Following a certain international supershow of the forbidden kind, Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling held a crossover event of its own with TJPW Summer Sun Princess 22. Those invited to cross the prohibited border were the AEW Women’s Champion Thunder Rosa, EVE She-1 winner Alex Windsor of the UK, and indie darling Willow Nightingale, who had to cancel at the last minute due to visa issues.
With even more guests of honor such as Hikaru Shida, Riho, and Mei Suruga, plus the return of vocal crowds and streamer throwing, Summer Sun Princess on July 9th from Ota Ward Gymnasium felt like a can’t-miss celebration of TJPW at its best.
TJPW Summer Sun Princess 22 Review
Juria Nagano vs Moka Miyamoto
The opening contest saw karate warfare between the newest roster member Juria Nagano against the traditional girl, Moka Miyamoto. Both wrestlers started during the restrictive clapping era, so the return of fanfare brought visible joy to their faces as they were introduced. Though the match was short, the fans voiced their appreciation when the rookie’s karate chopped each other in the neck in a thunderous back-and-forth exchange.
Miyamoto won via her Rashomon submission, adding to her growing profile in TJPW.
TJPW Summer Sun Princess 22 Review
Aja Kong/Yuki Aino/Raku/Pom Harajuku vs Hyper Misao/Nao Kakuta/Haruna Neko/Kaya Toribami
The second match saw an 8-person tag with a colorful cast of characters. The legendary Aja Kong inserted herself into a strange love triangle on her team while resident superhero Hyper Misao led her squad of misfits into battle. It was a rather gimmicky affair, with everyone hitting their signature spots. Aino and Misao are the ones trying to break into the upper tier of TJPW, but it was Aino who secured the victory by pinning Misao’s rookie with a reverse DDT.
TJPW Summer Sun Princess 22 Review
Ryo Mizunami vs Miu Watanabe
Tasked with filling in for the Babe with the Power Willow Nightingale, Ryo Mizunami was all in for a hoss fight against the muscular idol Miu Watanabe. Mizunami is a veteran of the game and dominated the younger wrestler through chops and her stout strength. On the other hand, Watanabe played an excellent fighting underdog, even with her smiley demeanor and massive arms.
She failed to do the giant swing in the middle of the match, yet she persisted and got it late for a roaring ten rotations. Nevertheless, Ryo Mizunami would not be denied in her TJPW debut and scored the pinfall over the bonafide future star, Miu Watanabe.
TJPW Summer Sun Princess 22 Review
Hikaru Shida and Hikari Noa vs Yuki Kamifuku and Mahiro Kiryu
In tag team wrestling, there are always strengths and weaknesses. Hikara Noa had a rough first half of the year, losing her International title on January 4th and losing to Hikaru Shida at the March Ryogoku show in short fashion. She described going up against Shida, the longest reigning AEW champion, as like an impenetrable wall that left her frustrated and in tears.
Meanwhile, Mahiro Kiryu has been on a similar journey. In the team known as Toyo Mate, Kiryu is the awkward loser, and Kamiyu is the beautiful former International champion, with the only thing they share in common is a diploma from the same university.
Shida and Noa took most of the match, but Kamiyu and Kiryu held their own until two paths came to an impasse. In the past couple of months, Hikari has taken a mischievous route in search of success via exposed turnbuckle. Kiryu, on the other hand, has been trying to prove herself as the weak link. As the referee was distracted with their partners, Hikari snuck a chair into the ring, which soon fell into Kiryu’s hands.
The mild-mannered woman weighed her options and decided to swing, albeit with a guilty conscience. Alas, she failed once more and was pinned by Shida.
Riho and Arisu Endo vs Mei Suruga and Suzume
Worlds collide as four of the best young wrestlers do battle in this highspeed contest. Arisu Endo and Suzume are 1998 girls who tag as the fast-rising team Daisy Monkey. Riho and Mei Suruga are two of Emi Sakura’s prodigy students. Outside of the TJPW ring, Suzume and Mei have formed a friendship, and a team called Mei Bee Surprise with their own theme song.
In addition to the exciting, quick-paced action, a heated rivalry was brewing between Mei and Riho. The reversals, psychology, and unique style make this a match of the night contender. While their partners fought on the outside, Suzume pinned Arisu Endo with her cutter. The victorious friends celebrated in the ring while Endo was once again left disappointed.
