Joshi fans were fed a healthy diet of big title matches in September. 

We saw Mei Suruga defend the Super Asia Championship, Mika Iwata battle for the Sendai Girls World Championship, and the Mizuki collide with Miu Watanabe over the Princess of Princess Championship. Each of these clashes delivered in different ways, from stirring up emotion to just flat out giving us hard strikes to admire from a safe distance. 

We got all that plus the tail end of the Marigold Dream Star Grand Prix. Throw in Actwres girl’Z’s continued momentum, and there was plenty of action for our writers to rave about.

Read on for recommendations from the past month including matches from AWG, Marvelous, TJPW, and more.

Haruka Ishikawa vs. Nagisa Shiotsuki, AWG – ACTwrestling in Yokohama (released Sept. 4)

It is really useful when your roster is full of literal actresses.

On the August 31st show in Yokohama, Haruka Ishikawa and Nagisa Shiotsuki faced off in a singles match where Nagisa did the usual: chopping the hell out of her opponents while Haruka seemed to be waiting all of her life to sell those chops like there was no tomorrow. Every time Shiotsuki connected a chop, Ishikawa screamed like her heart was about to explode which is why she tried her darndest to incapacitate her opponent’s hand. In the closing moments, Nagisa’s offense wasn’t as strong, so Haruka took the upper hand and finished her off to get the victory.

Both girls have had failed title opportunities for the KING of Ring Entertainment Championship in recent months, but they clearly don’t want to be forgotten when a new opportunity comes up.

Recommended by: Fernando

Mei Suruga vs Rina Yamashita, ChocoPro – ChocoPro #472 Game Changer (Sept. 5)

All good things must come to an end sometime.

This was different. This was the hardest title defense of Mei’s epic one-year reign with the Super Asia Championship. She isn’t exactly an unstoppable force, but she surely is the most talented wrestler in ChocoPro, so that’s why it took someone like Rina Yamashita to make the champion seem like an underdog. Mei looked actually desperate to finish the match, like she only had one chance to beat the challenger, and even though Rina had a hard time too, she finally hit a big powerbomb to defeat Mei to win the championship.

Mei took the Super Asia title to the next level, and now with Rina as champion, we have the chance to see fresh challengers, even outside of ChocoPro. However, I need to see her defend the belt against Miya Yotsuba.

Recommended by: Fernando

Toga & Yuna Manase vs Kira Summer & Miyu Yamashita, TJPW – Autumn Victory In Kitazawa (Sept. 7)

Okay, but this didn’t need to go that hard.

Now that Yuna Manase is serving as Toga’s mentor, something just seemed to click, and they offered us an above average tag team against Kira Summer and Miyu Yamashita. However, the reason I will remember this match is the hard, and I mean HARD-hitting action. Miyu and Toga, in particular, went out there and tried to hit each other as hard as they could, with the rookie showing how she is improving slowly but steadily. Toga was the one to get the victory for her team, which motivated her and Yuna Manase to challenge the tag team champions for the next Korakuen Hall show.

Recommended by: Fernando

Mayu Iwatani vs. Victoria Yuzuki, Marigold – Dream Star Grand Prix (Sept. 14)

*Insert a row of fire emojis*

Iwatani and Yuzuki told a stirring story as the Dream Star tournament neared its climax. It’s a familiar tale, one of the student trying to overtake their master, and here they told it expertly, artfully.

The action is fierce and fiery. Every move has great impact. Emotion swells throughout. 

This was further confirmation that Yuzuki is an absolute stud and yet another reminder of Iwatani’s all-time greatness. Big recommend. 

For a full slate of Dream Star’s best bouts, check out Trent’s ranking of the tournaments top matches.

Recommended by: Ryan 

Mio Momono vs Yurika Oka, Marvelous (released Sept. 19)

On the August 31st show, Bob Bob Momo Banana’s members, Mio Momono and Yurika Oka fought each other in the main event, being the first time they had a singles match since 2023. 

It is great when two wrestlers with great chemistry as a team have great chemistry as opponents too. This match was as good as their tag team bouts, the same high-speed action and fun shenanigans, but to each other instead of their opponents. Mio, being the most experienced one, took the advantage during most of the match, but Yurika didn’t look bad at all, being able to keep up with her tag team partner. Mio was the one to pick up the victory, but both wrestlers and fans had a fun time during this match.

Recommended by: Fernando

Mizuki vs Miu Watanabe, TJPW – Wrestle Princess VI (Sep 20)

I mean, not only it was one of the best TJPW matches of the year, but a huge moment for the company in general.

On the road to Wrestle Princess VI, the three title matches were built in unusual ways: the International Championship was vacated by Moka Miyamoto and a match was set between Arisu Endo and Jada Stone, who suffered an injury and was replaced by a returning Priscilla Kelly, and both the Princess Tag Team and Princess of Princess titles were rematches from early in the year, and it was the top title that had the biggest expectation.

Mizuki beat Miu at Tokyo Joshi Pro’ 25 in January to become a two-time Princess of Princess champion, and while the Sugar Rabbit went on to have a good reign, Miu had her ups and downs, having strong wins, but also suffering big losses, including two title matches. By the time the Princess Cup came around, Miu was determined to get to the top once again. She finally went on to win the tournament and immediately challenged Mizuki for the belt.

The women were there, the chemistry was there, the moment was there. Miu and Mizuki gave everything they had, and if there was something they didn’t have, they innovated it. Miu was finally able to put away the champion and won the Princess of Princess title for the second time, cementing herself as the top star and possibly the new ace.

Recommended by: Fernando

Makoto vs Miya Yotsuba, ChocoPro – ChocoPro #476 (Sept. 23)

I love what wrestlers can do in such a small place.

Miya Yotsuba has been on fire this year. She has challenged for both the Super Asia and Asia Dream Tag Team titles, and although she failed in both occasions, she’s proven to be one of the most improved home grown talents in recent time, not only skill-wise, but as an overall performer, putting on passionate matches in almost every ChocoPro show.

She celebrated her third year anniversary in wrestling by going against one half of the tag team champions, Makoto, and they used every inch of that Choco Square to perfection. A couple of near-falls offered some drama in the final moments of the match, but it was Makoto who ultimately won the contest. However, Miya continues to impress and seems to be set for major things.

Recommended by: Fernando

Chihiro Hashimoto vs. MIka Iwata, Sendai Girls – Big Show in Sendai (Sept. 23)

Tremendous title match. If you haven’t already, carve out some time to check out Hashimoto’s second Sendai Girls Championship defense.

The latest in a long string of battles between these two Senjo stars is arguably their best.

It begins with energy, crispness, and ferocity without letting up. Hashimoto relied on her submission game to slow the challenger down. Iwata tried to obliterate Big Hash’s arm with kicks. And things only intensified as they went on, the match getting more and more personal.

Two titans colliding. A big match feel. Emotion contorting Iwata’s face. This one delivered.

Recommended by: Ryan