Singles Match: Asahi defeated Nao Ishikawa (9:48)
  • Three Way: Tsukina Umino defeated Momo Tani and Sya (11:39)
  • Tag Match: Ibuki Hoshi defeated Kaho Matsushita (9:15)

IR #1253: NEW ICE RIBBON (1/8) SKIP City, Saitama

  • Singles Match: Sya defeated Saran (8:06)
  • Single Match: Aki Shizuku defeated Tsuki Umino (10:27)
  • Tag Match: KISSmeT PRINCESS (Misa Kagura & Nao Ishikawa) defeated Amazon & Kiku (14:51)
  • Singles Match: Hamuko Hoshi vs. Ibuki Hoshi (15:00) – Time Limit Draw
  • Tag Match: Hikari Shimizu & Kaho Matsushita defeated Totoro Satsuki & YuuRI (15:52)

IR #1254: NEW ICE RIBBON (1/14) Ice Ribbon Dojo

  • Singles Match: Totoro Satsuki defeated HisokA (7:38)
  • Tag Match: Kiku & Momo Tani defeated Asahi & Saran (14:36)
  • Singles Match: Ibuki Hoshi defeated Yura Suzuki (7:59)
  • Tag Match: Chie Ozora & Kyuri defeated Kaho Kobayashi & Tsuki Umino (12:10)

Ice Ribbon Princess’s Party #17 (1/18) Ice Ribbon Dojo

  • Exhibition Singles Match: Ibuki Hoshi defeated Aiki [1:0] (3:00)
  • Singles Match: Asahi defeated Saran (8:45)
  • Tag Match: Kaho Matsushita & Momo Tani defeated Chie Ozora & Tsuki Umino (14:55)

IR#1255: NEW ICE RIBBON (1/21) Ice Ribbon Dojo

  • Tag Match: Asahi & Chie Ozora defeated HisokA & Yura Suzuki (11:38)
  • Singles Match: Tsuki Umino defeated Saran (8:51)
  • Tag Match: Misa Kagura & Sumika Yanagawa defeated Nao Ishikawa & Totoro Satsuki (9:37)
  • Tag Match: Ibuki Hoshi & YuuRI defeated Kaho Matsushita & Momo Tani (11:08)

Ice Ribbon Princess’s Party #18 (1/25) Ice Ribbon Dojo

  • Tag Match: HisokA & Momo Tani defeated Asahi & Saran (11:06)
  • Tag Match: Ibuki Hoshi & Kaho Matsushita defeated Chie Ozora & Tsuki Umino (11:12)

At Princess’ Party on 1/25, Chiharu, former ring announcer, announced the establishment of a partner promotion, Hot Shushu (Scrunchie…like the hair accessory). Retired wrestlers, Yoshiko Tamura and Mina Taniyama (Tanny Mouse), will also support the venue. It’ll be under the sam corporate umbrella as Ice Ribbon.

The promotion will be open to all genders and they are current recruiting talent. The first show is scheduled for April 12th and will be a pre-foundation day show. It will feature two matches and a talk show. 

TODAY! Ice Ribbon #1256 (1/28) Ice Ribbon Dojo

  • Singles Match (1/10): Ibuki Hoshi vs. Miran
  • Singles Match (1/10): AKARI vs. HisokA
  • Singles Match (1/10): Asahi vs. Tsuki Umino
  • Tag Match (1/20): Nao Ishikawa & Kaho Matsushita vs. Chie Ozora & Yuka Suzuki

TOMORROW IR SK1R (1/29) ShinKiba 1st Ring – 3J, the idol unit that Aiki belongs to will also perform on the show!

  • Tag Match (1/15): Sumika Yanagawa (JTO) & Kiku vs. Misa Kagura (JTO) & Miran
  • Aiki’s Debut Singles Match (1/15): Tsuki Umino vs. Aiki
  • Yappy’s Return Match (1/15): Yappy vs YuuRI (GanPro)
  • Singles Match (1/15): Yura Suzuki (Alma Libre) vs. HisokA (JTO)
  • Kaho Matsushita’s Birthday Tag Match (1/20): Ibuki Hoshi & Hamuko Hoshi vs. Hikari Shimizu (COLOR’S) & Kaho Matsushita
  • Tag Match (1/30): Saori Ano & Asahi vs. Totoro Satsuki & Nao Ishikawa

JUST TAP OUT

JTO only has one women’s singles championship and no women’s tag championship. Their roster is less than ten participants.

Current Queen of JTO Champion: Tomoka Inaba

JTO (1/10) Shinjuku FACE

  • 6-Person Tag Match: Jatap-kun, rhythm & Yuu Yamagata defeated Aoi, HisokA & Misa Kagura (8:42)
  • Queen Of JTO Title: Tomoka Inaba (c) defeats Sumika Yanagawa [3] (7:35)

JTO (1/13) Ehime Pro Wrestling Dojo

  • JTP Girls Tag: Misa Kagura & Sumika Yanagawa defeated Aoi & rhythm (12:02)
  • Singles Match: Tomoka Inaba defeats Tsuruhimeka (9:42)

JTO (1/14) Takamatsu Symbol Tower 1st Floor Exhibition Hall

  • Tag Match: Jatap-kun & rhythm defeated Sumika Yanagawa & TAKA Michinoku (5:38)
  • Tag Match: Aoi & Saori Anou defeated Misa Kagura & Tomoka Inaba (19:21)

JTO (1/15) Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Exhibition Hall 

  • JTO Girls Tag Match: Aoi & rhythm defeated Misa Kagura & Sumika Yanagawa (13:01)
  • JTP Girls Singles Match: Tomoka Inaba defeated Char (8:53)

Yokohama (2/5) Yokohama Nigiwaiza

  • Singles Match: HisokA vs. YAKO
  • 6-Woman Tag Match: Tomoka Inaba, Yuu Yamagata & rhythm vs. Aoi, Misa Kagura & Sumika Yanagawa

MARVELOUS

Current Champions

  • AAAW Championship: Chikayo Nagashima – defeated Mio Momo no for the vacant championship on 12/4/22. She made her first defense against Queen Aminata on 12/15/22.
  • AAAW Tag Team Championship: Chikayo Nagashima & Takumi Iroha – they defeated then champions Rin Kadokura and Itsuki Aoki on 9/16/22, but have not defended the championships due to Iroha being out with injury. 

