By: Jeff Brown

Photos: Masahiro Kubota

Ice Ribbon was in Yokohama at Radiant Hall for New Ice Ribbon #1403, which featured a Manami Katsu first defense as ICExInfinity champion, the reunion of HiKaho, and a 3-way to determine the next number one contenders for the International Ribbon Tag Team titles.

The hall was packed, and fans around the world were watching on ICERIBBON LIVE. You can sign up here and watch in the archives. Here are some impressions from the afternoon in Yokohama.

Yuuki Mashiro & YuuRI vs. Big Haruka & Makoto

Mashiro immediately with finger poke attempts, and it set the tone early. YuuRI is in with Haruka, and they trade dragon sleepers. The match is a good opportunity for Haruka to wrestle with such experienced talent.

Makoto fights off more finger poke attacks from Mashiro as the match dips into chaos as Matsuzawa-san decides to join the match. They place Mashiro in the tree of woe, and Matsuzawa-san delivers a prolonged bronco buster. Mashiro finally gets the finger pokes and even uses referee Ishiguro’s hand to poke the eye; she then rolls up Haruka for the pin. A very fun way to start the show.

Hamuko Hoshi & Ibuki Hoshi (Oyako Star) vs. Hikari Shimizu & Kaho Matsushita (HiKaho)

Kaho returned for this show to team with Shimizu in one last match before her retirement in March. The match began with everyone taking turns hitting Shimizu in the corner, with Hamuko ending it with a kiss.

There was a continuation of more good-natured spots that entertained the performers as much as the audience when Hamuko tried to get a reluctant Shimizu to emulate her signature poses. Kaho gets chopped by Ibuki twice and threatens to leave the match. Mother and daughter are both good at incorporating good wrestling with comedy and, more importantly, know when to shift gears. It was fantastic final stretch with multiple pin attempts before Oyako Star hits double splashes to get the three-count on Shimizu. 

Ancham & Yappy (Bad Butts) vs. Kirari Wakana & Miku Kanae vs. Arisa Shinose & Misa Kagura (Cheerful Princess) – International Ribbon Tag Team Title #1 Contendership Three Way Tag Team Match

The teams drew straws to see who would begin; the first team to get two pinfalls/submissions would win the match.

Yappy is a very good heel who uses her size and strength advantage but also resorts to pummeling opponents with weapons such as the road sign she carries to the ring. In reality, Yappy is one of the most beloved figures in all of joshi and is an integral part of Ice Ribbon in the ring and behind the scenes.

Yappy pins Kirari to end the first fall. Next in is Cheerful Princess as Arisa has a hard strike exchange with Ancham. After a series of sentons, Cheerful Princess gets a double pin on Ancham. KiraMiku are in again, and they are very believable underdogs that are determined to scratch and claw for a victory against bigger and more experienced opponents. Miku with a flurry of drop kicks before a back-and-forth pin sequence ends when Miku catches Arisa in a crucifix to score a victory.

Each team had a victory, so this match would decide the next title contenders. Kirari and Ancham have a test of strength, and this match has a slower pace with groundwork. Yappy is keeping Miku out of the match, creating good isolation of Kirari, who is getting her arm targeted. Miku finally gets in and lands some submissions of her own until Yappy tags and ragdolls the much smaller Miku all over the ring. KiraMiku fights back and gets a double pin on Yappy and becomes the next challenger for the International Ribbon Titles. Post-match, Hamuko and Makoto have a staredown with KiraMiku. 

A really great tag match that was closing in on a half hour; each team shined and really made the tag titles seem important.

Manami Katsu vs. Totoro Satsuki—ICExInfinity Title Match

Totoro comes at the champion with many lariats, and the fight spills to the floor, and just swarms Manami by tossing her into chairs and the ring post. Manami fights back, lariats Totoro up against the ring post, and they fight on the apron. Totoro hits a big senton to the floor, and this match has a big main event feel with this amount of hard-hitting moves. Manami struggles to get back into the ring, but she fires up and has a lariat war with the challenger. After a series of double foot stomps, Manami hits a Vader Bomb, but Totoro kicks out, and they go back and forth exchanging high-impact offense. Totoro unleashes everything she has at the champion, but Manami is refusing to stay down. She catches Totoro with a series of wicked forearms before hitting an elbow smash off the top rope, followed up by a top rope elbow drop to pin Totoro.

A wonderful main event and an incredible first defense for Manami. Post-match, Ibuki lays out a challenge to Manami.

The final two matches are highly recommended, and they delivered in a big way while also providing a variety of styles and moods within just four matches.

Ice Ribbon may be in a rebuilding phase, but their core group, while small, is strong, and they always pick a great group of guests and freelancers to fill out a card. With Manami as champion, this could usher in a new direction and era for Ice Ribbon in 2025.