Joshi wrestling reigned supreme in 2025! From Saya Kamitani winning the Tokyo Sports MVP award to Marigold bringing us IYO SKY vs. Mayu Iwatani, this was a year that showcased how great this corner of the wrestling world is right now.
Marigold blossomed in its second year. Actwres girl’Z showed it deserves more spotlight. TJPW expanded its reach. Marvelous showed out at WrestleMania week.
This was a year where the scene as a whole flourished.
Credit Kamitani’s rivalry with Tam Nakano and some of the most exciting rookies in years charging out of the gates. Credit an inter-promotional rivalry, Mei Suruga’s time as champ, and a memorable 5STAR Grand Prix.
Our writers reflect on all of it, on the year’s matches and moments, stars and stories. Read on as we look back in awe and appreciation before marching forward to the new year.
Contributors:
- Ryan Dilbert @ryandilbert
- Jeff Brown @jeffbrown1982
- Dave TCS @Dave_TCS4Life
- Justin Stein @BioHizzle
- Fernando Ibarra
1. What will you remember most about joshi wrestling in 2025?
Fernando: Tam Nakano’s career coming to an end. If Kairi, Io, and Mayu were the main reasons I started to follow Stardom, Tam Nakano made me start looking at professional wrestling in a different way, a more artistic way. Yes, maybe she tries too hard to make things more dramatic than they actually are; her only crime is that she cares too much.
It’s no secret I really didn’t care much for Saya’s turn (in fact, I loathed it), but I can see that she was the best choice to retire Tam. After their first match in March (which I wasn’t a fan of), their clash at All-Star Grand Queendom was one for the ages. Saya will only continue to rise, while Tam will continue with her life.
Thank you, Yuria Tauchi. Thank you, Tam Nakano.
Justin: For me, the thing I will remember the most is just how healthy the overall joshi pro wrestling scene is currently. Not only do we have a lot of new rookies on the scene, but some of the companies are drawing record numbers in ticket sales, which is great for the overall landscape. Not only that, but a lot of the promotions are working together quite well, and while it may not always lead to a bunch of extra tickets sold, I think it truly helps the wrestlers get more valuable ring experience that will help them going forward. It feels like there’s a real effort to better the scene as a whole, and that’s something that really makes me happy to see.
Jeff: The scene has continual evolution, more debuts, companies refining their focus, roster members picking up steam, retirements, and graduations. The landscape from year to year is always fascinating; companies like TJPW are really focusing on the Western (esp. USA) market, with branding as an “authentic Japanese culture,” which is an interesting way to have a broader appeal. Stardom is in the midst of another big run as Saya Kamitani is delivering on her potential and is a serious draw. Marvelous has a shot in the in arm with Marigold and is doing great things.
Ryan: The emergence of a new generation of stars. In TJPW, Uta Takami and Shino Suzuki took big steps in their development. Senka Akatsuki made an indelible mark on Marvelous and the joshi scene as a whole. Seri Yamaoka thrived from the get-go. In STARDOM, Yuria Hime and Akira Kurogane showed promise. The same goes for Spike Nishimura in Sendai Girls.
This new batch of talent is making it an exciting, hopeful time in joshi.
Dave: For me, it’s the rise of Marigold. They made the most out of the limited main event draws they had. They built new stars (Miku Aono, Mai Sakurai) and continue to do so, with Chika Goto, Victoria Yuzuki, and super rookie Seri Yamaoka quickly rising up the ranks. Their partnership (if you can call it that) with WWE has allowed them to bring IYO SKY to the promotion and put on what’s probably my favorite match of the year with Mayu Iwatani.
It’s really no secret I’m not the biggest fan of Stardom’s H.A.T.E.-centric product they’ve been putting out this year. Marigold feels like the Stardom of 2019-2023 that I used to love. I hope they will continue their rise and be able to grow a big and loyal fanbase.
2. What’s an under-the-radar match that you loved?
Ryan: Mei Suruga & Baliyan Akki vs. Chie Koishikawa & Hiroyi Yawata from ChocoPro #433
I’ve always thought ChocoPro’s offerings in Ichigaya Chocolate Square were novel and charming, but they weren’t exactly my thing. In 2025, I found myself watching and loving more of it. This is a prime example of the kind of action-packed stories the promotion was telling this year. It’s fast, fluid, fun. The story of Chie Koishikawa chasing down a big victory over Mei was one of the most compelling of 2025, and we got a big taste of that here with some added characters, the underrated Hiroyi Yawata included, for good measure.