Takumi Iroha Medically Cleared – Iroha will travel to Barcelona to face Nightshade for the RCW Women’s World Championship on February 18th. She will return to in-ring action, provided she passes a medical check upon return to Japan on 2/21. If further rehabilitation and conditioning are necessary, her return will be pushed back to sometime in March. She plans to return to MARVELOUS on 3/10, and of course, Unagi Sayaki wants the first shot at Iroha. Unagi volunteered to work every show between now and March tenth as she lays in wait for Iroha’s return. 

Rin Kadokura departs MARVELOUS – Last year, Rin Kadokura married into the family of Kensuke Sasaki and Akira Hokuto. While she continued wrestling in MARVELOUS while also having variety tv appearances,  MARVELOUS announced on January 8th, that Rin would be leaving the company as her husband has been transferred to Canada. Instead of living separately, she will accompany him on his international assignment. Of course, should Rin return to Japan and wishes to continue wrestling, MARVELOUS will always keep the door open for her to return. Her final match with the company was on January 17th. She intends to freelance for the foreseeable future, but likely once she and her husband are settled in their new home. Before heading to Canada, Rin updated her blog with a new costume… which she inherited from her mother-in-law, Akira Hakuto.

NJPW

At the Antonio Inoki Memorial Wrestle Kingdom 17 in Tokyo Dome, KAIRI successfully defended her IWGP Women’s Championship against Tam Nakano. Of course, the arrival in Monè shortly after the championship match resulted in the match being made quickly for Battle in the Valley. This will be the first match for both women since their respective departures from WWE. 

KAIRI/Monè is being heavily advertised, it is uncertain where their match will be on the card.

Battle in the Valley (2/18/23) San Jose, California – Live broadcast via FITE TV #njbitv

  • Kick-Off Match 1 (1/20): Alex Coughlin vs. JR Kratos
  • Kick-Off Match 2 (1/20): David Finlay vs. Bobby Fish
  • Filthy Rules Fight Singles Match (1/30): Homicide vs. Tom Lawlor – No DQs & ring ropes will not be used in this match
  • Singles Match (1/30): Eddie Kingston vs. Jay White
  • 8-Man Tag Match (1/20): Mascara Dorada, Rocky Romero, Adrian Quest & Josh Alexander vs. KUSHIDA, Kevin Knight, Volador, Jr. & The DKC
  • NJPW STRONG Openweight Tag Championship (1/30): Motor City Machine Guns © (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin) vs. West Coast Wrecking Crew (Royce Isaacs & Jorel Nelson)
  • NJPW STRONG Openweight Championship (1/30): Fred Rosser © vs. KENTA?
  • IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Winner of Kazuchika Okada ©/Shingo Takagi (2/11/23) vs. TBA 
  • IWGP Women’s Championship (1/60): KAIRI © vs. Mercedes Monè – Inaugural Champion’s second defense

Currently, there are no additional IWGP Women’s Championship matches announced beyond Battle in the Valley. I guess the next championship defense will depend on the outcome of KAIRI/Monè, determining if the next defense will be in the United States or in Japan. After BitV, NJPW of America has STRONG STYLE EVOLVED at Wrestle Con (3/30) followed by Capital Collison (4/15) in Washington, DC at the Entertainment & Sports Arena and Collision in Philadelphia (4/16) at the 2300 Arena. 

After the New Beginning series, which concludes on February 11th, NJPW will have their Fantastica Mania 2023 tour (2/22-28) with CMLL, followed by the 2023 New Japan Cup (3/5-21). It is possible that the next potential defense in Japan could be at the Anniversary Show on March 6 at Ota Ward Gymnasium or Sakura Genesis on April 8 at Ryogoku Sumo Hall.

WrestleCon 2023: NJPW will participate in WrestleCon’s live show schedule on 3/30 from The Globe Theatre in Los Angeles, California. STRONG STYLE EVOLVED will begin at 8PM (Pacific Time). Currently, there haven’t been any announcements as to if the show will be live streamed on Highspots.TV or what the cost will be. There hasn’t been any indication or confirmation that STARDOM will participate on this show or have a show at WrestleCon either. 

Pro-Wrestling NOAH

Earlier this month, at The Great Muta Final: “BYE-BYE,” there was lots of buzz after a women’s match was included on the card featuring popular freelancers Jungle Kyona, Saori Anou, Sumire Natsu & Maya Yukihi.

Keiji Muto Grand Final Pro-Wrestling “Last” Love ~ HOLD OUT~ (2/21/23) Tokyo Dome – Live broadcast via Abema & Wrestle Universe (with 20% Off for WU subscribers) This show will have a mid-card break, but length of time is unknown.

TJPW will have a pre-show feature at the Tokyo Dome, with many of their talents who have traveled abroad to compete in recent years. 

Image

STARTING LOVE – Pre-Show

  • S-B1・Tag Team Match STARTING LOVE: Masa Kitamiya & Daiki Inaba　VS　Yoshiki Inamura & Yasutaka Yano
  • S-B2・8-Woman Team Match TJPW Spark: Yuka Sakazaki & Miyu Yamashita & Shoko Nakajima & Rika Tatsumi VS Mizuki & Maki Itoh & Miu Watanabe & Yuki Arai
  • S-B3・6-Man Team Match WORLD WARRIOR BATTLE: Takashi Sugiura & Satoshi Kojima & Timothy Thatcher vs. Jake Lee & Jack Morris & Anthony Greene

Part 1: PRIMARY STAGE

  • 10-Man Team Match NEW EXPLOSION: Yoshinari Ogawa & Eita & HAYATA & Chris Ridgeway & Daga VS　Atsushi Koge & YO-HEY & Yoshioka Seiki & Alejandro & Junta Miyawaki
  • 8-Man Team Match Dramatic Dream Future: MAO & Shunma Katsumata & Yuki Ueno & Toi Kojima VS Tetsuya Endo & Hideki Okatani & Yuya Takaka & Takeshi Masada
  • 6-Man Team Match DRAGON GATE vs NOAH: Shun Skywalker & KAI & Diamante vs. Naomichi Marufuji & Iho de Victor Wagner Jr. & Ninja Mack
  • 6-Man Team Match AJPW vs NOAH: Kento Miyahara & Suwama & Yuma Aoyagi vs. KENOH & Katsuhiko Nakajima & Manabu Soya

Part 2: MASTER STAGE

  • Tag Team Match FINAL DE LUCHA: Gedo & Taiji Ishimori vs. NOSAWA Rongai & MAZADA – This will be Rongai’s retirement match
  • Single Match TOKYO TORNADO: Hiromu Takahashi vs. AMAKUSA
  • Semi-final・Single Match SHINING THROUGH: Kazuchika Okada vs. Kaito Kiyomiya
  • Main Event・Single Match PRO-WRESTLING “LAST” LOVE: Keiji Muto vs. Tetsuya Naito

