After an overwhelmingly packed April, May was a bit lighter. However, the trade off is that Golden Week behind us and the arrival of the summer near, tournament season is preparing to start up. WAVE’s annual CATCH THE WAVE series has begun and Ice Ribbon is currently holding a tournament for the vacant IcexInfinity Championship.
The biggest news items for May are the Dream Star Fighting MARIGOLD’s inaugural show, MARIGOLD Fields Forever being a huge success and the annual Hana Kimura Memorial Show both emanated from Korakuen Hall.
Also, the movie based on Mayu Iwatani’s life, Runaway Wrestler, premiered nation-wide in Japan on May 17th. KAIRI (now Kairi Sane), Syuri, Momo Kohgo, and ring announcer Yurie Kozakai joined the cast in key roles connected to Mayu’s past.
Quick News Recap for May 2024
- TJPW to run International Tour Dates
- Hikari Noa departs TJPW
- Hikaru Shida returns to TJPW PRISM ’24
- WWE to Return to Japan in July 2024
- STARDOM’s AZM vs. Starlight Kid at UJPW on June 16th
- Stephanie Vaquer to defend NJPW STRONG at FantasticaMania
- Willow Nightingale Defended TBS Championship in STARDOM
- Forbidden Door 2024
Medical Updates
- WWE: Asuka to take time off for Knee
- MARIGOLD: Giulia to Undergo Wrist Surgery; Nao Ishikawa (knee) & Nanae Takahashi (C19)
- Freelance: Brandi Rhodes Surgery Successful
- AEW: Kenny Omega Scheduled for Surgery – Kenny has been instrumental in showcasing TJPW on AEW, so he gets included in the “get well soon” list.
With the overwhelming volume of promotions working together to run shows in Japan or bring talent and shows abroad, I decided to highlight some of the the key results for the last month, and what we can expect as we move into the summer.
Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport
Bloodsport Bushido (6/22) Ryogoku Sumo Hall
- Yu Iizuka vs. Fuminori Abe
- UPDATE: Takuya Nomura vs. Erik Hammer (replacing Todd Duffee)
- Hikaru Sato vs. Hideki Suzuki
- Winner Sato/Suzuki vs. Winner Nomura/Duffee
- Konami (STARDOM) vs. Maya Fukuda (GLEAT)
- Quinton “Rampage” Jackson vs. Hideki “Shrek” Sekine
- Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Satino Marella
- Masakatsu Funaki vs. Davey Boy Smith, Jr.
- Minoru Suzuki vs. Timothy Thatcher
- Josh Barnett vs. Jon Moxley
Ganbare Pro-Wrestling
- Yuna Manase has proclaimed that now she’s back wrestling, she wants to start representing GanPro throughout Japan and around the world. I am so curious to see where she travels to!
Ganbare Pro Everything Everywhere All At Once 2024 (5/18) Shin-Kiba 1st RING
- Mixed Tag: Banny Oikawa, Gabai Ji-chan & Ken Ohka defeat Chon Shiryu, Hartley Jackson & Yuna Manase (13:16)
- Kitsune World Title: Unagi Sayaka (c) defeats YuuRI (15:19)
Girls’ Pro-Wrestling Unit
COLOR’s x SPARK Joshi Kawaii Shimai (Cute Sisters 6/5) ShinKiba 1st Ring – Full Card TBA
- SPARK Joshi World Championship: Starlight Kid (c) vs. Momoka Hanazono
- SPARK Joshi Atlantic Championship: SAKI (c) vs. Sumie Sakai
Ice Ribbon
- Tournament: ICExINIFITY Championship League – Participants are competing for the vacant championship.
- Tsukasa Fujimoto announced a very busy June schedule including a full-time return to Ice Ribbon along with guest appearances at Evolution Joshi, Ramen Festival, SEAdLINNNG & Sendai Gold Festival.
- Mio Shirai has been a referee for some time now, but this is the second match she’s been included on recently, so I am curious to see if this is a temporary engagement or if she is considering returning to the ring. Yes, she is the sister of IYO SKY.