This won’t make it on my end-of-year lists, but it warms my heart thinking of it.
Justin: Misa Kagura vs. Honori Hana from SEAdLINNNG 1/17/2025
Misa Kagura had been making a good name for herself all around the joshi pro wrestling scene over the past few years, but I hadn’t got to see a ton of her matches since she’d normally be on the smaller indie shows more than anything. Honori Hana is someone I was introduced to from seeing her on Sareee-ISM, but I then went back to watch this show after the fact, and it moved me greatly!
The sheer brutality that these two girls put each other through was honestly such a surprise for me as I didn’t expect things to be so heated for a random singles match like this. The intensity was through the roof and the two absolutely walloped each other for just over 15 minutes until it finally came to a conclusion. This match definitely made me not only respect both of these ladies even more, but it also made me want to see a lot more of their work on top of that. If you have a chance to check this match out, you should definitely give it a look!
Fernando: Rico Fukunaga vs. Yukina Uehara, ACTwrestling Step 55, 26/03/2025
Again with an AWG match. This time, one that even I didn’t watch at the time. However, something told me that this particular match at a random Shinkiba show was important. I think this was the moment Yukina Uehara (a rookie with a four-month career at the time) “got” Professional Wrestling. Rico Fukunaga is someone who knows how to work with anyone on the roster, and the match was going fine, but when she trapped Yukina in a Chicken Wing lock combined with an STF, the rookie was struggling more than usual, so the referee decided to stop the match. Watching Yukina legitimately confused and repeatedly saying she didn’t give up, made me realize she understood this is a real competition.
Yukina is still green, of course, but she is currently one half of the AWG Tag Team champions, and if she continues to improve, she can become a key player in the promotion.
Dave: Suzu Suzuki vs. Mei Seira at Stardom’s All Star Grand Queendom 4/27/2025
I visited All Star Grand Queendom for the second year in a row. This show will probably be remembered for the five-star classic Tam Nakano retirement match. And rightfully so; it was brilliant! But some of the undercard matches were pretty great too. I loved Syuri vs. Mayu: a technical masterpiece between two of the best in the company at that time. Starlight Kid vs. AZM and Hashimoto vs. Maika were also great. But OMG, that bloodbath with Mei Seira vs. Suzu was insanely good. The story of two former tag team partners settling their feud in a No DQ brawl is often a guarantee for some match fireworks.
We all knew that, given her push, Suzu was going to win. But Mei pulled out an underdog performance that had everyone rooting for her. Blood isn’t always necessary to make a match feel brutal and epic. But in this case it elevated the match into something spectacular. Mei’s never say die attitude and Suzu’s hardcore brutality have never been exemplified more than it was here. Excellent from every aspect!
3. What rivalry most caught your attention this year?
Fernando: Aside from the obvious Tam vs. Saya feud, I’d like to highlight the revival of two classic joshi rivalries.
First, Chihiro Hashimoto vs. Mika Iwata, the eternal fight to be the face of Sendai Girls, trading the Sendai world title back and forth over the years, with stellar matches each time, and their encounter at September’s Big Show only cemented both of them as top wrestlers not only in Sendai, not only in joshi, but all of Japan, and even the world.
The second one is IYO Sky vs. Mayu Iwatani, because of course it is. These girls haven’t missed a step since their last match in 2018.
Ryan: Marigold vs. Marvelous. A cross-promotional war that has churned up all kinds of bad blood. The Senka Akatsuki vs. Seri Yamaoka feud within the feud is great on its own, but the bigger-scale fight has produced some of the best moments, matches, and intrigue we’ve seen across the joshi scene.
Justin: Unfortunately I don’t feel like there’s enough rivalries that you can truly sink your teeth into in a given year because of the way joshi pro wrestling seems to be booked, however if I had to choose one, I’d have to go with Tam Nakano vs. Saya Kamitani. This story was as much of “Tam Road” as you could imagine, with many twists and turns, but most importantly a lot of emotion! Saya Kamitani played her part as the heel quite well, but Tam was the real star when it came to using her connection with the fans as a way to get a lot more response out of them than just about anyone else on STARDOM’s roster.