OZ Academy

Current Champions

  • OZ Academy Openweight Champion: AKINO
  • OZ Academy Pioneer Championship: Momoka Hanazono
  • OZ Academy Tag Team Championship: TEAM 200KG (Chihiro Hashimoto & Yuu

RESULTS! The Wizard of OZ 2023 (1/8) Shinjuku FACE

  • Singles Match(1/3): Mayumi Ozaki vs. Rina Yamashita (3:00) – Time Limit Draw
  • Singles Match(1/5):Tsubasa Kuragaki vs. Yuu (5:00) – Time Limit Draw
  • Singles Match(1/7): Kaori Yoneyama defeated Ram Kaicho (4:27)
  • Three Way (1/10): Itsuki Aoki defeated Kakeru Sekiguchi and Saori Anou (7:24)
  • Singles Match(1/15): Ryo Mizunami vs. Sonoko Kato (15:00) – Time Limit Draw
  • Semi-Final (1/30): Hiroyo Matsumoto defeated Maya Yukihi (13:06)
  • Main Event (1/NTL): AKINO defeated Momoka Hanazono (15:27)

R45 Don’t Underestimate Over-45!? OZ Academy will hold a veterans’ tournament entitled Empress of R starting on 2/12. The press conference was hosted by Dynamite Kasai and Mayumi Ozaki.

The bracket is split into three blocks and with the finalists of each block competing in a three-way final to determine the winner. Participants were announced by name (and AGE) and were required to draw lots for bracket placement.

Tournament Rules

  1. Every match up until the finals will have a ten-minute time limit
  2. There will be a 5-count for knock downs and a 10-count for out of ring.
  3. In the event of a time limit draw, both competitors are eliminated.
  4. The finals will have no time limit and one fall.
  5. If only two competitors advance to the finals, they’ll have a standard singles match. If all three blocks end with one finalist, it will be a three-way match.
  6. The prize for the tournament winner will be announced at a later date.

Block A Matches

  • Left: Kyoko Inoue (53) vs. AKINO (49) – Winner faces Megumi Yabushita (50)
  • Right: Yuu Yamagata (46) vs. Tsubasa Kuragaki (47) – Winner faces KAZUKI (47)

Block B

  • Left: Dump Matsumoto (62) vs.  Jaguar Yokota (61) – Winner Drake Morimatsu (52)
  • Right: Tomoko Watanabe (50) vs. Chikayo Nagashima (47) – Winner faces Kaoru Ito (51)

Block C

  • Left: Bambi (46) vs. Cherry (48) – Winner faces Mizuki Endo (51)
  • Right: Miss Mongol (46) vs. Mayumi Ozaki (54) – Winner faces Yumiko Hotta (56)

~Restricted-18~ (2/12) Shinjuku FACE

OZ Academy Openweight Championship Number One Contenders Tournament Rules

  1. All singles matches will be conducted under standard wrestling rules.
  2. First and second rounds will have a fifteen minute time limit.
    1. In the event that the 15-minute time limit expires, a maximum of two 3-minute overtime matches will be held. 
    2. If the overtime matches conclude in a draw, both competitors will be disqualified.
  3. The final match (3/12; Shinjuku) will have no time limit.
  4. The winner will challenge for the title of the current champion, AKINO, at the Korakuen Hall on April 23.

~Restricted-18~ (2/12) Shinjuku FACE

  • U-30 Openweight #1 Contender Tournament First Round (1/15): YAKO vs. COHAKU
  • U-30 Openweight #1 Contender Tournament First Round (1/15): Hikari Shimizu (COLOR’S) vs. Riko Kaiju (SEAdLINNNG)
  • U-30 Openweight #1 Contender Tournament First Round (1/15): Itsuki Aoki vs. Momoka Hanazono
  • Tag Match (1/30): Kaori Yoneyama & Ram Kaicho vs. (Ozaki-gun) Maya Yukihi & Saori Anou 
  • Semi-Main Event 3-Way (1/30): Sonoko Kato vs. Kakeru Sekiguchi vs. Mayumi Ozaki
  • Main Event Tag Match (1/45): AKINO & Tsubasa Kuragaki vs. Hiroyo Matsumoto & Rina Yamashita

(2/19) Osaka

  • U-30 Openweight #1 Contender Tournament Second Round (1/15): Kakeru Sekguchi vs. Winner of Aoki/Hanazono
  • U-30 Openweight #1 Contender Tournament Second Round (1/15): Winner of Rico/Shimizu vs. Winner of YAKO/COHAKU

(3/12) Shinjuku FACE

  • U-30 Openweight #1 Contender Tournament Final (1/NTL): Finalist Bracket A vs. Finalist Bracket B – Tournament winner advances to 4/23 Show

PROMINENCE

Currently, Risa Sera, Suzu Suzuki & Kurumi Hiiragi are the Artists of STARDOM Champions. Akane Fujita is currently Ice Ribbon’s FantastICE Champion. While they produce their own hardcore and death match shows, they do not have a championship title. 

#10 Kurenai no Rinka (1/9) ShinKiba 1st Ring

  • Hardcore Tag Team Match: Hiiragi Kurumi & Itsuki Aoki defeated Miyako Matsumoto & Violento Jack (12:35)
  • Singles Match: Orca Uto defeated Mochi Natsumi (7:32)
  • Five Way Match: Yuki Miyazaki defeated Akane Fujita and Kohaku and Miyuki Takase and Risa Sera (10:40)
  • Suzu Suzuki’s Deathmatch Trial Series #7: Toshiyuki Sakuda defeated Suzu Suzuki (20:34)

Suzu announces her final three opponents for her Death Match Trial series on January 13th prior to her World of STARDOM Championship against Giulia (2/4). It’s a trio of Death Match N-A-M-E-S.