IR: In the Rain: Ribbon 2024 (6/23) Korakuen Hall – Full Card TBA
- Triangle Ribbon Championship: Yuki Mashiro (c) vs. Unagi Sayaka vs. Mio Shirai
Kitsune Women’s Wrestling
SUGOI! A Japanese Cultural Event (7/14) Glendale, CA; Full Card TBA
- Announced: Jazmin Allure, Lazy Maravilla, Marika Kobashi, Marina Shafir
- Tag Match: Aria Perkins & Emily Jaye vs. Gin Sevani & Nina
- Singles Match: Billie Starkz vs. Miyako Matsumoto
YABAI! (8/18) – Full Show Details Soon; Los Angeles, CA
- Announced: Xia Lee (formerly of WWE)
NOAH Wrestle Magic 2024 (5/4) Ryogoku Kokugikan
Legendary Women of Ryogoku Tag: Giulia, Mai Sakurai, MIRAI & Utami Hayashishita defeated Great Sakuya, Miyuki Takase, Nagisa Nozaki & Takumi Iroha (18:17) – MARIGOLD debuts in Pro-Wrestling NOAH
Recommended Men’s Matches
- Kenoh defeated YAMATO (15:50)
- GHC Heavyweight Championship: Kaito Kiyomiya defeated El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr. (c) (24:45)
Sukeban
SUKEBAN LA (5/30) The Trinity, Los Angeles, CA; broadcast details currently unknown
- Tag Grudge Match: Midnight Player & Otaku-chan vs. Supersonic & Stray Cat
- Singles Match: Saree Bomb vs. Maya Mamushi
- Harajuku Stars vs. Dangerous Liaisons: Saki Bimi & Babyface vs. KONAMI & Queen of Hearts
- Gang Warfare: Atomic Banshee vs. Lady Antoinette vs. Rina Yamashita
- Sukeban World Championship Match: Commander Nakajima (c) vs. Crush Yuu
STARDOM
Stardom Flashing Champions 2024 (5/18) Yokohama Budokan
- Pre-Show: Hina vs. Ranna Yagami (10:00) – Time Limit Draw
- Tag Match: Crazy Star (Mei Seira & Suzu Suzuki) vs. Mutual Love (Natsupoi & Starlight Kid) (15:00) – Time Limit Draw
- Singles Match: Maika defeated HANAKO (9:41)
- Tag Match: Azusa Inaba & Oedo Tai (Fukigen Death & Rina) defeated Empress Nexus Venus (Mina Shirakawa, Waka Tsukiyama & Xena) (13:12)
- Artists of STARDOM Title #1 Contendership Gauntlet: Oedo Tai (Momo Watanabe, Natsuko Tora & Thekla) defeated Cosmic Angels (Aya Sakura, Sayaka Kurara & Yuna Mizumori), God’s Eye (Konami, Saki Kashima & Syuri), Queen’s Quest (AZM, Lady C & Miyu Amasaki) and STARS (Hazuki, Koguma & Momo Kohgo) (19:43)
- High Speed Championship: Saya Kamitani (c) defeated Saya Iida (11:10)
- Tag Match: Best Friends (Arisa Nakajima & Tsukasa Fujimoto) defeated STARS (Hanan & Mayu Iwatani) (21:17)
- AEW TBS Championship: Willow Nightingale (c) defeated Tam Nakano (17:09)
- Wonder of STARDOM Championship: Saori Anou (c) defeated Ami Sourei (24:33)
TJPW
TJPW PRISM ‘24 (6/9) Korakuen Hall
- Tag Match: Suzume & Arisu Endo vs. Runa Ohkubo & Haru Kazashiro
- Singles Match: Shika Nanase vs. Uta Takami
- Tag Match: SAKI & Nao Kakuta vs. Raku & Harajuku Pomu
- Tag Match: Aja Kong, Yuki Kamifuku & Kira Summer vs. Maki Itoh, Mahiro Kiryu & Kaya Toribami
- Singles Match: Hikaru Shida vs. Moka Miyamoto
- Singles Match: Shoko Nakajima, Mizuki, Rika Tatsumi & Yuki Aino vs. Wakana Uehara, HIMAWARI, Touga & Shino Suzuki
- International Princess Championship: Yuki Arai (c) vs. LA Taylor
- Princess of Princess Championship: Miu Watanabe (c) vs. Vert Vixen
Pro-Wrestling WAVE
Tournament: CATCH THE WAVE 2024 – including STARDOM’s Saya Kamitani and Ranna Yagami. This is the company’s biggest tournament of the year in a round-robin format with a variety of themes for each block.
United Japan Pro-Wrestling
RESULTS: ALL TOGETHER United Japan Pro-Wrestling Foundation Show & Noto Earthquake Benefit Event (5/6) Nippon Budokan
STARDOM Tag Match: Natsupoi & Starlight Kid defeated Queen’s Quest (AZM & Miyu Amasaki) (9:50)
Recommended Men’s Matches
- El Desperado, HAYATA, Kota Minoura, MAO & Ninja Mack defeated Alpha Wolf, Dragon Bane, Hiromu Takahashi, Shunma Katsumata & YAMATO (13:21)
- Daisuke Sekimoto & Tomohiro Ishii defeated Jeff Cobb & Masa Kitamiya (13:15) – Recommended
- Kaito Kiyomiya, Shota Umino & Yuki Ueno defeated Konosuke Takeshita, Shun Skywalker & Yuya Uemura (23:18)
Dream Slam Homeroom
With the close proximity of Dream Slam Monthly to POST PURORESU, I’ve decided to start limiting the full results for some promotions as WH and I usually cover the results of the big shows like those of NOAH, NJPW, United Japan Pro-Wrestling, and AJPW. Additionally, as Bruce Lord and I provide updates and discussions on NJPW through our show reviews on the POST Wrestling Cafe, unless there are news items related or cross-over shows/matches, again there will be a slight scaling back.
Moving forward, I will highlight the women’s matches and women’s championships. However, if there are other matches that stand out on the same card, I’ll include my recommendations. When it comes to promotions with one or two women’s matches, if they are available online, I will try to include the show details and other news items.
MAY 2024 Coverage Recap
- Podcast: POST PURORESU (5/2) w/ WH Park
- Postcast: NJPW Wrestling Dontaku (5/4) w/ Bruce Lord
- Written: MARIGOLD Fields Forever (5/20)
- Pollock’s Audio: POST Wretling Cafe (5/20)
- Written: Hana Kimura Memorial Show 4: Terima Kasih (5/23)
JUNE 2024 Coverage Schedule
- Podcast: POST PURORESU (6/6) w/ WH Park
- Podcast: NJPW Dominion (6/9) w/Bruce Lord
- Written: Dream Slam Monthly May 2024 (6/29)
Thanks again for joining me this month! If you have any burning joshi questions, please comment on this post over on the POST Forum! See you next month!
