Many have been asking about if there is a scheduled POST review of Queen of the Villains and the short answer is YES. However, my personal knowledge of joshi is more focused on modern-day promotions. I not only wanted to research AJW, the entertainment and wrestling landscape of the 1980s/late Showa Era, as well as some digging for details on the matches presented in the show and some of the fact vs. fiction in the historical fiction presentation of Dump Matsumoto’s life story.
I will be the first to admit that my knowledge of AJW, even last year when I joined John & Wai to review Dream Slam 2, so I wanted to do my due diligence and gather resources in English translation (or that required translation) that I could review and present to everyone. I hope that everyone will just be patient a little longer but know that it is on the docket for October. See Dream Slam Homeroom at the bottom for details!
This isn’t joshi-related, but I really enjoyed Life & Career of “Tiger Hunter” Kuniaki Kobayashi by John Pollock. He very much took a behind-the-scenes role at the NJPW Noge Dojo, helping to change the culture within it. I met him once and he was one of the kindest that I ever had the pleasure of meeting in Japan. He will be sorely missed, but I am relieved knowing that he is resting easily.
DIANA
DIANA (9/8) Post Di Amistad
- 6-Woman Tag Match: Haruka Umesaki, Himiko & Yuma Makoto defeated Deborah K, Mizuki Kato & Mochi Natsumi (17:09)
- World Woman Pro-Wrestling Diana Queen Elizabeth Title Three Way: Kyoko Inoue (c) defeated Leon and Megumi Yabushita (10:20)
- World Woman Pro-Wrestling Diana Tag Team Championship: Ayako Sato & Hanako Nakamori (c) defeated Blue Orchid (Miran & Risa Sera) (14:46)
- World Woman Pro-Wrestling Diana World Championship: Maika Ozaki (c) defeated Nanami (11:47)
DIANA Future Sight Vol 25 (9/27) Post Di Amistad
World Woman Pro-Wrestling Diana World Title: Maika Ozaki (c) defeated Himiko (13:03)
DIANA (10/13) Korakuen Hall – Full Card TBA
- Pro Debut Match: Nene vs. Maika Ozaki
- Tag Match: Aja Kong & Himiko vs. Tae Honma & Miyuki Takase
- Tag Match: Jaguar Yokota & Nanami vs. Honoka & Rina (STARDOM)
- Untouchables Special Trios Match: DASH Chisako, Ayako Sato & Hanako Nakamori vs. Risa Sera, Mochi Natsumi & Kurumi Hiiragi
- Special Singles Match: Haruka Umesaki vs. Momo Watanabe (STARDOM)
As a special promotion for the film “Eleven Bandits,” DIANA will have a special eleven-woman battle royal. Riho Sayashi, the actress who stars as Natsu in the historical drama, will also be in attendance at the show. The film is directed by Kazuya Shiraishi, who also directed three of the five Queen of the Villains episodes for Netflix.
Dream Star Fighting MARIGOLD
2024 DREAM League Standings
- Utami Hayashishita [8]
- Kouki Amarei [8]
- NØRI [8]
- MIRAI [7]
- Nagisa Nozaki [7]
- Natsumi Showzuki [5]
- Victoria Yuzuki [3]
- Chika Goto [2]
2024 STAR League Standings
- Sareee [10]
- Nanae Takahashi [9]
- Mai Sakurai [9]
- Miku Aono [8]
- Bozilla [8]
- Misa Matsui [2]
- CHIAKI [2]
- Kizuna Tanaka [0]
TODAY: DS Grand Prix Finals (9/28) Nagoya International Conference Center; available on WRESTLE UNIVERSE (subscription required)
- 3-way Match: Nao Ishikawa vs Komomo Minami vs Myla Grace
- DREAM League: Natsumi Showzuki vs Chika Goto
- DREAM League: Victoria Yuzuki vs NØRI
- DREAM League: MIRAI vs Nagisa Nozaki
- DREAM League: Utami Hayashishita vs Kouki Amarei
- STAR League: Kizuna Tanaka vs CHIAKI
- STAR League: Mai Sakurai vs Misa Matsui
- STAR League: Miku Aono vs Nanae Takahashi
- STAR League: Sareee vs Bozilla
- 2024 DREAM STAR Grand Prix Finals: DREAM Block Winner vs. STAR Block Winner
There will be an awards ceremony after the finals match.
