TJPW Yes Wonderland this year falls on Children’s Day, the final national holiday of Japan’s Golden Week to celebrate the individuality and joy of all children. May’s monthly Korakuen Hall show is one of the older traditions in Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling, dating back to 2018. 2023’s version marks the fifth iteration under this event name, having missed one in 2020.
With one of the largest rookie classes in the promotion’s history, Children’s Day is the perfect timing for TJPW Yes Wonderland 23. The entire roster each has their unique strengths to work on and their own happiness to chase. Everyone has a higher level they want to reach.
Even the Princess of Princess champion Mizuki faces the biggest test of her young reign in the form of giant gaijin challenger Sawyer Wreck, who stands an astounding 12 inches taller than the Popping Sugar Rabbit. Through the looking glass we go.
TJPW Yes Wonderland 23
Himawari vs Shino Suzuki
For the third time this year, Himawari opened Korakuen Hall in a singles match, which feels like a solid vote of confidence. Coming over to the Tojo Dojo with some previous training from AWG, Himawari debuted at Ittenyon already with an oddball moveset and vibrant personality. Shino Suzuki also hit the ground running, debuting in March as part of the prestigious Up Up Girls. The former tour bus guide proved to be a sympathetic character.
They started off with some basic holds and moves in a slow but steady pace. For appearing like such a nice girl, Shino is rather fond of the chokehold. Himawari excelled best when she used her strange Irish whip and sheer drop bodyslam. The Sunflower girl picked up the win with a half-crab submission over Suzuki and looks to be a frontrunner in her rookie class.
TJPW Yes Wonderland 23
Hyper Misao, Haru Kazashiro, Runa Okubo vs Haruna Neko, Raku, Pom Harajuku
For middle school rookies Haru Kazashiro and Runa Okuno, Hyper Misao is either the best or worst babysitter for them, depending on how one values fun vs legality. The devious superhero led the big children in a trios war against the Cheshire Catgirl, the sleepy Dormouse, and the Mad Pommer.
The match started off with some great laugh-out-loud comedy, as Misao and her teenage sidekicks attempted to strangle Pom. The kids spent most of their team’s time in the ring, practicing their striking and dropkicks in an active setting to mixed success. Things fell apart in the middle between jellyfish Runa and Haruna Neko, but Hyper Misao got the hero squad back on track pinning Pom, the eternal 3-year-old on Children’s Day.
TJPW Yes Wonderland 23
Yuki Kamifuku and Wakana Uehara vs Mahiro Kiryu and Toga
Tag team partners found themselves on opposite sides as Toyo University alumni each took a rookie under their mentorship for the day. The alluring Kamiyu teamed with Wakana Uehara, a shining young woman who has adopted some Muto-type acrobatics. Across from them, the apologetic Kiryu teamed with Toga, a stoic young woman who uses a Misawa-style elbow smash.
From the start, Kamiyu and Kiryu went after each other with bad intentions. Either the dorky girl/popular girl duo hate each other more than they let on or they like each other more than they let on. Each beat on the other and their respective partners with an extra level of attitude.
The rookies looked fine enough, except when Toga did not know how to react to a famouser in the finishing stretch. Kamiyu finished her anyway and glared at Kiryu as the partners parted ways. Things have brewing between them for the past year so we’ll see where it goes.
TJPW Yes Wonderland 23
Ryo Mizunami, Moka Miyamoto, Kaya Toribami vs Yuki Aino, Hikari Noa, Nao Kakuta
Ryo Mizunami returns to TJPW like the cool substitute teacher, leading up-and-coming underclassmen into battle. Across from them are upperclassmen they hope to become. Aino has challenged for the top title. Kakuta has challenged for the top title. And Hikari Noa recently lived her dream, main eventing the last show in her first fluorescent light tube deathmatch.
Kaya and Moka received a lesson in killer instinct as they worked over Hikari, still covered in bandages from her bloody affair a few days prior. Deep in the match, Mizunami and Aino took it to another level with their powerhouse styles clashing for an exciting fight. Aino shocked the crowd (and Aniki) by kicking out at 1, but was eventually put away by Mizunami in a matchup they simply must be run back.
TJPW Yes Wonderland 23
Miu Watanabe vs Arisu Endo
Two of TJPW’s best, regardless of experience, go one on one with Miu Watanabe taking on Arisu Endo. Both of their tag partners are in the singles match semifinal, while Daydream beat Daisy Monkey a few weeks ago, with Endo taking the fall. Miu’s strength and Arisu’s speed make them stand out on the roster and are sure to carry them into a bright future.
