Welcome to RESURA ROUNDUP, our monthly dive into the best joshi action out there. Each month, our crew serves up a curated mix of must-watch matches—barnburners, technical showcases, and everything in between.

We’ll highlight the headline-worthy clashes, but we’re just as excited to spotlight those hidden gems you might have missed. We’ll give you stuff from the major promotions as well as the less-heralded indies. 

Let’s do this!

Mei Suruga vs Chie Koishikawa, ChocoPro – ChocoPro #438 “Warring Era” (Released April 4)

After Chie beat Mei for the first time ever back in February, The Apple Girl put the Super Asia title on the line against her Warm Caterpillars tag team partner.

Both girls main evented the TOKYOSQUARE show on March 31st, delivering a fast-paced match with the usual high-speed moves by Mei and the unpredictable nature of Chie. After a 212-day reign, fans in attendance really thought the challenger could capture the gold, but in the end, the champion retained the title.

We don’t want to think Chie’s victory over Mei was a fluke, but that night at Itabashi, the Apple Girl show what she is the Ace of Emi Sakura’s promotion

Recommended by: Fernando

Ryo Mizunami vs. Saori Anou, OZ Academy – Sonoko Kato Debut 30th Anniversary (April 13)

A slow-burn title match that rewards the patient fan.

Mizunami and Anou’s battle for the OZ Academy Openweight Championship gets plenty intense down that final stretch. They knock each other’s heads around with some big shots. Both champion and challenge score some oh-so-close near-falls.

This is a lot more serious and focused version of the party-starter Ryo here. And the ever-dependable Anou delivers in a big spot again.

OZ Academy continues to flourish in the main event. Anou is plenty capable of keeping that roll going.

Recommended by: Ryan

Costume Change Tag Team Match, TJPW – Universe Members Show #9 (April 13)

The fans always have a blast with these kinds of shows, especially if the main event is the much-anticipated Costume Change matches.

HIMAWARI was a Big Kaiju, Toga’s face couldn’t be any redder when she came out dressed as a cat, Haru Kazashiro became a Superhero, and Wakana Uehara probably broke the internet when she incarnated the Pink Striker. All of them teamed up to face an alternative version of the Up Up Girls, played by Yoshiko Hasegawa as Miu Watanabe, Suzume as Raku, Mizuki as Shino Suzuki, and Pom Harajuku as Uta Takami.

If her usual characters ensure chaos, imagine HIMAWARI trying to imitate Shoko Nakajima’s agility, Toga’s power trying to adjust to Neko Haruna’s cat antics, Haru Kazashiro’s not-often-shown charisma through Hyper Misao’s mask, and Wakana leaving everyone speechless by just wearing Miyu Yamashita’s gear. The opposite team didn’t disappoint either; we saw Yoppy successfully hitting a (assisted) Giant Swing, Suzume conducting the Oyasumi Express, Mizuki guiding her opponent’s face to the turnbuckle, and Pom combing her, and Uta Takami’s mischievousness.

In the end, Mizuki pinned Haru to win the match, but the Wrestle Universe members were the real winners and those ¥1,289 were worth every cent.

Recommended by: Fernando

Aja Kong vs. Senka Akatsuki, Marvelous (April 17)

Senka is going be a damn star. Listen to that crowd. She had the crowd absolutely buzzing as she fought back against the monstrous Kong. A classic rookie-versus-vet story told to perfection. 

This match had me hollering! 

Recommended by: Ryan

Team Marigold vs. Team Marvelous Marigold – Rising Spirit (April 24)

Absolutely electric. A cross-promotional epic.

The five-on-five elimination gauntlet match between Marigold and the invading stars of Marvelous had buzzing energy, a fast pace, and stakes that made in invest in every turn of the story. 

Everyone got to truly shine here. It was a showcase for lesser-known talent and marquee names alike. Kizuna Tanaka looked like a beast early on. Maria’s grit was impressive. Miko Aono’s merciless kicks were…*chef’s kiss*.

There were bangers within the banger from Ai Houzan vs. Tanaka to Natsumi Showzuki vs. Maria. A must-watch contest.

Recommended by: Ryan

Suzu Suzuki vs. Mei Seira – STARDOM All Star Grand Queendom (April 27)

While most might recommend the obvious picks of Syuri vs. Mayu Iwatani or Saya Kamitani vs. Tam Nakano, I am going for the bloody and intense bout between the former Crazy Star duo. Both Suzu and Mei were throwing out ridiculous moves that either haven’t been seen in a long time, or they have never busted out before. 

After everything they have been through together and Suzu’s recent antics, it makes sense that they were given the no disqualification stipulation.

Suzu would get busted up quite early, with Mei following suit not long after. By the halfway point of this match it seemed it could end early with Barb needing to call it off due to blood loss. Shockingly, weapons were used a bit at the begining, but things ended up just being a tough back-and-forth wrestling match after that. This was a stellar match and one of the best from All Star Grand Queendom.

Recommended by: Ethan

Mayu Iwatani vs Syuri, STARDOM – All Star Grand Queendom (April 27)

“Top 10 Most Meaningful Matches Because What We Know Now”

Another duo that could have the best match of any card with their eyes closed, the Stardom Icon and the leader of God’s Eye fought for the IWGP Women’s title in Stardom’s biggest show of the year, and even though all eyes were in the main event, Mayu and Syuri delivered a great title bout full of technical moves, hard hits, high speed action and a botch during the climax of the match that only made things more dramatic before Syuri finally got the three-count and ended Mayu’s 735-day reign with the title.

Just 24 hours after the big night, Mayu Iwatani, the only girl left from that first Stardom show in January 2011, announced that she will leave Stardom after 14 years with the promotion. Iwatani’s situation deserves an article of its own, but her last match will be one for the ages.

Recommended by: Fernando

Meiko Satomura & Manami vs Chihiro Hashimoto & Aja Kong, Sendai Girls – Satomura Meiko The Final (April 29)

What else can you say about Meiko Satomura’s 30-year long career? You can only hope for a good match once she decides to end it, that’s what we had in Korakuen Hall in Meiko’s retirement show.

The founder of Sendai Girls handpicked her partner and opponents for her last match, choosing Manami, the girl who obviously she sees as the future of Sendai Girls and joshi wrestling in general, Chihiro Hashimoto, her most outstanding student and the one who dethroned her for the Sendai Girls title, and Aja Kong, a puroresu legend and arguably her greatest opponent. 

Manami and Chihiro worked the majority of the match while Meiko and Aja Kong played their greatest hits. At the end, Meiko did the unthinkable and hit the Death Valley Bomb on Kong and finished her off with the Scorpion Rising to cap off her final match.

A showcase for two legends, the top champion in the promotion, and the future of puroresu.

Recommended by: Fernando