All Japan Joshi

[Markw]

AWW Japanese Champion: Miyoko Arihyoshi



AJJ Asian Tag Team Champions: DNGR



AJJ Heritage Champion: Jolanda Girard
 

Yuri Yamoune, Nariko Shiomi, Sama Hatakeda, Tiegan Merritt, Rie Akiyama, Vittoria Scimeca, Joruri Yoshioka, Shim Eun-ji
 

Miyoko Arihyoshi, Bonnie Rain, Komachi Kuwabara, Tomoko Kurusu, Kichi Toyotomi, Nafeesa
 

Chikako Nishimuraya, Aya Watnabe, Namiko Arai, Boudica, Chloe Bourel, Akane Konda, Hisae Takagi
 

Ayame Joshuyo, Cassidy Gilmour, Jolanda Girard, Katy Blaze, Toshie Tabuchi, Yodo Hideki, Julia Platino, Princesa Pantera
 

Omitsu Oichi, Sae Tani, Tonya Bagwell, UMEKO

Edited February 1, 2023 by Markw

[Markw]

Night One
- Model Trigger (Nariko Shiomi, Tegan Merritt & Yuri Yamanoue) def. Grace End (Komachi Kuwabara, Miyoko Arihyoshi & Tomoko Kurusu)
- Iron Bulls (Chikako Nishimuraya, Chloe Bourel & Hisae Takagi) def. Grace End (Bonnie Rain, Kichi Toyotomi & Nafeesa)
- Hollow Screams (Aya Watnabe & Namiko Arai) def. WORLD-J (Toshie Tabuchi & Yodo Hideki)
- Omitsu Oichi def. Shim Eun-ji
- WORLD-J (Jolanda Girard, Julia Platino, Katy Blaze & Princesa Pantera) def. Model Trigger (Joruri Yoshioka, Rie Akiyama, Sama Hatakeda & Vittoria Scimeca)
- WORLD-J (Ayame Joshuyo & Cassidy Gilmour) def. Iron Bulls (Akane Konda & Boudica)

Night Two
- Death Model (Nariko Shiomi & Yuri Yamanoue) def. Grace End (Bonnie Rain & Miyoko Arihyoshi)
- Grace End (Kichi Toyotomi, Komachi Kuwabara & Tomoko Kurusu) def. WORLD-J (Ayame Joshuyo, Toshie Tabuchi & Yodo Hideki)
- Iron Bulls (Akane Konda, Boudica & Chikako Nishimuraya) def. Omitsu Oichi, Sae Tani and Tonya Bagwell
- Cassidy Gilmour def. UMEKO
- WORLD-J (Jolanda Girard & Katy Blaze) def. MODEL Trigger (Joruri Yoshioka & Shim Eun-ji)
- MODEL Trigger (Rie Akiyama, Tegan Merritt & Vittoria Scimeca) def. Iron Bulls (Aya Watnabe, Chloe Bourel & Namiko Arai)

Night Three
- WORLD-J (Ayame Joshuyo, Cassidy Gilmour & Toshie Tabuchi) def. MODEL Trigger (Nariko Shiomi, Tegan Merritt & Yuri Yamanoue)
- Iron Warriors (Boudica & Akane Konda) def. Jolanda Girard & Omitsu Oichi
- MODEL Trigger (Joruri Yoshioka, Sama Hatakeda & Shim Eun-ji) def. WORLD-J (Katy Blaze, Julia Platino & Princesca Pantera)
- Vittoria Scimeca def. Rie Akiyama
- Chloe Bourel def. Nanae Kimishima
- Grace End (Kichi Toyotomi & Miyoko Arihyoshi) def. Sae Tani & Tonya Bagwell
- Grace End (Bonnie Rain, Komachi Kuwabara & Tomoko Kurusu) def. Iron Bulls (Chikako Nishimuraya, Aya Watanabe & Namiko Arai)

Night Four
- Chikako Nishimuraya went to a 30 minute time limit draw with Omitsu Oichi
- MODEL Trigger (Nariko Shiomi, Rie Akiyama, Vittoria Scimeca & Yuri Yamanoue) def. Iron Bulls (Akane Konda, Aya Watnabe, Boudica & Namiko Arai)
- WORLD-J (Ayame Joshuyo, Cassidy Gilmour, Toshie Tabuchi & Yodo Hideki) def. Grace End (Bonnie Rain, Komachi Kuwabara, Miyoko Arihyoshi & Tomoko Kurusu)
- Iron Bulls (Chloe Bourel & Hisae Takagi) def. Grace End (Kichi Toyotomi & Nafeesa)
- Sae Tani def. Nanae Kimishima
- WORLD-J (Jolanda Girard & Katy Blaze) def. MODEL Trigger (Sama Hatakeda & Tegan Merritt)

