What a stacked month. Fernando and Ryan had plenty of great action to choose from when putting together their match recommendations for February.
Sendai Girls gave us a slugfest and two tag thrillers. TJPW’s Max Heart tournament saw the Grand Princess headliners collide. Mio Momono celebrated her 10th anniversary in the ring. Unagi Sayaka produced another independent show.
The end result was plenty of excellent wrestling to take in. If Valentine’s Day celebrations kept you from being caught up on SEAdLINNNG, Ice Ribbon, ChocoPro, and the joshi scene overall, we’ve got you covered. 10 curated bouts for your viewing pleasure.
Chihiro Hashimoto & Miku Kanae vs. Hiroyo Matsumoto & Miyuki Takase, Sendai Girls – Osaka Azalea Taisho (Feb. 1)
Well, that was fun.
When you start off with Big Hash and SEAdLINNNG champ Matsumoto just straight smashing into each other, you’ve started off on the right foot. The action to follow did well to build on that.
Much of this was taut and intense. Even some everyday moves like the headlock feel like significant parts of the whole. Miyuki Takase hit a LOUD chop that begs to be rewatched.
You get some good chemistry between Hashimoto and Matsumoto, some dynamic double-team moves, and some near-falls from Kanae that sure did their job.
Recommended by: Ryan
Yurika Oka & Mio Momono vs. Mika Iwata & Chi Chi, Sendai Girls – Osaka Azalea Taisho (Feb. 1)
Bob Bob Momo Banana faced the team of Mika Iwata and Chi Chi, so it was easy to assume the Barbie Girl was the weakest link, but that didn’t stop her from showing that fighting spirit that makes me love her.
The Sendai Girls tag team champions were as fun as always, while Mika kicked everything in sight, which resulted in a really fun main event that surprisingly ended in Mio pinning Mika after Chi Chi hit her partner by accident.
The champions needed this kind of win before their title defense against DASH Chisako and Hiroyo Matsumoto and getting this win over the former Sendai Girls world champion accomplished just that.
Recommended by: Fernando
Aja Kong vs. Unagi Sayaka, Freelance – Unagi Sayaka Produce (Feb. 1)
Quite the surprise coming out of Unagi’s latest show. A bout you might expect to be some comedy bits strung together turned out to be a fully compelling drama playing out in Korakuen Hall.
It began with some great tension on the mat as Kong manhandled The Eel. The match morphed into a slugfest on the outside and then transformed again into a more emotional fight for survival. Unagi wielded heart and fight against the dominant Kong. She tried like hell to bring the monster down by smashing her arm and smacking Kong with her own trademark metal bin. To no avail.
And the ending truly pulled me in. I won’t spoil it, but the final moments play up both Kong’s power and Unagi’s moxie in a beautiful way.
Recommended by: Ryan
Mei Suruga vs. Hiyori Yawata, ChocoPro #502 (Feb. 7)
It’s a Mei Suruga singles match. Of course I had fun.
Last year, as part of her one year anniversary show, Hiyori Yawata faced Mei Suruga in singles action in what has been the best match in her career so far. At ChocoPro #501, they met once again, and while it didn’t top their first encounter, this had one of the best spots of the year.
Mei trapped Hiyori in a submission hold, and just when Hiyori was reaching for the ropes, a little girl in the crowd tried to help her, and when they finally held hands, the referee took it as a rope break and forced Mei to break the hold. The Apple Girl didn’t take kindly to people interfering in her matches and confronted the child until they were separated. The match continued and Hiyori showed her inventiveness when she reversed an Apple Mutilation attempt, but she couldn’t escape a Muta Lock and ended up losing to Mei.
Mei Suruga gets the best out of everyone she faces and that’s something that makes a good wrestler a great wrestler.
Recommended by: Fernando
Yurika Oka & Mio Momono vs DASH Chisako & Hiroyo Matsumoto, Sendai Girls – Acceleration (Feb. 8)
Seeing Hiroyo towering over everyone in the match, including her own partner, was a sight to behold.
Reiwa Ultima Powers once again challenged for the Sendai Girls Tag Team Championships, and Bob Bob Momo Banana were as serious as always, so not serious at all. A brawler in Chisako and a powerhouse in Hiroyo were two formidable opponents for the champions, but the Mio and Yurika were the wildcards and did everything they could to come on top, and it took Mio reversing a Hormone Splash to pin Chisako and retain their belts.
One of the hardest challenges to date for the champions, but they’re not three-time champions for nothing.
Recommended by: Fernando
Honori Hana & Unagi Sayaka vs. Selene Misora & VENY, SEAdLINNNG – Winter Reckoning in Shinjuku (Feb. 10)
Hell yes. What a display of ass-kickery.
These four wrestlers just went after each other, fighting in the stands, slapping each other around, and leaving the rookie Misora bleeding from the head. You get VENY being her usual sassy assassin self, a laser-focused version of Unagi, a feisty Hana, and Selene trying to strike her way out of danger.
It’s simple and raw and highly entertaining.
Recommended by: Ryan
Ai Houzan vs. Sareee, Marvelous – Mio Momono Debut 10th Anniversary (Feb. 13)
A slugfest in Shin-Kiba that deserves your attention.
Houzan tries to rush in get an early advantage over The Sun God with some cheapshots. As one would expect, Sareee comes raring back with rage and fire. A beautiful sight. This is is raw and rugged and straightforward and 100 percent my type of shit.
Houzan shows a lot of chutzpah; Sareee leans on her trademark cruelty. A strong midcard bout on this celebration of Mio Momono’s decade in wrestling.
Recommended by: Ryan
Miu Watanabe & Rika Tatsumi vs Yuki Arai & Mifu Ashida, TJPW – Max Heart Tournament – Night 4 (Feb. 14)
Now Miu, take it easy with those bumps.
In a show where the finals of a tournament took place, it was the third to last match that I enjoyed the most, since we had a preview for the main event of Grand Princess on March 29th. Now that Yuki is challenging for the Princess of Princess title, and she and Mifu didn’t reach the finals of the Max Heart Tournament, all of her attention will go to Miu Watanabe. Both women went all out in this match and it was clear that they can’t wait for their big match. The spot of the match (and maybe the night) went to that Full Nelson Slam Yuki hit on Miu from the apron to the floor, with the champion looking visibly shaken after the bump. Even when she got the wind knocked out of her, she was able to not only finish the match, but to get the win for her team by putting away Mifu.
Yuki may have lost the match, but she got into Miu’s mind and established herself as a serious threat for her championship reign.
Recommended by: Fernando
Chihiro Hashimoto vs. Senka Akatsuki, Sendai Girls – Sendai in PIT (Feb. 15)
Two rams battering each other. Fury and force of will. A stirring display. Simple and effective.
This promises to be the 2026 match I most rewatch.
Recommended by: Ryan
Manami Katsu & Misa Kagura vs. Makoto & Sumika Yanagawa, Ice Ribbon – #1476 Yokohama Ribbon (Feb. 23)
Yes! There’s so much to take in as this International Ribbon Tag Team Championship match goes off. There’s great pace and energy throughout. It’s hard-hitting, urgent, full of fire.
Makoto lays in some huge kicks. Both teams come in for last-second saves. Just go-go-go fun the whole way.
I’m buzzing think back on it. Four underrated wrestlers doing big things. You love to see it.
Recommended by: Ryan
RESURA 