Summertime is here and as someone who rediscovered her love for wrestling here in Orlando, it’s only fitting to open with a little NXT/WWE talk this month. While amazing things are happening, like WWE resuming touring in Japan and IYO SKY calling out Utami Hayashishita for a Queen of Queens (royalty not the NY borough) special match, I would be remiss if I glossed over the cinematic return of Uncle Howdy and WYATT SICKS debut. I know, I’m your resident joshi on joshi wrestling (women on JP women’s wrestling) and POST’s Puro Empress, but my time as a diehard NXT fan was the Black & Gold Brick Road I walked to get where I am today.
Summers here in the southeast US, especially in Florida, have sweltering heat, smothering humidity, and often far more mosquitos than fireflies, but I remember watching Alexa Bliss’ heel turn long before she went up to SmackDown and Raw, arrival and evolution of SAnitY, the expansion and storytelling of The Wyatt Family– and yes– for a time, I too, did BO-LIEVE. I remember seeing them work small NXT house shows around Central Florida and their dedication to their character work. The Found Family that grows when one works so closely with others, often seeing their colleagues more than their own families can truly make for emotionally nuanced storytelling. While I don’t follow WWE nearly as closely as I used to, I did enjoy the work of Bray Wyatt because it was so abstract and a departure from the standard fare served in the WWE. I did mist up when they not only paid homage to Bray but also included Harper (Lee) with the sledgehammer (yes, that is where my eyes were very misty from the firefly glimmers).
I am so curious about where this journey will take the Wyatt Sicks, especially how they will craft their story moving forward and who will join them as they write the next chapter of the story. I hope Osaka and Tokyo are packed with fireflies late next month when WWE makes its return to Japan for the first time in five years.
Medical Updates
- WWE: Asuka provided a post-op follow-up update via YouTube (no dialogue, just first workout)
- Ice Ribbon: Tsukasa Fujimoto had successful elbow/ligament surgery after IWGP match stoppage.
- STARDOM: Waka Tsukiyama is slated to return on June 29th
Dream Star Fighting MARIGOLD
Ogawa said he had prepared the former leader of Queen’s Quest, Utami Hayashishita, a special opponent to help her realize an unfulfilled dream. Korakuen Hall collectively gasped, as Hayashishita stared in disbelief, seeing IYO SKY challenge her to a singles match at the company’s summer big event at Ryogoku Sumo Hall on July 13th. SKY’s goal is to show the world a match for the ages that people around the world will talk about.
“I’m absolutely speechless. I’ve always wanted to wrestle against Io (the original leader of QQ)! Is this really happening, that I get to face her?” Hayashishita asked in disbelief.
SUMMER DESTINY 2024 (7/13) Ryogoku Kokugikan – PPV on Wrestle Universe (discount available for WE Subscribers) Full Match Card TBA
- Nanae Takahashi & Nao Ishikawa vs. Shinobu Kandori & Takako Inoue
- Superfly Championship Finals
- United National Championship Finals
- Queen of Queen: Utami Hayashishita vs. IYO SKY (WWE)
- Special Singles Match: Giulia vs. Sareee
WWE will be touring in Japan on July 25th starting at Osaka Edion Arena and then back-to-back shows at Ryogoku Sumo Hall on July 26th & 27th.
