You’ve already seen all the big epics and championship matches contested under bright spotlight. Sareee vs. Syuri. Saya Kamitani vs. Tam Nakano. IYO SKY vs. Mayu Iwatani.
But don’t leave 2025 behind without digging into some of joshi wrestling’s more hidden treasures. The stuff from the smaller promotions. Bouts lower on the card. Action you might have to hunt on the internet to find.
That’s what we’re celebrating here—drama and action from places like Ganbare Pro, OZ Academy, and JTO.
Take a journey with us here at RESURA to a place where Azura Inaba and Aoi are battling in front of a crowd about the size of an NFL team, to where the underrated shine. Read on for a look at 10 quality contests that deserve more flowers and discussion. Let’s get started.
Natsuki vs. Anri, Actwres girl’Z – Step 53 (Jan. 24)
If you’re an AWG fan, this certainly doesn’t count as a hidden gem. It was one of the biggest title matches of the year with one of the company’s new cornerstones in Natsuki. But outside of that fan bubble, this didn’t get nearly the love/attention it deserved. It currently has zero ratings on CageMatch.net.
Actwres girl’Z wisely put this AWG Championship match up for free on YouTube to give folks a taste of what it’s all about.
It’s a bout that feels big and dramatic. Natsuki dominated much of the showdown, kicking the life out of Anri. The challenger, meanwhile, captivated in her fight back. Her heart is the foundation of this test of wills.
A strong place to start for anyone curious about Actwres girl’Z.
Saori Anou vs. Miku Kanae, Sareee-ISM Chapter VII – Show (March 10)
Sareee vs. Syuri deservedly got a load of attention from this chapter in their all-time trilogy, but the semi-main event is not to be missed.
The highly underrated Miku Kanae faced a relentless, heartless force in Saori Anou. It’s a classic match framework built around a veteran beating on and testing a younger wrestler. While the dynamic is plenty familiar, the execution carries it.
Anou is masterfully cocky, toying with Miku much of the time. Kanae thrives as the fiery, stubborn underdog who refuses to lie down.
There are some great near falls here and the hard-hitting action leaves Saori with a busted-open brow.
Honori Hana, Miku Kanae & Unagi Sayaka vs. Makoto, Nagisa Nozaki & VENY, SEAdLINNNG – Jump Up! (May 1)
SEAdLINNNG had a pretty underwhelming year overall, but this was one of the more fun things we saw from that company in 2025.
Unagi and VENY paid visit to SEAd, adding some star power to an entertaining trios match. The Las Fresa De Egoistas squad was brilliant as the bully heels, both dismissive and dangerous. They beat up the babyfaces in the stands and ran them over in the ring.
That made for a compelling dynamic, one that allowed Kanae, Unagi, and Hana to shine as they tried to rally back.
There’s a good amount of chaos to enjoy here and VENY’s beautiful moonsault on display a few times. Plenty of highlights to take in from this hugely underrated match.
YuuRI, Nanami Hatano, Kirari Wakana vs Chanyota, Honoka & Saran, Ganbare Pro- Young Ganbare Summit (May 10)
A 15-minute festival of fighting and fun.
It felt like every pairing that locked up here had strong chemistry. Chanyota and Wakana. YuuRI and Honoka. Whoever.
This thing started with plenty of energy and only added to it as the bout went on. It’s equal parts fluid and welcome chaos. Every single one of these women deserve more praise in general, and this was a display of why.
Saran was especially impressive, giving us a taste of just how damn good she can be when she goes for more of high-speed style than a comedy one.
It’s on Wrestle Universe in the Ganbare Pro section if you need more adrenaline in your life.
Hiroyi Yawata vs. Mei Suruga, ChocoPro – ChocoPro #451 (May 25)
As our very own Trent Breward wrote back in September, Hiroyi “has leapt forward to become one of ChocoPro’s more compelling characters.” This is solid proof of that. She celebrated her first year in wrestling with a battle with ChocoPro’s best—Mei Suruga.
Their collision was one of the best examples of how thrilling, funny, and unique wrestling can be on the mat that lines the floor of Ichigaya Chocolate Square. It was vicious and ridiculous, full of spark and whimsy.
If you’ve been skipping ChocoPro because the tone isn’t for you, take a look at this one and see if this flavor of the promotion doesn’t grab you.
Sora Ayame & Takumi Iroha vs. Mio Momono & Yumika Oka, Marvelous – Oyame (July 20)
I am of the mind that if Bob Bob Momo Banana is on a card, I’m setting aside time to watch it. Momono and Oka are one of, if not the, most exciting team in joshi today. They had strong outings against Red Energy and one banger against the Ultima Powers in Sendai Girls that are certainly worth watching, but this collision with Iroha and Sora shouldn’t be skipped.
You get the usual energetic offense from Mio and Oka, Iroha’s trademark kicking power, and Sora getting tortured. Ayame’s scrappiness and struggles really make this bout. When she’s at the center of the violence, things are the most compelling in this one, including the moment where Takumi spins Sora around and uses her as a weapon.
This is such a hidden gem that it’s not even up on CageMatch at all. The whole event is missing from the archive. Watch this and discuss it with those who have seen so you can assure me it was real.
Hiroyo Matsumoto vs. Makoto, SEAdLINNNG – 10th Anniversary (Aug. 22)
The simplicity strengthens the story of this Beyond the Sea Championship match. You have a champion in Makoto who realizes she’s outmatched mid-battle and does everything she can to stave off the steamrolling Matsumoto who is hungry to hold that title again.
The action is intense. The emotions ring true. The hits are hard and plenty. Throw in some red mist as the cake topper and you have quite the fun championship showdown.
It turned out be Matsumoto’s best singles out of the year and one of the few certified bangers the promotion put out in 2025. A worthy addition to your watchlist if you’re looking to add something from one of the smaller promotions.
Check out SEAdLINNNG Movie + for access to matches like this and to the company’s archive.
Makoto vs. Miya Yotsuba, ChocoPro – ChocoPro #476 (Sept. 23)
Less playful than the usual Ichigaya Chocolate Square match, this is more of a slugfest. Power versus power. Two animals smashing into each other. Makoto and Yotsuba bring a unique and memorable flavor to their fight here.
It’s also one of the ChocoPro bouts that spills into the audience the most. Time and again, the action overflowed from the mat and into the cramped stands. And there are some outstanding near falls, as well.
One of my favorite sub-15 minute matches of the entire year. Go watch it!
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Azusa Inaba vs. Aoi, JTO – JTO West Japan Tour (Nov. 9)
Two of the most exciting talents in joshi today faced off for the JTO Girls Championship in Yamaguchi, Japan. And boy, was it a treat for those who saw it.
JTO is certainly on the lesser-known side of wrestling, so this no doubt slipped past many fans. In fact, there were only just over 50 people in attendance, and the video is sitting at around 4,000 views, a fraction of what every STARDOM vid gets. The drama these two created in that ring deserve a lot more eyes than that.
Inaba and Aoi’s early mat wrestling remained tense and urgent. They doled out nasty slaps and kicks that echoed throughout the tiny venue.
Inaba’s methodical attack drew me in at first, but it was the challenger’s expressiveness that really sold me on the match. Aoi’s agony was unnerving here. She curled her body and howled as the fight went on. Eventually, great anger radiated off her as she charged back.
All that combined to make this an excellent main event and title match. As one would expect from these two young stars.
Check out last year’s edition of this same list, too: 10 Great Under-the-Radar 2024 Joshi Matches.
RESURA 