Tokyo Joshi Pro holds their monthly major event today, which likely will begin the setup for their annual Golden Week blowout event in early May (Golden Week, usually the first week of May, is an annual week-long holiday in Japan). There are 2 title matches scheduled today-first up, International Princess Champion Rika Tatsumi defends the title against Vertvixen, the latest in a growing number of US independent stars (and All Elite Wrestling semi-regulars) getting to visit Japan for the first time in their careers as Japan has re-opened its doors post-pandemic to foreigners, providing more dream opportunities for foreign wrestlers to come to Japan. In the main event, Princess Of Princess Champion Mizuki defends the title for the first time against Nao Kakuta, who had the champ’s number recently in tag matches and will now try to win the top prize. On the undercard, Yuki Arai returns for her first match in about a month and, in an interesting twist, her SKE48 teammate Shiori Aoki will be making her debut as referee for that match. With fellow teammate Marika Tani on commentary today this one promises to be a lot of fun, if not perhaps somewhat swervy. Finally we’ll also see the next Princess Tag Team Championship challengers together for the first time-Heidi Howitzer couldn’t return to Japan this time so Max The Impaler recruited a new Wasteland War Prry partner, and a most unlikely one…Pom Harajuku!?! When we last saw them Max was carrying Harajuku off to a worrisome and uncertain fate. And now they form perhaps the most odd couple of tag teams! Do not miss this one!
Today’s event will be held at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo and can be watched LIVE on WRESTLE UNIVERSE in Japanese and English. You can also watch the first 2 matches FOR FREE on YouTube. The Japanese commentary team will be Haruo Murata, Kagehiro Osano, Sayoko Mita & special guest Marika Tani (SKE48). The English commentary team will be Chris Brookes (DDT) & Drew Parker. As there is a special post-event party planned at a nearby venue they’re on a tight clock for event length although there is flexibility, regardless I expect today’s event to run just under 2 1/2 hours today, maybe closer to 2 1/4 hours.
Today’s lineup (in order):
Moka Miyamoto vs. Kaya Toribami
Yuki Aino, Neko Haruna & Haru Kazashiro vs. Suzume, Arisu Endo & Runa Okubo
Maki Itoh, Yuki Kamifuku, Wakana Uehara & Toga vs. Miu Watanabe, Hikari Noa, Raku & Shino Suzuki
Shoko Nakajima & Hyper Misao vs. Yuki Arai & HIMAWARI. Shiori Aoki is special referee (Debut)
Max The Impaler & Pom Harajuku vs. Yuka Sakazaki & Mahiro Kiryu
International Princess Champion Rika Tatsumi vs. Vertvixen for the title
Princess Of Princess Champion Mizuki vs. Nao Kakuta for the title
Refresh this page occasionally for the latest results.
Updates below will begin at 10 PM ET/7 PM PT. The opening announcements are scheduled to start at 10:25 PM ET/7/25 PM PT, 5 minutes before event time. Also, for WRESTLE UNIVERSE paid subscribers, you can now watch the 10-woman TJPW match from WrestleCon on 3/30 on demand.
7 PM PT UPDATE: The live stream has started. We should be going to the venue in 15-20 minutes. Updates will continue at that time.
7:15 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. On the English side, your hosts are Chris Brookes & Drew Parker.
The paid attendance will be announced after the event. They are once again at 50% capacity because of when the event was announced, but this is the last time at the venue, next time it’s full capacity going forward. So that will keep the number low again, and there were same-day tickets available. Barring a strong walk-up I’ll guess 500-550.
The matches should begin in 25-30 minutes. As planned, opening announcements begin at 7:25 PM PT.
During announcements some notable news:
They announce a one day 6-woman tag team tournament for 4/29. 8 teams. First team is Mizuki, Yuka Sakazaki & Shino Suzuki. Second team is Hikari Noa, Nao Kakuta & Wakana Uehara. Third team is Miu Watanabe, Rika Tatsumi & HIMAWARI. Fourth team is Shoko Nakajima, Hyper Misao & Kaya Toribami. Fifth team is Maki Itoh, Haru Fujo & Runa Okubo. 6th team is Yuki Aino, Raku & Pom Harajuku. 7th team is Yuki Kamifuku, Mahiro Kiryu & Toga. Which means the 8th and final team is Suzume, Arisu Endo & Neko Haruna. So the only regular roster member not in the tournament (excluding Miyu Yamashita) is Moka Miyamoto, who will instead face Sawyer Wreck in a non-tournament match. The winning trio gets a prize of a 1-year supple of Nivea Body Wash. They can thank Saki Akai for that.
