This is RESURA ROUNDUP, our monthly installment of match recommendations. Every month, our writers will bring you a fresh batch of bangers, slugfests, epics, and more from the world of joshi.

We’ll often shine a light on the big bouts, but there will also be plenty of focus on the under-the-radar hits. Expect a diverse selection that hits a wide range of joshi promotions. 

Let’s get into it.

Tam Nakano vs. Suzu Suzuki, STARDOM – Nagoya Golden Fight 2024 (Oct 5)

Tam in a title match is a sure bet, and that is only doubled with Suzu as her opponent. It was over 20 minutes but never dragged, as both are pros at pacing out a main event epic. Wrestlers of this caliber should never be taken for granted, and this adds to both’s legacy. 

The Cosmic Angels are present, and Tam is still carrying the top company, but Suzu could very well be there in the near future. Suzu has shed some of her wild punk rocker look for a more glam vibe, but she still feels dangerous. STARDOM’s young roster is looking bright, with Neo-Genesis well on their way to being the main attraction as the new era starts to take shape..

Recommended by: Jeff Brown

Miyu Amasaki vs. Rina, STARDOM – Nagoya Golden Fight 2024 (Oct 5)

The anointing of Miyu Amasaki as the future of STARDOM and perhaps all of joshi. Rina’s run was really strong, and she took a lot of pride in delivering in every single match, regardless of where it was placed on the card. 

Amasaki had a rough go in her early days, but since joining Neo-Genesis, she has added some dimension and color, which have given her a ton of confidence. Rina has the New Blood tag titles, so she is already back in belt-defending mode, and Amasaki is taking her first steps towards becoming a major part of the coming years of the company.

Recommended by: Jeff Brown

Mei Suruga vs. Sayaka, ChocoPro- ChocoPro #400 Day 2 (Oct. 5)

This is how you celebrate 400 episodes. With a thrilling, electric bout that showcases what makes this promotion special.

With Suruga vs. Sayaka, you get all the usual fun and charm of ChocoPro with some added nastiness once the two rivals start clamping on submissions, and there’s some big-time drama especially in that dynamite final stretch.

The wrestlers, Mei especially, smoothly implement Ichigaya Chocolate Square’s amenities into the action. The wall, the window, Suruga’s goblin tendencies, and Sayaka’s heavy strikes all add up to a clash for the Super Asia Championship that is a certified banger.

Recommended by: Ryan

Meiko Satomura & Shoko Nakajima vs. Miu Watanabe & Miyu Yamashita, TJPW – All Rise ‘24 (Oct 6)

This showcased the other side of TJPW, which is the big main events that can deliver on. Korakuen shows have a reputation for being the time they keep the fun and games to the undercard and turn up the heat for the top matches.

It was a really good tag, with Miu benefiting from her name among the other three. She held her own with the all-time legend Satomura and added another feather in her cap for this year. Yamashita, as mean as ever, couldn’t put down Satomura, and a rematch could be on the horizon.

Recommended by: Jeff Brown

Mahiro Kiryu & Mizuki vs. Andreza Giant Panda & Shino Suzuki, TJPW – All Rise ‘24 (Oct 6)

A really fun match that embodies the carefree spirit of TJPW. Also, it features the now famous hammer spot between Mizuki and Andreza Giant Panda, adding to the list of viral moments for Mizuki.

If you see one tag match with a Giant Panda this month, make sure it’s this one.

Recommended by: Jeff Brown

Momo Watanabe vs. Haruka Umesaki, Diana – Korakuen Hall (Oct 13)

Further proof that Momo is a special talent, as she and Umesaki had a great main event at Korakuen Hall. Umesaki has amassed quite the resume of big matches, and she has a knack for bringing them in under 15 minutes. Momo wrestled a relatively clean match, with outside interference really bookending the match but never making anything feel cheap.

A cool part of STARDOM in 2024 is that they are routinely sending talent to other promotions, which in the short term gives a spotlight on other groups and in the long term fosters goodwill. Momo being a guest star gives her fresh matchups and a change of scenery.

