By Mark Worral@Hoohoowozza
The Dramatic Dream team promotion, like most other wrestling promotions has their own streaming service. Known as DDT Universe, at just 900 yen, the service not only boasts regular live and recorded DDT main roster shows, but there are other subsidiary promotions too. To name them, well alongside DDT, there is Basara, DNA (I guess you could call it DDT’S young lions!) Ganbare and Tokyo Joshi Pro. There are also at times some smaller shows but these make most of the Universe. My aim is to start to review some of the promotions for Pro Wrestling Journal, although maybe not every show, I hope to review some of the DDT Korakuen shows and some bigger shows. Basara and Ganbare, if relevant. DNA who run monthly only shows and their Joshi promotion Tokyo Joshi Pro.
Although reviews will be when I can find time, I am hoping to cover Tokyo Joshi Pro on a more regular basis as bringing some Joshi to the site is something I have wanted to do. The following is a review of their recent show held at Kitazawa town hall, Tokyo on May 19th in front of a crowd of 294. Super no Vacancy!
RIKA TATSUMI V YUKI AINO
Nice little opener with Tatsumi looking the stronger girl here, which is slightly ironic as Aino was the slightly bigger girl who struggled at times with Tatsumi’s obsession with submission moves as her arsenal to put her opponent away as we saw some nice mat work from the off. Tatsumi’s use of different holds saw her give up on working the back of Aino and move to the legs after hitting a dragon screw on Aino, who did not really show much until she finally planted a nice gut wrench on Tatsumi after freeing herself from a nicely controlled figure four. Ironic may be the word to describe this match after all of Tatsumi’s work, she won the match with a cutter!
HYPER MISAO & HINANO V SHOTO NAKAJIMA & MIU
Although I have a few Japanese words in my vocabulary, there are times I wish fluency paid a part in my Japanese understanding. Before the match Hyper Misao (sporting a green super hero type outfit!) took to the mic and encouraged the other three girls to partake in a dance. I know there is more to this but from my viewing perspective and from what I know Hyper has a dream to dance with the ‘Up Up girls’. Nakajima is slightly apprehensive but is encouraged, in doing so Misao attacks Nakajima and the tag match begins. Misao was extremely vocal throughout the match which seem to focus on her as Miu and Nakajima basically double teamed well and Misao took most of the offence including being scooped slammed five times by the impressive Miu. Hinano did see some ring time which she utilised to work the arm of Miu before Miu reversed and locked a crab on her aggressor. Although Hinano and Nakajima shared some nice back and forth action which showed some nice chemistry between the two, it would be Nakajima and Miu forcing a double submission on their opponents to win.
MIYU YAMASHITA v RAKU
Miyu is currently enjoying her second reign as the promotion’s champion and as a domineering approach in the ring as she faces an extremely nervous looking Raku who looks completely intimidated at the mere thought of wrestling her opponent who simply plays the arrogant champion to a tee! Although not a championship defence, Miyu plays with her opponent who offers very little offence, and what little she does get in looks predominantly weak and shows little effort. Miyu’s attempt to force Raku to submit in a unique version of a cobra clutch does see Raku scramble for the ropes and eventually get in a Russian leg sweep that is no bother for Miyu who then goes on to force Raku to tap at the second attempt. This match lasted six minutes but could easily have been shorter.
YUKA SAKAZAKI v NODOKA ONEESAN
This was really good, meant to be a three-way match; it was changed to a singles after Maho Kurone pulled out due to a high fever. The match was a back and forth tussle that was produced at a fast pace that found both girls finding counters for their relevant opponents offence. Sakazaki laid a really good spinning discus punch that floored Oneesan and I for one thought it was over but Oneesan managed to get a shoulder up. Sakazaki’s crossbody was caught by her opponent which she converted into a fall away slam as she got a near fall. However the end was in sight as Oneesan missed a splash which Sakazaki capitalised by planting a sit down bomb from the top rope which enabled her to set up her finisher as she flew from the top rope, turning mid air to splash the pin out of her opponent! Good fast paced match that was really enjoyable.
SAKI SAMA, AZUSA CHRISTIE & YUKI KAMIFUKA v YUU, YUNA MANASE & HIKARI
Saki Sama and Azusa Christie collectively are known as NEO Biishiki-Gun from my understanding. Yuki Kamifuka is their apprentice in training and has to be pulled from the stage as she eagerly makes her entrance too early and not alongside Sama and Christie. Talking of Saki Sama, on the main DDT roster she portrays a favourite of the fans. However in her Tokyo Joshi Pro role she portrays a totally different persona that of a stuck up, better than you type of character with heel characteristics! Why not, she is very tall for a Japanese lady, and some may say very beautiful. This is her better role and alongside general dogsbody Azusa Christie, they have Kamifuka wanting to be a Saki Sama wannabe. This six person contest mainly concentrated on the NEO Biishiki-Gun relationship with Kamifuka trying to imitate Sama who herself portrays great character work but lacks in the ring, although that improves more I see of her and she shared an excellent back and forth exchange of kicks from herself whilst receiving some vicious slaps from Manase. The match reached its climax when Yuu forced Kamifuka to submit, this saw her team losing has she announced that she would not be continuing with this current relationship. Saki and Azusa looking on, stunned!
TOKYO PRINCESS TAG-TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
REIKA SAIKI & MARIKA KOBASHI(c) v MAKI ITO & MIZUKI
This tag team title match went almost twenty minutes and what resulted was a really good tag team match. Maki Ito, showing some arrogance throughout reluctantly shook the hands of her opponents with Saiki taking hold of her hand to do so! Mizuki went straight for the jugular by nailing Kobashi, (who is just 17 years old) with a blind drop kick that saw Mizuki and Ito trying desperately to try and win the belts quickly with a series of roll ups to follow and near falls. However, Ito has a strong head, or that was what she was selling as she tried a falling headbutt but missed her mark allowing Saiki to take some control, locking a camel clutch forcing Ito to crawl to the ropes. Saiki was excellent throughout and so was Mizuki on her opposing side as they had their own mini match as they were allowed to perform alone for quite some time with some really good wrestling and some nice chemistry. Ito continued to use her head as a weapon as she planted a series of headbutts on Saiki who suddenly decided enough! This saw the match coming to a close as a mis-communication saw Ito, holding Saiki get hit by her own partner from a drop kick. Ito felt a Saiki enzuguiri and was then jack hammered. A successful title defence.
These shows are incredibly easy to watch, there is singing and a lot of comedy involved which would be great if I were more fluent in Japanese! However it is not that difficult to get an idea of what is happening. This particular show felt more like a house show, smaller venue and no commentary, however this had little bearing on my enjoyment of the show and maybe one could feel may have benefitted the show?! Tokyo Joshi does have Korakuen shows but are few at the moment. In regards to Joshi promotions, there is Stardom and Sendai Girls which could be considered the main promotions; however there are a multitude of smaller promotions including this very promotion that a year back was considered small and some of the wrestling extremely questionable. 2018 has been a really good year for Tokyo Joshi pro with much improved wrestling, standout performers, some really good character work, and as a promotion now put out more shows and is growing rapidly. If Joshi is an interest, keep an eye out for this very promotion.