Night Five
- Grace End (Bonnie Rain & Omitsu Oichi) def. DEATH Model (Nariko Shiomi & Yuri Yamanoue)
- MODEL Trigger (Joruri Yoshioka, Rie Akiyama, Vittoria Scimeca) def. Grace End (Kichi Toyotomi, Komachi Kuwabara & Tomoko Kurusu)
- Hollow Screams (Aya Watnabe & Namiko Arai) def. Nanae Kimishima & Sae Tani
- Iron Bulls (Akane Konda, Boudica & Chikako Nishimuraya) def. WORLD-J (Cassidy Gilmour, Jolanda Girard & Toshie Tabuchi)
- Bonnie Rain introduces "Oh Oh" Omitsu Oichi as the new leader of Grace End. Oichi promises to do Miyoko Arihyoshi proud as she leads Grace End into a new era.

Night Six
- WORLD-J (Ayame Joshuyo & Cassidy Gilmour) went to a 30 minute time limit draw with DEATH Model (Nariko Shiomi & Yuri Yamanoue)
- Iron Bulls (Akane Konda, Boudica & Chloe Bourel) def. WORLD-J (Jolanda Girard, Katy Blaze & Toshie Tabuchi)
- Tegan Merritt def. Sae Tani
- Iron Bulls (Aya Watnabe, Chikako Nishimuraya & Namiko Arai) def. Grace End (Omitsu Oichi, Komachi Kuwabara & Tomoko Kurusu)

Night Seven
- Nariko Shiomi def. Kichi Toyotomi
- Iron Warriors (Akane Konda & Boudica) def. Lotus Heart Society (Komachi Kuwabara & Tomoko Kurusu)
- Yuri Yamanoue def. Katy Blaze
- Grace End (Nanae Kimishima & Omitsu Oichi) def. MODEL Trigger (Joruri Yoshioka & Shim Eun-ji)
- Iron Bulls (Aya Watnabe, Chikako Nishimuraya & Namiko Arai) def. MODEL Trigger (Rie Akiyama, Sama Hatakeda & Vittoria Scimeca)

TOUR RECAP
- After Night One of the tournament Akane Konda & Boudica announced their intention to begin teaming as 'Iron Warriors'

- Ahead of Night Three, AJJ announced the signing of Nanae Kimishima, a House of Joshi graduate noted for her irrepressible attitude.

- On night four of the tournament Kichi Toyotomi got the crowd buzzing with a new comeback spot. It ultimately proved futile as Chloe Bourel regained control and forced her to submit to the Canadian Crossface, but the fans were really invested in the story she told.

- Night Four ultimately proved to be a disasterous night for AJJ, during the WORLD-J vs. Grace End eight person tag team match both Yodo Hideki & Japanese Champion Miyoko Arihyoshi picked up injuries. Dirtsheet rumours have suggested that an audible was called to change the finish as a result, with Grace End initially intended to go over. Medical results after the show provided more bad news for AJJ, with Yodo expected to be out for at least a couple of months with a Grade V AC Joint Separation and AJJ Japanese Champion Miyoko Arihyoshi sufering a C7 Cervical Spinal Cord Rupture which is expected to keep her out for over a year. As a result owner Takeo Mashita announced that the AJJ Japanese Championship has been vacated and an eight woman title tournament will be held at New Year Battle Finale to crown a new champion.

- A couple of days later Takeo Mashita courted controversy when he announced the injured former champion and "Golden Four" AJJ legend Miyoko Arihyoshi had been released from her contract. The AJJ owner claimed the decision was made as a result of her causing the injury Yodo Hideki suffered in the same match. Whilst there's a consensus that the injury was a result of Arihyoshi's botched powerslam, dirtsheets have been quick to point out that her release likely has far more to do with her being 43 years old, being out injured for at least a year and earning £30k a month. Needless to say there has been widespread anger among the AJJ locker room at the treatment of the Joshi icon, and serious questions are starting to be asked about whether the Mashita brothers can hold the roster together.

- Tegan Merritt got some heat backstage on night six after her botch led to Sae Tani suffering a Radial Head Fracture.

- Dirtsheet reports following Night Seven of the tour are suggesting that Grace End's Omitsu Oichi has taken Nanae Kimishima under her wing as a protege. The reports follow the news that Kimishima has been added to the Grace End unit.
 