- Winner
- Runner-up
- DREAM League Best Match
- STAR League Best Match
- Outstanding Performance Award
- Skill Award
- Fighting Spirit Award
MARIGOLD Fantastic Adventure (10/7) Korakuen Hall; Full Card TBA
- Superfly Championship: Natsumi Showzuki (c) vs. Victoria Yuzuki
- Twinstar Tag Team Championship: MIRAI & Mai Sakurai vs. Kouki Amarei & Chika Goto
Evolution Joshi
- EvoJo Vol. 23 (9/25) Shin-Kiba 1st Ring
- Singles Match: Aki Shizuku defeated Miyuna (7:39)
- Three Way: Momoka Hanazono defeated Riara and Soy (7:22)
- Singles Match: Masashi Takeda defeated Dan Tamura (10:36)
- AJPW TV Six Man Tag Championship: Chihiro Hashimoto, Shuji Ishikawa & Yuu (c) defeated DASH Chisako, Isami Kodaka & Yuko Miyamoto (13:39)
- Tag Team Match: Chi Chi & Unagi Sayaka defeated Yuna Manase & ZONES (14:49)
Ice Ribbon
New Ice Ribbon #1372 ~ Yokohama Ribbon 2024 September (9/23) Yokohama Radiant Hall
- Tag Match: Ancham & Yappy defeated Grizzly Fujitaki & Tsukina Umino (12:18)
- Singles Match: Yuko Sakurai defeated Mifu Ashida (9:15)
- Tag Match: Mio Shirai & Totoro Satsuki defeated Makoto & Manami Katsu (11:14)
- Singles Match: Arisa Shinose defeated Kirari Wakana (9:23)
- Tag Match: Saran & Yumi Ohka defeated Hamuko Hoshi & YuuRI (18:35)
Oktober IceRibbon Fest 2024 (10/19) Korakuen Hall – Full card TBA
- Miki Fortune to Participate
- Triangle Ribbon Championship: Kyuuri (c) vs. Mifu Ashida vs. X
- International Ribbon Tag Championship: Makoto & Hamuko Hoshi (c) vs. Yumo Ohka & Saran
- ICExINFINITY Championship: YuuRI (c) vs. Yuki Mashiro
MARVELOUS
Marvelous (9/9) ShinKiba 1st RING
- 8-Person Tag: Chi Chi, Itsuki Aoki, JAC & Unagi Sayaka defeated Ai Houzan, Chikayo Nagashima, Leo Isaka & Takumi Iroha (17:04)
- Prestige Wrestling Championship: Alan Angels defeated Starboy Charlie (c) (15:31)
- AAAW Title #1 Contendership Three Way: Riko Kawahata defeated Maria and Mio Momono (36:16)
- AAAW Tag Team Championships: Team 200kg (Chihiro Hashimoto & Yuu) defeated Jessy Jackson & Sandra Moone (13:26)
OZ Academy
Battle Big Bonus 2024 Fukuoka (9/8) Nishitetsu Hall
- Tag Match: AKINO & Kohaku defeated Flying Penguin & Itsuki Aoki (15:12)
- Singles Match: Mayumi Ozaki defeated Momoka Hanazono (13:25)
- Tag Match: Hiroyo Matsumoto & ZONES defeated Ram Kaicho & Tsubasa Kuragaki (13:41)
- OZ Academy Pioneer Championship Three Way: Jaguar Yokota defeated Masked Hanahana (c) and Unagi Sayaka (9:50)
- 6-Woman Tag Match: Kakeru, Maya Yukihi & Saori Anou defeated Ryo Mizunami, Sonoko Kato & Yuu (16:58)
Whispers Of Destiny (9/15) Shinjuku FACE
- Singles Match: Kohaku defeated ZONES (9:48)
- Tag Match: Sonoko Kato defeated Ram Kaicho (14:18)
- 6-Woman Tag Match: Kakeru, Maya Yukihi & Saori Anou defeated Momoka Hanazono, Ryo Mizunami & Yuu (16:24)
- Three Way: Itsuki Aoki defeated Hiroyo Matsumoto and Tsubasa Kuragaki (11:51)
- Tag Match: Jaguar Yokota & Mayumi Ozaki defeated AKINO & Unagi Sayaka (20:12)
SEAdLINNNG
- SEAdLINNNG Kawasaki Pro Wrestling Matsuri 2024 (9/23) Culttz Kawasaki
- Tag Match: Miku Kanae & Misa Kagura defeated Miria Koga & Sya (12:25)
- High Speed Six Man Tag Team: Nagisa Nozaki, Rina Yamashita & Yuu defeated Maya Yukihi, Na Tsudita & Ram Kaicho (18:29)
- Tag Match: Masato Tanaka & Takuya Sugawara defeated Hiroyo Matsumoto & SUGI (14:03)
