By: Jeff Brown

Photos: courtesy of TJPW

The Max Heart tournament had its finale at Korakuen Hall while Suzume defended her International Princess title, Ram and Raku teamed up, and Miu Watanabe tested Uta. It was a full day as the card had 9 matches and included developments for Grand Princess. Here are some impressions of the action from Korakuen Hall on Feb. 7.

The Up Up Girls began the show with a performance of “Stand Up! Proof Of Love.”

Ivy Steele, Kira Summer & Shino Suzuki vs. Chika Nanase, Kaya Toribami & Yoshiko Hasegawa

A straightforward opener with some of the newcomers getting time to develop.

Kira’s style is a nice complement to the roster. Shino is building on her character and incorporating crowd interaction into her matches. Yoppy was very popular with the crowd just a few weeks before her produce show. Yoppy taps out Shino with a hanging stretch muffler. 

Yuki Kamifuku vs. Mifu Ashida

The audience continues to embrace Ashida. Kamiyu put Ashida through the paces as the bully veteran. While still new and figuring things out, Ashida is utilizing her flexibility for submissions and kicks. Kamiyu hit the brainbuster and followed up with the Famouser to get the win.

It served its purpose of getting Ashida ring experience. 

Raku & Ram Kaichow vs. Haruna Neko & Mahiro Kiryu

The beloved duo of Raku and Ram reunited to take on Neko and Mahiro. Mahiro is a grounding force amongst the calamity of Tokyo Joshi. Raku presented Ram with a box of chocolates at the start of the match. Mahiro took the box and got booed from the Korakuen crowd. She took a piece for herself and also gave one to referee Kiso.

Neko joins the match with her cat antics. Mahiro absolutely blasts Ram with a forearm, Raku hits Mahiro with the chocolate box, and then Ram and Raku proceed to hit a joint chop aka Cake Cutting Ceremony off the 2nd rope.

Everything you’d want from these four with the surprise forearm from Mahiro as a bonus.

Arisu Endo vs. Wakana Uehara

In terms of career advancement, Wakana is probably where Endo was a few years ago. She feels like she’s one big match away from moving up.

Endo does so many little things right; she makes a struggle out of getting the Camel Clutch, for example. Wakana kept trying to put Endo away with the Banana Pillow submission but tried a rolling jackknife pin, but Endo countered that pin attempt. If Wakana has a showing like this in a tournament, people will continue to notice her. Endo fights out of the Pillow and hits Ju no Okite to win.

Miu Watanabe vs. Uta Takami

Miu has benefited greatly from her POP Title run, as she feels like a top player regardless of her placement on the card. Uta was taking it seriously and showed a lot of reverence for Miu. Miu, however, was like a stern teacher as she knocked Uta all over the ring.

Uta was able to wrap around Miu’s leg to prevent the Giant Swing. Miu dropped Uta with a measure Batting Hammer for the win. Everyone, including Uta, knew how this match would look, but she fought anyway. A necessary bout for the continued growth of Uta.

Willow Nightingale’s video announced that she would wrestle Miu at Grand Princess.

Yuki Aino vs. Haru Kazashiro

This, in a way, continued the theme of the last match, though Kazahiro is further along in her career.

Yuki was very assertive and was not going easy on the young talent. Kazahiro’s arm technique is brutal, and if she keeps progressing, she will be a special player. She was very impressive with a massive suplex on Yuki. Yuki angrily starts absorbing offense and hits the Venus DDT to pick up the victory.

Rika Tatsumi & Toga vs. HIMAWARI & Mizuki

Toga and HIMAWARI are good opponents who could have a heated rivalry and/or join forces and become a threat in the tag division. Rika and Mizuki in a preview of their big title fight at Grand Princess did not hold back at all.

Each has counters for each other’s big moves and submissions, and Mizuki dove to the floor onto Rika. The one-on-one match is anticipated, and this just helps stoke the fires. Rika nailed HIMAWARI with the Twist of Fate to get the win. A recommended match.

Suzume vs. Jada Stone—International Princess Title Match

Jada Stone has some very flashy moves and a hard-hitting style that includes a variety of wicked kicks. Early on, she was just punishing Suzume and even landed a kick to the back of the head. Jada used her size to try and overwhelm the champion while being very heelish with plenty of trash talking.

Suzume finally figured out a game plan and grounded Jada with submissions to cut off the flurry of moves. Suzume also used the elaborate sequences to her advantage and would counter with drop kicks. Jada fired off a head butt and seemed to be regaining her foothold, but Suzume caught her with Ring a Bell to get the pin and retain. A solid challenge to have on her title run, and while she has a different style, Jada fits in with TJPW.

In the post-match, Endo entered the ring and challenged her Daisy Monkey teammate for the International Princess belt.

Max The Impaler & Pom Harajuku (PomPaler) vs. Hyper Misao & Shoko Nakajima (Kyoraku Kyomei) – Max Heart Tournament 2025 Final Match

Pure TJPW patented chaos. They brawled all over Korakuen, Misao ran over Mahiro with her bike, she rode it down the stairs into Max, Max used Pom as a weapon, Shoko did a dive but was caught and then slammed into the apron; it was a wonderful spectacle.

Once they went back into the ring, things got serious as Max just ragdolled Shoko and started in with the Vader-style offense. Shoko went for the senton off the top onto Pom and got the win. Kyoraku Kyomei won the tournament and closed the show. Highly recommended.

TJPW can always be counted on to deliver in a big way for tournament finals and for big shows at Korakuen Hall. This show served a lot of purposes and really succeeded on all fronts. A lot of the younger talent are moving along nicely while the top of the card is still fresh with newer matchups, and the tag division just capped off a nice run with Max Heart.

Grand Princess is shaping into the big show that fans come to expect, another show worth checking out from a company with momentum.