Additional News
- Rossy Ogawa talks about Triple H
- First Anniversary Show Venue & Giulia
- Rea Marumori departs SenJo & joins
Girls’ Pro-Wrestling Unit COLOR’s
RESULTS: COLOR’s x SPARK Joshi Kawaii Shimai (Cute Sisters 6/5) ShinKiba 1st Ring
- Tag Match: Kakeru Sekiguchi & Kaori Yoneyama defeated Kuma no Pa-san & Minnie-chan (8:39)
- Three Way: Emi Sakura defeated Kaho Kobayashi and Sakuran Bonita (11:26)
- Three Way: Ram Kaicho defeated Misa Kagura and Yuko Sakurai (12:53)
- SPARK Joshi World Championship: Starlight Kid (c) defeated Momoka Hanazono (14:54)
- SPARK Joshi Atlantic Title: SAKI (c) defeated Sumie Sakai (14:04)
Ice Ribbon
New Ice Ribbon #1354 ~ After The Rain, Ribbon 2024 (6/23) Korakuen Hall
- Tag Match: Arisa Shinose & Misa Kagura defeated Miria Koga & Yappy (13:06)
- Tag Match: Ancham, Nanae Furukawa & Tsukina Umino defeated Asuka Fujitaki & BIG DEKAI (Totoro Satsuki & Yuna Manase) (16:31)
- Tag Match: Arisa Nakajima & Makoto defeated Saran & Yoshiko Hasegawa (15:30)
- *IWGP Women’s Championship: Mayu Iwatani (c) defeated Tsukasa Fujimoto (16:08) – via referee stoppage; V6 for Iwatani
- Triangle Ribbon Championship: Yuuki Mashiro (c) defeated Mio Shirai and Unagi Sayaka (11:19)
- ICExInfinity Championship League Finals: YuuRI defeated Hamuko Hoshi (21:53) – YuuRI starts her second reign
*IWGP Women’s Championship – Stoppage Details
After the match, Referee Barb Sasaki noted that while he was checking on Mayu’s condition during the match, Fujimoto’s second, Arisa Nakajima, called to him, asking her to check on her, too. He said, “A good second is essential for referees,” indicating that sometimes a second pair of eyes at ringside, can help catch injuries quickly or help triage dangerous situations. Sasaki’s referee scope isn’t limited to STARDOM and does include death matches.
Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport
New! Shayna Baszler announced for Bloodsport XI (7/28) Roulette Intermedium, Brooklyn, New York
RESULTS: Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport Bushido (6/22) Ryogoku Sumo Hall
- Singles Match: Fuminori Abe defeated Yu Iizuka (4:14)
- Bloodsport Bushido Tournament First Round Match: Hideki Suzuki defeated Hikaru Sato (5:13)
- Bloodsport Bushido Tournament First Round Match: Erik Hammer defeated Takuya Nomura by TKO (3:06)
- Singles Match: Konami (STARDOM) defeated Maya Fukuda (GLEAT) (5:52)
- Singles Match: Masakatsu Funaki defeated Davey Boy Smith Jr. (7:29)
- Singles Match: Quinton Jackson defeated Hideki Sekine by TKO (4:31)
- Singles Match: Kazushi Sakuraba defeated Santino Marella (10:53)
- Singles Match: Minoru Suzuki defeated Timothy Thatcher by TKO (11:19)
- Bloodsport Bushido Tournament Finals: Hideki Suzuki defeated Erik Hammer (8:14)
- Singles Match: Jon Moxley defeated Josh Barnett (22:26)
Kitsune Women’s Wrestling
SUGOI! A Japanese Cultural Event (7/14) Glendale, CA; Streaming availability via IWTV
- Singles Match: Billie Starkz vs. Miyako Matsumoto
- Singles Match: Lady Maravilla vs. Marina Shafir
- Singles Match: Jada Stone vs. TBA (Unfortunately, Lady Frost can no longer participate)
- Singles Match: Marika Kobashi vs. J-Rod
- Tag Match: Aria Perkins & Emily Jaye vs. Gin Sevani & Nina
- Singles Match: Skylar Slice vs. Helen
- 3-Way Match: Savvy Stone vs Zamaya vs Simoe Williams
- Tag Match: Helen Charlotte Campbell vs Skylar Slice
- Tag Match: Everly Rivera & Jazmin Allure vs Marina Tucker & Mylo
- Singles Match: Mainey vs Miko Alana
YABAI! (8/18) – Full Show Details Soon; Los Angeles, CA
- Announced: Aja Kong, Act Yasukawa, Nagisa Nozaki, Yuna Manase, Xia Lee, Unagi Sayaka, Janai Kai, and more!
New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) Full English Schedule
As of June 28th, STARDOM is now a full subsidiary of NJPW. Full details of what that will mean for both companies are still unclear at this point aside from streamlining and internal processes. Within the scope of DSM, STARDOM and NJPW will remain separate sections.
