I have a friend who likes to ask me wrestling questions from time to time. Today in my twitter DMs I received this:
What are your top 3-5 Joshi matches you’ve seen, and would you recommend to others?
I followed up by asking if they meant for hardcore or casual fans and they asked for both. With me being the great friend I am, instead of answering them in the DMs, I decided to write a little blog post. Something I haven’t done in, checks… four years!
Recommending Matches
This is always so complicated, because you can think about it in so many different ways. Do you want to talk about the best? Do you want to talk about your favourites? Can you project yourself into this person and think of something they will like? What route do you take?
That gets back to my question, who am I recommending the matches to? A casual fan and a hardcore fan are not looking for the same things. That is why I am splitting this into two lists, including one match that will be on both. We’ll save that match to the end.
4 Joshi Matches to Watch for Casual Fans
This list is not going to be the best matches ever! A casual fan is generally drawn to different things than the best match quality. The first music someone usually gets into is generally not Mozart or Pet Sounds. Below I will give four matches that are the Justin Beiber of Joshi, in my opinion.
Akira Hokuto vs Yasha Kurenai
(1993-06-11, AJW)
One of the most watched, if not the most watched, joshi matches on all of the YouTube (Over 4.9 million views). This is the PERFECT match to show a casual fan. Why? One, because it’s fucking awesome. Two, because it grabs your attention. Three, because it’s short enough.
You might need to explain the reputations of both of these wrestlers. Hokuto being The Dangerous Queen and Yasha Kurenai being a not well renown wrestler from a smaller promotion.
Yasha is super arrogant and attacks early, that is until Hokuto has had enough and just ENDS HER. It’s perfect and will draw in any casual fan.
AZM vs Starlight Kid
(High Speed Title, 2022-02-23, Stardom Cinderella Journey In Nagaoka)
In the 1990s the luchadores in World Championship Wrestling’s Cruiserweight division was a thrill for casual and hardcore fans alike. In modern wrestling the biggest equivalent is Stardom’s High Speed division. These two teenagers wrestle at speeds unthinkable to most fans, but not in a way that it’s speed for speed’s sake. It’s s smart match that will peak the interest of a casual fan and get them into today’s joshi.
Kana vs Syuri
(SMASH Diva Title, 2011-08-11, SMASH)
One way for a casual fan to get into another style is to show them a wrestler they already know. Kana, known as Asuka, has been a big star in the World Wrestling Entertainment for years. There are a lot of amazing Kana matches, but I feel picking the match where she faces the current top joshi wrestler, Syuri, is a smart choice. This match also feels more like an MMA fight than a wrestling match, which might help as a gateway match.
Akira Hokuto vs Meiko Satomura
(2001-04-29, GAEA Limit Break)
In my head I didn’t want to repeat wrestlers on these lists, but Akira Hokuto is the greatest wrestler ever, so she’s an easy exception to make. This also happens to be an all-time classic. Here, Meiko, the spunky up and comer takes on the legendary Dangerous Queen. Does Meiko have enough to put Hokuto away? It’s an easy story to get behind and the Rocky II finish rules every single time it is used.
4 Joshi Matches to Watch for Hardcore Fans
For hardcore wrestling fans that may not have seen any or much joshi, the recommendations are easier in one way and maybe harder in another. Joshi has a bit of a reputation, so maybe you want to give recommendations that are counter to that? The other option is my first choice that is the best of what they would expect.
Emi Sakura vs Kaori Yoneyama
(JWP Openweight Title Hair vs Hair, 2010-09-19, JWP Revolution)
Oh boy, let’s get right into it! Tag partners turned into enemies fighting for a title and to keep their hair. The intensity is off the page. It gets into counter intensive and bomb fest, but done really well. It’s from the “dead” era of joshi, so it’s not well known. That should be changed. Yes, Kaori Yoneyama is currently Fukigen Death in Stardom. The post match hair cutting is an emotional airfare, that joshi catches really well.
Kairi Hojo vs Meiko Satomura
(World of Stardom Title, 2015-06-14, Stardom Galaxy Stars)
A classic from earlier Stardom. I’ve recommended this match to so many, as it showcases how Hojo is one of the best babyfaces of all time. She fights to survive unlike almost any wrestler in history. She may be the champion going into this, but she is the huge underdog against the legend that is Meiko. When she does get her shots in, they really count. Let’s be honest though, this is Meiko’s match to win.
Crush Gals (Chigusa Nagayo & Lioness Asuka)
vs
Jumping Bomb Angels (Itsuko Yamazaki & Noriyo Tateno)
(WWWA Tag Team Titles 2/3 Falls, AJW, 1986-03-20)
I hope all hardcore fans have seen The Crush Gals, but more specifically Chigusa Nagayo. There is so many Chigusa matches you can pick. She is a greatest wrestler ever #1 candidate. I like this match, because it shows off how insanely over The Crush Gals were, even against another amazing babyface team in The Jumping Bomb Angels. It shows off the WWWA Tag Team Titles 2/3 format well with a strong first fall built around chain wrestling and submissions until an exciting finish. The second fall is awesome and what you would expect, and it ends with an all out excitement third fall!
Bull Nakano vs Devil Masami
(JWP, 1993-04-18)
People often talk about 6-4-94 as the classic among classics, but here we have a match that cut from the same ilk that you could argue is even better. This match really stands out in 1990s joshi, as it has a real build to escalation like the before mentioned 6-4-94 match, without the relentless pace of joshi. These two legends add so many small great little touches that help make this match get better and better after multiple viewings.
1 Joshi Match to Watch for Everyone
You could throw this match on either list, it’s that awesome.
Dump Matsumoto vs Yukari Omori
(1986-03-20, AJW)
If you haven’t seen this match stop! Pause this blog and watch it now.
Done? Okay, let’s continue.
This is the most visceral match in wrestling history. A truly unstoppable mythical monster versus a never give up fighter. It’s violent. It’s scary. At one point Dump slams a pair of scissors into Omori’s arm and just walks away.
Don’t watch this late at night, but watch it and show everyone you know! Then watch it again.
What did you think of this list? Hit me up on twitter and let me know.
#GWE26
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Of course, the greatest wrestling match of all time is Akira Hokuto vs Shinobu Kandori on 1993-04-02 on AJW All-Star Dream Slam, so maybe just watch that instead?
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