#11 Kikki Enen (2/19) ShinKiba 1st Ring

  • Suzu Suzuki’s Deathmatch Trial Series #8: Takashi Sasaki vs. Suzu Suzuki – In her announcement, she called him her Death Match Dad!
  • Full Card TBA

#12 (3/18) ShinKiba 1st Ring

  • Suzu Suzuki’s Deathmatch Trial Series #9: Masashi Takeda vs. Suzu Suzuki
  • Full Card TBA

#13 PROMINENCE 1st Anniversary Show (4/24) Korakuen Hall

  • Suzu Suzuki’s Deathmatch Trial Series #10: Jun Kasai vs. Suzu Suzuki
  • Full Card TBA

PURE-J Women’s Pro-Wrestling

Current Champions

  • Daily Sports Tag Team Champions: Rydeen Hagane & SAKI (COLOR’S)
  • Princess of Pro-Wrestling Champion: Rico Kajiu (SEAdLINNNG)
  • PURE-J Openweight Championship: Hanako Nakamori (5ht reign)

PURE-J (1/8) Ota City Industrial Plaza PiO Small Exhibition Hall

  • Tag Match: Cherry & Leon defeated Crea & Madeline (15:14)
  • Three Way: Momo Tani defeated Kaori Yoneyama and KAZUKI (6:12)
  • Singles Match: Eagle Mask defeated AKARI (12:31)
  • Princess Of Pro Wrestling Title: Rico Kaiju © defeated Chie Ozora (18:40)
  • PURE-J Openweight Title: Hanako Nakamori © defeated Rydeen Hagane (18:03)

PURE-J (1/15) Kame Dojo

  • Singles Match: Rydeen Hagane defeated AKARI (9:01)
  • Singles Match: Asahi defeated CREA (9:16)
  • Tag Match: Hanako Nakamori & Momo Tani defeated Chie Ozora & Leon (14:51)

PURE-J (1/22) Kame Dojo

  • Singles Match: Leon defeated Chie Ozora (12:32)
  • Singles Match: Hanako Nakamori defeated CREA (9:15)
  • Tag Match: AKARI & Kaori Yoneyama defeated Momo Tani & Rydeen Hagane (10:54)

SEAdLINNNG

Current Champions

  • SEAdLINNNG Beyond The Sea Champion: Arisa Nakajima (3rd reign)
  • SEAdLINNNG Beyond The Sea Tag Champions: Las Fresa de Egoistas (ASUKA & Makoto; 2nd reign)

SEAdLINNNG Shin-Kiba Series 2023 Vol. 1 (1/13) ShinKiba 1stRING 

  • 6-Woman Tag: Arisa Nakajima, Hiroyo Matsumoto & Ryo Mizunami defeated Itsuki Aoki, Riko Kaiju & Riko Kawahata (17:15)
  • High Speed: Kaho Kobayashi defeated Kakeru Sekiguchi (7:51)
  • Tag Match: Amazon & MIKAMI vs. Las Fresa de Egoistas (ASUKA & Makoto) (12:40) – Double Count Out 
  • Battle Royal: Riko Kawahata defeated Amazon, Arisa Nakajima, ASUKA, Hiroyo Matsumoto, Itsuki Aoki, Kaho Kobayashi, Kakeru Sekiguchi, Makoto, MIKAMI. Rico Kaiju and Ryo Mizunami (12:09)

Vibrant February (2/16) Shinjuku FACE

  • SEAdLINNNG Beyond the Sea Singles Championship: Arisa Nakajima © vs. Riko Kawahata
  • Scheduled to appear: Rico Kaiju, Ryo Mizunami, Hiroyo Matsumoto, Makoto, ASUKA, Itsuki Aoki, Ayame Sasamura, Kakeru Sekiguchi, Misa Kagura (JTO) and more!
  • Full Card TBA

Full 2023 Schedule

  • ~Endeavour 2023~ (3/20) ShinKiba 1st Ring
  • TBA (4/30) Korakuen Hall
  • TBA (5/25) ShinKiba 1st Ring
  • TBA (6/28) Shinjuku FACE
  • TBA (7/26) ShinKiba 1st Ring
  • SEAdLINNNG’s 8th Anniversary Show (8/25) Korakuen Hall
  • TBA (9/15) ShinKiba 1st Ring
  • TBA (10/10) Shinjuku FACE
  • TBA (11/17) ShinKiba 1st Ring
  • Final Show of 2023 (12/28) Korakuen Hall

SENDAI GIRLS

Current Champions

  • Sendai Girls World Champion: ASUKA (VENY)
  • Sendai Girls Junior Championship: Vacant (previously JTO’s Tomoka Inaba)
  • Sendai Girls Tag Championships: Vacant (previously Reiwa ULTEMA Powers; Hiroyo Matsumoto & DASH Chisako)

Step And Go (1/8) Shinjuku FACE

  • Singles Match: Yurika Oka defeated Ai Houzan (5:40)
  • Singles Match:Miyuki Takase defeated Sakura Hirota (12:45)
  • Tag Match: Hiroyo Matsumoto & Mio Momono defeated Manami & Nanami (12:07)
  • Singles Match: Mika Iwata vs. Ryo Mizunami (15:00) – Time Limit Draw 
  • Tag Match: TEAM 200KG (Chihiro Hashimoto & Yuu) defeated ASUKA & Saori Anou (18:37) – via Count Out 

Big Show In Sendai (1/15) Sendai Sun Plaza Hall

  • Tag Match: Amazon & Sakura Hirota defeated Aiger & Gabai Ji-chan (0:07)
  • Tag Match: Aiger & Gabai Ji-chan defeated Amazon & Sakura Hirota (0:05)
  • Tag Match: Amazon & Sakura Hirota defeated Aiger & Gabai Ji-chan (11:33)
  • 6-Woman Tag Match: Aja Kong, Jaguar Yokota & Kyoko Inoue defeated Ayame Sasamura, Miyuki Takase & Saori Anou (9:54)
  • Tag Match: Hiroyo Matsumoto & Jun Kasai defeat Mayumi Ozaki & Takashi Sasaki (17:30)
  • Tag Match: TEAM 200KG (Chihiro Hashimoto & Yuu) defeated Ryo Mizunami & Unagi Sayaka (19:44)
  • Sendai Girls World Title: ASUKA © defeated Mika Iwata (13:49)

Sendai is located in the northern part of the main island of Japan and there is a lot of snow. Enjoy a nice little snowball fight between the SenJo staff and the rookies.

2023 Schedule

  • (2/12) Aore Niigata – Match Card TBA
  • (2/24) Miyagino Ward Cultural Center
  • (3/11) ShinKiba 1st Ring 
  • (3/17) Miyagino Ward Cultural Center
  • (4/16) ShinKiba 1st Ring
  • (4/21) Miyagino Ward Cultural Center
  • (5/6) ShinKiba 1st Ring 

STARDOM

They hit the ground running in 2023, with the Triangle Derby I, their new trios tournament. By the time it finishes, we’ll be gearing up for the Cinderella Tournament followed by the Five Star Grand Prix… with a historic All-Star Grand Queendom event at Yokohama Arena in late April!