TJPW Summer Sun Princess 22 Review
Maki Itoh (c) vs. Alex Windsor
Having lost her luggage on the flight to Japan, Alex Windsor declared that Maki Itoh would be losing her International Princess title as well. Dressed in a makeshift black outfit, Windsor remained defiant as Itoh held the audience in the palm of her hand. The return of vocal crowds is tailor-made for the champion, New Era Charisma herself. But still, Windsor relied on her power in the spirited fight and defeated Itoh with two powerbombs and the Go To F*ck.
With a stunned Ota Ward Gymnasium in silence and a devasted Itoh in tears, the singles division has now shifted in an interesting direction. The TJPW International title was made so that the champion would defend against challengers of a different nationality. Could Willow Nightingale or the incoming Max the Impaler make their debut and answer the call? Or, more likely, a Japanese talent will step up to the task, perhaps a rising star like Hikari Noa, Suzume, or Miu Watanabe.
And what of Maki Itoh? One can’t help but think of the upcoming Tokyo Princess Cup. Last year, Itoh had a miracle run and won the trophy, leading to the match of her life, challenging for the top title in the fall. Perhaps this is the honored tradition of the midcard belt being the stepping stone as the Itoh Respect Army grows larger and larger with each performance.
TJPW Summer Sun Princess 22 Review
Thunder Rosa vs. Miyu Yamashita
A dream match leads off the final third of the card as the leaders of two promotions face off. Thunder Rosa, the current AEW Women’s champion, returns to TJPW after the pandemic forced her away for two and a half years. Across from her is Miyu Yamashita, the Ace who has become the flag bearer in promotions around the world. Both are well versed in martial arts, and both are eager to face the other.
They were evenly matched. Exchanging holds, kicks, and haymakers. Miyu hit her Skull Kick, a guaranteed finisher, but Rosa saved herself with a rope break. Miyu attempted to end it with an Attitude Adjustment, but Rosa turned into a small package, which Miyu reversed for the victory. Before the match, Thunder Rosa offered her a title shot in America if she could win.
According to the Wrestling Observer, AEW is high on Yamashita, and with a couple of her US dates already announced, a rematch could be in the near future.
TJPW Summer Sun Princess 22 Review
Yuka Sakazaki and Mizuki (c) vs Saki Akai and Yuki Arai
Magical Sugar Rabbits have been champions since October, defeating everyone in the division until Reiwa AA Cannon showed up. Yuki Arai is a sophomore sensation teaming with Saki Akai, a DDT veteran. The MagiRabi senpais beat up on Arai, with Akai having to make the save a few times. The title match is over 24 minutes, the longest on the card, and all four wrestlers give it their all to tell a compelling story.
In the end, Yuki Arai comes back with a vengeance. The champs set up for the end with their Toy Story 4 double dive, but Arai crushed Mizuki with a full nelson buster. With the momentum shifted, desperation sunk in. Yuka pushed Mizuki out of the way to take an axe kick from Arai. And after a last-gasp effort from Mizuki, she was finally pinned by Akai, with Yuka too late to make the save.
MagiRabi started and ended the match holding hands. Reiwa AA Cannon fixed each other’s hair, the new TJPW Princess Tag Team champions.
TJPW Summer Sun Princess 22 Review
Shoko Nakajima (c) vs Rika Tatsumi
Following that amazing match was the incredible main event between two of the four pillars of TJPW. Their rivalry goes back to the early years of the company, as Rika would look to join the two-time Princess of Princess title club to follow up her short reign last year. The challenger demanded her respect early in a frightening spot where she dropkicked Shoko, who was standing on the top turnbuckle, who then fell and caught her knee on the top rope.
Rika targeted the knee, and at times Shoko appeared to be unable to continue. The battle between White Dragon and Big Kaiju was fierce. Rika locked in a dragon sleeper, and the referee seemed mere moments away from stopping the match, just as Rika had won the title the first time. But Shoko Nakajima would not be denied; injured knee be damned. She hit her double arm DDT and top rope senton, securing her 4th and best title defense of the Princess of Princess championship.
TJPW x AEW?
With three fantastic matches to close the card and the rest ranging from good to great, Summer Sun Princess ’22 is one of the best TJPW events of the year. The return of crowd noise alone is one of the best feel-good stories coming out of the pandemic era, alongside the return of foreign talent and cross-promotional cooperation. Upper management has stated that the reception to the show would help guide TJPW to do an event in the west.
With rave reactions online and on Twitter, and a working relationship with AEW and their talent, great things look to be in the future for the world of Joshi and women’s wrestling at large.
*****
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