Edited February 2, 2023 by Markw

[Markw]

AJJ Japanese Championship Tournament : Final


Akane Konda vs. Tegan Merritt


AJJ Japanese Championship Tournament: Semi-Final 2


AJJ Japanese Championship Tournament: Semi-Final 1

 
AJJ Asian Tag Team Championships: DNGR vs. Hollow Screams
 


AJJ Heritage Championship: Jolanda Girard vs. Boudica


AJJ Japanese Championship Tournament: Chikako Nishimuraya vs. Omitsu Oichi


AJJ Japanese Championship Tournament: Cassidy Gilmour vs. Nariko Shiomi


AJJ Japanese Championship Tournament: Ayame Joshuyo vs. Yuri Yamanoue


AJJ Japanese Championship Tournament: Bonnie Rain vs. ???


Chloe Bourel vs. Katy Blaze

Prediction Key
Final Winner: Ayame/Bonnie/Cassidy/Chikako/Nariko/Omitsu/Yuri/???
Akane Konda vs. Tegan Merritt
Semi-Final 1 Winner: Cassidy/Chikako/Nariko/Omitsu
Semi-Final 2 Winner: Ayame/Bonnie/Yuri/???
DNGR vs. Hollow Screams
Jolanda Girard vs. Boudica
Chikako Nishimuraya vs. Omitsu Oichi
Cassidy Gilmour vs. Nariko Shiomi
Ayame Joshuyo vs. Yuri Yamanoue
Bonnie Rain vs. ???
Chloe Bourel vs. Katy Blaze
Bonus: Who will Bonnie Rain's opponent be?

Edited February 2, 2023 by Markw

[AboardTheArk]

So, so, so excited for this. AJJ is my favorite company that I haven't yet booked in... all of TEW, maybe? My favorite fictional Japan schedule, a lot of intriguing moving parts, more interesting than UPJ even. Super excited for this if it survives long term. Love the graphics work as well, and the instant intrigue of firing the GOAT before the first show. And what a huge, intriguing show that is lol. 

 

Prediction Key

Final Winner: Ayame Joshuyo vs Cassidy Gilmour

The most popular face wins the tournament to help a new age begin, since whatever impact this development has on Grace End will shake things up enormously. Expecting a basically year long Ayame vs MODEL TRIGGER thing which is exciting.

Akane Konda vs. Tegan Merritt

Tegan Merritt is the best.

Semi-Final 1 Winner: Cassidy Gilmour vs Omitsu Oichi

 

Semi-Final 2 Winner: Ayame Joshuyo vs Bonnie Rain

DNGR vs. Hollow Screams

Champs retain because of the cool face mask thing.

Jolanda Girard vs. Boudica

Love Jolanda but she should be in PEWA getting reps in fr.

Chikako Nishimuraya vs. Omitsu Oichi

Cassidy Gilmour vs. Nariko Shiomi

Ayame Joshuyo vs. Yuri Yamanoue

Bonnie Rain vs. ???

Chloe Bourel vs. Katy Blaze

Even if it pains me that she ditched Nina fr #Justice4Piazat

Bonus: Who will Bonnie Rain's opponent be?

Klaire Kliene because why the hell not.

[Markw]

On 2/2/2023 at 7:16 PM, AboardTheArk said:

So, so, so excited for this. AJJ is my favorite company that I haven't yet booked in... all of TEW, maybe? My favorite fictional Japan schedule, a lot of intriguing moving parts, more interesting than UPJ even. Super excited for this if it survives long term. Love the graphics work as well, and the instant intrigue of firing the GOAT before the first show. And what a huge, intriguing show that is lol.

Thanks for the reply and the predictions, glad to have you on board! Must admit my puro knowledge is almost non-existant, so if anything feels glaringly wrong about the way I'm booking things please let me know. Firing Miyoko certainly wasn't part of the plan, and it's completely altered the course of this card and my booking plans, but I didn't see any point keeping her around with the injury she has, and it gives me a lot more freedom to shape things.

Edited February 3, 2023 by Markw

[Markw]

Reviewed by Mio Nawabe for Rising Sun Sport


First of all I'd like to send all my love to Miyoko Arihyoshi and her family. Winning the AJJ Japanese Championship from Miyoko in January 1999 was one of the proudest moments of my life. Not just because I fulfilled a life long ambition that night, but because sharing a ring with Miyoko was an absolute joy. She is a consummate professional who helped make AJJ what it is today, I know I speak on behalf of everyone at Rising Sun Sport & All Japan Joshi when I wish her a speedy recovery. It's heartbreaking to see such an inspiring, driven and lively woman fighting to be able to walk again, but I know Miyoko Arihyoshi, and I know it's a fight she will win.

