Welcome to Rising Destiny Digest. In this recurring column, Ryan Dilbert takes you on a journey through the joshi scene, spotlighting the wrestlers and stories that have caught his eye. Complete with a one-question mailbag and a bold prediction.
Warming on Ice Ribbon (Again)
The story of Ice Ribbon in the past three-plus years has been about its exits and absences. If you brought up the promotion, the conversation would inevitably be about wrestlers like Maya Yukihi, Misa Kagura, or Mifu Ashida leaving. Not about the wrestling.
Ice Ribbon just can’t seem to keep talent around. Saori Anou is thriving in STARDOM. Yoshiko Hasegawa now wrestles for TJPW. After having more matches in Ice Ribbon than anyone else in 2024, Saran ventured to Pro Wrestling WAVE this year.
But there’s reason for the faithful (or stubborn?) Ice Ribbon fans to be optimistic as we head into the summer of 2025.
Former ICExInfinity champ Ibuki Hoshi is back from maternity leave. Her time away left a big hole atop the card. Hoshi is arguably the most complete wrestler Ice RIbbon has on staff.
And while it took her some time early on to get back in the groove of things post-pregnancy, she’s looking more and more like her old self.
The good news doesn’t stop there. Kaho Matsushita returned in the spring following a long recovery from ACL surgery. The 22-year-old rising star has massive potential, and her being back in the mix has infused Ice RIbbon with an exciting energy.
Tsukina Umino also recently returned to action after suffering a collarbone injury. She’s an underrated talent who is a dependable option for the company. Umino brings some grittiness to balance out some of Ice Ribbon’s more cutesy characters.
Most importantly, the company has a champion who has looked every bit worthy of that crown. Manami Katsu’s presence has only grown since winning the ICExInfinity Championship.
The hard-hitting Tokyo native began her reign with a battle against Totoro Suzuki in February that Jeff Brown called “a wonderful main event and an incredible first defense.” At the end of May, Katsu held off Sumika Yanagawa in an intense showdown at Kitazawa Town Hall.
The champ is poised to have a strong, memorable reign, something Ice Ribbon has sorely needed from its main event scene of late.
Throw in Miyuki Takase making the most appearances she’s had with the company since 2019 and young talent like Kikari Wakana blooming, and there’s reason to start feeling more positive toward a place that’s felt so ice cold (no pun intended) for so long.
If they can bring in VENY or Ryo Mizunami for a show or two; if Hoshi and Matsushita can reach their potential; if Katsu continues her compelling defense of the mountaintop, then it will more than the most diehard of diehards who tune in.
On the Ocean Cyclone Show for the past few years, it’s been a running joke that I have been irrationally hopeful about this company, and then the punchline is that I am dead wrong. Wrestlers leave. Wrestlers get hurt. The roster’s level of talent shrinks. I stand there in my wrongness.
Here’s hoping we don’t see that cycle repeat. Joshi wresting is better when Ice Ribbon is thriving.
Super Start
A young title already feels big and electric.
Marigold debuted the Superfly Championship less than a year ago when Natsumi Showzuki became the first champ in July. Star power, match quality, and a clear identity have helped make that shiny prize something special.
While some championships just feel like golden filler, the Superfly strap knows what it is. It’s the title for wrestles weighing less than 55kg. It’s Marigold’s answer to STARDOM’s High Speed Championship as it features fast-paced action from the highly athletic. It’s the workhorse, midcard title, and it’s fabulous.
It was smart of Marigold to start things off with Natsumi Showzuki at the helm. She’s one of the most experienced women on the roster, a rock-solid worker with a good amount of name recognition from her STARDOM and Actwres girl’Z days. Crowning a former AWG champ and Goddess of STARDOM titleholder helped give this new championship some early prestige.
Then Marigold opted to hand off the championship baton to Victoria Yuzuki. She’s a red-hot talent with a super-high career trajectory. Her reign was exciting, fun, a chance for her to shine.
Next, an Icon took the title for her own. Mayu Iwatani went right after the Superfly Championship after joining Marigold.
That’s huge.
A woman many have lauded as the greatest joshi wrestler of all time showed impassioned interest in a secondary title, immediately giving it more credence. Now the title scene will be built around an all-time great and the matches are guaranteed to be bangers more often than not.
I like, too, how long these first reigns have been.
Showzuki had four successful title defenses; Yuzuki had three before falling to Iwatani on May 24. Showzuki and Yuzuki were each the champ for 174 days and 141 days respectively. Those stretches were both long enough that the reigning, defending titleholder got some solid time to shine.
Short, over-before-you-can-blink reigns tend to be forgettable and do little for the wrestler at the center of them.
Thus far, Marigold has played its hand well when it comes to this young championship. It can confidently march forward with Iwatani waving the Superfly flag.
5-Count: Top 5 Dream Joshi Venues
Tokyo Dome, Korakuen Hall, and Shinjuku FACE are all venues alive with wrestling history. They have all the aura you can ask for. Sure. But let’s think outside the box.
Where could we see a major joshi wrestling event other than the usual spots? Let’s shoot for striking visuals and unique vibes.
5. Nebuta Museum Wa Rasse (Aomori)
Firstly, we need more wrestling in museums. And secondly, this one is gorgeous and its grand interior would make for a memorable backdrop much like KBS Hall.
