Some unexpected names gave us some of the best joshi action in May.
Mei Suruga is a RESURA ROUNDUP staple of course, but this month’s batch of match recommendations also included the likes of Haru Kazashiro, YUNA, and a wrestler who doesn’t even have a CageMatch profile yet in Saira.
It was a busy month that made it hard to catch all the action. Choco Pro’s hosted its big Apple Universe event. Marvelous celebrated its 10th anniversary with a strong show. Fans could also enjoy the buildup to TJPW Stand Alone ‘26.
If your watchlist became unwieldy in the process, we can help. Our writers have found the choice stuff. Fernando, Dave, and Ryan offer recommendations from around the joshi scene.
Mizuki, Raku, Yuki Arai & Yuki Kamifuku vs. HIMAWARI, Pom Harajuku, Suzume & Uta Takami (Rel. May 2)
Once again, the costume-change match in TJPW delivers.
This Wrestle Universe members-exclusive show featured some wacky encounters on its card, from the Indian Poker Four Way to the WWE-inspired battle royal (shout out to John Shino). However, the main event was the now classic costume-change 8-women tag team match where Mizuki (as Suzume), Raku (as Yuki Aino), Yuki Arai (as HIMAWARI) and Kamiyu (as Raku) faced HIMAWARI (as Mifu Ashida), Pom Harajuku (as Toga), Suzume (as Mahiro Kiryu) and Uta Takami (as Mizuki), and, as you might expect, craziness ensued.
It’s in matches like this where you realize how much these girls know each other and how much fun they must have being together. My favorite parts are always when they fail to execute a move related to their costume and just use their regular moveset, like Yuki Arai accepting her hair isn’t as long as HIMAWARI’s. Speaking of the PoP champion, she got the victory for her team by submitting Uta Takami.
To close the show, all the roster entered the ring and thanked the fans, and as long as they keep delivering this much fun, we will thank them too.
Recommended by: Fernando
Suzume vs. Haru Kazashiro, TJPW – Yes! Wonderland (May 3)
It was a tough choice between this match and Yuki Arai’s PoP title defense against Arisu Endo, but I ultimately went with this one.
The International Princess title match not only was a great match, but it also reassured Haru Kazashiro as not only TJPW’s resident technical wizard (on the rise, at least), but a wrestler capable of hanging out with the promotion’s big stars.
Whenever a mat-based wrestler and a high flyer face off in the ring, the story tells itself. The Bee used the ropes to her advantage like always, while Haru knew she needed to keep her grounded to have a chance, which she accomplished once she weakened the champion’s arm with her trademark armbar. Unfortunately for the challenger, Suzume hit the Ring a Bell for a second time and secured the win.
Haru will no doubt continue to get chances and shine in the years to come and Suzume’s reign adds another successful defense.
Recommended by: Fernando
Takumi Iroha vs. Sareee, Marvelous 10th Anniversary Commemorative Event (May 5)
“If you don’t kill me, I’ll kill you!”, Takumi Iroha and Sareee, probably (most definitely)
Marvelous couldn’t deliver a better main event for its 10th anniversary show, and even when the card featured TJPW’s megastar Miyu Yamashita battling brave rookie Senka Akatsuki and Mio Momono vs. Mei Seira in a super high-speed encounter, the AAAW Single Championship match between Takumi Iroha and Sareee was destined to be a war for the ages.
Of course, it’s not like this was some kind of dream match, as they have faced each other multiple times, going back to 2013, but they always seem to want to destroy the other like their lives depended on it. With Takumi’s AAAW singles title on the line (a belt Sareee has never held), stakes were high and kicks hit hard, but neither was willing to stay down.
Takumi used her striking ability and bigger size to diminish the challenger, while Sareee even more ruthless than usual, knowing she was behind enemy lines. The Sun Goddess hit one uranage after the other, but the champion overpowered everything her opponent threw at her, and one final running crucifix bomb put an end to this excellent match.
Recommended by: Fernando
Baliyan Akki & Mei Suruga vs. Chris Brookes & Kaho Hiromi, ChocoPro #522 Gatoh Rhapsody (May 5)
Mei and Chris hate each other, do they?
In the first round of a one-night mixed tag team tournament, The Best Bros faced one of their biggest enemies, Chris Brookes, who teamed up with Mei’s pupil, Kaho Hiromi, and from the moment the bell rang, Mei and Chris went at it. Even though he is almost twice her size, Chris struggled to keep Mei’s pace, but that’s when Kaho entered to match her teacher’s goblin energy. At one point, the girls were fighting on their partner’s shoulders, and Kaho locked the Apple Girl in a guillotine choke, while poor Akki carried both of them. After a little more than six minutes, Mei was able to pin her student once again to advance in the tournament.
Quick little match with four people who have great chemistry and always deliver fun performances.
Recommended by: Fernando
Senka Akatsuki vs. YUNA, Sendai Girls – SENJO Battle Cry (May 10)
Fireworks flew as YUNA tried to reclaim her Sendai Girls World Junior Championship from Senka.
