Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling (東京女子プロレス, Tōkyō Joshi Puroresu, TJPW) is a Japanese joshi puroresu or women's professional wrestling promotion founded in 2012 as a sister promotion of DDT Pro-Wrestling. Initially running alongside other shows such as live music and other idol performances, it became its own standalone promotion starting on February 28, 2015. TJPW's biggest show of the year is the annual January 4th "Ittenyon" show held at Korakuen Hall.
As of 2020, TJPW is promoted under the CyberFight banner as a sister promotion to both DDT Pro-Wrestling and Pro Wrestling Noah.
History
Formation (2012–2013)
On June 4, 2012, Tokyo Joshi Pro was announced by DDT Pro-Wrestling. Set to be run by former Ice Ribbon and NEO Japan Ladies Pro-Wrestling promoter and booker Tetsuya Koda and wrestler Nozomi, the promotion was established in late 2012 and thus a recruitment process began for wrestlers. Four of the first wrestlers recruited were Miyu Yamashita, Shoko Nakajima, Kanna and Chikage Kiba. The training of the wrestlers was mostly handled by Nozomi herself, with help from DDT wrestler Kyohei Mikami.[1][2][3] Nozomi left DDT on November 30, 2012, but on the same day the trainees were introduced to the public in a press conference and it was announced they would debut in 2013. The trainees were required to follow three rules - no drinking, no smoking, and no boyfriends.
Early years (2013–2015)
Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling's debut show took place on January 30, 2013, at Akihabara Twin Box in Tokyo. The show featured just two matches, a sambo exhibition between trainee Chikage Kiba and DDT referee and former sambo competitor Daisuke Kiso, and a singles match between trainees Miyu Yamashita and Kanna. The show did not use a wrestling ring, and instead all matches took place on training mats, similar to the Ice Ribbon promotion in its early years.[4] Along with wrestling matches, the debut show featured live music from idol units. As TJP's roster was very small at the start, most of their early shows followed this same formula and only ran small venues. Entry to their first few shows was free as a way of introducing themselves to a bigger audience, and their first paid show was held on April 26.[5][6][7][8] As their roster of trainees expanded in 2014, TJPW began including more matches on their cards, and began using a ring. They also ran a show with an appearance from voice actress/wrestler Ai Shimizu in November 2014.[9][10][11] TJPW held its first full show without an idol performance on February 28, 2015 at Shinjuku Face. At the show, Ai Shimizu and Saki Akai confirmed they would be competing with the promotion regularly, and more trainees debuted at the show.[12]
Rise in popularity (2016–present)
On January 4, 2016, TJPW held its first ever show in Korakuen Hall, a famed wrestling venue in puroresu. Main evented by Miyu Yamashita defeating Shoko Nakajima to become the first ever Tokyo Princess of Princess Champion, it also featured the debut of Yuu and an appearance from American wrestler Candice LeRae.[13] In the spring of 2016, Ai Shimizu and Erin announced their departure from the promotion, however, the summer was a success for the promotion, and TJPW earned a broadcasting deal to be shown on idol-centric channel Pigoo.[14]
On January 4, 2017, TJPW held its second annual Korakuen show, main evented by Yuu retaining the Tokyo Princess of Princess title over Shoko Nakajima.[15] On May 29, an audition was held for four young wrestlers to form a wrestling/idol group to be known as the "Up-Up Girls". On July 20, four women were picked and began training to wrestle shortly after. On December 4, the Up-Up Girls debuted with an idol performance, but didn't appear in ring until January 4, 2018.
On January 4, 2018, TJP's third annual Korakuen show proved to be a success, drawing over 1000 fans for the first time ever. The show was also broadcast on AbemaTV for the first time, as well as DDT's streaming serviceDDT Universe. The show was main evented by TJPW ace Miyu Yamashita defeating Reika Saiki to win back the Tokyo Princess of Princess Championship.[16] On February 28, the TJPW show from Shinjuku Face was once again broadcast on AbemaTV, and it was announced Abema had picked up TJPW to broadcast it regularly. This also marked the end of TJPW being broadcast on Pigoo. On November 1, 2018, the three trainee rules were officially bought to an end, allowing wrestlers to drink, smoke and have relationships on their own accord.
The 2019 January 4 show was once again a success, drawing 1,300 fans to Korakuen Hall.[17]
On March 31, 2023, TJPW held their first event in the United States in Los Angeles, California at the Globe Theater.[19] On December 15, TJPW was announced as one of the founding members of the United Japan Pro-Wrestling alliance, a joint effort to further develop professional wrestling in Japan through promotion and organization, with Seiji Sakaguchi being named as the chairman of the project.[20]
^"TJP Tokyo Joshi Pro '16 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
^"DDT ProWrestling". DDT ProWrestling. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
^"TJP Tokyo Joshi Pro '17 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
^"TJP Tokyo Joshi Pro '18 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
^"TJP Tokyo Joshi Pro '19 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
^"東京女子プロレス". Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). July 16, 2019. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
^Lambert, Jeremy (January 3, 2023). "Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling Announces Los Angeles Event For March 31". Fightful. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
^新日、全日、ノアら9団体が「日本プロレスリング連盟」設立 来年5月には設立記念興行も [Nine organizations, including NJPW, AJPW, and Noah, establish "United Japan Pro-wrestling"; launching event to be held next May]. Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). December 15, 2023. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
^"DDT ProWrestling" 遠藤有栖. www.ddtpro.com (in Japanese).