For the early part of the year, both Tam and Saya continued to lock horns, with it eventually coming to a head when Tam put her career on the line, which was followed quickly by Saya Kamitani doing the same. At that moment in time, most of us fans knew that Tam would be losing because she is the older one of the two, and Saya seemed to have so much left to do in the business. Even with that in mind, Tam Nakano’s storytelling prowess left you wondering if something surprising would end up happening and she wouldn’t be the one going out on her back. Tam took the fall, though, and ended her career with one of the most beautiful moments that we may ever see on the ramp afterwards, cuddled up next to Saya, seemingly happy to be let loose from the burden of being a professional wrestler anymore.
Dave: Tam Nakano vs. Saya Kamitani
Even though I think the actual feud could have been booked better, Tam versus her protege who went to the dark side was entertaining and ended with an awesome match and an emotional goodbye.
The moment the match was announced, though, the writing was on the wall that Tam would be the one to retire. She lost her belt to Saya at Dream Queendom in December, then lost her contract in a rematch. The matches were stellar; the emotion was real. No argument there. But… it was also painfully obvious that Tam was going to retire. What if… they had let Tam keep the belt till Grand Queendom? Have Saya grow more and more frustrated with each loss, until she finally posts the ultimate stakes in a loser-must-retire match.
The final match, despite the outcome being predictable, was outstanding. The best match both women could have possibly put on. And both wrestlers walking up the ramp as the lights go down, before disappearing into the smoke is a visual I will never forget.
4. Which promotion did you enjoy watching the most?
Dave: Marigold and Actwres girl’Z. Both have a talented roster that deserves more credit. That goes double for AWG, a small promotion with a very dedicated group of performers. I loved the Marigold vs. Marvelous feud and the promotional war between the Actwres Killers and the AWG babyfaces.
Both companies have had upcoming talent as their champions this year. Both Miku Aono (in Marigold) and Marino Saihara (in AWG) have been stepping up their game and representing their companies like they have been doing so for years. Both also have their own super rookies as well. Marigold of course has Seri Yamaoka and Shinno and AWG has Yukina Uehara, who has been very impressive in her first year. The future looks bright when it’s in the hands of these young stars in the making.
I have always been a Stardom fan, but the lack of engaging storylines since Grand Queendom in April and the constant pushing of H.A.T.E. has caused me to enjoy other companies more. Stardom still has some of my favorite wrestlers on the card (Hazuki, Koguma, Rina, Natsupoi, Starlight Kid), but Taro Okada’s style of booking has really disappointed me to the point I’m enjoying other promotions more.
Justin: I normally bounced around between a lot of the companies, but if I had to choose one this year, I’d have to go with STARDOM. Was this year perfect when it comes to the booking and all? Nope, but the wrestlers are good enough to make anything work, which is what is most important. A lot of people trash Taro Okada completely, but I don’t think he’s a bad booker overall, I think he’s just willing to try things that aren’t usually tried in Japanese promotions. His mind goes to the Attitude Era of Western pro wrestling booking, which isn’t inherently terrible, but sometimes just not right for the story that needs to be told.
This year’s 5STAR Grand Prix was the first year where I watched every single tournament match, and it’s also the one I’ve enjoyed the most compared to the last couple of years. The wrestlers were constantly hitting it out of the proverbial park! STARDOM has the deepest women’s roster in the world, and that will always be one of the big selling points for me as a fan.
Ryan: Marvelous for the win. First off, Senka Akatsuki was my favorite wrestler to watch this year. If she was on the card, I was tuning in. From moment one, I’ve been captivated by her energy, throwback style, and presence.
In addition, Marvelous featured the super team of Sareee and Takumi Iroha. It had one of the best shows of the entire WrestleMania weekend. And the promotion’s rivalry with Marigold saw it welcome stars like Mayu Iwatani and Utami Hayashishita.
Fernando: TJPW is my comfort promotion, no doubt about it. However this was also the year I started to follow ActWres girl’Z, to get invested in stories and characters, and I must say they are truly a unique product. While I understand it won’t appeal to everyone, what I love about it is that, for a promotion that doesn’t consider itself as a wrestling promotion, it does the wrestling part pretty well. I know most of them are actresses first and wrestlers second, but that only makes the effort they put in the ring more admirable.
