October supplied joshi fans with more of the good stuff.
Sareee and Syuri collided once more, capping off their thrilling trilogy. Super rookies Seri Yamaoaka and Senka Akatsuki continued to make their mark. They each deservedly show up twice on this list which should be a surprise to no one who has been watching them tear it up this year. We also got some more top-notch wrestling from ChocoPro, a promotion that has been on a big roll in 2025.
Read on as Fernando and Ryan deliver a fresh collection of match recs from STARDOM, Sendai Girls, MLW, and beyond.
Senka Akatsuki vs. Miku Kanae, Sendai Girls (Oct. 1)
Sometimes, you watch a match that is so good that time flies by, but this match was barely five minutes long and accomplished so many things.
A show completely dedicated to the Jaja Uma Tournament, a tournament with 12 rookies wanting to prove what they’re made of. Miku Kanae defeated Ema Maishima in a first-round match, which earned her an opportunity to face Senka Akatsuki in the main event in a second-round match. Both girls knew what they could do and couldn’t do, Miku knows she is small but quick, while Senka is still a little rough around the edges but stronger than her opponent, and they managed to cram a lot of action in the five minutes and 48 seconds that the match lasted. Senka advanced in the tournament, but Miku looked good.
On a side note, I also would like to recommend Yuna vs. Rian (who both participated in the tournament, too) for the Junior Championship at last month’s Sendai Big Show. Another match where rookies shined.
Recommended by: Fernando
Maika Ozaki & Tae Honma vs. Kana Yafuku & Yukina Uehara, AWG – ACTwrestling In Tokyo Dome City (Oct. 1)
We had a lot going on in this match: SPiCEAP returned to AWG as part of Tae Honma’s retirement tour, Yukina Uehara being put in a high-profile match with less than a year of experience, and Kana Yafuku making her debut in such a big way.
Maika Ozaki and Tae Honma made their pro wrestling debut at the very first AWG show back in 2015, with Tae beating Nao Kakuta in the promotion’s first ever match, and both of them are the living proof of AWG’s influence in the current joshi scene. Meanwhile, Yukina Uehara is still taking her first steps in her career, but has been trusted with welcoming back two big names, while also having an even less experienced wrestler as a partner. The former two-time WAVE tag team champions displayed their unmatched chemistry against the rookies, who refused to backdown, even when they were clearly the underdogs. Yukina showed that slow but steady improvement she’s been having, while Kana looked good as the enthusiastic and fierce rookie who wants to do everything she learned in training during her first ever match. Tae was the one to get the victory for her team, although she recognized her opponents’ efforts and AWG as her home promotion.
Recommended by: Fernando
Ranna Yagami vs. Tae Honma, STARDOM- New Blood 24 (Oct. 4)
I’m one of those guys who tends to like wrestlers who don’t necessarily shine nor are the main focus of their factions, let alone their promotions. Plus, I like the drums.
Ranna Yagami was tasked with facing Tae Honma in one of the latter’s last matches before retiring, and safe to say that the God’s Eye member was a great choice. Their martial arts background shined during the bout and both women combined powerful strikes with technical moves trying to counter each other’s offense. Tae knew she had the experience, but Ranna refused to look weak against an outsider. For every submission move Tae tried, Ranna had a kick waiting for her. In the end, it was Yagami who shockingly got the win, while Honma paid her respect to her to close the show.
I believe in Ranna. I see her as a little Syuri, as in, someone who lets her work speak for her.
Recommended by: Fernando
Shoko Nakajima vs. HIMAWARI, MLW – Slaughterhouse 2025 (Oct. 4)
Hi MLW, and thank you for this.
Just like Mei Suruga, Shoko Nakajima is capable of giving almost anyone the best match of their careers, and HIMAWARI was no exception, and just like her match with Suzume for the International title in May, the Sunflower excels in big matches.
The MLW Women’s World Featherweight Championship maybe new for many people (myself included just a couple of months ago), but Shoko has already had two defenses against fellow TJPW girls, first Kaya Toribami in a star-making performance, and now facing HIMAWARI in a fun 12-minute match with good sequences and spots that gained both girls “This is awesome” chants from the crowd (I know it’s been watered down in recent years, but at least it meant they liked the match).