RECOMMENDED VIEWING: Despe Invitacional (6/10) Korakuen Hall
- The Buy-In: Be-Bop Tag Team (Hiroshi Tanahashi & Toru Yano) & Kyoko Inoue defeated DASH Chisako, Isami Kodaka & Yuko Miyamoto (9:57) – Featured on free live stream
- Mixed Tag Match: Dragon Kid & Starlight Kid defeated El Desperado & Mima Shimoda (17:25)
- Four Way: Daisuke Sasaki and DOUKI and Eita defeated Violento Jack (11:36)
- Hardcore Tag Team: Hiromu Takahashi & Jun Kasai defeated Minoru Suzuki & Takayuki Ueki (19:53)
- Four Way Hardcore: Chris Brookes vs. El Phantasmo vs. MAO vs. Masashi Takeda (20:00) – Time Limit Draw
- Singles Match: Zack Sabre Jr. defeats Hikaru Sato (10:55)
- Special Feature Main Event: BULLET CLUB (Dick Togo & Gedo) defeated Danshoku Dino & El ‘Exotico’ Desperado (18:18)
Much like the Super Jr. Festivals organized by Hiromu Takahashi and Rocky Romero and the TAKA/Taichi series, fresh off his 2024 BOSJ win, El Desperado held a special mystery card show. The show featured many of Despe’s friends from across the JP wrestling scene, including a special “Siblings battle” featuring Despe tagging with his older sister, Mima Shimoda against his older brother Dragon Kid, and his younger sister, Starlight Kid. From top to bottom, the card is fun and even shows Despe getting to live his DDT Dreams as El Exotico.
SUNDAY! Forbidden Door (6/30) UBS Arena, New York USA
- Dark 6-Man Tag Match: Yota Tsuji, Hiromu Takahashi & Titán vs. Mistico, Rey Fenix & Penta Zero Miedo
- Dark Match: Mariah May vs. Saraya
- 6-Man Tag Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Max Castor & Anthony Bowens vs. Kazuchika Okada, Matthew Jackson & Nicholas Jackson
- Special Singles Match: MJF vs. Hechicero
- Special Singles Match: Zack Sabre, Jr. vs. Orange Cassidy
- Owen Hart Tournament 1st Round: Bryan Danielson vs. Shingo Takagi
- AEW World Heavyweight Championship: Swerve Strickland vs. Will Ospreay
- IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Jon Moxley (c) vs. Tetsuya Naito
- Dark Tag Match: Tam Nakano & Willow Nightingale vs. Momo Watanabe & Kris Stadtlander
- Title for Title Match: Mercedes Moné (c) TBS vs. Stephanie Vaquer (c) NJPW STRONG
- AEW Women’s World Championship: Toni Storm (c) vs. Mina Shirakawa
NJPW x CMLL Fantastica Mania USA (7/13) (full match card)
- Singles Match (1/30): Stephanie Vaquer vs.Lluvia
Sukeban
SUKEBAN LA (5/30) The Trinity, Los Angeles, CA
- Tag Grudge Match: The Vandals (Midnight Player & Otaku-chan) (w/BINGO) defeated Stray Cat & Supersonic (7:11)
- Singles Match: Sareee Bomb defeated Maya Mamushi (12:01)
- Harajuku Stars vs. Dangerous Liaisons: The Harajuku Stars (Babyface & Saki Bimi) defeated Dangerous Liaisons (Konami & Queen Of Hearts) (9:12)
- Gang Warfare: Lady Antoinette defeated Atomic Banshee (4:43)
- Sukeban World Championship Match: Commander Nakajima (c) defeated Crush Yuu (9:57)
STARDOM
STARDOM: THE CONVERSION (6/22)Yoyogi National Gymnasium Annex
*included in the free live stream
- *Pre-Show: Fukigen Death defeated Rian (4:33)
- *Goddesses Of Stardom Championships: STARS (Hazuki & Koguma) (c) defeated STARS (Hanan & Saya Iida) (19:23)
- *Singles Match: Starlight Kid defeats Mei Seira (13:23)
- Tag Match: Empress Nexus Venus (HANAKO & Mina Shirakawa) defeated Cosmic Angels (Natsupoi & Yuna Mizumori) (11:17)
- Tag Match: God’s Eye (Ranna Yagami, Saki Kashima & Tomoka Inaba) defeated Cosmic Angels (Aya Sakura, Sayaka Kurara & Tam Nakano) (11:51)