4. Koshien Stadium (Nishinomiya)
As seen in the video game The King of Fighters ’97, a massive baseball park with a long history. An ideal home for a cross-promotional supershow.
3. Tsuzumi-Mon Gate (Kanazawa)
A striking tourist attraction outside a rail station. Imagine a 10-woman TJPW showdown fought under that reddish wooden work of art.
2. Gion Kobu Kaburenjo Theater (Kyoto)
This would have to be a far more intimate show, but that would only add to the vibes. The wooden theater used primarily for kabuki theater is just beautiful. If they were to have host wrestling there, the atmosphere would be unforgettable. And the photos, man, the photos!
1. Hyogo Performing Arts Center (Nishinomiya)
Much like the Gion, this place is classy and full of culture. The opera house features balcony seating, a breathtaking interior, and finely engineered acoustics. Plus, they could hire an orchestra to play the entrance music. Please somebody let me witness a live, symphonic rendition of Syuri’s theme.
Mini Mailbag:
I’m new to joshi wrestling and really curious about getting into it-where’s a good place to start? Are there any must-watch matches, promotions, or wrestlers you’d recommend for a beginner?
Those words are absolute music to a joshi fan’s ears. Real fans are the opposite of gatekeepers to this stuff; they are hold-the-gate-openers.
Overall, I’d say dip your toes in multiple places. Dabble. See what stands out to you. There’s a good amount of free content on YouTube to get a sense of the different promotions. Inevitably, one of them (and some wrestlers) will stand out.
Then it’s a matter of diving headfirst into learning about whoever grabbed your attention.
STARDOM has the slickest production with big, epic-style main events with plenty of theatrics. Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling is vibrant and fun with ample amounts of silliness if that’s more of your bag. Sendai Girls is a lot of no-nonsense action and highly consistent from an in-ring perspective. Marigold and Marvelous are feuding with each other, so it’s a perfect time to learn about both companies by watching any of the cross-promotional battles happening now.
As for wrestlers to look out for, this isn’t an exhaustive list by any means, just a sampling:
STARDOM
- Saya Kamitani-the current world champ. Great aura and athleticism.
- Starlight Kid-acrobatic, magnetic masked wrestler. Current Wonder of STARDOM champ.
- Syuri-former MMA fighter, badass, striker, current IWGP women’s champ.
TJPW
- Miu Watanabe-super likeable, impressively powerful, sings, dances, kicks butt.
- Hyper Misao-unscrupulous masked “hero,” comically chaotic.
- Rika Tatsum-arguably TJPW’s best all-around wrestler, will strangle a bitch.
Sendai Girls
- Chihiro Hashimoto-Senjo’s ace. Captivating hoss. Great tag team with Yuu as Team 200kg.
- Yurika Oka-one of the fastest wrestlers around, high-octane energy, wears a giant peach hat, teammate of the currently injured Mio Momono.
- DASH Chisako-brooding brawler, often brings in tables and chairs to the mix, tags with Hiroyo Matsumoto as Reiwa Powers.
Marigold
- Mayu Iwatani-a legend in her prime, just moved to Marigold, en route to fighting her way to ace status.
- Miku Aono-hard-kicking, star aura
- Victoria Yuzuki-rising star with massive potential, terrific striker, fighting spirit for days.
Sendai Girls doesn’t upload in a timely manner, but they post a ton of full matches on YouTube. Go dig around their page. It’s hard to go wrong.
TJPW, on the other hand, doesn’t give out full bouts often, but the 10-woman tag from 2023 which showcases a lot of the promotion’s biggest stars from Miyu Yamashita to Shoko Nakajima. A great intro to the circus that is teej.
Beginner’s Guide to Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling
STARDOM’s official YouTube channel
A good match to get a taste of STARDOM’s flavor is the six-woman tag the company recently posted on YouTube: Starlight Kid, AZM, and Miyu Amasaki vs. Tam Nakano, Saori Anoun, and Natuspoi.
Starlight Kid and AZM are two of the most exciting stars in the business right now.
Once you decide what company to focus on, you can sign up for STARDOM World which has new uploads all the time, or Wrestle Universe which offers access to Marvelous, Marigold, TJPW, and Sendai Girls. You can do a lot of exploring on the cheap with that latter option.
The Prediction Plex:
Yuki Arai is going to win the Tokyo Princess Cup. You may not be ready, but it’s time. TJPW is big on the idol and with her now committing to a full-time role in wrestling, she’s poised to be pushed even harder.
Who did the company choose to face in singles action to face the legendary Meiko Satomura as she closed in on retirement? Hint: It rhymes with Buki Afly.
Look too at Arai’s recent singles record. Since the start of 2024, she’s beaten Arisu Endo (twice), Yuki Kamifuku, Suzume, Wakana, and not to mention, dethroned the unstoppable Max the Impaler.
TJPW booked her to be the most dominant International Princess champ in history. The company has given her big opportunities at every turn, from taking on Saki Akai at All Rise ‘23 or making it to the semi-finals of the Tokyo Princess Cup two years in a row.
The smart money is on Arai to go one step further this year. Sorry, haters.
Send any questions for the mini mailbag to @resuramag on Twitter via post or DM.
RESURA 