The title match started fast and both wrestlers stayed aggressive. We got some good slugfest action mixed with counter-for-counter sequences. Senka and YUNA’s solid chemistry helped make this the best bout of the whole show.
YUNA trying to beat Senka with her own trademark shoot pin was a nice touch. The challenger looked really good here, showing off both fluidity and power.
A sub-10-minute match that’s well worth checking out.
Recommended by: Ryan
Fukigen Death, Konami & Rina vs. Hanan, Momo Kohgo & Saya Iida, STARDOM – STARDOM in Korakuen (May 17)
An entertaining Artist of STARDOM Championship match with a good mix of ingredients. You get a touch of H.A.T.E-style chaos, submission wrestling, and fast-paced attacks. The H.A.T.E. shenanigans aren’t overdone but instead sprinkled in. Everything moves at a quick clip, too.
The last third is filled with a ton of last-second saves and great double and triple team offense. High energy. Solid intensity.
For me, the Rina and Saya Iida exchanges were the most engaging. Their styles meshed well and there was their animosity popped. Sure seems like we need more singles action between them down the road.
Recommended by: Ryan
Mahiro Kiryu, Mizuki, Uta Takami & Yuki Kamifuku vs. Miu Watanabe, Rika Tatsumi, Mizuki & Yuki Arai, TJPW – Spring Tour 2026 ~ Next Door In Shinjuku (May 22)
I mean, yeah, Ober Eats is cool and all, but there’s just something about Toyo Mates, you know?
In a classic Champions vs. Challengers tag team match before a big event, the protagonist of the next Korakuen Hall, Stand Alone, faced off at Shinjuku FACE and all hell broke loose, as expected. Tensions were high between Yuki and Kamiyu, Daydream and Mizuki & Uta, and Suzume and Mahiro, who were the legal women by the end of the match. A mini reunion of Toyo Mates led to Mahiro countering a Ring a Bell and hitting a Spinebuster on the International champion to win the match and gain momentum ahead of her first International title match in five years.
Suzume tends to lose a lot of non-title matches to set up her next championship defenses, more than she should, but let’s see how Passion Blue does at Stand Alone.
Recommended by: Fernando
Saira vs. Yusuke Kodama, Pro-Wrestling Up Town – Level Up #2 (May 23)
Personally, I had never heard of Pro-Wrestling Up Town before. Apparently, a few joshi wrestlers like Momoka Hanazono frequent there. They caught my eye for one amazing debut match. For fans of the company, the debut of 17-year old Saira had been much hyped and on May 23, at Itabashi’s TOKYOSQUARE she stepped into the ring for the first time and to say she did not disappoint would be an understatement.
Saira squared off against Yusuke Kodama, a veteran male technician, and hung with him for a solid 10 minutes. Saira showcased her impressive high-flying skillset throughout the match.
When you start off your debut match with a flying headscissor takedown, hit a beautiful asai moonsault to the outside and nearly win it with a picture-perfect shooting star press, you’re a youngster to keep an eye on.
Recommended by: Dave
Mei Suruga vs Baliyan Akki, ChocoPro #526 Apple Universe – The 8th Launch (May 24)
It’s so great when two tag team partners have chemistry as a team AND as opponents.
Mei Suruga’s anniversary shows have become a staple for ChocoPro, and the Apple Girl has always delivered when it comes to her special singles matches. Now, she was scheduled to face her Best Bros tag team partner, Baliyan Akki, and even if it’s true she’s wrestled lots of bigger opponents, the real challenge was trying to outsmart someone who knows her so well. For every mischievous tactic she tried, Akki found a way to counter it. For every high speed move, Akki stopped her right on her tracks.
For a good portion of the encounter, Akki had Mei controlled, until she understood that she needed to catch him off guard, and once she did, the match reached its climax and both wrestlers exchanged their best moves, but it was Mei who got the victory in the end.
The first eight years of Mei Suruga have been fantastic, and it can only get better from now on.
Recommended by: Fernando
Mio Momono vs. Momoka Hanazono vs. Seri Yamaoka, NOAH – Monday Magic Inside Out Season #2 (May 25)
Seri was facing two mischievous wrestlers, and she knew exactly what to do.
As per usual, almost all the matches in this shows weren’t announced in advance, which made us really excited when Mio Momono, Momoka Hanazono, and Seri Yamaoka came out and faced in a three-way match, which combined Mio and Momoka’s speed and wackiness with Seri’s strength and technical skills. Then that little toy cat appeared, distracting Mio and Seri, and Momoka took the advantage, almost winning the match, but since she couldn’t, she started crying, then Seri cried, then Mio cried. Once Momoka got rid of Mio with her shenanigans, Seri hit Bubbles with a German Suplex and pinned her.
No one expected this match, but it ended up being a highlight of the night.
Recommended by: Fernando
For previous editions of RESURA ROUNDUP, click here. All the match recs you can handle, bro.
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