For Yoshiko Hasegawa, know more commonly to her fans as “Yoppy”, February 28th is an important day, being that it is both her and her father’s birthday. However, this year it held even more importance as it was also the day of Yoppy’s first (and apparently last) self-produced show! The show featured performers from across her history, both as an actor, comedian, and wrestler.

Talents from Sugamo Pro, Tokyo Joshi Prowrestling (TJPW), and GPU COLOR’S helped fill out a very lively and unique show at Tokyo’s newest wrestling venue, TOKYO SQUARE.

Sugamo Pro Match: Okane Kurechika & Tanabota Hiroshi vs. Crusher Inuma & Hashimoto Shinya Baito

Sugamo Pro opened the show, a comedy group featuring parodies of famous wrestlers. For followers of puroresu, it should not be hard to identify who the performers today were impersonating.

The match hilariously ended at 0:21 after a Sling Blade by Tanabota, but “famous” referee Red Hands restarted the match and gave Crusher and Hashimoto a chance to redeem themselves. While the “legends” got a little more offense the second time around, things still ended the same, this time with a Rainmaker for Kurechika at 5:20.

For fans of wrestling and comedy, this was a fun performance. Like all good parody, it works because the performers involved know enough about who they are impersonating to pay both homage and still draw a laugh.

3 Way Match: Yamanaka Erina vs. Riara vs. Anno Imori

All three in this match have unique connections to Yoppy. Erina is currently Best Body Japan tag champs with Yoppy. Riara was previously in Ganpro with Yoppy, and had done a co-produced show with her when they both returned to freelancing. Anno Imori (an Anou Saori parody from Sugamo pro) is one of the ring personas of Shizuno, who is part of Yoppy’s comedy YouTube group, Garshans.

The match was both full of antics, but also some great physicality, with Imori constantly making temporary alliances in an attempt to get a win. Ultimately, it was Erina who would get the W with an M.D.M.A Kai (reverse DDT with a split) on Riara at 8:54, overcoming both Yoppy’s former wrestling partner and her sneaky comedy partner.

TJPW Match: Himawari vs. Kaya Toribami

From Yoppy’s current main home for pro wrestling, we got a really great match between Himawari (also a former Actwres Girl) and masked bird themed wrestler Kaya Toribami. Himawari was a burst of energy from her entrance and throughout the match, including her signature hair whipping and some very nice counters.

Kaya hit back with some really stellar high flying moves, including a fantastic top rope corkscrew senton for the win at 7:50. Both are slowly showing they are ready to move beyond their more junior positions in tag and opening matches, and this match was even more proof.

GPU COLOR’S Match: Amikura Rina & Yuko Sakurai vs. SAKI & Kakeru

With Hikari busy in the main event another former Actwres Girl, Kakeru, stepped in for the COLOR’s vs. COLOR’s match. They say you fight your friends the hardest, and this match certainly proved it. Amii, who only just recently returned from a long break due to knee surgery, showed she is back and stronger than ever.

Yuko Sakurai showed why she’s one half of the current WAVE tag champions, backing up her current partner. On the other side, Kakeru played her usual mix of punching bag and deadly reversal expert, and SAKI reminded everyone why she is the captain of COLOR’s.

For longtime AWG fans, this felt like a throwback to the old Beginnings/Color’s era. It was the kind of match you only see when all the players are familiar with each other, and all know the other’s greatest hits. SAKI drove Amii down with a Michinoku Driver at 15:12, in a match that felt almost half that time, it moved so smoothly.

Main Event: Hikari Shimzu vs. Yoppy

The main event definitely earned that name, because it was the main reason for this show existing, Yoppy’s first and last chance to face her senior, Hikari.

Yoppy had actually only announced this show barely a month before, as Hikari had made the surprise announcement she would retire only about a month before that. While Yoppy had started in AWG while Hikari was there, they never had a singles match. With so much history and emotion behind this match, the two did not hold back. Yoppy too the opportunity to show her former senior how much she has grown, unleashing ever move in her arsenal.

However, Hikari was more than game, and with retirement just around the corner, she did not look like she wanted to leave any gas in the tank. A flurry of kicks and roll-up reversals, kept her junior on her toes the whole match.

In the end, it took a top rope foot stomp, followed by a spinning roundhouse kick to the head to finish off Yoppy, and give Hikari one more win on her retirement road at 9:51.

After the match, Yoppy thanked the crowd and reiterated this would be her first and last produced show, as it had been a hectic experience throwing it all together. As she celebrates her 38th birthday, she hopes to focus more on wrestling. Having lost almost two years due to neck issues, spending time focusing on wrestling is her goal now.

She then passed the attention to Hikari, thanking her for giving her one last match before she retired. Then all the performers gathered in the ring, including a special guest, Ayumi Hayashi, another former ActWres Girl and “WASSHOI!” enthusiast. Hayashi wished Hikari well on her retirement and then had her adorable daughter hand over a bouquet to Hikari. The retiring star thanked the crowd and with that, a group photo ended the energetic and nostalgic show.

While the show was not recorded, and video was not allowed, I have attached my gallery of photos to help enjoy some of the experience. Additionally, using the events hashtag #よぴステ should help you find more media from it. Independent shows like this are still really important, in that they can introduce new performers to people, give more junior wrestlers opportunities to practice their craft, and maybe most importantly, let wrestlers have fun with their friends.

Link to my photo album for the event: https://photos.app.goo.gl/Z1GcBUiFpTHj8nj78