Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling started its new year off with a bang, putting on a well-received show at Korakuen Hall last week. If you’re looking to get into TJPW, Dramatic DDT put out the following blurb briefly covering the storylines for the upcoming show:
“The new year for Tokyo Joshi Pro has begun. Miyu Yamashita and the Magical Sugar Rabbits all stand tall as the unbeatable champions. Their are no clear indicators yet as to who will step up to challenge them yet. The Up Up Girls (Pro Wrestling) are all getting more comfortable in their new gear. The new class of joshi are getting plenty of ring time with each other too. Hyper Misao is taking a break but Marika Kobashi is back. Let’s see what new directions everyone will take starting tomorrow.”
BAKURETSU Sisters vs. Miyu Yamashita and Reika Saiki
Miyu Yamashita has been TJPW’s Princess of Princess Champion for over a year. She has defenses against many of the company’s top competitors. With a victory over 2018’s fastest rising star, Maki Itoh, last week, it seems there are only a handful of wrestlers left to challenge for her title. However, one wrestler who could overcome Miyu Yamashita is Reika Saiki. Yamashita won the belt from Saiki early last year, and both have a similar style based on martial arts kicks. For the first time since Yamashita became champion, the two will be teaming up with no other partners. They will take on the BAKURETSU Sisters (Nodoka Tenma and Yuki Aino), a team known for power moves.
Magical Sugar Rabbits vs. Mina Shirakawa and Yuki Kamifuku
Mizuki and Yuka Sakazaki together are the Magical Sugar Rabbits. They came together after fighting an epic battle against one another during last year’s Princess Cup tournament. Since teaming up, they have won the Princess Tag Team titles, and their fast-paced high-flying style has helped them conquer every challenge put before them. Recently, they defeated TJPW stalwarts Riho and Shoko Nakajima. Then, the very next night, they beat UK sensation Millie McKenzie and bright up-and-comer Miu Watanabe. On the 13th, they will be facing the relatively new wrestlers, Mina Shirakawa and Yuki Kamifuku, who are hoping to establish themselves as wrestlers to look out for.
Other Matches
The Up Up Girls squad showed a new look at the start of the new year, going from various shiny one-tone outfits to a combination of dazzling multi-colored geometric designs. Up Up Girls member Hikari Noa will be taking on the acrobatic Natsumi Maki. Maki recently made her TJPW debut after making her name in joshi promotions such as Stardom, Marvelous, and AGZ. The other Up Up Girls will be competing against each other, with Marika Kobashi also thrown into the mix. Kobashi came back from a months-long hiatus due to injury last week, and is hoping to keep her momentum. Welcome back Marika Kobashi!
Finally, Hyper Misao, the most notable absence on the card, has announced that she is taking a break from wrestling. Misao captivated wrestling fans last year with a match against Jun Kasai unlike any other. It featured a ladder, a table, a mountain of chairs, a bicycle crash, a heartwarming real-life story, and two bags of chocolate cream puffs. It won TJPW’s match of the year (which was voted on by fans) in a landslide victory. Needless to say, Hyper Misao will be missed, and it will be worth looking out for how she gets incorporated back into the promotion upon return.