Now, onto AJJ's first major event of 2021, New Year Battle Finale, and the eagerly anticipated crowning of a new AJJ Japanese Champion


Chloe Bourel vs. Katy Blaze

Chloe Bourel and Katy Blaze kicked things off with a fantastic show of technical wrestling. As far as I'm concerned these two Canadian women could easily be the future of AJJ. All that's really stopping Chloe getting there is her attitude, she has all the talent in the world - and it was on full display here - if she can show the commitment she showed tonight more consistently she'll shoot up the card. Katy is an absolute ball of positivity, she has to work harder than Chloe to reach the top, but working hard and learning from those around her certainly isn't something she's afraid to do. This was a really even contest and a good way to start the show, Chloe instantly shut down every attempt Katy made to make things a bit more light hearted, and I loved that. The wrestling was good here, the AJJ fans are still looking for a bit more from these two before they'll be full invested in them, but they appreciated their ring work. Eventually Chloe managed to lock in the Canadian Cloverleaf, and from there, there was only one result. Good solid start to the show.
Chloe Bourel def. Katy Blaze in 15:14 by submission with the Canadian Cloverleaf.

Back in 2002, I saw possibly the most naturally talented 15 year old I've ever come across make her debut for AJJ, in the three years that followed she convinced me that she was the future of women's wrestling. Sadly our paths never crossed in the ring, but I've followed her work in Mexico since then and been consistently impressed. So when I heard Elsa f'n Martínez was coming back to AJJ, it's safe to say I marked. And I did again when I saw her walking out to an AJJ ring for the first time in 16 years. Goosebumps.


AJJ Japanese Championship Tournament: Bonnie Rain vs. Elsa Martínez

Truth be told the excitement of seeing Elsa back was the best thing about this one. It certainly wasn't bad, but it wasn't anything to write home about either. The higherups have ultimately decided that Bonnie isn't ready to lead Grace End on her own, not a decision I agree with, but it is what it is. What was here between these two was good, they're both really talented wrestlers so that's not surprising, but ultimately (and it will become a reccuring theme in this tournament) they just didn't have as much time as I would have liked to tell their story. And I'm pretty sure I wasn't alone, there was definitely a sense from the crowd at the end, that two women as talented and important to AJJ as these two, shouldn't be limited to under 10 minutes. It served it's purpose, it was great to see Elsa back, and I can't wait to see her when she's given the breathing room to really produce something special in the ring. She will do. And I think Bonnie will too, she's very capable of showing that she should have been allowed to grab the Grace End reins. But neither of them did it here. Ultimately Elsa got the win with a Class Act, it was the right outcome, but Bonnie deserved more of an opportunity to show her value.
Elsa Martínez def. Bonnie Rain in 9:50 with a Class Act.


AJJ Japanese Championship Tournament: Ayame Joshuyo vs. Yuri Yamanoue

The tournament continued in much the same vein with a match that wasn't allowed to reach it's full potential. The fans were captivated by the prospect of seeing these two going at it, Ayame is incapable of having a bad match, and Yuri is so good at drawing an audience in with the way she carries herself and behaves. But we were all left feeling a little short changed again if I'm honest. If there's an area Yuri struggles in, it's telling the story once they get in the ring, she's brilliant when she gets a chance to talk, brilliant at getting people to hate her, but too often it all goes out of the window when the match starts and she starts worrying about how to make herself look good, rather than making the match great. Ayame is flawless and she ensure this one didn't completely fall apart, and thankfully she made Yuri tap with the Spidercrab Stretch just past the ten minute mark. Not the start to this tournament I'd hoped for in terms of performances, but I am so here for Ayame/Elsa.
Ayame Joshuyo def. Yuri Yamanoue in 10:39 by submission with a Spidercrab Stretch.


AJJ Japanese Championship Tournament: Cassidy Gilmour vs. Nariko Shiomi

Oh this was good. Cassidy trained under Jess Bell, and it shows. Nariko, well I can't praise Nariko enough. I mentioned what an incredible wrestler Ayame is, and what an incredible character Yuri is, well Nariko is both rolled into one. This was a great story of Nariko getting the upperhand time and time again, and Cassidy refusing to give up. It was condensced into too small a window, given more time it could have been an early Match of the Year candidate. But as it was it was a great wrestling match that had the AJJ fans on the edge of their seat, and it has me counting down the days until we get to see it again with some build up and more time. Cassidy kept coming back, but Nariko just had too much for the rising talent, a second Perfect Area of the match putting her down and allowing Nariko to advance. Definitely the strongest of the Quarter Finals.
Nariko Shiomi def. Cassidy Gilmore in 15:50 by pinfall with a Perfect Area.


