Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling

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Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling
AcronymTJPW
FoundedJune 4, 2012[1][2][3]
StyleJoshi puroresu
HeadquartersTokyo, Japan
Founder(s)
  • Tetsuya Koda
  • Nozomi
ParentCyberFight (CyberAgent)
Sister
Websitewww.ddtpro.com/tjpw

Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling (東京女子プロレス, Tōkyō Joshi Puroresu, TJPW) is a Japanese joshi puroresu or women's professional wrestling promotion founded in 2012 as a sister promotion of DDT Pro-Wrestling. Initially running alongside other shows such as live music and other idol performances, it became its own standalone promotion starting on February 28, 2015. TJPW's biggest show of the year is the annual January 4th "Ittenyon" show held at Korakuen Hall.

As of 2020, TJPW is promoted under the CyberFight banner as a sister promotion to both DDT Pro-Wrestling and Pro Wrestling Noah.

History[edit]

Formation (2012–2013)[edit]

On June 4, 2012, Tokyo Joshi Pro was announced by DDT Pro-Wrestling. Set to be run by former Ice Ribbon and NEO Japan Ladies Pro-Wrestling promoter and booker Tetsuya Koda and wrestler Nozomi, the promotion was established in late 2012 and thus a recruitment process began for wrestlers. Four of the first wrestlers recruited were Miyu Yamashita, Shoko Nakajima, Kanna and Chikage Kiba. The training of the wrestlers was mostly handled by Nozomi herself, with help from DDT wrestler Kyohei Mikami.[1][2][3] Nozomi left DDT on November 30, 2012, but on the same day the trainees were introduced to the public in a press conference and it was announced they would debut in 2013. The trainees were required to follow three rules - no drinking, no smoking, and no boyfriends.

Early years (2013–2015)[edit]

Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling's debut show took place on January 30, 2013 at Akihabara Twin Box in Tokyo. The show featured just two matches, a sambo exhibition between trainee Chikage Kiba and DDT referee and former sambo competitor Daisuke Kiso, and a singles match between trainees Miyu Yamashita and Kanna. The show did not use a wrestling ring, and instead all matches took place on training mats, similar to the Ice Ribbon promotion in its early years.[4] Along with wrestling matches, the debut show featured live music from idol units. As TJP's roster was very small at the start, most of their early shows followed this same formula and only ran small venues. Entry to their first few shows was free as a way of introducing themselves to a bigger audience, and their first paid show was held on April 26.[5][6][7][8] As their roster of trainees expanded in 2014, TJPW began including more matches on their cards, and began using a ring. They also ran a show with an appearance from voice actress/wrestler Ai Shimizu in November 2014.[9][10][11] TJPW held its first full show without an idol performance on February 28, 2015 at Shinjuku Face. At the show, Ai Shimizu and Saki Akai confirmed they would be competing with the promotion regularly, and more trainees debuted at the show.[12]

Rise in popularity (2016–present)[edit]

On January 4, 2016, TJPW held its first ever show in Korakuen Hall, a famed wrestling venue in puroresu. Main evented by Miyu Yamashita defeating Shoko Nakajima to become the first ever Tokyo Princess of Princess Champion, it also featured the debut of Yuu and an appearance from American wrestler Candice LeRae.[13] In the spring of 2016, Ai Shimizu and Erin announced their departure from the promotion, however, the summer was a success for the promotion, and TJPW earned a broadcasting deal to be shown on idol-centric channel Pigoo.[14]

On January 4, 2017, TJPW held its second annual Korakuen show, main evented by Yuu retaining the Tokyo Princess of Princess title over Shoko Nakajima.[15] On May 29, an audition was held for four young wrestlers to form a wrestling/idol group to be known as the "Up-Up Girls". On July 20, four women were picked and began training to wrestle shortly after. On December 4, the Up-Up Girls debuted with an idol performance, but didn't appear in ring until January 4, 2018.

On January 4, 2018, TJP's third annual Korakuen show proved to be a success, drawing over 1000 fans for the first time ever. The show was also broadcast on AbemaTV for the first time, as well as DDT's streaming service DDT Universe. The show was main evented by TJPW ace Miyu Yamashita defeating Reika Saiki to win back the Tokyo Princess of Princess Championship.[16] On February 28, the TJPW show from Shinjuku Face was once again broadcast on AbemaTV, and it was announced Abema had picked up TJPW to broadcast it regularly. This also marked the end of TJPW being broadcast on Pigoo. On November 1, 2018, the three trainee rules were officially bought to an end, allowing wrestlers to drink, smoke and have relationships on their own accord.

The 2019 January 4 show was once again a success, drawing 1,300 fans to Korakuen Hall.[17]

On July 16, 2019, TJPW announced, via their Twitter account, a new title called the International Princess Championship. They also announced that the Tokyo Princess of Princess Championship and the Tokyo Princess Tag Team Championship would be dropping "Tokyo" from their names.[18]

On March 31, 2023, TJPW held their first event in the United States in Los Angeles, California at the Globe Theater.[19] On December 15, TJPW was announced as one of the founding members of the United Japan Pro-Wrestling alliance, a joint effort to further develop professional wrestling in Japan through promotion and organization, with Seiji Sakaguchi being named as the chairman of the project.[20]

Roster[edit]

Wrestlers[edit]

