Tokyo Joshi Pro begins the annual Tokyo Princess Cup today with an event in Tokyo. The promotion’s sole singles tournament each year, this is a single-elimination format tournament featuring the entire roster, or at least those able and available to participate. This year the number is down to 19 because of injuries and absent wrestlers, most notably the otherwise-heavy favorite Miyu Yamashita, who is out because of her latest US tour. Such a tour next month takes Maki Itoh out too. At least 3 wrestlers are out with injuries. So in addition to a couple of Round 1 matches there also will be several Round 2 matches today as part of 6 total tournament matches-Round 1 matches all will take place today and are Princess Of Princess Champion Miu Watanabe opening against Arisu Endo, Yuki Arai (naturally my pick to win) vs. Kaya Toribami and Runa Okubo vs. Yuki Aino. In Round 2 matches, Mizuki faces Moka Miyamoto, Pom Harajuku faces Yuki Kamiduku and Shino Suzuki faces Suzume.
As noted above, Yamashita is off today’s event due to her US tour.
Today’s event will be held at Ryogoku KFC Hall in Tokyo and can be watched LIVE on WRESTLE UNIVERSE. There will be no commentary. This is a larger than normal non-major event card with 8 scheduled matches, and tournament matches normally have no time limit so I anticipate this will run longer than a normal house show for TJPW, probably closer to 2 1/2 hours.
Today’s lineup:
Shoko Nakajima, Raku, HIMAWARI, Haru Kazashiro & Uta Takami vs. Zara Zakher, Wakana Uehara, Kira Summer, Toga & Chika Nanase
Rika Tatsumi vs. Maki Iroh & Mahiro Kiryu in a 3-way
Tokyo Princess Cup Round 1:
Miu Watanabe vs. Arisu Endo
Yuki Arai vs. Kaya Toribami
Runa Okubo vs. Yuki Aino
Tokyo Princess Cup Round 2:
Mizuki vs. Moka MiyamotoPom Harajuku vs. Yuki Kamifuku
Shino Suzuki vs. Suzume
Refresh this page occasionally for the latest results.
Updates below will begin at 8:30 PM PT/11:30 PM ET.
6:25 PM PT UPDATE: Late changes to today-Yuki Kamifuku is now off. The always-vague poor health. Tournament match vs. Pom Harajuku is moved to 8/3. The 3-way is now Tatsumi & Kiryu vs. Itoh & Harajuku.
8:30 PM PT UPDATE: Live updates begin now.
We are LIVE from Ryogoku KFC Hall in Tokyo, Japan. There is no commentary.
The paid attendance will be announced after the event. The hard camera didn’t zoom out early for a look at the fixed seating beyond around the ring, which seemed mostly full. These events average 200-250 so I’m guessing it’ll be near 250 (full capacity for the venue is somewhere between 400-500). (UPDATE: The announced paid attendance was 347, a super full house/very near sellout)
At the start of the opening announcements Sayuri Namba announces the above card change due to no Yuki Kamifuku.
The matches should begin in about 10 minutes.
During the card rundown the above tag match was changed again. Now it’s apparently Tatsumi & Harajuku vs. Itoh & Kiryu.
The matches begin at 8:43 PM PT/11:43 PM ET.
Match 1: Shoko Nakajima, Raku, HIMAWARI, Haru Kazashiro & Uta Takami vs. Zara Zakher, Wakana Uehara, Kira Summer, Toga & Chika Nanase. 20 minute time limit
Result: Shoko Nakajima, Raku, HIMAWARI, Haru Kazashiro & Uta Takami beat Zara Zakher, Wakana Uehara, Kira Summer, Toga & Chika Nanase. Raku pinned Nanase after Doctor Yellow.
Match 2: Rika Tatsumi & Mahiro Kiryu vs. Maki Itoh & Pom Harajuku. 20 minute time limit
Result: Maki Itoh & Pom Harajuku beat Rika Tatsumi & Mahiro Kiryu. Itoh pinned Kiryu with a Japanese leg roll clutch hold.
Match 3: Tokyo Princess Cup Round 1: Runa Okubo vs. Yuki Aino. No time limit
Result: Yuki Aino beat Runa Okubo. As a result, Aino advances to Round 2 and will face Shoko Nakajima.
Match 4: Tokyo Princess Cup Round 2: Shino Suzuki vs. Suzume. No time limit
Result: Suzume beat Shino Suzuki. As a result, Suzume advances to the Quarterfinals and will face TBA, which will be the winner of Yuki Arai/Kaya Toribami vs. Wakana Uehara on 8/3.
Match 5: Tokyo Princess Cup Round 1: Yuki Arai vs. Kaya Toribami. No time limit
Result: Yuki Arai beat Kaya Toribami. As a result, Arai advances to Round 2 and will face Wakana Uehara.
Quick break for ring repairs/maintenance.
Match 6: Tokyo Princess Cup Round 2: Mizuki vs. Moka Miyamoto. No time limit
Result: Mizuki beat Moka Miyamoto. As a result, Mizuki advances to the Quarterfinals and will face TBA, which will be the winner of Miu Watanabe/Arisu Endo vs. Zara Zakher on 8/3.
Main Event: Tokyo Princess Cup Round 1: Miu Watanabe vs. Arisu Endo. No time limit
Result: Miu Watanabe beat Arisu Endo. As a result, Watanabe advances to Round 2 and will face Zara Zakher. The rare instance where, on paper, due to the massive size difference the champion may very well be the underdog.
With one fewer match than planned due to Kamifuku’s late removal, this event was much shorter than I anticipated, checking in at only about 110 minutes.
The next event is Saturday at Shinjuku Face with the rest of Round 2 (now 6 matches). Live streaming on WRESTLE UNIVERSE will begin Friday at 6:45 PM PT/9:45 PM ET. Live results are scheduled.