AJJ Japanese Championship Tournament: Chikako Nishimuraya vs. Omitsu Oichi

Ugh I found this so perplexing. When I saw Chikako Nishimuraya beat Omitsu Oichi for the belt in October 2001 I was in awe. They were both so, so good, and their styles seemed to mesh really well. They went head to head during the New Year Battle tour, a match that ended in a 30 minute draw, and honestly? It just fell completely flat. These two Golden Four icons went up against each other and it was like they just didn't click at all. I had hoped it was an off night. But honestly, here, I wasn't lamenting them not being given enough time, I was breathing a sigh of relief that it ended when it did. Of course my expectations for these two are higher, they'll never have a complete stinker, but it wasn't what it should have been. It pains me to say it, they're two of my best friends in professional wrestling, but this was hugely underwhelming. Oichi won by submission with a Heikakusho, sensible decision to give her a big first win as the leader of Grace End. Let's not dwell on this one too long.
Omitsu Oichi def. Chikako Nishimuraya in 11:04 by submission with a Heikakusho.


AJJ Heritage Championship: Jolanda Girard vs. Boudica

Hmm, I got what I expected here, I think we all did. I liked Jolanda in a team with her sister, I'm not sold on her on her own yet. Boudica I think has the potential to be a beast, but she's got a long way to go if she's ever going to get there. But they both need someone more gifted to guide the story in the ring, and they didn't have that here. There was a definite lack of flow, and some sections that really dragged. I'm not big fans of the Mashita brothers at the minute, but to be fair their work at the desk lifted this one a little. It wasn't great, and personally I was disappointed when an abrupt Jolanda Be Cool ended Boudica's hopes of gaining the Heritage title. Decent, but nothing more than that.
Jolanda Girard def. Boudica in 12:09 by pinfall with a Jolanda Be Cool.


 
AJJ Asian Tag Team Championships: DNGR vs. Hollow Screams
 
Oh my God this stank. I hated it, the fans hated it and I know, having spoken to them, all four women involved hate it. Hollow Screams were annihilating the champions early on, then the match morphed into essentially a sloppy sports entertainment style brawl. Nobody got to properly showcase their talents. And to cap it off the Mashita brothers, in their infinite wisdow, decided it should end with Vittoria smashing Aya with a steel chair and losing by DQ and holding onto the belts. The idea being that DNGR, frustrated at their inability to compete with Hollow Screams, decided to make sure they got out with their titles. It made the champions look weak, it made the championships look weak, and it just was weak. A new low point for AJJ. If I didn't know Ayame/Elsa was up next I would have left the building. SPLASH would be ashamed of this one.
Hollow Screams def. DNGR in 9:50 by Disqualification.


 
AJJ Japanese Championship Tournament: Ayame Joshuyo vs. Elsa Martínez

Everyone in the building needed this one in order to recover. Thankfully they delivered as much as they could. At the risk of sounding like a broken record it needed longer. I understand that the injury to Miyoko has caused a rethink, but the fact that all of these dream matches were cut so short really let the card down. They should have had the ten minutes we wasted on the tag titles and this would have been an epic. It was very much like the Cassidy/Nariko clash, great for what it was, but left everyone in the building wanting to see it again. Elsa dominated the early stages, and some vicious elbows busted open the Japanese hero. Ayame really showed her grit though, fighting through the pain and launching a cool comeback that eventually led to her locking in the Spidercrab Stretch and securing the win. I can't wait to see them clash again. Good work from both.
Ayame Joshuyo def. Elsa Martínez in 16:25 by submission with a Spidercrab Stretch.


 
AJJ Japanese Championship Tournament: Nariko Shiomi vs. Omitsu Oichi

The new face of Grace End, the face of MODEL Trigger, this should have been a classic. Spoiler: It wasn't. The crowd were so into it, but the anticipation was better than the reality. I said Omitsu and Chikako didn't seem to mesh like they used to earlier, but that was nothing compared to these two. Great talents, fine wrestlers, technically excellent, but they really didn't work well as opponents. If the match had been what I expected then I would have been once again moaning when it ended 13 minutes in but all in all it was fair enough. Nariko Shiomi continues to look like an absolute badass in MODEL Trigger, she's so good at getting us to love to hate her. I don't want to sound too down about this because it was good, and it was great to see Nariko advance to the final of this tournament after a great Bishojo Bomber, but you expect more from these two.
Nariko Shiomi def. Omitsu Oichi in 13:26 by pinfall with a Bishojo Bomber.