Current Champions

  • SWA Women’s Champion: Vacant; Mayu Iwatani vacated the championship after her defense in October to focus on the IWGP Women’s Championship Tournament Final against KAIRI. There have been no updates as to the status of the championship.
  • NEO High Speed Champion: AZM (‘Azumi’) – If successful on her next defense, AZM will dethrone Mayu Iwatani as the longest reigning High Speed Champion. 
  • Future of STARDOM Champion: Ami Sohrei
  • Artists of STARDOM Champion: Prominence (Risa Sera, Suzu Suzuki & Kurumi Hiiragi)
  • Goddesses of STARDOM Champion: 7Upp (Nanae Takahashi & Yuu)
  • Wonder of STARDOM Champion: Saya Kamitani – If successful on her next defense, Kamitani will dethrone Momo Watanabe as the longest reigning white belt champion. Scheduled Opponent: Momo Watanabe
  • World of STARDOM Champion: Giulia

The Meteoric Rise of Club Venus – When Xia Brookside and Mariah May showed up with a returning Mina Shirakawa at STARDOM Dream Queendom II, my gut told me they were the final puzzle X in the Triangle Derby. While they aren’t dominating the Derby, they are certainly turning enough heads and making headlines in order to get their own Weekly Pro-Wrestling magazine cover.  

The Trial of Waka Tsukiyama – Over a month has passed since Tam Nakano issued the directive to Tsukiyama: “Get a win or get out.” At New Blood 7, she went toe to toe with Nanae Takahashi in a Passion Injection match, but ultimately came up short. However, in Giulia’s 10-Person Champion’s Gauntlet, Waka managed something she never had before, her first draw in STARDOM against the World of STARDOM Champion. While Tam is still supporting Tsukiyama for the time being, it looks like Takahashi, Giulia and even Shirakawa seem to have their sights on Tsukiyama.

New Blood Tag Title Tournament – At NB7 (1/20), STARDOM held the first round of a tournament for the newly established New Blood Tag Champions.The second round and finals will likely be held at New Blood 8 in March. 

  • First Round: Ami Sohrei/Nanami defeated Momo Kohgo/Momoka Hanazono (11:53)
  • First Round: Chanyota/Mai Sakurai defeated Lady C & Hina (9:05)
  • First Round: Starlight Kid/KARMA (Haruka Umesaki) defeated Club Venus (Mariah May/Xia Brookside) (12:26) 
  • First Round: God’s Eye (MIRAI/Tomoka Inaba) defeated STARS (Hanan/Saya Iida) (12:02)

Triangle Derby I Standings (as of 1/27/23)

This tournament is intense with a lot of league matches crammed into the last month. The matches are on delay on STARDOM World. Trying to catch up has been an absolute challenge, especially with the new year’s Mania Week but make it Japan feeling that January started with!

Image

RED Triangles

  • 7Upp  [6]
  • Queen’s Quest [5]
  • Club Venus [4]
  • UNIQUE GLARE [4]
  • COSMIC ANGELS [4]
  • Baribari Bombers [2]
  • H&M’s [0]

BLUE Triangles

  • PROMINENCE [8]
  • Gold ship [6]
  • Abarenbo GE [5]
  • MaiHime w/C [4]
  • Rebel & Enemy [4]
  • CLASSMATES [2]
  • Lollipop [0]

Image

Next Big Event: STARDOM’s 12th Anniversary: Supreme Fight 2023 (2/4) Edion Arena, Osaka; vocal cheering will be permitted with masks worn

  • Triangle Derby I League Match: Unique Glare (Starlight Kid, Haruka Umesaki & Ruaka) vs. CLASSMATES (Hazuki, Koguma & Saya Iida)
  • 6-Woman Tag Match: God’s Eye (Syuri, Ami Sohrei & Konami) vs. Queen’s Quest (Utami Hayashishita, AZM & Lady C)
  • Special Singles Match: MIRAI (GE) vs. Chihiro Hashimoto (Sendai Girls)
  • Singles Championship Contract Naniwa (Osaka) Roulette Participants: Mayu Iwatani, Momo Kogo, Natsuko Tora, Saki Kashima, Mai Sakurai, Thekla, Tam Nakano, Natsupoi, Waka Tsukiyama, Mina Shirakawa, Mariah May, Miyu Amasaki, Yuna Mizumori, Momoka Hanazoko, and X
    • Rules
      1. The match is scheduled for one fall in five minutes involving 15 people.
      2. Order of entry will be decided by Naniwa Roulette
      3. Over the Top Rope eliminations are fair play
      4. In the event of a draw, both competitors will be eliminated.
      5. Last player remaining wins. The winner can select whichever singles championship the would like to challenge for. 
  • Goddesses of STARDOM Championship: 7Upp (Nanae Takahashi/Yuu) © vs. MaiHime (Maika & Himeka)
  • Wonder of STARDOM Championship: Saya Kamitani © vs. Momo Watanabe – if Kamitani defeats Watanabe, she will become the longest-reigning Wonder of STARDOM Champion.
  • World of STARDOM Championship: Giulia © vs. Suzu Suzuki (PROMINENCE) – This will be Giulia’s first defense.

2023 Schedule

  • STARDOM in SHOWCASE (2/26) Kobe International Complex
  • Triangle Derby I Finals (3/4) Yoyogi National Stadium Second Gym
  • New Blood 8 (3/25) Yokohama Budokan
  • 2023 Cinderella Tournament (3/26) Yokohama Budokan
  • ALL-STAR GRAND QUEENDOM (4/23)Yokohama Arena

Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling (TJPW)

Much like STARDOM, TJPW is one of the bigger and busier women’s promotions in Japan, also keeping a packed schedule with fewer big events annually, but plenty of tournaments and shows streamed live. 

