Yuki Aino & Haru Kazashiro Win Princess Tag Team Championships at TJPW Wrestle Princess VII

By: Noah Leatherland

TJPW brought a stacked card to Tokyo EBARA WAVE Arena Ota for Wrestle Princess VII. Of the quartet of title matches on the show, Yuki Aino & Haru Kazashiro were the ones to snatch gold away from the reigning champions.

Aino and Kazashiro, known together as Prism Greed, stepped up to the reigning champions of Daydream, Miu Watanabe and Rika Tatsumi. Despite having some disagreements in the lead up to TJPW Wrestle Princess VII, it seemed that Watanabe and Tatsumi were back on the same page for the title bout. However, Aino and Kazashiro proved to be too spirited for the champion. In the end, Aino was able to secure the victory for her team by making Rika Tatsumi submit to the Love and Fire Full NelsonZ.

The win crowns Aino as a three time Princess Tag Team Champion, having previously held the belts with Nodoka Tenma and Ryo Mizunami. For Kazashiro, the tag title is the first championship of her burgeoning career. Both were overcome with emotion, sharing tears as they celebrated their title win.

The tears continued in the post-math comments as Aino shared her love for her partner:

I thought I couldn’t keep going so many times, but every time I did, Haru came to my rescue. That’s why I think the belt is here with us now.

Elsewhere on the card, other champions managed to keep hold of their prizes. First up was Shoko Nakajima defending the SETUP All Asia Women’s Title against Zara Zakher. Zakher was looking to make a triumphant return to TJPW, but Nakajima had other plans. The Big Kaiju used her locomotion Northern Lights suplexes to keep her challenger down.

Afterwards, Nakajima shared her elation of retaining the SETUP championship:

I’m exhausted but I’ve had a brilliant time! I’m so glad my first title defence was against Zara. I want everyone at SETUP to say that this belt has become the best belt ever because Nakajima holds it, and as Tokyo Joshi is still so much fun, I’ll keep growing alongside this belt so we can aim even higher.

While Zakher was reeling from the defeat, being back in a TJPW ring has only boosted her competitive spirit:

Man, I love TJPW so, so much. I’m beat up, my elbow’s probably gonna get three times bigger, but its all worth it, because this is my home away from home. I love this place so much and I’m so glad that almost two years later, TJPW, the fans, they want me back. Guess what? If you want me again, say my name. Tell them that you want me, ’cause I wanna be here. Shoko is one of the best, and I just wrestled her, and I almost won. So what does that say about me? It says I could be one of the best.

More partner titles were on the line, with Miyu Yamashita defending the Pro Wrestling EVE International Title against Arisu Endo. Though Endo fought valiantly against the Pink Striker, a wrecking ball of a Skull Kick put Endo down for the count.

Though Endo’s head was rocked by Yamahsita’s boot, she was still able to articulate her feelings and her passion in the post-match comments:

I think the fact that I’ve reached the point where I can fight Yamashita for the title is down to me getting stronger. I’m certainly not giving up now. She looked even more intimidating than she did in the preliminary bouts—and I was scared—but after the fight, I realised I really do love this person, and I want to beat her to get to the top.

Then, in the main event, Yuki Arai defended the Princess of Princess Championship against Tokyo Princess Cup winner, Suzume. Despite Suzume’s best efforts, Arai pulled off another performance that demonstrated her world champion spirit. Once again, it was the Finally axe kick that led Arai to victory, making a successful 5th defence of TJPW’s top title.

After the bout, Arai was met by her next challenger. Once again, Arai is set to defend against a fellow champion, as Shoko Nakajima returned to the ring to make her challenging declaration. Arai was happy to grant Nakajima a title match, with the bout being made for November 8th in Korakuen Hall at TJPW All Rise.

In the post-match comments, Suzume spoke to how Arai is leading TJPW into the future:

Princess of Princess—I didn’t quite make it. It’s only because Yuki-chan has shown everyone her dreams, pursued her own dreams, and led Tokyo Joshi that I’ve been able to hold on to my own dreams. This ambitious challenge was only possible because Yuki Arai was the champion.

Arai shared her joy, but already has her sights set on the Nakajima:

I’ve got the belt! I’ve managed to win my fifth title defence! When I saw Suzume win the tournament, I knew it wouldn’t be long before we faced each other. Nakajima is the opponent who beat me in this summer’s tournament, so ever since that day, I’ve been determined to get my revenge.

Then, Nakajima shared her own very straightforward thoughts on Arai’s championship:

I’m going to challenge for the belt! I’d always thought of both Arai-chan and Suzume as lovely juniors, so watching that main event, I felt like I wanted to avenge Suzume… Well, that’s a lie—the truth is, the belt that Yuki Arai holds just looked incredibly appealing. I thought, “I want that.” That’s all!

(Quotes translated via DeepL)

Here are the full results for TJPW Wrestle Princess VII, courtesy of purolove.com:

• Uta Takami def. Ren Konatsu (8:25)
• HIMAWARI, Shino Suzuki & Mifu Ashida def. Shion Kanzaki, Momo Sato & Chieri Sakimori (11:02)
• Raku & Minimo def. Mahiro Kiryu & Tama and Pom Harajuku & Pokotan (10:43)
• Aja Kong, Sakura Hattori & Kumadori def. Chris Brookes, Kira Summer & Chika Nanase (13:25)
• Yuki Kamifuku & VENY def. Wakana Uehara & Toga (12:27)
• Mizuki def. Hyper Misao (10:23)
• SETUP All Asia Women’s Title: Shoko Nakajima (c) def. Zara Zakher (12:23)
• EVE International Title: Miyu Yamashita (c) def. Arisu Endo (10:31)
• Princess Tag Team Title: Yuki Aino & Haru Kazashiro def. Rika Tatsumi & Miu Watanabe (c) (19:58)
• Princess of Princess Title: Yuki Arai (c) def. Suzume (21:51)