^"DDT ProWrestling" 七瀬千花. www.ddtpro.com (in Japanese).
^"DDT ProWrestling" 猫はるな. www.ddtpro.com (in Japanese).
^"DDT ProWrestling" 風城ハル. www.ddtpro.com (in Japanese).
^"DDT ProWrestling" ハイパーミサヲ. www.ddtpro.com (in Japanese).
^"DDT ProWrestling" HIMAWARI. www.ddtpro.com (in Japanese).
^"DDT ProWrestling" 鳥喰かや. www.ddtpro.com (in Japanese).
^"DDT ProWrestling" キラ・サマー. www.ddtpro.com (in Japanese).
^"DDT ProWrestling" 桐生真弥. www.ddtpro.com (in Japanese).
^"DDT ProWrestling" 伊藤麻希. www.ddtpro.com (in Japanese).
^"DDT ProWrestling" 渡辺未詩. www.ddtpro.com (in Japanese).
^"DDT ProWrestling" 山下実優. www.ddtpro.com (in Japanese).
^"DDT ProWrestling" 瑞希. www.ddtpro.com (in Japanese).
^"DDT ProWrestling" 宮本もか. www.ddtpro.com (in Japanese).
^"DDT ProWrestling" 原宿ぽむ. www.ddtpro.com (in Japanese).
^"DDT ProWrestling" らく. www.ddtpro.com (in Japanese).
^"DDT ProWrestling" 辰巳リカ. www.ddtpro.com (in Japanese).
^"DDT ProWrestling" 大久保琉那. www.ddtpro.com (in Japanese).
^"DDT ProWrestling" 鈴木志乃. www.ddtpro.com (in Japanese).
^"DDT ProWrestling" 中島翔子. www.ddtpro.com (in Japanese).
^"DDT ProWrestling" 鈴芽. www.ddtpro.com (in Japanese).
^"DDT ProWrestling" 凍雅. www.ddtpro.com (in Japanese).
^"DDT ProWrestling" 高見汐珠. www.ddtpro.com (in Japanese).
^"DDT ProWrestling" 上原わかな. www.ddtpro.com (in Japanese).
^"DDT ProWrestling" 長谷川美子. www.ddtpro.com (in Japanese).
^"DDT ProWrestling" 愛野ユキ. www.ddtpro.com (in Japanese).
^"DDT ProWrestling" 荒井優希. www.ddtpro.com (in Japanese).
^"DDT ProWrestling" 上福ゆき. www.ddtpro.com (in Japanese).
^"Himawari Unagi Leaving Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling". 30 September 2020.
^ a bRichards, Alex (September 11, 2020). "Natsumi Maki & Mina Shirakawa Set To Leave TJPW". Last Word on Pro Wrestling. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
^才木玲佳選手に関するお知らせ. DDT Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). June 3, 2019. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
^汐凛セナ卒業に関するお知らせ. DDT Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). April 19, 2021. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
^12月6日北沢タウンホール『東京女子プロレス誕生10周年記念興行~坂崎ユカ卒業スペシャル~』開催決定!. DDT Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). October 15, 2023. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
^Kreikenbohm, Philip (March 31, 2024). "TJPW Grand Princess '24". cagematch.net. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
^Kreikenbohm, Philip (January 4, 2024). "TJPW Tokyo Joshi Pro '24". cagematch.net. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
^Gonzalez, Troy (September 22, 2024). "TJPW Wrestle Princess V Results (9/22): Miu Watanabe, Ryo Mizunami, And More". wrestlezone.com. Retrieved September 22, 2024.
^"TJPW Wrestle Princess I (11/7/2020) / Review". fivestarnetwork.co. Five Star Network. March 16, 2023. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
^Buckledee, Mark (October 9, 2021). "Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling's Wrestle Princess II: Miyu Yamashita vs. Maki Itoh". postwrestling.com. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
^Voices of Wrestling Staff (October 10, 2022). "TJPW WRESTLE PRINCESS III (OCTOBER 9) RESULTS & REVIEW". voicesofwrestling.com. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
^Black, Ethan (October 9, 2023). "TJPW Wrestle Princess 4 Results – October 9, 2023". pwmania.com. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
^"WRESTLE PRINCESS V". wrestle-universe.com. Wrestle Universe. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
^ a bPeps (March 20, 2023). "Mizuki Finally Wins the POP Title, Rika is Grand Slam Champion, TJPW Grand Princess '23 Review | Weekly Joshi Guide". WrestlePurists. Archived from the original on March 31, 2023. Retrieved August 13, 2023.