5. What was your favorite debut from the year?
Justin: Shinno from Marigold.
When you are a second-generation wrestler, there’s going to be extra pressure on you to become as great, if not better than your mother or father who wrestled before you, and because of that a lot of those wrestlers will struggle a bit in their debut match. That couldn’t be further from the truth when it comes to Shinno because she absolutely knocked her debut out of the park! Sure, did it help that she was taking on Mai Sakurai, one of Marigold’s MVP’s this year? Definitely, but the skills, determination, and heart that Shinno showed at the age of 16 on such a big stage was something to behold!
Her white gear shined brightly in the lights, but what really drew everyone’s attention was the blood that started flowing from her very early in the match, and the way that she handled it like a champ, throwing kicks aplenty at the United National champion. It was also surprising to see her dump Mai on her head so early with an amazing uranage! With a debut like she had, there’s no doubt that Shinno will be a huge star in the industry as long as she decides to stick with it.
Jeff: Yukina Uehara is a super rookie through and through.
She was featured on the cover of the AWG Graffiti magazine prior to her debut at Korakuen Hall. The match itself was against ACT, so that set the pace for her in-ring career. Yukina is very popular with fans and has a strong following in person and on social media.
Her moveset is constantly improving and quite impressive due to her athletic background. She is routinely in featured spots when the AWG ventures outside the ecosystem, be it UWF/GLEAT or the Natsu & Saori 10th Anniversary Produce Show. In the autumn of this year, she won the vacated tag titles with AWG Champion Marino Saihara and just put a huge exclamation point on her rookie year.
Ryan: TJPW’s Texas debut. Yes, a big part of this is that my favorite promotion came to my home state and I got to see live teej shows on back-to-back nights. But they also nailed it.
The promotion showed off its unique product in an impressive set of performances. Comedy, action, drama, spectacle, a beaver costume, the works.
This was an experiment in expansion beyond the borders of Japan. Without leaning on GCW and without being a part of WrestleMania weekend, TJPW ventured far from home and had big success. That opens the door for future tours in the U.S. and beyond. This could very well be a turning point in the company’s history as TJPW becomes more of a globetrotting brand.
Dave: Oof! Having to choose between Seri Yamaoka (debuted in November last year), Yukina Uehara (debuted in December of last year) and Shinno is an absolute nightmare! I love all three of these youngsters and they all had excellent debut years. I guess I’ll go for Shinno, mainly because of that debut match against Mai Sakurai. Her fighting spirit was so incredible in that encounter. Her mouth bloodied, fighting an uphill battle against a seasoned opponent is one of the best debut matches I have ever watched. There’s no doubt in my mind that all three of the rookies I mentioned are going to be big stars in the years to come. Shinno has said that she hopes to spark a new joshi boom for her generation, like the Crush Girls did for that of her mother’s. She’s certainly off to a good start.
Fernando: TJPW wrestlers in MLW.
Miyu Yamashita, Nao Kakuta, and Moka Miyamoto wrestled for this American promotion in the past, but this year, more TJPW talent have been featured on their shows. Shoko Nakajima won their women’s title in Las Vegas during Wrestlemania Weekend, and has defended six times, as of the time of this writing, against various opponents including HIMAWARI in California, Kaya Toribami and Viva Van in Tokyo, and Alexis Lee in Thailand. Also, Yuki Kamifuku faced Wakana Uehara in New York.
Let’s cross fingers for more exposure for these talented girls.
6. What was a match result that filled you with joy?
Fernando: Moka Miyamoto winning the International Princess Championship at Summer Sun Princess ‘25.
Writing this after Moka’s announcement makes this a bittersweet moment. On one hand, it feels good that she was able to finally win a title, but it’s a shame this would turn out to be her final match before retiring. She was the first rookie to debut after the pandemic, so things were tough from the beginning, but she showed passion, she showed heart, you wanted her to succeed, and five years after her first match she finally won a belt and could call herself a champion.
Justin: I’m biased, but that’s ok! Seeing Hazuki win the SPARK Joshi World title in Las Vegas was such a cool moment, because there’s been so many of us fans overseas who have been waiting to see her hold a singles title again, but STARDOM wouldn’t give us what we wanted. Obviously, if the company thinks that she shouldn’t hold the red or white belt yet, that’s up to them, but I think most of us are tired of seeing her challenge for the Wonder of Stardom title only to lose every single time!