- Three Way Tag Match: Ka Kedita & La Pidita defeated Ayame Sasamura & Itsuki Aoki and Las Fresa de Egoistas (Makoto & VENY) (17:46)
- SEAdLINNNG Beyond The Sea Championship: Sareee (c) defeated Unagi Sayaka (13:59)
Upcoming Shows
- Shinjuku FACE (10/2)
- ShinKiba 1st Ring (11/20)
- Final Show of 2024 (12/27)
Sendai Girls
Free Match: Saori Anou vs. DASH Chisako (8/24/2024)
SENJO (9/13) Sendai PIT
- Singles Match: Ryo Mizunami defeated YUNA (7:15)
- Singles Match: Kuroshio TOKYO Japan defeated Shin Sakura Hirota (9:54)
- Tag Match: DASH Chisako & Hiroyo Matsumoto vs. VENY & Yuu (15:00) – Time Limit Draw
- Singles Match: Miyuki Takase defeated Manami (11:03)
- Tag Match: Mio Momono & Yurika Oka defeated Chihiro Hashimoto & ZONES (13:00)
- Sendai Girls World Championship: Mika Iwata defeated Saori Anou (c) (16:27)
SENJO (9/27) Shinjuku FACE
- Singles Match: ZONES defeated YUNA (6:23)
- Tag Match: Miyuki Takase & Yura Suzuki defeated Manami & Ryo Mizunami (7:58)
- Singles Match: Mika Iwata defeated Chi Chi (7:37)
- Tag Match: Momo Watanabe & Ruaka defeated Reiwa Ultima Powers (DASH Chisako & Hiroyo Matsumoto) (15:03)
- Sendai Girls Tag Championships: Team 200kg (Chihiro Hashimoto & Yuu) defeated Bob Bob Momo Banana (Mio Momono & Yurika Oka) (c) (17:13)
STARDOM
Namba Grand Fight (9/14) EDION Arena, Osaka
- Pre-Show: Xena defeated Rian (8:06)
- Singles Match: Saya Kamitani defeated Mina Shirakawa (10:58)
- Tag Match: Empress Nexus Venus (HANAKO & Waka Tsukiyama) defeated Hina & Ranna Yagami (8:03)
- 8-Woman Tag Match: Cosmic Angels (Aya Sakura, Saori Anou, Sayaka Kurara & Yuna Mizumori) defeated Azusa Inaba & HATE (Natsuko Tora, Rina & Ruaka) (11:56)
- 6-Woman Tag Match: Kohaku & Neo Genesis (Mei Seira & Starlight Kid) defeated STARS (Koguma, Momo Kohgo & Saya Iida) (8:41)
- 6-Woman Tag Match: HATE (Konami, Momo Watanabe & Thekla) defeated God’s Eye (Lady C, Saki Kashima & Syuri) (12:04)
- Suzu Suzuki defeats Tomoka Inaba (13:10)
- Tag Match: STARS (Hanan & Mayu Iwatani) defeated Neo Genesis (AZM & Miyu Amasaki) (14:23)
- Wonder of Stardom Championship: Natsupoi (c) defeated Hazuki (19:08)
- World of STARDOM Championship: Tam Nakano (c) defeated Maika (22:32)
TODAY: STARDOM (9/28) Korakuen Hall
- Future of STARDOM Championship Preview 6-Woman Tag: Natsupoi, Yuna Mizumori & Aya Sakura vs. Rina (c)Future, Konami & Azusa Inaba
- Singles Match: Momo Kohgo vs. HANAKO
- Quartet 3-Way Battle: Maika, Xena, Waka Tsukiyama & Rian vs. Suzu Suzuki, Mei Seira, Starlight Kid and Miyu Amasaki vs. Tomoka Inaba, Hina, Lady C & Ranna Yagami
- 6- Woman Tag Match: Tam Nakano, Sayaka Kurara, Saori Anou vs. Natsuko Tora, Ruaka & Saya Kamitani
- Tag Match: Hazuki & Hanan vs. Koguma & Saya Iida
- NJPW IWGP Women’s Championship Preview Tag: Mayu Iwatani (c)IWGP and AZM vs. Timeless Toni Storm and Mina Shirakawa
- Goddesses of STARDOM Championships: Thekla & Momo Watanabe (c) vs. Syuri & Saki Kashima
Nagoya Golden Fight (10/5) Dolphins Arena – Full Card TBA
- NJPW IWGP Women’s Championship: Mayu Iwatani (c) vs. Timeless Toni Storm (AEW)
- World of STARDOM Championship: Tam Nakano (c) vs. Suzu Suzuki
Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling (TJPW)
WRESTLE PRINCESS V (9/22) Makuhari Messe, Chiba