Akane Konda vs. Tegan Merritt

Akane Konda and Tegan Merritt can feel a little disappointed not to have been involved in the title tournament. Particularly Tegan, having won the J-IMPACT Crown six months ago. Perhaps her recent defeat to Miyoko for the belt, along with the inclusion of her MODEL Trigger bosses, counted against her. It was probably a blessing in disguise for both of them really as they got a good 18 minutes or so in the co-main event. It followed the frequent Iron Bulls vs. MODEL Trigger pattern of the Iron Bulls member looking dominant, bulldozing their opponent, and the MODEL Trigger talent using their cunning and technical ability to turn the match on it's head. It worked well and it was a pretty good match, Tegan's a really exciting young talent who is building up some real momentum, she got the win with a Victory On Merritt and she continues to look like the future of Joshi wrestling.
Tegan Merritt def. Akane Konda in 18:03 by pinfall with a Victory On Merritt.


 
AJJ Japanese Championship Tournament : Ayame Joshuyo vs. Nariko Shiomi

Wow. Ayame Joshuyo & Nariko Shiomi are, as far as I'm concerned two of the five best wrestlers in women's wrestling right now, and they really made a good case for the one and two spots here. Both women threw everything they had into it. It's not lost on anyone that Ayame has time and time again come up short when she meets Nariko one on one (most notably of course in the 2019 J-IMPACT Crown final), and that definitely played into the story here. Ayame was absolutely desperate to come out on top and put her hoodoo against the MODEL Trigger leader to bed. But she was lacking that usual self-assured confidence that she can overcome any challenge she faces. Ayame was also clearly feeling the effects of her gruelling semi-final clash with Elsa Martínez, and when a vicious enziguri kick re-opened the wound she'd picked up in that match things really started to spiral. Nariko did what Nariko does in this contest, she got everyone desperate to see her lose, before, eventually, hitting the Bishojo Bomber and inevitably following it up with the 1..2...3. It was heartbreak for Ayame once again, as Nariko Shiomi celebrated winning the AJJ Japanese title for the 3rd time and firmly cementing herself as the ace of AJJ.

All this one really needed was for the Mashita's to shut up, they're not up to calling a match like this.
Nariko Shiomi def. Ayame Joshuyo in 25:43 by pinfall with a Bishojo Bomber. Nariko Shiomi wins the AJJ Japanese title.


 Overall this was a solid showing for AJJ to start the year, the Joshuyo/Shiomi clash was comfortably Match of the Night and honestly one of the best offerings I've seen from modern AJJ. That said the good wasn't as good, as the bad was bad. I've been with AJJ 23 years and I don't think I've seen a match worse than that Asian Tag Team Title clash, the sort of thing that can only happen when the booker doesn't know their audience well enough. The familiar story of the live event experience and the production values probably not being quite what they should be was inevitablly there but sadly that's the reality that women's wrestling faces, the money just isn't there. There is clearly a lot of potential in AJJ right now, some wonderful talents, but there's work to be done behind the scenes to do these women justice and personally I fear it's not going to happen.

Overall Rating:

Edited February 4, 2023 by Markw

[Markw]

Prediction Tracker
AboardTheArk 5/11

[AboardTheArk]

42 minutes ago, Markw said:

Prediction Tracker
AboardTheArk 5/11

Leading the leaderboard! I clearly know what I'm doing!

 

Interesting that you were so harsh on the show in kayfabe. Maybe a switch to the more forgiving style of classic mainstream puroresu is in the works? Who knows. 

 

Glad I got a lot of stuff wrong. Positive show with a huge debut. Nariko Wins, Lol is a decision that makes sense coming out of it all, I got duped while predicting because iirc she's not in the title division beginning the save in starting storylines and stuff. As you said, this roster has immense potential even if they have reverted into relying in the golden four the past few years and it will be interesting to see you harness it as it goes on. The only huge challenge will be surviving financially and reviving the dead tag division, otherwise I don't think this start is negative, even with the shorter tournament matches it's how I would have booked it and just taken the hit like you did.

 

[Markw]

Night One
- DEATH Model (Nariko Shiomi & Yuri Yamanoue) def. Iron Bulls (Chikako Nishimuraya & Chloe Bourel)
- WORLD-J (Ayame Joshuyo, Cassidy Gilmour & Toshie Tabuchi) def. MODEL Trigger (Rie Akiyama, Tegan Merritt & Vittoria Scimeca)
- Elsa Martínez def. UMEKO
- Oh Oh Na Na (Nanae Kimishima & Omitsu Oichi) def. Shining Force (Julia Platino & Princesa Pantera)
- Hollow Screams (Aya Watnabe & Namiko Arai) def. WORLD-J (Jolanda Girard & Katy Blaze)
- Grace End (Bonnie Rain, Komachi Kuwabara & Tomoko Kurusu) def. MODEL Trigger (Joruri Yoshioka, Sama Hatakeda & Shim Eun-ji)

