Tokyo Joshi Pro - 8th Tokyo Princess Cup (7/23/2021)

4. Tokyo Princess Cup 2021 First Round: Miu Watanabe vs. Kaya Toribami

Solid, functional match. This was my first real look at Toribami and I was impressed. She seems to have great acrobatic ability. Her rolling sobat, a move not often seen in Japanese women's wrestling these days, was amazing.

**3/4

5. Tokyo Princess Cup 2021 First Round: Yuki Aino vs. Yuki Arai

I was hoping to see some first round upsets, a la New Japan Cup, but it seems seniority rules in this promotion. This was a good match, the execution was on point for the most part. Arai was a bit rough at times during transitions but other than that she gave a good effort, busting out a new move. If the finish had been stronger, this would have rated higher.

***

6. Tokyo Princess Cup 2021 First Round: Nodoka Tenma vs. Marika Kobashi

Aside from a poorly applied guillotine choke (which ended the match), this match was mechanically well done and there was a decent amount of physicality put into some of the moves. It was lacking in depth and storytelling, but they showed good chemistry.

**3/4

7. Tokyo Princess Cup 2021 First Round: Rika Tatsumi vs. Hikari Noa

A slow and deliberate match that gradually reached a fever pitch. It was the usual Tatsumi Rika style match, built around leg-destroying attacks. There were also some well-delivered counters and near-falls. This felt like the first match of the tournament so far that was given the time to truly develop.

***1/2

Tokyo Joshi Pro - 8th Tokyo Princess Cup (7/22/2021)

 3. Tokyo Princess Cup 2021 First Round: Mahiro Kiryu vs. Arisu Endo

Mahiro is relatively big for a Japanese women's wrestler. So it's a shame all of that size goes to waste as she does nothing of interest in the ring. It's regrettable Endo lost here. I think she has been progressing very well and shows great promise, while Mahiro has been in a developmental stalemate pretty much since her first year. This felt like an ordinary undercard veteran-rookie matchup and not like a high-stakes first round tournament match. Solid but unremarkable.

**3/4

4. Tokyo Princess Cup 2021 First Round: Raku vs. Moka Miyamoto

There wasn't much to this match. Raku's performance was more orthodox than usual, with no comical elements. She was completely in control of the pace, and Moka was barely noticeable. The moves were solidly performed and there were no mistakes.

**

5. Tokyo Princess Cup 2021 First Round: Pom Harajuku vs. Mirai Maiumi

This was a good match. Pom has always had a relatively deep moveset compared to others in her class, and that was on full display here. This was perhaps her most well-rounded performance to date. Mirai was good as usual. The ending was also quite good.

***

6. Tokyo Princess Cup 2021 First Round: Miyu Yamashita vs. Nao Kakuta

A solid main event to close out the first night of the tournament. The wrestling and pacing were generally good, but the ending felt rushed. Nao has a dirty, technical wrestling style reminiscent of Cherry and did some interesting moves. The difference in power levels was evident, Miyu never really seemed to be in trouble and even smiled when she had the advantage at the end.

***

Mika Iwata vs. Ryo Mizunami (Sendai Girls, 6/29/2021)

Sendai Girls (6/29/2021)

Mika Iwata vs. Ryo Mizunami

This was a good back and forth match with a wide array of moves being used. There were some great strike exchanges and counters. I don't have any complaints about the outcome of the match, but Mika Iwata is still doing the plucky rookie gimmick even though she is now a six-year veteran. I'd like to see her make some tweaks to her persona and get some tangible results.

***1/4

Tokyo Joshi Pro - Inspiration #2 (7/1/2021)

2. Yuka Sakazaki vs. Suzume

Sakazaki always does a great job carrying her juniors and this match was no exception. Not to say that Suzume didn't pull her own weight. She kept up and showed new moves. But this was the Yuka Sakazaki show. Just great timing, execution and rhythm from her throughout the match. These two paired well stylistically and I would like to see a longer match between them someday.

***1/2

3. UWF Rules: Miyu Yamashita vs. Mirai Maiumi

One of the issues with UWF matches between wrestlers who have no real martial arts experience is that they make decisions that no trained fighter would make (like giving up dominant positions for no discernable reason), and that was certainly on display here. I am by no means a martial arts expert, but I have watched enough of it from a diverse number of sources (UFC, RIZIN, K-1, PRIDE FC, DREAM, etc. ) to know what a real fight looks like, and this did not even remotely look like a real fight. The Ryogoku KFC match, which was held under traditional pro wrestling rules, felt more realistic than this one. I think Miyu was actually exposed here because she just doesn't attack well against a moving target. Her strikes looked slow and soft and Mirai was having to sell for it. On the ground they were fine, but their stand-up looked like amateur hour. I didn't like this at all.

N/R

Chihiro Hashimoto vs. Mio Momono (Sendai Girls, 7/11/2021)

Sendai Girls - SENJO Chronicle (7/11/2021)

Sendai Girls World Championship: Chihiro Hashimoto (c) vs. Mio Momono

Chihiro's first defense in almost a year and a half. It started slow with some rudimentary back and forth, but the second half was frenetic and dynamic, beginning with a nasty German suplex that saw Momono land on top of her head. They did a good job of pacing and building the match. I really liked how Momono stuck to her game plan. And Chihiro is a monster with freakish speed and strength. Despite having a barebones roster, Sendai Girls have managed to match Chihiro with mostly strong opponents. I don't think Momono is a strong opponent, but Chihiro was doing her best to make Momono feel like one.

***1/2

Giulia & Syuri vs. Queen's Quest Momo Watanabe & AZM (Stardom, 5/2/2021)

Stardom - Golden Week Fight Tour 2021 (5/2/2021)

Goddesses of Stardom Championship: Donna del Mondo (Giulia & Syuri) (c) vs. Queen's Quest (Momo Watanabe & AZM)

People focus on the bigger shows in Stardom, and rightfully so, but the smaller shows also have quality matches like this one. There were some strong segments in this match and some great tag team chemistry between the two teams. And just when things were getting a little repetitive, it ended at the right time.

***3/4

SEAdLINNNG - Nanae Takahashi 25th Anniversary ~ Arigatou (7/11/2021)

4. SEAdLINNNG Beyond The Sea Championship: ASUKA vs. Ryo Mizunami

This was a great match. It turned into a total firefight where they were exchanging heavy blows. The striking was diverse and dynamic so it never felt repetitive. ASUKA shined on offense, using her natural athletic ability to attack from various angles. Mizunami, a veteran of more than 10 years, seems to have gained a new vigor after returning from AEW. The armwork was just a way to build the match and get the crowd into it and I think it worked. Even though ASUKA's reign ended without a successful defense, she went out with a bang.

****

5. Nanae Takahashi vs. Arisa Nakajima

I don't know if it's because of her age or if her body is in shambles, but Nanae has slowed down and her physical condition doesn't look good. I thought Arisa's offense was amazing, especially the downward elbows to the head, but I would like to see her break away from this repetitive pattern of wrestling. If you've seen the previous matches between these two, it's more of the same. This is easily my least favorite type of Japanese women's wrestling. Directionless move exhibition with little buildup between moves, little regard for selling, and of course, a million finisher kick-outs.

**