Super Golden is a new recurring column highlighting standout performances from joshi wrestlers. It features 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.
Reina Takano (Sendai Girls)
Early on, Reina Takano is just killing it. She has a fire that burns through the screen. She’s full of heart and moxie, quickly becoming one of the most exciting young prospects on the scene.
She kicked off the month with a strong showing against Senka Akatsuki (Sendai Girls, August 1). Takano helped tell a compelling story that momentum throughout. Great facial expressions. Great energy.
Takano came through again on the 9th at one of Sendai Girls’ 20th Anniversary shows. This time, she faced off against Chi Chi in a short match packed with emotion and heart. Her kicks, her howling, the beast she lets out of her, all spoke to the areas she’s thriving in already.
Add an entertaining tag match where she and Yurika Oka partnered up against Mio Momono and Senka Akatsuki. Plus, a good bout between Reina and Chi Chi vs. Sora Ayame and Takumi Iroha. In both cases, she more than held her in there against more experienced talent. Both ended up being bangers.
Hats off to Takano and the hell of a start she’s hard to her career.
Recommended matches:
Reina Takano & Yurika Oka vs. Mio Momono & Senka Akatsuki, Sendai Girls 20th Anniversary (Aug. 7)
Reina Takano vs. Chi Chi, Sendai Girls in Shin-Kiba (Aug. 9)
Reina Takano & Chi Chi vs. Sora Ayama & Takumi Iroha, Sendai Girls Top of Joshi Wrestling (Aug. 28)
Saya Iida (STARDOM)
Yes, Rina was a beast on the way to winning the 5STAR Grand Prix, but damn did Saya Iida have a good tournament, too.
Saya and Rina Yamashita battled to a draw on Aug. 9. This was a tourney bout built on big chops and big egos. An intense encounter that Saya outdid in other 5STAR contests.
IIda thrilled in the quarterfinals against AZM and then against Maika in the semifinals. The atmosphere is so charged in that clash with AZM. The win felt huge for the powerhouse. In the Maika match, Saya looked like an absolute star again. Her relentlessness, her selling, her overall primetime charisma shone in the spotlight.
Oh and I forget to mention that Iida and Mei Seira tore it up at KBS Hall on the 15th. Things began more lighthearted, both women cranked up the intensity and went all out as they charged toward the finish line.
There will be a lot of attention on Rina after this tournament, but we can’t forget about what Saya was doing this month. She is on an upward trajectory and it’s a joy to watch.
Recommended matches:
Saya Iida vs. Mei Seira, 5STAR Grand Prix (Aug. 15)
Saya Iida vs. Maika, 5STAR Grand Prix (Aug. 18)
Saya Iida vs. AZM, 5STAR Grand Prix (Aug. 18)
Suzume (TJPW)
Is Suzume going to end up as TJPW’s Wrestler of the Year? Without a single day as Princess of Princess champ?
Well, she sure as hell helped make that case this month.
Suzume was the star of the TJPW Princess Cup. Her matches with Shoko Nakajima and HIMAWARI were among the best matches of the event. Then she and Rika Tatsumi followed that up with an emotional, powerful final.
In all of these bouts, Suzume continued to be creative and energetic in the ring. She has become more captivating this year, her game refined, her confidence beaming.
To Vanquish Other Blooms; Suzume vs. Rika Tatsumi-TJPW Princess Cup Final
Her Princess Cup matches was the only action she had over the month, but she deserves to be spotlighted here, reduced workload be damned. She remains the talk of TJPW, a must-watch force.
And now she has a shot to build on her growing momentum with a Princess of Princess Championship match against Yuki Arai coming up shortly.
Recommended matches:
Suzume vs. Shoko Nakajima, TJPW Princess Cup (Aug. 8)
Suzume vs. HIMAWARI, TJPW Princess Cup (Aug. 16)
Suzume vs. Rika Tatsumi, TJPW Princess Cup (Aug. 23)
Sareee (Freelancer)
Sareee must have heard all that Chihiro Hashimoto for Wrestler of the Year and said, “Hold my beer.” The Sun God was an absolute beast this past month. We’re talking multiple matches bound to end up in my top 10 at the end of the year.
She began August by headlining the Marvelous PPV at Korakuen on the 8th. Sareee and Mio Momono put on a show to remember. Viciousness and guts everywhere. A drama expertly crafted.
Every Hurt I Have to Give; Sareee vs. Mio Momono
The next night, Sareee and Takumi Iroha took on the returning Marigold stars Mayu Iwatani and Victoria Yuzuki at Summer Destiny. What a battle that was. Tag team action at its finest. A valuable exhibit in the case for Spark Gold to be joshi Tag Team of the Year.
Next up, a solid match with Sareee and Iroha teaming up against Chi Chi and Senka Akatsuki at a Marvelous event at Shin-KIBA. Then, the main event of Sareee-ISM Chapter XI: Sareee & Takumi Iroha vs. Natsupoi & Saori Anou.
Tense. Dynamic. Sadistic. Everything we’ve come to expect from Sareee.
That all adds up to an impressive month. One of many for The Sun God.
Recommended matches:
Sareee vs. Mio Momono, Marvelous (Aug. 8)
Sareee & Takumi Iroha vs. Mayu Iwatani & Victoria Yuzuki, Marigold Summer Destiny (Aug. 9)
Sareee & Takumi Iroha vs. Natsupoi & Saori Anou, Sareee-ISM Chapter XI (Aug. 24)
RESURA 