In July, the Tokyo Princess Cup Tournament returns. This is a singles tournament. 7/15-7/17 and 7/22 at Ryogoku KFC Hall, 7/29, 8/12 and 8/13 at Korakuen.
A Hyper Misao Produced event will be held on 5/25 at Kitazawa Town Hall.
Starting next month, streamers and hanging of support banners will again be allowed at Korakuen Hall events going forward. TBA for other venues.
After their performance, a special Up Up Girls solo live event is announced for 6/10 at Shinjuku Face.
The matches begin at 7:47 PM PT.
Match 1: Moka Miyamoto vs. Kaya Toribami. 15 minute time limit
Result: Moka Miyamoto beat Kaya Toribami. A new finisher too.
Match 2: Yuki Aino, Neko Haruna & Haru Kazashiro vs. Suzume, Arisu Endo & Runa Okubo. 20 minute time limit
Result: Suzume, Arisu Endo & Runa Okubo beat Yuki Aino, Neko Haruna & Haru Kazashiro. Suzume pinned Kazashiro after Ring A Bell.
The YouTube broadcast ends here.
Match 3: Maki Itoh, Yuki Kamifuku, Wakana Uehara & Toga vs. Miu Watanabe, Hikari Noa, Raku & Shino Suzuki. 20 minute time limit
Result: Maki Itoh, Yuki Kamifuku, Wakana Uehara & Toga beat Miu Watanabe, Hikari Noa, Raku & Shino Suzuki. Itoh beat Suzuki with Itoh Special.
Match 4: Shiori Aoki Referee Debut Match: Shoko Nakajima & Hyper Misao vs. Yuki Arai & HIMAWARI. Shiori Aoki (SKE48) is special referee. 20 minute time limit
Result: Shoko Nakajima & Hyper Misao beat Yuki Arai & HIMAWARI. Nakajima pinned HIMAWARI with a Northern Lights suplex hold. This after it ended in less than 10 seconds thanks to Misao using cold spray on HIMAWARI with a quick rollup after that, but referee Daisuke Kiso ordered a restart. This was, of course, mostly a comedy match, and with Aoki being a “bad” referee at times it was hilarious and very entertaining.
Announced for 5/5 at Korakuen is Yuki Arai’s 2nd Anniversary Match: Arai & Maki Itoh vs. Shoko Nakajima & Yuka Sakazaki.
Match 5: Max The Impaler & Pom Harajuku vs. Yuka Sakazaki & Mahiro Kiryu. 20 minute time limit
Result: Max The Impaler & Pom Harajuku beat Yuka Sakazaki & Mahiro Kiryu. Harajuku pinned Kiryu after Wasteland. War. Justice. Well, they at least co-existed! Now can they win the Princess Tag Team Championship?
Match 6: International Princess Champion Rika Tatsumi vs. Vertvixen for the title. 30 minute time limit
Result: International Princess Champion Rika Tatsumi beat Vertvixen by submission to retain the title. V2 for Tatsumi. Next up: Suzume. That may happen on 5/5 at Korakuen, but we should get confirmation in a few hours after the event.
Quick break for ring maintenance.
Main Event: Princess Of Princess Champion Mizuki vs. Nao Kakuta for the title. 30 minute time limit
Result: Princess Of Princess Champion Mizuki beat Nao Kakuta by submission to retain the title. V1 for Mizuki. The on-screen graphic inadvertently said Draw at first but was quickly corrected. Next up: Sawyer Wreck, who was previously announced as getting the winner. That match will happen on 5/5.
The next event is CLIMB OVER ’23 on 4/21 at Osaka Prefectural Gym 2 in Osaka with Princess Tag Team Champions Yuka Sakazaki & Mizuki vs. Max The Impaler & Pom Harajuku for the titles. Unfortunately for Harajuku’s many US fans, there will be no live broadcast.
Post-show note: The announced paid attendance was 620.
UPDATE: Tatsumi-Suzume is now official for 5/5.