Current Champions:

  • Princess Tag Team Champions: Wasteland War Party (Heidi Howitzer & Max The Impaler) *NEW*
  • International Princess Champion: Miu Watanabe
  • Princess of Princess Champion: Yuka Sakazaki

Tokyo Joshi Pro ‘23 (1/4) Korakuen Hall https://www.ddtpro.com/results/19544 

  • Singles Match (1/15): Yuki Aino defeated HIMAWARI (6:05) – This is HIMAWARI’s (‘Sunflower’) TJPW debut match; via Venus DDT
  • Tag Match (1/20): Juria Nagano & Moka Miyamoto defeated Arisu Endo & Wakana Uehara (9:15) – This is Wakana (from last year’s Dream on the Ring series) debut match; via Rashomon
  • 6-Woman Tag (1/20): Kaya Toribami, Mahiro Kiryu & Nao Kakuta defeated Haruna Neko, Pom Harajuku & Raku (8:36) via Shidenkai
  • New Year Rabbits And Horns (1/15): Hyper Misao vs. Shoko Nakajima – Draw (14:53) – Both pulled down a prize at the same time
  • Princess Of Princess Title #1 Contenders Six-Woman Delayed Entry Battle Royal (no time limit): Mizuki defeated Hikari Noa, Maki Ito, Rika Tatsumi, Suzume and Yuki Kamifuku (16:58)
  • International Princess Championship (1/30): Miu Watanabe © defeated Trish Adora (10:34) – via Teardrop; 9th Champion’s second successful defense
  • Princess Tag Team Championship (1/30): Wasteland War Party (Heidi Howitzer & Max The Impaler) defeated Reiwa AA Cannon (Saki Akai & Yuki Arai) © (11:29) – via pinfall to become the 11th Champions. 
  • Princess Of Princess Championship (1/30): Yuka Sakazaki © defeated Miyu Yamashita (16:08) – Magical Girl Niwatori Yaro

TJPW City Circuit Winter (1/7) Kobe Arts Center

  • Singles Match (1/15):  Nao Kakuta defeated HIMAWARI (7:05)
  • Singles Match (1/15): Yuki Kamifuku defeated Kaya Toribami (6:15)
  • Tag Match (1/20): Raku & Yuki Aino defeated Hikari Noa & Maki Ito (11:30)
  • Tag Match (1/20): Kyoraku Kyomei (Hyper Misao & Shoko Nakajima) defeated Mahiro Kiryu & Yuka Sakazaki (10:42)
  • 6-Person Tag Match (1/20): Wasteland War Party (Heidi Howitzer & Max The Impaler) & Trish Adora defeated Hakuchumu (Miu Watanabe & Rika Tatsumi) & Pom Harajuku (13:59)
  • Tag Match (1/20): Daisy Monkey (Arisu Endo & Suzume) defeated Mizuki & Moka Miyamoto (13:40)

TJPW City Circuit Winter (1/8) Okayama Convention Center

  • Singles Match (1/15): Moka Miyamoto defeated HIMAWARI (5:23)
  • Singles Match (1/15): Mizuki defeated Kaya Toribami (6:39)
  • Tag Match (1/20): Free WiFi (Hikari Noa & Nao Kakuta) defeated Pom Harajuku & Raku (10:30)
  • Singles Match (1/15): Trish Adora defeated Hyper Misao (6:50)
  • Tag Match (1/20): Miu Watanabe & Suzume defeated Mahiro Kiryu & Maki Ito (13:38)
  • Tag Match (1/20): Wasteland War Party (Heidi Howitzer & Max The Impaler) defeated Arisu Endo & Yuka Sakazaki (9:46)
  • Tag Match (1/20): Shoko Nakajima & Yuki Aino defeated Rika Tatsumi & Yuki Kamifuku (14:03)

TJPW Tag Tournament 2023 Mid-Standings

Futari wa Princess Max Heart Tournament 2023 (1/15) Otemachi Mitsu Hall, Tokyo

  • Opening Singles Match (1/15): Shoko Nakajima defeated Wakana Uehara (7:00) – Northern Lights Suplex
  • Three Way (1/20): Hyper Misao defeated Mizuki and Pom Harajuku (7:48) – La Magistral by Misao on Pom
  • 6-Woman Tag (1/20): Hakuchumu (Miu Watanabe & Rika Tatsumi) & HIMAWARI defeated Daisy Monkey (Arisu Endo & Suzume) & Kaya Toribami (11:34) – Miu using Teardrop on Kaya
  • Futari Wa Princess Max Heart Tournament 2022 First Round (1/NTL): Juria Nagano & Moka Miyamoto defeated Toyo Mates (Mahiro Kiryu & Yuki Kamifuku) (11:04)
  • Futari Wa Princess Max Heart Tournament 2022 First Round (1/NTL): Reiwa AA Cannon (Saki Akai & Yuki Arai) defeated Raku & Yuki Aino (13:46))
  • Futari Wa Princess Max Heart Tournament 2022 First Round (1/NTL): 121000000 (Maki Ito & Miyu Yamashita) defeated FreeWiFi (Hikari Noa & Nao Kakuta) (11:41)

Futari wa Princess Max Heart Tournament 2023 (1/19) Shinjuku FACE, Tokyo 

  • Singles Match (1/15): Hikari Noa defeated Wakana Uehara (8:07)
  • Tag Match (1/20): Mahiro Kiryu & Mizuki defeated HIMAWARI & Nao Kakuta (11:43)
  • 6-Woman Tag Match (1/20): 121000000 (Maki Ito & Miyu Yamashita) & Yuki Kamifuku defeated Pom Harajuku, Raku & Yuki Aino (11:42)
  • Futari Wa Princess Max Heart Tournament 2023 Second Round: Kyoraku Kyomei (Hyper Misao & Shoko Nakajima) defeated Haruna Neko & Kaya Toribami (11:33)
  • Futari Wa Princess Max Heart Tournament 2023 Second Round: Juria Nagano & Moka Miyamoto defeated Daisy Monkey (Arisu Endo & Suzume) (8:43)
  • Futari Wa Princess Max Heart Tournament 2023 Second Round: Hakuchumu (Miu Watanabe & Rika Tatsumi) defeated Reiwa AA Cannon (Saki Akai & Yuki Arai) (17:23)

International Excursion Results Pending! Yuki Kamifuku travels southeast Asia! After her trip to Malaysia last December, KamiYu’s went to Singapore. She challenged Alexis Lee for her Queen of Asia Championship on 1/27 at Champions Never Yield. On 1/28 (today), she’s battling Matcha (formerly Gatoh Move’s Blue Lotus) in an International Joshi Match at SETUP Pro-Wrestling in Bangkok.  As a result of the international travel schedule, she will be absent from the 1/29 (Sunday) show at Kasakabe Fureai Cube and the PPV on Monday. 

THIS MONDAY!! Princess of the Decade (Wrestle Universe Special PPV)

The special one-day, single elimination tournament will emanate from Tokyo TwinBox Akihabara, starting at 8PM local time. This is WU’s first iPPV for TJPW and there will be a 20% discount for WU subscribers. Those who cannot watch live will be able to watch the archive afterward. 

JANAI KAI PACKS HER PASSPORT! She is packing her passport to head to Japan and make her debut! Kai will join a long list of historical debuts at Korakuen Hall on February 11. She’ll challenge Miu Watanabe for the International Princess Championship on February 18th in Nagoya.