They began the match going back and forth, exchanging holds on the mat, each movement incredibly fast and crisp. Miu took control with her power, but every now and then, Arisu would catch her off guard through agility. The match was great, something all the rookies should aspire to at 2-years-in like Endo or 5-years-in like Watanabe.
Arisu is a fiery babyface whose anguished face shows how much a potential win means. Miu was trapped in the camel clutch, and all looked lost in her expression, but nonetheless, she turned it into a quick but close win.
This was the technical showcase of the show. They rivaled the skill level of Yuka Sakazaki and Shoko Nakajima circa 2016 before they became PoP champions. Those sound like lofty shoes to fill, but Miu is on the cusp of an even bigger breakout than she’s already had. Meanwhile, Arisu still has a long journey ahead of her, marching through Wonderland.
TJPW Yes Wonderland 23
Shoko Nakajima and Yuka Sakazaki vs Yuki Arai and Maki Itoh
Since she debuted two years ago, Yuki Arai has made quite the resume already, winning the Tokyo Sports Rookie of the Year and the Tag Team championship. Maki Itoh has long been the stone wall for the idol-wrestler, going against her in her first match and their bout over the IP title at Grand Princess 22. But the gold standards of TJPW are Shoko Nakajima and Yuka Sakazaki, company cornerstones reuniting the duo Miriclians for a rare showing.
Itoh seems to have lightened up on Arai, as they worked well together early on and delineated different titles of cutest between them. The Miracle Comedians, on the other hand, didn’t take it easy on the junior wrestler. Itoh did her best to support, but it eventually broke down into Yuka beating the hell out of Arai.
But having already faced Aja Kong and survived, the SKE48 superstar fought back and stood toe to toe with the three-time PoP champion. Yuka activated murder mode and pinned Arai, though the legend of the relentless idol continues to grow.
TJPW Yes Wonderland 23
Rika Tatsumi vs Suzume
In last year’s Tokyo Princess Cup, the bee stung the dragon when Suzume upset Rika Tatsumi in the quarterfinals. But their history goes back to the time of the first Yes Wonderland, when Suzume was just another Rika Tatsumi fan in the crowd. Many of the younger girls will cite the older generation of senpais as their inspiration for applying to TJPW, so wrestling their heroes must be an emotional experience.
Rika had no qualms about choking the life out of her biggest fan. The White Dragon worked over the bee’s knees, threw her into the crowd, and even used a little girl’s light stick to attack the challenger. The vicious beating brought out the passion in Suzume. She fought through the pain and survived an onslaught of attacks, hitting a few big moves before falling to Tatsumi in her 3rd defense of the International Princess title.
TJPW Yes Wonderland 23
Mizuki vs. Sawyer Wreck
GCW wrestler Sawyer Wreck has picked up two dominant wins in route to challenging for the Princess of Princess championship. Standing over 6 feet tall, Wreck looked like a wild woman reminiscent of Bruiser Brody or Stan Hansen bringing mayhem to Japan. She was the perfect movie monster: making devilish faces, displaying incredible feats of strength, and tossing the local hero around and into the crowd.
In the other corner, Mizuki was the perfect protagonist to fight off the invader. Listed at 5 foot 2 and lighter than cotton candy, the Popping Sugar Rabbit kept getting back up in the face of destruction. She climbed a higher mountain getting to the title and wasn’t going to give it up that easy. Mizuki lifted up the giant, slammed her with the Cutie Special, and succeeded in the 2nd defense of her Princess of Princess title.
TJPW Yes Wonderland: Aftermath
In the post-match, Mizuki was challenged by her former tag team partner, Maki Itoh. Their storied rivalry and breakup goes back years, standing out as one of the best stories TJPW has ever told, if not THE greatest. They revisit their 2021 match-of-the-year contender at July’s tentpole event, Summer Sun Princess in Ota Ward Gymnasium.
While the undercard may have shown some rookie struggles, falling on Children’s Day should remind everyone that mistakes happen and you might feel lost along the way, but keeping on with the journey will eventually see Alice escape Wonderland. Growing pains will lead to spectacular performances like the top 4 matches on the card.
Yes Wonderland put on a fun show: crowned with a technical bout between Miu and Arisu, a vicious fight between Rika and Suzume, and an entertaining story between Sawyer Wreck and Mizuki.