Miyu Yamashita
Rika Tatsumi
Ring name Real name Notes
Arisu Endo[21] Unknown Princess Tag Team Champion
Ami Yumoto Ami Yumoto Style Office
Former AKB48
Haruna Neko [ja][22] Unknown
Haru Kazashiro[23] Unknown
Hikari Noa[24] Unknown Up Up Girls (Pro-Wrestling)
Hyper Misao [25] Unknown
HIMAWARI[26] Unknown
Kaya Toribami [ja][27] Unknown
Mahiro Kiryu [ja][28] Unknown
Maki Itoh[29] Unknown Freelancer
Tokiwoikiru
Miu Watanabe[30] Unknown Up Up Girls (Pro-Wrestling)
Princess of Princess Champion
Miyu Yamashita[31] Miyu Yamashita
Mizuki [32] Mizuki Kaminade
Moka Miyamoto [ja][33] Unknown
Nao Kakuta[34] Unknown Freelancer
Pom Harajuku [ja][35] Unknown
Raku[36] Unknown Up Up Girls (Pro-Wrestling)
Rika Tatsumi[37] Unknown
Ryo Mizunami Ayane Mizumura Freelancer
Runa Okubo[38] Unknown
Shino Suzuki [ja][39] Unknown Up Up Girls (Pro-Wrestling)
Shoko Nakajima[40] Shoko Nakajima
Suzume[41] Unknown Princess Tag Team Champion
Toga[42] Unknown
Wakana Uehara [ja][43] Wakana Uehara One Eight Promotion
Yuki Aino[44] Unknown
Yuki Arai[45] Yuki Arai International Princess Champion
SKE48
Yuki Kamifuku[46] Yuki Kamifuku Freelancer

Alumni[edit]

Ring name Real name Notes
Akane Miura Unknown Graduated on March 25, 2017
Ayumi Takada Ayumi Takada Retired on March 19, 2014
Azusa Takigawa Unknown Graduated on October 27, 2018
Chikage Kiba Unknown Graduated on March 27, 2018
Erin Eri Kato Retired on May 28, 2016
Unagi Sayaka Unknown Contract expired September 30, 2020[47]
Kanna Kanna Shinmei Graduated on September 22, 2016
Maho Kurone Unknown Graduated on July 30, 2018
Marika Kobashi Unknown Graduated on April 17, 2022
Mina Shirakawa Unknown Resigned on September 21, 2020[48]
Mirai Maiumi Unknown Resigned on August 31, 2021
Mizuho Unknown Graduated on January 11, 2017
Natsumi Maki Natsumi Maki Resigned on September 21, 2020[48]
Nodoka Tenma Unknown Retired on March 26, 2022
Nonoko Unknown Graduated on February 3, 2018
Nozomi Nozomi Dai Retired on November 30, 2012
Pinano Pipipipi Unknown Up Up Girls (Pro-Wrestling), Graduated on April 5, 2019
Reika Saiki Reika Saiki Resigned on June 22, 2019[49]
Saki Akai Saki Akai Retired on November 12, 2023
Shiori Sena Unknown Graduated on April 24, 2021[50]
Yuka Sakazaki Unknown Graduated on December 6, 2023[51]
Yuu Unknown Resigned on December 1, 2018

Notable guests[edit]

Championships and accomplishments[edit]

Current championships[edit]

Championship Current champion(s) Reign Date won Days
held
Successful
defenses
Location Notes Ref.
Princess of Princess Championship
20210411渡辺未詩.jpg
Miu Watanabe 1 March 31, 2024 24 0 Tokyo, Japan Defeated Miyu Yamashita at Grand Princess '24. [52]
Princess Tag Team Championship
遠藤有栖2024.jpg
Suzume230408.jpg
Daisy Monkey
(Arisu Endo and Suzume)
1
(1, 1)
March 31, 2024 24 0 Tokyo, Japan Defeated Ryo Mizunami and Yuki Aino at Grand Princess '24. [52]
International Princess Championship Yuki Arai 1 January 4, 2024 111 2 Tokyo, Japan Defeated Max the Impaler at Tokyo Joshi Pro '24. [53]

Other accomplishments[edit]

Tournament Last winner(s) Date won Notes
Tokyo Princess Cup Miyu Yamashita August 13, 2023 Single elimination tournament
"Futari wa Princess" Max Heart Tournament Daisy Monkey
(Suzume and Arisu Endo)
February 10, 2024 Single elimination tournament

Notable events[edit]

# Event Date City Venue Attendance Main event Ref.
1 Wrestle Princess I November 7, 2020 Tokyo, Japan Tokyo Dome City Hall N/A Yuka Sakazaki (c) vs. Mizuki for the Princess of Princess Championship [54]
2 Wrestle Princess II October 9, 2021 Ota City General Gymnasium 914 Miyu Yamashita (c) vs. Maki Itoh for the Princess of Princess Championship [55]
3 Wrestle Princess III October 9, 2022 Tokyo Dome City Hall 1,007 Shoko Nakajima (c) vs. Yuka Sakazaki for the Princess of Princess Championship [56]
4 Wrestle Princess IV October 9, 2023 Tama Mirai Messe 868 Mizuki (c) vs. Miyu Yamashita for the Princess of Princess Championship [57]

Grand Slam champions[edit]

In TJPW, the Grand Slam consists of all the available titles promoted by the company. They are the Princess of Princess Championship, the Princess Tag Team Championship, and the International Princess Championship. On March 18, 2023, during the Grand Princess event, Rika Tatsumi became the first Grand Slam champion in TJPW's history.[58]

Text
Dates in bold The date the wrestler completed the Grand Slam
Champion Primary championship Secondary championship Tag team championship
Princess of Princess Championship International Princess Championship Princess Tag Team Championship
Rika Tatsumi[58] January 4, 2021 March 18, 2023 November 3, 2019
(with Miu Watanabe)
Miu Watanabe March 31, 2024 October 9, 2022 November 3, 2019
(with Rika Tatsumi)

References[edit]

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External links[edit]