Next Big Event: GRAND PRINCES ‘23 (3/18) Ariake Coliseum, Tokyo

TJPW’s big show of the year is just around the corner, and right before they head to the United States for Mania Week in California at the end of March! The main event is already set with Yuka Sakazaki defending her Princess of Princess Championship against her Magical Sugar Rabbits tag partner, Mizuki.

Yuka Sakazaki vs. Mizuki at Ariake Arena

  • ANNOUNCED: Princess of Princess Championship (1/30): Yuka Sakazaki © vs. Mizuki – 11th Champion’s third defense
  • Scheduled to Participate: Aja Kong, Yuki Arai, Juria Nagano, Princess Tag Champions Max The Impaler & Heidi Howitzer
  • Full card to be announced at later dates

WrestleCon 2023: Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling will participate in WrestleCon’s live show schedule on 3/31 from The Globe Theatre in Los Angeles, California. Their show will begin at noon (Pacific Time). Currently, there hasn’t been any announcements as to if the show will be live streamed on Highspots.TV or what the cost will be. 

WAVE

Current Champions

  • Regina Di WAVE CHampionship: Hikaru Shida (AEW)
  • WAVE Tag Team Championship: galaxyPunch! (Hikari Shimizu & SAKI; COLOR’S)

Medical Update: Nagisa Nozaki

It’s been 139 days since her knee surgery, but the Ace of WAVE isn’t giving up. She’s been working hard on getting her knee back in shape. She’s started light jogging, but of course, it still hurts a great deal. She feels like she’s a month behind schedule, but working hard. 

NAMI 1 ~ Nami Hajime ~ GO WAVE (1/1) Shinjuku FACE

  • Gauntlet: Sakura Hirota defeated Aiger, Ayame Sasamura, Haruka Umesaki, Itsuki Aoki, Kakeru Sekiguchi, Miyuki Takase, Riko Kawahata, Rina Amikura, Tsubasa Kuragaki & Yuko Sakurai [10:2:2] (10:40)
  • Three Way: ASUKA vs. Suzu Suzuki vs. Yuki Miyazaki (20:00) – Time Limit Draw 
  • EVE International Title: Yuu © defeated Cohaku (9:06)
  • WAVE Tag Team Title: galaxyPunch! (Hikari Shimizu & SAKI) © defeated Cherry & Kaori Yoneyama (13:01)
  • Regina Di WAVE Title: Hikaru Shida © defeated Risa Sera (18:24)

Detras De Lazona Vol. 8 (1/9) Post Di Amistad

  • 8-Woman Tag: Hikari Shimizu, Cohaku, Momo Tani & Sakura Hirota vs. Kurumi Hiiragi, Tsubasa Kuragaki, Yuki Miyazaki & Yuu [3:3] (30:00) – Time Limit Draw 
  • 8-Woman Tag: Hikari Shimizu, Kohaku, Momo Tani & Sakura Hirota defeated Kurumi Hiiragi, Tsubasa Kuragaki, Yuki Miyazaki & Yuu (3:14)

Chiba WAVE Vol. 3 (1/22) 2AW Square 

  • Singles Match: Miyuki Takase defeated Cohaku (10:22)
  • Singles Match: Kurumi Hiiragi defeated Rina Amikura (7:26)
  • Tag Match: Itsuki Aoki & Kakeru Sekiguchi vs. Riko Kawahata & Suzu Suzuki (20:00) – Time Limit Draw 
  • Singles Match: Yuki Miyazaki defeated Ayame Sasamura (12:05)
  • WAVE Tag Team Title: galaxyPunch! (Hikari Shimizu & SAKI) © defeated Haruka Umesaki & Sakura Hirota (17:23)

NAMI 1 ~FEB ’23~ (2/1) ShinKiba 1stRing

  • Rival WAVE: Itsuki Aoki vs. Suzu Suzuki
  • Scramble WAVE Tag: Kurumi Hiiragi & Rina Amikura vs. Yuko Sakurai & Miyuki Takase
  • Yuki Miyazaki’s Happy Birthday WAVE ~ver. 4.4~ Tag: Yuki Miyazaki & Cohaku vs. Banana Senga & Tsutomu Ohsugi
  • PINK Rival Wave: Kyusei Sakura Hirota vs. Haruka Umesaki
  • DUAL SHOCK WAVE: Tag Team Championships: galaxyPunch! (Hikari Shimizu & SAKI) vs. REDBLUE (Kakeru Sekiguchi & Riko Kawahata)

Kizuna Tanaka (18) will take her pro-wrestling examination on February 5th. She’s the eldest daughter of Minrou Tanaka. She joined WAVE as a rookie in May 2022. She is slated to debut after she graduates high school at the end of March. 

2023 Schedule

  • Detras De Lazona Vol. 8 ~YOUNG OH! OH!~ (2/5) Post Di Amistad
  • Detras De Lazona Vol. 9 (2/18) Post di Amistad
  • NAMI 1 ~Mar ’23~ (3/1) ShinKiba 1st Ring
  • Brand New WAVE (3/12) Korakuen Hall

YMZ

YMZ The 10th Sunrise (1/1) Shinjuku FACE

  • Tag Team Match: Kakeru Sekiguchi & Miyuki Takase defeated Chie Ozora & Tsubasa Kuragaki (12:41)
  • Singles Match: Daiki Shimomura vs. Kaji Tomato (10:00)  – Time Limit Draw
  • Singles Match: Masahiro Takanashi defeated Cherry (6:49)
  • EVE International Title Match: Yuu © defeated Yuna Mizumori (12:28)
  • 8-Person Tag Team Match: ASUKA, Hikaru Sato, Makoto & Matsuzawa-san defeated Kaori Yoneyama, Kengo Mashimo, Kunio Toshima & Rina Yamashita (19:45)

YMZ Return To Nishiarai #5 (1/14) Nishiarai Daisen West Studio

  • Singles Match: Cherry defeated Kaori Yoneyama (0:27)
  • Singles Match: Kaori Yoneyama defeated Cherry (0:17)
  • Singles Match: Cherry defeated Kaori Yoneyama (1:27)
  • Singles Match: Hanako Nakamori defeated Naka Shuma (6:58) – via DQ
  • Tag Match: Kunio Toshima & Makoto defeated Matsuzawa-san & Yasu Urano (14:03)

YMZ Winter Kameari (1/22) Kame Dojo

  • Three Way: Chie Ozora defeated Makoto and Matsuzawa-san (12:00)
  • Singles Match: PSYCHO vs. Yuu (10:00) – Time Limit Draw 
  • Tag Match: Hanako Nakamori & Tatsuya Hanami defeated Kaori Yoneyama & Yasu Urano (14:37)

Meanwhile in the United States

All Elite Wrestling (AEW) & Ring of Honor (ROH)

Current Champions

  • AEW Women’s World Champion: Jamie Hayter
  • AEW TBS Championship: Jade Cargill
  • ROH Women’s World Champion: Athena

AEW Recap!

