TJPW Live In Los Angeles
Date: March 31, 2023
Location: Globe Theater, Los Angeles, California
Commentators: Jonny Loquasto, Thom Fain
This is Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling, a Japanese women’s promotion which I’ve heard some amazing things about. There are going to be some names here you might have seen in AEW or elsewhere over the weekend, but I have no idea what to expect from the show. Let’s get to it.
Note that I don’t follow the promotion so I apologize in advance for not knowing history, characters or anything else.
The ring announcer welcomes us to the show and gives us a quick preview while also plugging the WrestleCon appearances. She also reminds the fans that the wrestlers don’t speak much English and apologize in advance.
And now, as is tradition, here are three wrestlers (Hikari Noa, Raka and Miu Watanabe, the Up Up Girls) for a song, apparently how they open all of their shows. With the mini concert over, the women greet the fans.
The announcer says some stuff in Japanese, which is apparently the introduction to the first match (almost fifteen minutes into the broadcast).
Daisy Monkey vs. Free WiFi
This would be Arisu Endo/Suzume vs. Hikari Noa vs. Nao Kakuta. In response to why they’re called Free WiFi, the answer is simple: who doesn’t like free wifi? Hikari and Suzume (rather popular) start things off with Hikari quickly being sent into the corner so Endo can come in for a dropkick to her back.
Kakuta gets in a cheap shot from the apron though and Endo gets caught in the wrong corner. What appears to be a double bite of the head has Endo in more trouble and stereo basement dropkicks make it worse. Endo’s dropkick gets her out of trouble though and it’s Suzume back in to pick up the pace.
Hikari pulls Suzume off the top and gets two off a rollup before it’s back to Endo. A choke over the ropes slows Suzume down but she’s back with a running bulldog. Kakuta comes back in with a dropkick into a camel clutch, sending Endo bailing to the ropes for two. Everything breaks down and a double torture rack faceplant finishes Kakuta at 11:41.
Result: Daisy Monkey b. Free WiFi – Double torture rack faceplant to Kakuta (11:41)
Janai Kai vs. Yufi Kamifuku
Yufi dances a lot and gets kicked in the chest to cut him down. A running kick to the back gives Kai two but Yufi kicks her way up from the mat. There’s a pair of dropkicks to send Kai into the corner but she’s right back with a dragon sleeper. With that broken up, Kai hits a spinning kick to the head for the pin at 4:49.
Result: Janai Kai b. Yuji Kamifuki – Spinning kick to the head (4:49)
Hyper Misao/Trish Adora vs. Raku/Yuki Aino
Misao is a super hero and you’ve probably seen Adora a time or two. Before the match, Misao officially dubs Adora a superhero as well, giving her her own mask and naming her Hyper Trish. Adora backs Raku into the corner to start and everything breaks down rather fast. The heroes grab stereo submissions but Misao accidentally hairsprays (or whatever it was) Adora in the face.
Then Raku whips out a pillow and puts the heroes to sleep for two before it’s off to Aino. Misao fights up and hands it back to Adora for the power. Aino grabs a gutwrench suplex for two as everything breaks down. Misao sprays them both and a high crossbody finishes Raku at 9:04.
Result: Hyper Misao/Trish Adora b. Raku/Yuki Aino – High crossbody to Raku (9:04)
Wasteland War Party vs. Miu Watanabe/Shoko Nakajima
That would be Max the Impaler and Heidi Howitzer. After getting the streamers out of the ring, we start with Watanabe bouncing off of Max. Nakajima comes in and avoids a charge in the corner but the much bigger Max sends her into the corner. It’s off to Heidi for two off a stalling brainbuster but Nakajima gets over to Watanabe anyway. The pace picks up for a few moments, until Heidi runs Watanabe over again.
Watanabe slugs away at Max and Nakajima comes in to add some running dropkicks. Max is finally knocked into the corner but comes back with the Wasteland. Back up and Watanabe gets Max up for a pretty impressive slam before taking Heidi down as well. Nakajima hits a 619 on Max but Heidi runs her over. An elevated splash (the Master Blaster) gives Max the pin at 11:52.
Result: Wasteland War Party b. Miu Watanabe/Shoko Nakajima – Master Blaster to Itoh (11:52)
International Princess Title: Rika Tatsumi vs. Billie Starkz
Tatsumi is defending. They go with the grappling to start but Tatsumi gets a bit more serious by ripping at Starkz’ face. Starkz is right back up with a running knee to the back of the head for two, with Starkz getting frustrated by the near fall.
Tatsumi is back up with a hip attack and we hit the Figure Four in the middle. Starkz’ long legs get her to the ropes so Tatsumi hip attacks her again. Back up and Starkz hits a brainbuster onto the knee for two but Tatsumi blasts her with a running hip attack. The Twist of Fate sets up a top rope hip attack to retain Tatsumi’s title at 8:44.
Result: Rika Tatsumi b. Billie Starkz – Top rope hip attack (8:44)
Respect is shown post match.
Princess Tag Team Titles: 121000000 vs. Magical Sugar Rabbits
That would be Maki Itoh/Miyu Yamashita (defending) vs. Mizuki (top singles champion)/Yuka Sakazaki. Miyu misses a big kick (her thing) to Sakazaki to start so it’s Itoh coming in for an elbow to the face and a run around the ring. Everything breaks down fast and the champs headscissor them to the floor, setting up the big stereo dives. Back in and Itoh shrugs off a face first ram into the buckle and hits an assisted splash for two.
Itoh bites Mizuki’s fingers and Miyu comes in for some kicks to the back. A roll over allows Mizuki to bring Mike back in to clean house. Everything breaks down and Itoh hits a….I’m not sure what that was but she follows with a brainbuster for two. Mizuki is back in with a high crossbody for two on Itoh with Miyu making a save.
Itoh goes up but gets superplex right back down. Back up and Itoh pulls her into a kneeling Texas Cloverleaf but the save is quickly made. Everything breaks down again and Miyu knees Itoh by mistake. With Miyu sent outside, Sakazaki hits a top rope splash, followed by Mizuki’s top rope double stomp for the pin and the titles at 16:18.
Result: Magical Sugar Rabbits b. 121000000 – Top rope double stomp to Itoh (16:18)
Post match the new champs thank the and the locker room comes out to the ring for a JOSHI chant. The roster takes a photo and a PLEASE COME BACK chant takes us out.
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You can find more from Thomas Hall at kbwrestlingreviews.com, or check out his- Amazon author page with 30 wrestling books.
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