Being front row in the crowd to see Hazuki beat Lena Kross, a fantastic wrestler from Australia who really made a name for herself in the joshi circles over the past year or two, was truly a beautiful moment for me. Ryan was actually sitting beside me, so he can even vouch that my smile was ear to ear after seeing her pull off the upset against the much bigger opponent. Seeing a wrestling result that you want to happen while being there live is truly next level, and that’s why this moment will continue to be remembered for quite some time going forward.
Ryan: Momo Watanabe winning the 5STAR Grand Prix. Never mind what happened after; this was a glorious night for all the long-suffering Momo fans. The ass-kicker got her moment. The perennial bridesmaid became the bride. And she did it after waving off her H.A.T.E. crew and doing it the right away, on her own.
Dave: Joy might not be exactly the word I would use to describe it, but definitely a lot of emotion: Konami, Rina, and Fukigen winning the Artist titles at Nighter in Korakuen on September 10. It wasn’t so much the match result (H.A.T.E. hoarding another title they didn’t need). Rather it was the fact that three former Tokyo Cyber Squad members won the same belts Konami once proudly wore alongside Jungle Kyona and the dearly missed Hana Kimura that filled me with emotion. And it was one particular moment that made this even more special for me: Rina, once affectionately known as Mini Hana, wearing Hana’s pink belt and doing the exact fistbump Hana did with Konami when they won the titles in 2019. A beautiful show of respect for one of the industry’s most beloved athletes.
7. What wrestler who retired this year will you miss the most?
Fernando: Okay, I already talked about Tam Nakano and Moka Miyamoto. However, there’s a certain teddy bear swinging ActWres Girl who hung up her boots not too long ago.
Mii had had a difficult year since august 2024, to the point of stepping away from the ring for a long time, and she only returned to have her retirement match facing her friend and former tag team partner Ayano Irie, who was visibly sad and unwilling to put an end to Mii’s career.
Mii needs to take care of herself, and if that means we need to let her go, then so be it.
Ryan: I still can’t believe Meiko Satomura won’t be an active wrestler anymore. She’s been such an integral part of joshi wrestling for so damn long. Satomura is in a long list of matches that will forever stay with me, from her battles with Io Shirai in STARDOM to that magically brutal clash she had with Akira Hokuto in GAEA Japan. It stings that she spent those years being underutilized in WWE. I try not to think of what else she could have been doing during that span.
The end had to come sometime, but I certainly wasn’t ready for it when it became real in April.
Justin: There have been quite a few retirements this year, but one that will stick with me is Tam Nakano. While I’m not going to try to convince you that Tam Nakano was my favorite wrestler in STARDOM or anything, I was always quite fond of her, not only inside the ring, but outside of it as well. Tam was great at telling stories, and no matter how small of a story she was given, she’d always do what she could to make the most out of it.
I still remember starting to watch STARDOM back in 2019 when she was still walking around with P-Chan, doing cute promos, and defending her little stuffed friend whenever Oedo Tai would try to commandeer it. During the early part of her career, she wasn’t the best in-ring worker there was, but over the years she worked hard on her craft, eventually getting to the point where a lot of her big matches were must-see. I know Tam was getting up there in age, at least for a joshi pro wrestler, and I’m sure she was in pain most days because of the hard miles on her body from wrestling. I hope she’s able to enjoy her time away from the ring, and I also hope that if she’s interested at least, that she’ll be able to work backstage to help out the booking of STARDOM, because her storytelling was always something I looked forward to.
Dave: While a legendary athlete like Meiko Satomura and a superstar on top of their game like Tam Nakano might be the most logical answer, I am going to go for two lesser known names. These are two wrestlers who had been climbing up the card and were both absolute joys to watch.
The first is Yoshiko “Yoppy” Hasegawa, who I had been following since her debut in Actwres Girl’z in 2019. Yoppy was always a ton of fun to watch in the ring. She had a lovable character and seemed like the ultimate underdog. When she made the move to TJPW, I thought she would thrive there. The happy-go-lucky style Hasegawa brought to the ring made her fit in perfectly with the company. I hoped she would go the route of Suzume, slowly climbing up the card and continuing all the way to the top. I loved the fact she went out defending the DDT Iron Man Heavymetalweight title, but I will miss Yoppy’s positive attitude. She still keeps in contact with the business. So I’m keeping my fingers crossed she’ll one day return to the ring.