- Singles Match: Haru Kazashiro defeated Runa Okubo (6:25)
- Tag Match: HIMAWARI, Kaya Toribami & Yoshiko Hasegawa defeated Chika Nanase, Kira Summer & Uta Takami (10:13)
- Tag Match: Kakeru Sekiguchi & Mahiro Kiryu defeated Toga & Wakana Uehara (9:41)
- Singles Match: Ram Kaicho defeated Raku (7:01)
- 6-Woman Tag Match (Special Referee: Shiori Aoki): Aja Kong, Max The Impaler & Pom Harajuku defeated Rika Tatsumi, Shino Suzuki & Yuki Aino (14:55)
- Singles Match: Emi Sakura defeated Shoko Nakajima (13:47)
- Tag Match: Mizuki & Xia Zhao defeated VENY & Yuki Kamifuku (12:50)
- International Princess Championship: Yuki Arai (c) defeated Moka Miyamoto (15:33)
- Princess Tag Championship: 121000000 (Maki Itoh & Miyu Yamashita) defeated Daisy Monkey (Arisu Endo & Suzume) (c) (23:22)
- Princess of Princes Championship: Miu Watanabe (c) defeated Ryo Mizunami (21:19)
International Report
AEW/ROH
- Mercedes Moné on choosing AEW over WWE Return
- Willow Nightingale on AEW Women’s Locker Room (9/10)
- Yuka Sakazaki returned to in-ring action at AEW Collison against Serena Deeb (9/12)
AEW Grand Slam (9/25) Arthur Ashe Stadium
- Non Title Match: Bryan Danielson defeated Nigel McGuinness (18:51)
- FTW Title FTW Rules Match: Hook (c) defeated Roderick Strong (w/Matt Taven & Mike Bennett) (8:57)
- AEW World Tag Team Title Match: The Young Bucks (Matthew Jackson & Nicholas Jackson) (c) defeated Kyle Fletcher & Will Ospreay (19:27)
- AEW Women’s World Title Match: Mariah May (c) defeated Yuka Sakazaki (6:11)
- AEW World Title #1 Contendership Match: Jon Moxley (w/Marina Shafir) defeated Darby Allin (18:43)
AEW Grand Slam: Collision (9/26) Arthur Ashe Stadium
- AEW TNT Championship: Jack Perry (c) defeated Minoru Suzuki
- Singles Match: Brody King defeated Action Andretti
- Six Man Tag Team Tornado: The Learning Tree (Big Bill, Bryan Keith & Chris Jericho) defeated The Conglomeration (Kyle O’Reilly, Mark Briscoe & Orange Cassidy)
- Saraya’s Rules: Jamie Hayter defeated Saraya
- Lumberjack Strap: Adam Page defeated Jeff Jarrett
- AEW World Trios Title: Blackpool Combat Club (Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta) & PAC (c) defeated Komander & Private Party (Isiah Kassidy & Marq Quen) (w/Alex Abrahantes)
- Three Way: Hologram defeated Dralistico and The Beast Mortos
- AEW Continental Title Eliminator: Kazuchika Okada (c) defeated Sammy Guevara
CMLL
Grand Prix de Amazonas 2024 (Women’s International Grand Prix)
Elimination Tag Match: Team Mexico (Reyna Isis, Dark Silueta, Amapola, Hera, Sanely, Princesa Sugehit, Lluvia, Skadi, Kira, Lluvia & Zeuxis) vs. Team World (Red Velvet, Willow Nightingale, Unagi Sayaka, Tessa Blanchard, Sumika Yanagawa, Samantha Black, Alex Windsor, Viva Van, Persephone & La Catalina).
SUKEBAN! By Commissioner Bull Nakano
LONDON (10/10) York Hall, London, England (Match Card)
- Tag Match: King Konami & X vs. Crush Yuu & Supersonic
- Singles Match: Ichigo Sayaka vs. Stray Cat
- Tag Match: Saki Bimi & Maya Mamushi vs. Bingo & Atomic Banshee
- 3-Way Match: Rina Yamashita vs. Midnight Player vs. Babyface
- SUKEBAN Championship: Commander Nakajima vs. Sareee Bomb
WWE & NXT
For great NXT coverage, check out our friends over at Poisonrana with their UPNXT coverage!
