Super Golden is a recurring column highlighting standout performances from joshi wrestlers. It will feature shining stars from all around the joshi scene—STARDOM, Sendai Girls, and beyond. The nominees could be big names or up-and-comers. Whoever puts their mark on the month.
Hyper Misao (TJPW)
At Summer Sun Princess, Kyoraku Kyomei challenged for the TJPW Princess Tag Team Championship in a wild, entertaining match against Rika Tatsumi and Miu Watanabe. Hyper Misao was at her best in that bout—charged up, in full menace mode. This rivalry continues to be such a fun part of the company, and Misao is always at the heart of that.
Later in the month, Misao upset Mizuki in the first round of the Princess Cup. From the jump, this was very much a Misao match with the masked hero pulling out every trick she has in her bag. She came off as a relentless strategist who outsmarted the more decorated Mizuki.
As July wrapped up, Misao was also very briefly the DDT Ironman Heavy Metal champ. At the Tokyo Idol Festival, she pinned her tag partner under the open sky before losing the belt to an idol shortly after.
Every bit of her highlights came with plenty of chaos. As we should expect.
Recommended matches:
Hyper Misao & Shoko Nakajima vs. Miu Watanabe & Rika Tatsumi, TJPW – Summer Sun Princess (7/17)
Hyper Misao vs. Mizuki, TJPW – Princess Cup (July 25)
Miku Aono (Marigold)
With both Mayu Iwatani and Victoria Yuzuki out of action, the weight on the Marigold world champ’s shoulders was especially heavy this summer. Miku Aono came through, serving as a
sound, steady presence.
Aono worked several solid crowded tag matches including her teaming with up-and-comers Shinno and Yuuka Yamazaki against Erina Yamanaka, Mai Sakurai, and Natsumi Showzuki on July 4. Really good chemistry and energy throughout.
On July 5, she battled Komomo Manami in a match that leaned lighthearted in spots. While not as good as their April clash this was still plenty entertaining. Aono later took on Yuuka Yamazaki at an event at Shinjuku Face in a match that really picked up near the end. The champion’s kicking game was on point, including an absolute strike she cracked on the side of Yamazaki’s head.
The clear standout of the month for Aono, though, came at the tail end. Miku teamed with Manami to face Sareee and Chi Chi on July 30. The result was a buzzing banger of a match.
Manami took a heap of punishment before Aono charged in and kicked ass. The champ looked terrific in there as she blasted her foes with her boots, especially when she was tangling with Sareee. The animosity between them was crackling.
Recommended matches:
Miku Aono vs. Komomo Minami, Marigold – Burning Desire (July 5)
Miku Aono & Komomo Minami vs. Sareee & Chi Chi, Marigold – Burning Desire (July 30)
Rina Yamashita (Freelance)
At this stage, you have to put Rina Yamashita at the forefront of the 5STAR MVP conversation. The brawler’s been a beast throughout the early stages of the tournament.
See her match against Mei Seira on opening night of the 5STAR. Her power meshed super well with Seira’s speed, catching the smaller foe out of the air like a jungle predator. A fast-paced bout that helped kickstart the event.
The next night, Yamashita took on Utami Hayashishita in more 5STAR action. This was far more of a slugfest with the two wrestlers battering each other. A lovely parade of lariats.
Her 5STAR match with Maki Itoh a week later was one of the most fun entries of the tourney where two unhinged stars unraveled right in front of us.
Yamashita is giving high-quality stuff during this 5STAR and all the matches are different flavors. That’s how she rolls.
In typical Yamashita style her resume for July is filled with diverse entries. A six-person tag where she faced Aja Kong, Mayumi Ozaki, and Minoru Suzuki. A Sukeban show. Appearances for 666 and OZ Academy. A showdown with Sayaka at ChocoPro’s It’s TIME show. And to top it all off, Yamashita fought Abdullah Kobayashi in a deathmatch in Big Japan where she left the ring caked in blood.
How many joshi stars are pulling all that off?
Recommended matches:
Rina Yamashita vs. Mei Seira, STARDOM – 5STAR Grand Prix (July 18)
Rina Yamashita vs. Utami Hayashishita, STARDOM – 5STAR Grand Prix (July 19)
Syuri (STARDOM)
Syuri had a killer July.
She began things with a strong match against Xena at STARDOM’s ATC Hall show on July 5. This had hard-hitting, visceral action that helped showcase Xena.
Then Syuri shifted into a higher gear and fired off two stellar showings just a few days apart. She crushed it against Natsupoi in an IWGP Women’s Championship match on the first night of 5STAR before dueling with Chihiro Hashimoto to headline Sendai Girls’ 20th Anniversary. The Natsupoi match was an emotional ride with some jaw-dropping spots on the ring apron. Syuri and Natsupoi clicked in a magical way, their styles meshing, their fighting spirit raging. It will no doubt be in the conversation for Match of the Year in joshi.
Then Syuri goes on to follow that with an excellent collision with Big Hash. Their fight teemed with realism as they leaned on mat wrestling and intense, struggle-filled moments. A worthy entry in their increasingly memorable rivalry.
Oh yeah, then she traveled to Houston to main event a New Texas Pro event against VertVixen. Those two had the crowd firing every chant you can think of, from “Fight forever!” to “This is awesome!”. Syuri was especially aggressive with her submissions, clamping down on VertVixen like a hungry snake. The end result was a really strong match that surely won Syuri some new fans. What a way to cap off such an impressive month.
Syuri was a one-woman summer blockbuster.
Recommended matches:
Syuri vs. Natsupoi, STARDOM – 5STAR Grand Prix (July 18)
Syuri vs. Chihiro Hashimoto, Sendai Girls – SENJO 20th Anniversary (July 20)
Syuri vs. VertVixen, New Texas Pro – Moonsault (July 31)
RESURA 