Night Two
- WORLD-J (Cassidy Gilmour & Toshie Tabuchi) def. DEATH Model (Nariko Shiomi & Yuri Yamanoue)
- Iron Bulls (Ayame Watnabe, Chikako Nishimuraya & Namiko Arai) def. Grace End (Bonnie Rain, Nanae Kimishima & Omitsu Oichi)
- Iron Warriors (Akane Konda & Boudica) def. MODEL Trigger (Joruri Yoshioka & Sama Hatakeda)
- MODEL Trigger (Rie Akiyama, Shim Eun-ji & Vittoria Scimeca) def. Grace End (Kichi Toyotomi, Komachi Kuwabara & Tomoko Kurusu)
- Elsa Martínez def. Katy Blaze

Night Three
- WORLD-J (Ayame Joshuyo, Cassidy Gilmour & Toshie Tabuchi) went to a 30 minute time limit draw with Iron Bulls (Aya Watnabe, Chikako Nishimuraya & Namiko Arai)
- MODEL Trigger (Nariko Shiomi, Tegan Merritt & Yuri Yamanoue) def. Iron Bulls (Akane Konda, Boudica & Chloe Bourel)
- Oh Oh Na Na (Nanae Kimishima & Omitsu Oichi) def. Elsa Martínez & Tonya Bagwell
- Shining Force (Julia Platino & Princesa Pantera) def. MODEL Trigger (Joruri Yoshioka & Shim Eun-ji)
- WORLD-J (Jolanda Girard & Katy Blaze) def. Lotus Heart Society (Komachi Kuwabara & Tomoko Kurusu)

Night Four
- Toshie Tabuchi def. Tegan Merritt
- DEATH Model (Nariko Shiomi & Yuri Yamanoue) def. Hollow Screams (Aya Watnabe & Namiko Arai)
- Grade End (Kichi Toyotomi & Nafeesa) def. WORLD-J (Cassidy Gilmour & Jolanda Girard)
- Elsa Martínez & Tony Bagwell def. Iron Bulls (Chikako Nishimuraya & Hisae Takagi)
- Grace End (Komachi Kuwabara, Omitsu Oichi & Tomoko Kurusu) def. Iron Bulls (Akane Konda, Boudica & Chloe Bourel)

Night Five
- Nariko Shiomi def. Katy Blaze
- Iron Bulls (Aya Watnabe, Chikako Nishimuraya & Namiko Arai) def. MODEL Trigger (Rie Akiyama, Vittoria Scimeca & Yuri Yamanoue)
- WORLD-J (Cassidy Gilmour & Toshie Tabuchi) def. Iron Bulls (Chloe Bourel & Hisae Takagi) and MODEL Trigger (Tegan Merritt & Sama Hatakeda)
- Grace End (Kichi Toyotomi, Komachi Kuwabara, Omitsu Oichi & Tomoko Kurusu) def. Akane Konda, Boudica, Elsa Martínez & Tonya Bagwell

Night Six
-Iron Bulls (Aya Watnabe, Chikako Nishimuraya, Chloe Bourel & Namiko Arai) def. MODEL Trigger (Rie Akiyama, Tegan Merritt, Vittoria Scimeca & Yuri Yamanoue)
- WORLD-J (Julia Platino, Princesa Pantera & Toshie Tabuchi) def. MODEL Trigger (Joruri Yoshioka, Nariko Shiomi & Shim Eun-ji)
- WORLD-J (Cassidy Gilmour & Katy Blaze) def. Oh Oh Na Na (Nanae Kimishima & Omitsu Oichi)
- Boudica def. Sae Tani
- Elsa Martínez def. Kichi Toyotomi

Night Seven
- DEATH Model (Nariko Shiomi & Yuri Yamanoue) def. Lotus Heart Society (Komachi Kuwabara & Tomoko Kurusu)
- WORLD-J (Ayame Joshuyo, Cassidy Gilmour & Toshie Tabuchi) def. Iron Bulls (Aya Watnabe, Chikako Nishimuraya & Namiko Arai)
- DNGR (Rie Akiyama & Vittoria Scimeca) def. Oh Oh Na Na (Nanae Kimishima & Omitsu Oichi)
- Tegan Merritt def. Hisae Takagi
- Grace End (Kichi Toyotomi & Nafeesa) def. Jolanda Girard & Tonya Bagwell
- Iron Bulls (Akane Konda, Boudica & Chloe Bourel) def. WORLD-J (Julia Platino, Katy Blaze & Princesa Pantera)

