Tokyo Joshi Pro runs their monthly major event today, this month’s dubbed ‘PRISM ’24”. 2 title matches headline the event today as international outsiders come back looking for some gold. First up, International Princess Champion Yuki Arai must overcome a considerable height & size handicap once again as she defends against foreigner L.A. Taylor. Then in the main event, Princess Of Princess Champion Miu Watanabe defends the title against the popular American wrestler Vertvixen, back for another shot at the gold. And with the return of Miyu Yamashita to Japan looming, along with the Tokyo Princess Cup, Watanabe’s days as champion may be numbered…although what may work in the champion’s favor is Yamashita is among 5 wrestlers who are out of the Tokyo Princess Cup because they will be in England during the Semifinals and Finals (also no Raku, HIMWARI & Mahiro Kiryu. No Maki Itoh as well as she’ll be back in the US). The undercard is highlighted by the return of former All Elite Wrestling Women’s Champion Hikaru Shida to TJPW, and another appearance by Hall Of Famer Aja Kong.
In other news, the promotion today also announced a fundraiser event for 6/27 at LOFT9 Shibuya in Tokyo, which will be an event to help raise funds for Hyper Misao, who is out of action due to injury. All proceeds from the event will go to her medical expenses. The event format is undecided but it will be livestreamed on Twitcasting for 1500 Japanese ten (around or just under $10 US).
Today’s event will be held at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo and can be watched LIVE on WRESTLE UNIVERSE in Japanese and English. Former SKE48 member Marika Tani, who left the group a couple months ago but remains active elsewhere in the entertainment industry, will return as a special guest on Japanese commentary. Fans are allowed to throw streamers/paper tape today. There will be a post-event party next door to the venue, which plays into the event name (Prism Hall is next to Korakuen). That event will perhaps have some influence on the running time even though it’s subject to change, so anticipate this event running about 2 1/2 hours. Based on time limits for matches the longest it could possibly go it about 3 hours. Also, for the last hour or so I’ll be split-screening due to another live event starting.
Today’s lineup (in order):
Suzume & Arisu Endo vs. Runa Okubo & Haru Kazashiro
Chika Nanase vs. Uta Takami
Nao Kakuta & SAKI vs. Raku & Pom Harajuku
Aja Kong, Yuki Kamifuku & Kira Summer vs. Maki Itoh, Mahiro Kiryu & Kaya Toribami
Hikaru Shida vs. Moka Miyamoto
Shoko Nakajima, Mizuki, Rika Tatsumi & Yuki Aino vs. Wakana Uehara, HIMAWARI, Toga & Shino Suzuki
International Princess Champion Yuki Arai vs. L.A. Taylor for the title
Princess Of Princess Champion Miu Watanabe vs. Vertvixen for the title
Refresh this page occasionally for the latest results.
Updates below will begin at 7:30 PM PT/10:30 PM ET. The stream is scheduled to go live 30 minutes prior to the event.
7 PM PT UPDATE: The live stream has begun. We should go to the venue in 20-25 minutes.
7:18 PM PT UPDATE: Live updates begin now.
We are LIVE from Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan. Your hosts are Haruo Murata, Kagehiro Osano, Sayoko Mita & Marika Tani. Tour English hosts are Mr. Haku & Gaia Hox.
The paid attendance will be announced after the event. They’re using the normal reduced capacity setup with most of the opposite-hard camera bleacher seats closed off except in the middle. Too early to guess on the attendance but I usually estimate around 700 for these events. (After seeing some crowd shots during opening match entrances, I’m revising my estimate down to around 650) (UPDATE: The announced paid attendance was 707)
The matches should begin in 20-30 minutes.
Opening announcements begin at 7:25 PM PT/10:25 PM ET. The final announcement is a big one-WRESTLE PRINCESS 5, the annual fall blowout event that was their biggest annual event prior to GRAND PRINCESS. This year it will be held on 9/22 at Makuhari Messe International Exhibition Hall 6 in Chiba.
Up Up Girls time.
The matches begin at 7:45 PM PT/10:45 PM ET. And as noted above, we have STREAMERS!
Match 1: Suzume & Arisu Endo vs. Runa Okubo & Haru Kazashiro. 20 minute time limit
Result: Suzume & Arisu Endo beat Runa Okubo & Haru Kazashiro. Suzume pinned Kazashiro after Ring A Bell.
Match 2: Chika Nanase vs. Uta Takami. 15 minute time limit
Result: Chika Nanase beat Uta Takami by submission
Match 3: Nao Kakuta & SAKI (Independent/Freelancer) vs. Raku & Pom Harajuku. 20 minute time limit
Result: Nao Kakuta & SAKI beat Raku & Pom Harajuku. Kakuta pinned Harajuku after Shiden Kai.
Match 4: Aja Kong, Yuki Kamifuku & Kira Summer vs. Maki Itoh, Mahiro Kiryu & Kaya Toribami. 20 minute time limit. Kira & Kamifuku have Kong’s face paint too!
Result: Aja Kong, Yuki Kamifuku & Kira Summer beat Maki Itoh, Mahiro Kiryu & Kaya Toribami. Kamifuku pinned Toribami after Fameasser.
New match announcement for SUMMER SUN PRINCESS ’24 on 7/20 at Korakuen: SHoko Nakajima vs…Aja Kong!
Match 5: Hikaru Shida (All Elite Wrestling) vs. Moka Miyamoto. 20 minute time limit
Result: HIkaru Shida beat Moka Miyamoto
Match 6: Shoko Nakajima, Mizuki, Rika Tatsumi & Yuki Aino vs. Wakana Uehara, HIMAWARI, Toga & Shino Suzuki. 20 minute time limit
Result: Shoko Nakajima, Mizuki, Rika Tatsumi & Yuki Aino beat Wakana Uehara, HIMAWARI, Toga & Shino Suzuki. Tatsumi pinned Uehara after Twist Of Fate.
Match 7: International Princess Champion Yuki Arai vs. L.A. Taylor (Pro Wrestling EVE) for the title. 30 minute time limit
Result: International Princess Champion Yuki Arai beat L.A. Taylor to retain the title. V3 for Arai. It wasn’t easy and she was mostly beaten down by the much bigger Taylor, but one counter sometimes, one opportunity, is all it takes and it came at the right time. And I go home happy.
Main Event: Princess Of Princess Champion Miu Watanabe vs. Vertvixen for the title. 30 minute time limit
Result: Princess Of Princess Champion Miu Watanabe beat Vertvixen to retain the title. V2 for Watanabe. Next up: No time to celebrate…Rika Tatsumi came out immediately. Accepted. At this point all signs would seem to point to SUMMER SUN PRINCESS ’24 but we’ll hopefully know more in the next day or so, but apparently Daydream is going to face off. Watanabe finished her victory promo to end the show. (UPDATE: Not yet official but the official results page on DDT’s website says it’s happening on 7/20 which is SUMMER SUN PRINCESS ’24)
UPDATE 2: It’s now official.
The next event is Saturday at Kobe Art Center in Kobe. There will be no live broadcast. In fact, no more live broadcasts are scheduled this month. At this time the next live broadcast will be the Nao Kakuta Produced event on 7/6.