The champion retained the title, but both wrestlers showed what an idol-driven promotion can do inside the ropes.
Recommended by: Fernando
Baliyan Akki & Mei Suruga vs. Kaori Yoneyama & Yuu, ChocoPro #479 New Dawn (Oct. 5)
Yet another joshi who is retiring soon.
ChocoPro really likes to go all in when they hold shows outside of Ichigaya, and if they are able to deliver good matches on a little brown mattress, imagine what they can do inside a ring… or better yet, watch The Best Bros battling the team of season veteran Kaori Yoneyama and Yuu, who is in the middle of her retirement tour (you know, since it seems to be the trend in 2025). Mei and Kaori showed their high speed skills, while Yuu and Baliyan were too busy chopping the hell out of each other. Unfortunately, the Bro’s excellent chemistry was not enough to beat their opponents, with Kaori getting the best of Akki to get the victory.
Recommended by: Fernando
Sareee vs. Syuri, NJPW – King of Pro Wrestling (Oct. 18)
Another stellar match between these two killers. This time, New Japan played host and a different set of fans got to see two of the absolute best in joshi go after each other. At times, the offense wasn’t as crisp as it was in their first two battles, but this bout did feature the same primal intensity that’s been the hallmark of this trilogy.
Sareee and Syuri’s passion and violence filled the IWGP Women’s Championship showdown. Their chemistry shined. They again made this title feel vital, illustrious, a prize worth every bit of pain it takes to claim.
Recommended by: Ryan
Sareee & Takumi Iroha vs. Seri Yamaoaka & Senka Akatsuki, Marvelous – Friday Night Gacha (Oct. 24)
Two super rookies joining forces against the star-studded tag champs? Yeah, we are truly blessed.
The surprise Gacha main event was everything you’d expect it to be. Ferocious. Taut. Dynamic. Even the Seri and Senka squad trying to figure out who would start the match was entertaining.
Definitely worth seeking out.
Recommended by: Ryan
Emi Sakura vs. Mizuki, ChocoPro #484 (Oct. 27)
When you go from wrestling in a regular ring to wrestling in a little room on a little mattress, you need to get creative.
On the road to her 30th Anniversary show, Emi Sakura had to face one of her most recognized pupils, the former two-time Princess of Princess champion and TJPW’s stand outs, Mizuki. The Sugar Rabbit is no stranger to Ichigaya, but knowing how dynamic her style is, one may wonder how she will adapt to such a small space. Well, it turns out when you’re as good as Mizuki, and your opponent is one of the best trainers in joshi history, there are no limits. Both women complemented each other so well that the 15-minute match flew by, ending in a time-limit draw.
Mizuki might not win the match, but at least won the Janken tournament at the end of the show, so… cool.
Recommended by: Fernando
Seri Yamaoka vs. Chihiro Hashimoto, Marigold – Grand Destiny (Oct. 26)
IYO SKY vs. Mayu Iwatani and the big title matches are deservedly going to get all kinds of attention, but don’t skip this one.
Yamaoka and Big Hash’s styles mesh together so beautifully. Their clash is taut, intense, efficient. The mat work sizzles.
There’s plenty of story left to tell between them, too. Hashimoto showed her dominance against The Super Rookie who will surely come seeking redemption down the road.
Recommended by: Ryan
Waka Tsukiyama & HANAKO vs. Aya Sakura & Sayaka Kurara, STARDOM – New Blood #26 (Oct. 30)
And here I am, recommending a Waka Tsukiyama match.
The interesting dynamic between Waka and HANAKO and the beef Aya Sakura has with the latter made this match catch the attention of someone who doesn’t watch the New Blood shows often. Anybody who followed Waka’s first two years in Stardom saw her struggling to not to look like the weakest wrestler ever; fast forward to 2025, she’s a confident champion with a formidable partner. On the other hand, we had two rookies who have grown exponentially since debuting, now challenging for the New Blood Tag Team Championship. The match was good, everyone played their parts very well, with the biggest spot being the enormous Straight Jacket German Suplex on HANAKO to end the match and bring gold to Cosmic Angels. After the match, Sakura announced that the move she used to win is now called the “Blooming Dream”.
Seriously, keep an eye on Aya.
Recommended by: Fernando
RESURA 