Night Eight
- MODEL Trigger (Nariko Shiomi, Tegan Merritt & Yuri Yamanoue) def. Iron Bulls (Aya Watnabe, Chloe Bourel, Namiko Arai)
- WORLD-J (Cassidy Gilmour, Katy Blaze & Toshie Tabuchi) def. Grace End (Komachi Kuwabara, Omitsu Oichi & Tomoko Kurusu)
- Chikako Nishimuraya def. Sae Tani
- Iron Warriors (Akane Konda & Boudica) def. Shining Force (Julia Platino & Princesa Pantera)
- Jolanda Girard def. UMEKO

Night Nine
- MODEL Trigger (Nariko Shiomi & Tegan Merritt) def. WORLD-J (Cassidy Gilmore & Toshie Tabuchi)
- Grace End (Kichi Toyotomi, Nanae Kimishiima & Omitsu Oichi) def. WORLD-J (Jolanda Girard, Julia Platino & Princesa Pantera)
- Yuri Yamanoue def. Nafeesa
- Iron Bulls (Chikako Nishimuraya & Chloe Bourel) def. Lotus Heart Societ (Komachi Kuwabara & Tomoko Kurusu)

Tour Recap
- Bonnie Rain picked up a simple frontal bone fracture on Night Two of the tour after a botched move from Namiko Arai and will be out for around a month.

- On Night Three Ayame Joshuyo sustained a fractured toe, she is expected to work through the injury.

- On Night Six Elsa Martinez suffered an Open Ulna Fracture. A successful operation reduced the time she's expected to be out to two weeks, giving her a slim chance of making the Diamond Flash Finale.

Edited February 5, 2023 by Markw

[Markw]

AJJ Japanese Championship: Nariko Shiomi vs. Toshie Tabuchi



Cassidy Gilmore vs. Chloe Bourel vs. Tegan Merritt



Ayame Joshuyo vs. Yuri Yamanoue



AJJ Heritage Championship: Jolanda Girard vs. Kichi Toyotomi


     
AJJ Asian Tag Team Championships: DNGR vs. Hollow Screams



Katy Blaze vs. Omitsu Oichi



Elsa Martinez vs. Nanae Kimishima


   
Iron Warriors vs. Lotus Heart Society



Chikako Nishimuraya vs. AWW's Emily Harper

Prediction Key
Nariko Shiomi vs. Toshie Tabuchi
Cassidy Gilmore vs. Chloe Bourel vs. Tegan Merritt
Ayame Joshuyo vs. Yuri Yamanoue
Jolanda Girard vs. Kichi Toyotomi
DNGR vs. Hollow Screams
Katy Blaze vs. Omitsu Oichi
Elsa Martinez vs. Nanae Kimishima
Iron Warriors vs. Lotus Heart Society
Chikako Nishimuraya vs. Emily Harper

 

Edited February 5, 2023 by Markw

[AboardTheArk]

Nariko Shiomi vs. Toshie Tabuchi

She's not losing, let's be real.
Cassidy Gilmore vs. Chloe Bourel vs. Tegan Merritt

All in on Tegan Merritt in general but since a #1 contender might come out of this I feel like I have to go out of faction. 
Ayame Joshuyo vs. Yuri Yamanoue

Shot in the dark but maybe Ayame has to reach rock bottom to finally beat Nariko, who knows.
Jolanda Girard vs. Kichi Toyotomi

I guess I hate Girard now? 
DNGR vs. Hollow Screams

That's how it looked before the DQ at least.
Katy Blaze vs. Omitsu Oichi

Leader of a faction needs to be established.
Elsa Martinez vs. Nanae Kimishima

Elsa is a big deal!
Iron Warriors vs. Lotus Heart Society

More experienced team wins, I guess.
Chikako Nishimuraya vs. Emily Harper

It's Chikako.

[Vandal]

Nariko Shiomi vs. Toshie Tabuchi
Cassidy Gilmore vs. Chloe Bourel vs. Tegan Merritt
Ayame Joshuyo vs. Yuri Yamanoue
Jolanda Girard vs. Kichi Toyotomi
DNGR vs. Hollow Screams
Katy Blaze vs. Omitsu Oichi
Elsa Martinez vs. Nanae Kimishima
Iron Warriors vs. Lotus Heart Society
Chikako Nishimuraya vs. Emily Harper

[Markw]

Just wanted to throw a quick apology out but not going to be continuing the diary, finding it's just slowing things down for me too much, will keep posting about the save on Discord. Winners were Shiomi/Tegan/Ayame/Jolanda/DNGR/Omitsu (purely because I messed up with her offer to put Katy over by having Katy win a match involving Omitsu in the tour)/Elsa/Lotus/Chikako. Thanks to those who followed, apologies to be cutting it short so early.