The second is Yufa, a character quite similar to Yoppy, but who added a dark side to her goofy antics during her final months in Actwres Girl’z. Yufa had only been a wrestler for two years, but I had high hopes she would one day become a major star. She had all the tools needed to become one as well: incredibly charismatic, a unique look and the in-ring talent to keep raising her game. Unfortunately, she decided to pursue other career opportunities. And while this happens quite often in Actwres Girl’z, it really caught me off guard. She was one of my favorite performers and I truly miss her colorful personality in the ring. And with AWG adding more titles to compete for, I truly wonder where Yufa would be had she stayed with it.
Jeff Brown: Tae Honma was one for the hardcore fans and one of the hardest-working people in the business. A versatile performer who had wicked submissions, great timing, an underrated comedic wrestler, and a fantastic tag partner. A tireless self-promoter, whether it was an appearance on a wrestling card or in the theater. She was the heart of the original AWG run and holds the distinction of being in the first AgZ match. One of the nicest people and the type of person every company wishes they had on their roster. She traveled the world and carved out a great legacy and stood in the ring for just about every promotion at least once. She really embodies the spirit of AWG; her growth as a performer shows just how far an actress can go in the world of pro wrestling and beyond.
8. Who was your personal standout performer of the year, separate from any official Wrestler of the Year debates?
Fernando: Mei Suruga had an epic reign with the Super Asia title, not only elevating its prestige, but the whole promotion and wrestlers who faced her for her championship. She is the heart and soul of ChocoPro and you can see that she loves it.
Do you need a trainer? A tag team partner? Someone to have the match of your life? Call the Apple Girl.
Justin: Rina! Just when I thought that STARDOM couldn’t push Rina harder than they had in 2024, they surprised me by continuing her strong push in 2025, getting her to even greater heights! While she hasn’t added the white or red belt to her collection yet, they’ve made her into a bonafide challenger, who could win it at any time really.
Not only did they have her lose an absolute classic battle against Starlight Kid early in the year for the Wonder of Stardom championship, which might be my match of the year, they also had her make a very strong run through the 5STAR this year! It was understandable to see Rina towards the top of the Cinderella tournament with it being turned more into a young wrestler’s tournament, but to see her get all the way to the top four of the 5STAR surprised me, but also filled me with joy.
While I’m not sure I can guarantee that Rina will win the white belt in 2026, I’d definitely say that she has just as good a chance as anyone, and when she does eventually win it, I will be celebrating in the streets!
Ryan: Miku Aono! She completely won me over when she was AWG champ back in 2023, but she outdid herself this year, crushing it in Marigold. The Nanae Takahashi retirement match was outstanding. She shined in her Dream Star Grand Prix run. Her title win over Utami rocked.
It was a year where Aono dramatically changed her position in the promotion’s hierarchy, stepping up every time the spotlight aimed at her.
I don’t see her getting serious Wrestler of the Year consideration, though, in part because her title reign started toward the end of the year.
Dave: Sareee. The woman is absolutely brilliant in the ring and she showed it time and again this year. She started the year disastrously, dropping her Marigold World title to Utami Hayashishita in January and losing the Beyond the Sea championship to VENY just two weeks later. The Tokyo Sports Women’s MVP 2024 rebounded though and showed everyone why she is one of the best athletes in the business today. She beat Syuri for the IWGP Women’s Championship in June and teamed with Takumi Iroha to become AAAW Tag Team champion. She also won the Sukeban title as Sareee Bomb and held it for most of the year. Wherever she goes, Sareee just keeps turning heads and winning belts. Makes me wonder which titles she will add to her resume in 2026.
9. Which champion had your favorite reign?
Fernando: Suzume as the International Princess champion.
Starting her reign with a Springboard Ring a Bell was a good sign of how she would go on to have a great run as International champion, with multiple successful defenses against both Japanese and gaijin wrestlers. The Bee raised her stock immensely during her six-month reign, and things can only get better in the future.