- Giulia picks up first NXT win over Chelsea Green (910)
- Stephanie Vaquer interrupted press conference (9/24)
Dream Slam Homeroom
Recommended viewing – The Queen of the Villains Premiere at Korakuen Hall
In preparation for my review of The Queen of the Villains on Netflix, I highly recommend watching the attention to detail that is given to this special live premiere event broadcast internationally on YouTube for free, which included a pre-show involving brief interviews with many of the Japanese women’s wrestling legends featured in the series, a nearly 30-minute wrestling match and a question and answer session with the cast.
Queen of the Villains Lead Actresses:
- Kaoru Matsumoto/Dump Matsumoto: Yuriyan Retriever
- Chigusa Nagayo: Erika Karata
- Lioness Asuka: Ayame Goriki
Supporting Cast (featured at the Korakuen Event)
- Director: Kazuya Shiraishi
- Special Production Advisor: Chigusa Nagayo
- Crane Yu: Ayumi ‘Ebichan’ Ebihara (Mary Mary)
- Yukari Ohmori: Kyoka Sumida
- Devil Masami: Ryoka Neya
- Lovely Yoneyama: Eri Kamataki
- Jumbo Hori: Urara Aryu
- Bull Nakano: Momoka Hori
- Kaoru Kage: Sayaka Tobe
- Jackie Sato: Hitomi Kamoshita
- Maki Ueda: Haruka Imoh
Special 8-Woman Exhibition Tag Match: TEAM Karata/Goriki Maria, Mio Momono, Riko Kawahata & Takumi Iroha (w/Ayame Gouriki & Erika Karata) defeated TEAM Yuriyan Chikayo Nagashima, DASH Chisako, Drake Morimatsu & Zap T (w/Yuriyan Retriever) (28:39)
“This is what we do as pro-wrestlers. The pain. The challenges. The exhaustion. Yurian, Goriki, Karata and all the cast members, they willingly learned it all from square one. Thank you so much. It took two years and the short cut would have been just learning what was necessary for their scenes. However, they learned alongside our rookies with the same exact menu without any prior wrestling experience. Finally after two years, we are able to wrap the series. You all are the coolest! We gained strength and courage from you. We were reminded of the importance of hard work, the audience, and working together because of you.” – Takumi Iroha in-ring promo*
*Note: I did my best to translate it, but the livestream commentators kept talking over it, making it exceptionally difficult to hear and translate word-for-word.
Homework | Recommended Viewing & Listening
Did you know that AJW has an official YouTube Channel as well as a second channel with English titles and match information on it? The dates listed are in 198X as well as Japanese Imperial (as the dates listed on the video are by Showa Year). Subscribe to their channels, so hopefully they keep releasing more matches and content from this outstanding era of wrestling.
AJW’s “Villainous Queen” Netflix Release Commemorative Matches Playlist | “Dump Matsumoto vs. The Crush Gals” Series
- WWWA World Tag Championships: Jumbo Hori & Ohmori Yukari vs. Dump Matsumoto & Crane Yu (Showa 59 (6/28/1983) Kawasaki City Gymnasium
- Hair vs. Hair: Dump Matsumoto vs. Chigusa Nagayo (Showa 60; 8/28/1985) Osaka-jo Hall
- FUJI TV Japan Grand Prix Tournament Match: Chigusa Nagayo vs. Dump Matsumoto (Showa 60; 6/25/1985) Shinagawa Prince Hotel Ice Arena
- Dump Matsumoto’s Retirement Match: Dump Matsumoto & Yukari Ohmori vs. Chigusa Nagayo & Lioness Asuka (2/25/1988) Korakuen Hall, AJW War Dream 2
Please enjoy this little television broadcast onto tape onto the internet mixtape brought to you by AJW!
I highly recommend listening to Must See Matches Project Episode 7, where hosts Kieran Lefort and Mark Buckledee chat with Sarah Parkin about the Hair vs. Hair Death Match between Matsumoto and Nagayo (8/28/1985). If the name of the podcast sounds familiar, Kieran and Mark invited me onto the show back in January to discuss one of my favorite NXT matches: Sasha Banks vs. Bayley (8/22/2015) from NXT TakeOver Brooklyn (Episode 91).
I hope these above items will serve as a nice primer for the review that I am recording.
Upcoming Class Schedule | September-October 2024 Coverage
- Podcast: POST PURORESU (9/6) w/ WH Park
- Podcast: Destruction in Kobe (9/29) – w/ Bruce Lord on POST Wrestling Cafe
- Podcast: POST PURORESU (10/4) w/ WH Park
- Podcast: Queen of the Villains Review (10/6) w/ JP Houlihan
- Column: Dream Slam Monthly (Vol. 22) October 2024 (10/26)
Thank you for always listening and joining me on this global learning excursion! Arrivederci, Mata, na!