Recommended by: Jeff Brown

Act vs. Natsuki, AWG – Korakuen Hall (Oct 14)

A rematch from August’s Korakuen show, the build felt a bit off with Natsuki challenging again. However, the match itself was strong and highlighted once again what the upper tier of this roster can do. 

Natsuki picking up the win almost had to happen, and her actually dethroning a champion is likely why she did not simply win the vacated belt two months ago. Having pinned a legend in Act, it makes for a good first step, and now they are tied, so a future match would have a lot of interest. 

 Natsuki technically got her start in the old system, so she was a pro wrestler, but she has been an absolute bright spot of the relaunched “action-entertainment” era. Her getting this run was a direct result of so many main eventers leaving in April, as she was firmly in the tag division with Nagisa for the first part of 2024. 

This is the company putting faith in its new roster that officially began in 2022.

Recommended by: Jeff Brown

Sareee & Miku Aono vs. Nagisa Nozaki & Bozilla, Marigold – Fantastic Adventure (Oct. 14)

Any Sareee match is appointment TV at this point. You know she’s going to bring it whether it’s tag action or a singles bout, a big title match or something lower on the card. This was no exception.

She brought the fire in a match with plenty of crackling flames. The action was nasty. Everyone’s offense was focused. You could truly sense the animosity.

Sareee has issues with Bozilla after losing to the powerhouse in the DREAM STAR. Nozaki is coming after Aono’s United National Championship, stirring up all kinds of hostility along the way.  

This is a bout brimming with energy, one featuring some wince-inducing kicks and strikes that echo through the arena. These four women did everything to make this feel like the main event rather than the tag title match that came after it.

Recommended by: Ryan

Mari vs. Sakura Mizushima, AWG – Korakuen Hall (Oct 14)

Notable as it was for the newly created KING of Ring Entertainment title, which is overseen by their new commissioner King (Princess Tenko’s Lion). 

It was Mizushima’s biggest singles match and was billed as the co-main event. Mari has been on a fantastic run that really heated up in late 2023 prior to her winning the AWG Championship from Miku Aono. Mizushima has had some big wins early in her career, most notably getting 2 pin falls on Act, but she hadn’t challenged for a belt yet.  

It’s worth noting that this is also Mizushima’s longest bout at over 20 minutes. 

Mari’s Killer’Z persona is one of the most sadistic characters in wrestling today, and she didn’t disappoint in this fight either. While this belt is controlled by a lion and should represent the most “entertainment” aspect in company history, it was more akin to a classic NEVER Openweight match. 

After a physical war, Mari was too much and picked up her second title in her career. She said she wants this to be a fighting championship, so at least while she holds it, expect more straightforward brutality.

Recommended by: Jeff Brown

Misa Matsui vs. Naho Yamada, Marigold – Marigold Fantastic Adventure (Oct 24)

Naho’s first match as a professional wrestler, and she was treated as a star. During a visit to Naho’s Straydog theater group, her original mentor, Act Yasukawa, recruited her to join the newly created ARG and that led to her joining AWG in 2022. While calling this a debut is understandable, it’s a bit misleading, as Naho has been wrestling or wrestling adjacent since the autumn of 2020. 

In AWG, Misa became another mentor, and they formed Teppen together. Misa was the perfect first opponent for her in Marigold. Naho sang to the ring and performed her signature moves, such as her around-the-world pin, out-of-nowhere stunner, and her figure eight. After one match, Naho has become a lot of people’s new favorite wrestler.

Recommended by: Jeff Brown

Mei Seira vs. Yuna MIzumori, STARDOM – Goddesses Of Stardom Tag League (Oct. 27)

One of the best High Speed Championship matches of 2024. A buzzing, taut, robust piece of wrestling. 

Seira and Mizumori deliver all the pedal-to-the-medal offense you expect from this division, but it’s also punctuated by plenty of viciousness and emotion. Champion and challenger slap the spit out of each other’s faces and score all kinds of dramatic near falls. 

Give Seira all the spotlight, STARDOM. She kicks ass.

Recommended by: Ryan