Ryan: Kyoraku Kyomei (with Mei Suruga being a close second). Hyper Misao and Shoko Nakajima brought the fun during their 188-day reign as TJPW tag champs. They deftly blended shenanigans with strong in-ring action. They stole the show at Summer Sun Princess. All the while, their chemistry sparkled.
Justin: Starlight Kid with the Wonder of Stardom championship. There are few champions in joshi who could take the championship that they’ve won and truly make it feel even more special than it was before. The white belt in STARDOM has always been a championship that has more of an emotional connection than any other title in the promotion, and Starlight Kid was a perfect person to hold that title because of the way she expresses herself through pro wrestling.
She bested Natsupoi at the end of the year for the title with both of them going all out to win and followed that up by defending the title against a first-time challenger in Rina who was still so young, but had been given more chances to prove herself over the past few years. For me, that SLK and Rina match is still right up there for match of the year, and even though Rina is a big part of that, Starlight Kid played her part perfectly to come through with the victory in the end. Over the next three months, she had strong defenses against Konami, where her face was bloodied even through the mask, AZM who’s her forever rival, and HANAKO who is a first-time challenger for the belt who hadn’t proved herself up to that point that she could rise to the occasion, but Starlight Kid worked it perfectly with her to get the most out of her she could.
She then pestered Saori Anou into challenging for the championship, and the two had a fantastic match even with such a weird buildup. She then defended against Tomoka Inaba who beat her down in the 5STAR GP, and showed that she was a worthy adversary even though she was able to beat her in the end. Finally, the championship reign came to an end at Crimson Nightmare in November where Konami got another crack at the title and was able to systematically pick Starlight Kid apart until she had nothing left to give. The title reign lasted for most of the year, and you could count on every defense of the title as being a good one with SLK as the champion.
It will be interesting to see if she goes back after the white belt when she returns from injury, or if she turns her attention to the red belt instead.
10. Who is poised to have a huge 2026?
Fernando: Chi Chi and Miku Kanae, especially the latter, who has been wrestling all over the scene.
I’ll never get tired of praising Chi Chi’s fire and I truly believe she can be a household name. Miku is doing the right thing by associating herself with someone like Sareee, who not only is well respected, but a great mentor for someone as hungry for success as Miku.
Ryan: Manami. Sendai Girls’ underrated rising star has all the charm, athleticism, and heart to make a big impact. Her match against Sareee in September showed all that off, giving us a glimpse of what she can do when given center stage. She’s already been tag champ and held the Sendai Girls junior title. It may not be time for her to knock off the great Chihiro Hashimoto, but she sure as hell needs to be in that title picture, fighting to take over the top spot and thrilling us along the way.
Justin: There’s a few obvious choices I feel like, but I don’t really want to pick them for the sake of keeping this interesting, so instead I’ll go with MIRAI. Now that MIRAI has moved on from being in Marigold full time so that she could join her home promotion Michinoku Pro based in Iwate prefecture. The issue with joining that promotion is that they don’t really have a women’s division, but that can instead be used as something to help MIRAI rather than hurting her. Now MIRAI has the ability to work as a freelancer while also working Michinoku Pro whenever they need her basically, it’s the best of both worlds, and I believe that she’s going to have a lot of big matches in the coming year, starting with her return to TJPW on January 4th to take on Arisu Endo for the International Princess Championship.
It’s possible she could pop back up on a card here or there in Marigold, but it’s also possible that she could now come in for a few big matches in STARDOM, or any of the other many promotions that make up the awesome joshi pro wrestling scene in Japan. If MIRAI truly wants to put her all into this year, and work as many big matches as she can, she could possibly put together a year just as good as Sareee has as a freelancer herself.
Dave: I said Unagi Sayaka last year and it didn’t really happen for her in 2025. I was lucky enough to catch her historic show at Ryogoku Kokukigan and it was a blast. To be there live was one of my highpoints of the year!
Unagi challenged for the Sendai Girls, OZ Academy, Diana, and WAVE tag team titles this year, but came up short. She had a run as CMLL Japan Women’s champion, but that’s hardly the breakout year I was predicting. She has become a regular in several promotions though. And I think it’s only a matter of time until one of these groups puts a major title around her waist. Maybe 2026 will finally be her year!
RESURA 