- Tag Match: God’s Eye (Ami Sourei & Syuri) vs. STARS (Mayu Iwatani & Momo Kohgo) (w/Anna Hirai) (15:00) – Time Limit Draw
- Losing Unit Must Split Ten Man Tag Team Elimination: Oedo Tai (Momo Watanabe, Natsuko Tora, Rina, Ruaka & Thekla) defeated Queen’s Quest (AZM, Hina, Lady C, Miyu Amasaki & Saya Kamitani) (27:29)
- Wonder Of Stardom Championship: Mika Iwata (SenJo) defeated Saori Anou (c) (21:08)
- World Of Stardom Championship: Maika (c) defeats Xena (22:27)
Post-Match: Farewell to The Queens
OedoTai’s leader, Natsuko Tora turned the tables on Queen’s Quest, with a last-minute match stipulation change, in which the last person pinned on their team stays, and all other members are kicked out of their unit. She made a point to pin the latest leader of WW in Saya Kamitani, forcing Lady C, Miyu Amasaki, Hina and one of QQ’s founding members in AZM to all be kicked out of the group! Syuri and Starlight Kid wasted no time coming out to extend offers for the expelled members to join God’s Eye and SLK’s new group!
“This isn’t exactly how I wished to invite you all to join up, but would you be interested in joining us?” – Syuri
“Given the timing, I only have one shot at this. So, here I am. AZM! MIYU! Care to join me?” – SLK, who was quickly joined by Suzu Suzuki and Mei Seira
“We’re happy for the offer, but now really isn’t the time… Sorry…Thank you for everything, Miyu, Hina, Lady. Let’s get out of here.” – AZM
Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling (TJPW)
RESULTS: TJPW PRISM ‘24 (6/9) Korakuen Hall
- Tag Match: Daisy Monkey (Arisu Endo & Suzume) defeated Haru Kazashiro & Runa Okubo (8:34)
- Singles Match: Chika Nanase defeated Uta Takami (5:12)
- Tag Match: Nao Kakuta & SAKI defeated Pom Harajuku & Raku (8:59)
- Tag Match: Aja Kong, Kira Summer & Yuki Kamifuku defeated Kaya Toribami, Mahiro Kiryu & Maki Itoh (11:46)
- Singles Match: Hikaru Shida defeated Moka Miyamoto (9:40)
- Tag Match: Mizuki, Rika Tatsumi, Shoko Nakajima & Yuki Aino defeated HIMAWARI, Shino Suzuki, Toga & Wakana Uehara (14:51)
- International Princess Championship: Yuki Arai (c) defeated LA Taylor (10:09) – V3 for Arai
- Princess Of Princess Championship: Miu Watanabe (c) defeated Vertvixen (17:17) – V2 for Watanabe
Next Big Event: SUMMER SUN PRINCESS ‘24 (7/20) Korakuen Hall – Full Card TBA
- Singles Match: Yuki Kamifuku vs. Nao Kakuta
- Special Singles Match: Aja Kong vs. Shoko Nakajima
- Princess Tag Championships: Daisy Monkey (Suzume & Arisu Endo) vs. Yuki Arai & Moka Miyamoto – 16th Champions’ 2nd defense
- Princess Of Princess Championship: Miu Watanabe (c) vs. Rika Tatsumi – 14th Champion’s 3rd defense
Upcoming Dates
- Nao Kakuta’s Graduation Show “Together You Are My Treasure” (7/25) – ShinKiba 1st Ring
- Tokyo Princess Cup 2024 7/28-8/24 – Singles tournament; winner typically challenges for the Princess of Princess Championship
- WRESTLE PRINCESS ‘24 (9/22) Chiba Mekuhari Messe
United Japan Pro-Wrestling (UJPW)
A voluntary, domestic alliance of Japanese wrestling promotions was established in December 2023. They held their inaugural show in May 2024. Includes: All Japan Pro-Wrestling (AJPW), Big Japan Pro-Wrestling (BJW), Dramatic Dream Team (DDT) Pro-Wrestling, DragonGate, Ganbare Pro-Wrestling, New Japan Pro-Wrestling & World Wonder Ring STARDOM, Pro-Wrestling NOAH and Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling.