  • AEW Dark #178 (1/6/23) Ruby Soho & Willow Nightingale defeated Diamante & Emi Sakura (1:36)
  • AEW Dynamite #171 (1/11/23) Dr. Britt Baker DMD & Jamie Hayter (w/Rebel) defeated Saraya & Toni Storm (w/Hikaru Shida) (11:23)
  • AEW Dark: Elevation #98 (1/11/23) Emi Sakura, Marina Shafir & Nyla Rose (w/Vickie Guerrero) defeated Johnnie Robbie, Vipress & Zyra (2:01)
  • AEW Dark: Elevation #99 (1/23/23) Emi Sakura defeated Brooke Havok (3:16)

As I’m wrapping up this month, sat through two hours of SmackDown Before Rumble AND Rampage in the same night, counting down to this AEW Women’s World Championship Eliminator Match between Jamie Hayter and Emi Sakura. A friend who was at the venue for the taping said this match was a must-see and worth chasing up on a Friday night.

For those keeping score at home– Yes, my brow visibly twitched at Jamie Hayter getting called ‘AEW Home Grown Talent’. She’s had a career prior to her time in the US including STARDOM, Rev Pro UK, and Pro-Wrestling EVE… and Chris Jericho kindly… explained what joshi means. Gotta love some danshi-splaining.

Deadlock Pro-Wrestling (DPW) 

DPW Women’s Worlds Title: Emi Sakura © – defeated Raychell Rose on 12/10/22 at DPW 1st Anniversary

Prestige Wrestling 

Results: ROH Women’s World Championship: Athena © defeated Miyu Yamashita (1/21) – The Glass House, Pomona, California

Prestige Wrestling will return to southern California on March 31st for Nervous Breakdown at the Globe Theatre with a 4 PM PST start time. Participants are unknown at this time. 

World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) & NXT 

Current Champions

  • NXT Women’s Champion: Roxanne Perez
  • NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions: Katana Chance & Kayden Carter
  • WWE Women’s Champion: Bianca Belair
  • WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion: Charlotte Flair
  • WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions: Damage CTRL (Dakota Kai & IYO SKY)

I sat through RAW 30 (Raw is XXX) only to be very upset by the way this match was mishandled. Becky and Bayley deserved a minimum of 15 minutes. There were plenty of segments on this historic show that could have and should have been cut for time, but this match wasn’t it. 

With the Royal Rumble tonight, could the answer to some AWOL members of the WWE roster finally be answered?

  • Asuka? She’s been traveling to Japan in search of what she lost, but it seems that Asuka keeps coming up empty-handed. Ever since her devastating loss back in December, The Empress of Tomorrow has seemingly vanished. Her most recent YouTube video has her sightseeing in Kyoto. Will she return as KANA or someone completely different? 
  • SARRAY? We haven’t seen Sarray wrestle on NXT since August 2, 2022, when she lost to Mandy Rose. However, she did recently post photos of herself on Christmas and New Year’s Eve using the hashtag #SolarRecharge. The Warrior of The Sun might be powering up for a return, but any details as to when and where are still unknown, but she reassures everyone that is doing well.  
  • Meiko Satomura? The Final Boss is another one who seemingly vanished from NXT last fall, after losing the NXT UK Women’s Championship at Worlds Collide 2022 and then beating Roxanne Perez a couple of days later in September. All we know is that she’s still traveling around, including a trip to Bangkok before heading back to London. 

What’s Next?

  • WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion: Charlotte Flair vs. Sonya Deville
  • WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions: Damage CTRL (Dakota Kai & IYO SKY)

Royal Rumble (1/28) Alamodome, San Antonio, TX

  • WWE Women’s Championship: Bianca Belair © vs. Alexa Bliss 

NXT Vengeance Day (2/4) WWE Performance Center, Orlando, FL

  • Women’s Championship: Roxanne Perez © vs. Gigi Dolin vs. Jacy Jayne
  • NXT Women’s Tag Team Championship: Katana Chance & Kayden Carter © vs. Kiana James & Fallon Henley

West Coast Pro

On May 13th, WCPro will hold its first-ever QUEEN OF INDIES  in San Francisco. Announced participants include Unagi Sayaka (making her US debut) Chigusa Nagayo will participate in the show and be wrestling for the first time in nearly ten years. MARVELOUS is announced as one of the participating companies, Mio Momono has already expressed her interest in being part of the company delegation, as well as Maria who recently went to the UK for Pro-Wrestling EVE. Queen Aminata, Hyan, and Delmi Exo have all cycled through MARVELOUS in the last four years and are wishing to throw their hats in the ring as well as Janai Kai. 

Nagayo will also hold a seminar on 5/11 and MARVELOUS Try-Outs on 5/12 with one woman and one man being offered an opportunity to be part of a tour in Japan!

Over in the United Kingdom

Pro-Wrestling EVE 

Current Champions

  • EVE Tag Team Championship: Laura Di Matteo & Rayne Leverkusen
  • EVE International Champion: Yuu 
  • EVE Champion: Miyu Yamashita (TJPW) – Yamashita was scheduled to defend at EVE 100 at the beginning of the month, unfortunately, a concussion kept her from being eligible to travel to England. 

Next Big Event: Women Behaving Badly (3/8/23) 229 The Venue, London, England – The event is being held on International Women’s Day, so subscribe to their YouTube channel for details and a great catalog of matches. Complete match card and participants are TBA.

Monthly Match Recommendation

Do I really need a reason to serve up some amazing 1990s AJW wrestling? Just take a look at the names of the participants… the venue… the naming of the event… and the date… i

  • Promotion: All Japan Women’s Pro-Wrestling
  • Event: AJW Wrestling Queendom II
  • All Pacific Tile Match: Aja Kong & Bull Nakano vs. Akira Hokuto & Shinobu Kandori (35:13; result)
  • Date/Location: March 27, 1994 at Yokohama Arena, Yokohama, Japan

Thanks for catching up with me this month! See you at the end of February with another monster monthly wrap-up!!

About Karen Peterson 121 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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