PPV: All Together Sapporo (6/15) Hokkaido Prefectural Sports Center, Sapporo, Hokkaido
- Pre-Show Tag Team: Tomoaki Honma & Toru Yano defeated Andreza Giant Panda & Tomoya (6:26)
- Tag Match: TMDK (Kosei Fujita, Robbie Eagles & Zack Sabre Jr.) defeated HAYATA, Ulka Sasaki & Yu Owada (8:37)
- STARDOM Singles Match: AZM vs. Starlight Kid (15:00) – Time Limit Draw
- Tag Match: Bishamon (Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI) defeated Daichi Hashimoto & Daisuke Sekimoto (10:24)
- Tag Match: Kazusada Higuchi & United Empire (Great-O-Khan & Jeff Cobb) defeated Oleg Boltin, Ryohei Oiwa & Tetsuya Endo (9:53)
- Tag Match: Just 5 Guys (SANADA, Taichi & Yuya Uemura) defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi, Kento Miyahara & Naomichi Marufuji (13:25)
- Special Singles Match: Masa Kitamiya defeats Tomohiro Ishii (13:42)
- Tag Match: Los Ingobernables de Japon (BUSHI, Hiromu Takahashi, Shingo Takagi, Titan & Yota Tsuji) defeated GLG (Anthony Greene, Jack Morris & LJ Cleary) & BULLET CLUB War Dogs (Clark Connors & Drilla Moloney) (10:30)
- Tag Match: BULLET CLUB War Dogs (David Finlay & Gabe Kidd) & YO-HEY defeated All Rebellion (Alejandro, Kaito Kiyomiya & Kenoh) (12:16)
- Special Singles Match: Tetsuya Naito defeated Jake Lee (26:32)
WWE
Money in the Bank 2024 (7/6) Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, Canada
Women’s MITB Ladder Match: IYO SKY vs. Chelsea Green vs. Lyra Valkyria vs. Tiffany Stratton vs. Naomi vs. 6th Competitor TBD (7/1 Monday Night RAW)
Dream Slam Homeroom
Summer has brought tournament season, but also more cross-over programming, especially with promotions like NJPW, NOAH and AJPW as well as the newly founded UJPW. The CATCH the WAVE Tournament at Wave Pro is including Stardom’s Saya Kamitani and Ranna Yagami. The TJPW Princess Cup returns in July and STARDOM’s 2024 5STARGP has been condensed from a three month span into August. I am curious to see how the presentation will be, but it seems that now that NJPW is their parent company, the schedule is slightly shifted to minimize the overlap with the G1 CLIMAX.
If you happen to read this on release day, drop by the 12-hour charity stream hosted by Martin Bushby and Poisonrana! WH & I will be chatting top five matches for Kazuchika and Giulia and likely a lot about our respective times in Japan and co-hosting POST PURORESU. If you have the means to support, consider dropping by and listening along! The full schedule is here.
Summer is brutally hot and humid, but it’s in that heat that the hottest tournaments take place as the march into the second half of 2024 formally begins!
JUN 2024 Coverage Recap
- Podcast: POST PURORESU (6/7) w/ WH Park
- Postcast: NJPW Dominion (6/9) w/ Bruce Lord
- MCU L8R: The Wolverine (6/28) w/ WH Park & Rich Fann II – POST Wrestling Cafe
JULY 2024 Coverage Schedule
- Podcast: POST PURORESU (7/5) w/ WH Park
- Written: Dream Slam Monthly July 2024 (6/27)
- G1 CLIMAX 34
- Opening Weekend (7/20-21) w/Bruce Lord
- Kyushu (Nagasaki & Fukuoka; 7/27-28) w/Kate from MTL
- Semi-Finals (8/17) w/ John Pollock
- Finals (8/18) w/ Bruce Lord & WH Park
Thank you for always listening and joining me on this global learning excursion! Arrivederci, Mata, na!
