Joshi Puroresu in the USA

You know a lot of us have always had to rely on YouTube and other internet sources to see joshi puroresu.
But thanks to Shimmer Women Athletes, ROH and Chikara, we are actually getting to see female Japanese wrestlers here in the US in action.

If you can make it to the Berwyn Eagles Club in Berwyn, Illinois (just outside Chicago), on Saturday and Sunday, March 26th and 27th, 2011 you'll get to see Ayako Hamada, Hiroyo Matsumoto, Misaki Ohata, Ayumi Kurihara and Tomoka Nakagawa
More info here: http://shimmerwrestling.blogspot.com/

If you can get to Ring of Honor's "Honor Takes Center Stage" on April 2nd, 2011 at the Center Stage Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia, you will get to see Hiroyo Matsumoto, Ayumi Kurihara and Tomoka Nakagawa there as well.
More info here: http://www.rohwrestling.com/news/atlanta-ga-april-2nd/

And on April 15,16 and 17th, if you can get to The Asylum Arena in South Philadelphia, Pennslyvania, you'll get to see joshi legend Manami Toyota team up with Mike Quakenbush and Jigsaw at Chikara's King of Trios 2011 tournament.
More info here: http://www.chikarapro.com/events.php

I havent said anything about the tragedy in Japan here, but I have been praying for the people there.
I am also glad to hear that just about all the wrestlers I have spoken with in the past are okay.
The hard times arent over in Japan yet people.
If you can help out, here's the Red Cross website:
https://american.redcross.org/
And if you cant afford it (I know times are tough), there's no price tag on prayers, positive energy and well wishes.

Ayako Hamada Gone From TNA

On Monday, December 6th, 2010, TNA Wrestling released Ayako Hamada.
Ayako (or Hamada as TNA was billing her) was one half of the current TNA Knockout Tag Team Champions along with Taylor Wilde.
Of course her release is not that much of a surprise.
TNA acted like they really had no idea what to do with Ayako (who has over twelve years experience in the ring).
In January 2010, she teamed with Awesome Kong and defeated Taylor Wilde and Sarita to win the TNA Knockouts Tag Team Titles.
Then Kong left the company and they were stripped of the belts.
Ayako only showed up now and then until she and Taylor Wilde beat The Beautiful People (Velvet Sky and Lacey Von Erich), winning the Knockout Tag Titles once again.
That match was Ayako's first time on television in four months.

I suppose this is another phenominal misuse of talent that we can lay at the feet of Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff.
Way to drive the Knockouts division into the ground guys.

Well Ayako has already worked for SHIMMER Women Athletes and Jersey All Pro Wrestling while she was working for TNA (God knows she had enough time), so we still may see her up here North of the border.
If not, I'm sure Asistencia Asesoria y Administracion (AAA) in Mexico would love to have her back.

And just for the heck of it, here are two greats, Ayako Hamada and Mima Shimoda going at it from back in 2000.
Posted of course by DoubleMiz





Ayako Hamada Gone From TNA, posted to http://joshipuroresu.blogspot.com/ on December 11th, 2010

Ayako Hamada vs Mima Shimoda

This is a match posted by DoubleMiz on YouTube of two of the most popular Japanese women wrestlers on this blog going at it, Ayako Hamada and Mima Shimoda.
This is from the Japanese wrestling promotion ARSION's ZION 2000 Tournament on September 17, 2000.
Ayako made her debut in 1998, so when this match too place, she had about 2 years of experience under her belt.
Mima on the other hand started out in 1987, so she was the veteran going into this match.



This match is full of counters and reversals, some that have to be seen to be believed.
Like when Ayako grab's Mima's hair, rears back for a head butt and Mima counters with a kick to Ayako's head, before she can head butt her!

The video quality is not as high as some of the videos you see today, and it is clipped, but that doesn’t stop this from being a classic encounter.

At one point Mima goes "old school heel" (which she is) and grabs Ayako by the hair, lifting her up to stop the count during an attempted pin.

There are a few submission holds, but not like you see today.



But there are lots of suplexes.



And the match ends with a TKO, which is something you rarely see.

If you like this video, you can check out DoubleMiz's YouTube channel for even more.
http://www.youtube.com/user/DoubleMiz




Ayako Hamada vs Mima Shimoda, posted to http://joshipuroresu.blogspot.com/ on May 26th, 2010.

Candy Okutsu wrestling Ayako Hamada

Here is a match posted by HybridDolphinELPS on YouTube, of Candy Okutsu wrestling Ayako Hamada in Ayako's debut for the ARSION wrestling promotion back in 1998.
1998?
Has it really been that long?

Anyway, like I said, this was Ayako's debut wrestling match, and she was seventeen at the time, although you couldn't tell it by her in ring performance.
Less than one year after this match, she and Mika Akino won the Twinstar of ARSION tag- team wrestling belts.
Of course Ayako has wrestled all over the world since then for promotions like Asistencia Asesoría y Administración (AAA) in Mexico, TNA wrestling, Shimmer Women Athletes and many more.

Candy Okutsu on the other hand had a few years under her belt at the time of this match, having debuted on August 4, 1992 (also at the age of 17) for the JWP.

But looking at this match, you really cant see much of a difference in their in-ring abilities.

Starting off, Candy hits the double bicep pose after she gets in the ring....



And to show that she's not intimidated, Ayako does the same...



The two women exchange a flurry of the typical (for Joshi) high speed attacks, reversals and counters, winding up with a test of strength in the center of the ring....



After one brutal exchange (I think Candy had some of the hardest elbows in the business) she goes for a pin on Ayako...



Later on, she traps Ayako in the inevitable Boston Crab...



But Ayako rallies, and traps Candy in a sleeper....




This is a really good, solid Joshi match, and one you can show your friends to help explain that even a standard Joshi match is better than 90% of the WWE Diva and TNA Knockout matches.

And of course you can visit HybridDolphinELPS' channel on YouTube to this see this, and more Joshi action like it.

http://www.youtube.com/user/HybridDolphinELPS

Candy Okutsu wrestling Ayako Hamada posted to http://joshipuroresu.blogspot.com/ on May 2nd, 2010

Hamada In TNA So Far

Hamada's TNA entrance, complete with Anime like portrait. http://www.tnawrestling.com/

The most popular topic on this blog by far last month was Ayako Hamada, or just "Hamada" as she's now known in TNA.

Hamada made her debut on TNA Impact! on August 27th when she battled another veteran female wrestler Daffney in a No Disqualification match.
Hamada came out on top and she seemed to be pushed as a face.

Then the next week she teamed with Sojo Bolt to go up against Tara and Christy Hemme (considering their old WWE feud, an unusual combination).
Hamada and Bolt lost, and afterwards, Hamada hit Sojo with the Hamada Driver (Sitout scoop slam piledriver) for losing.
So is Hamada a face or a heel?
Or will they pull a Stone Cold and have her as a tween that might give anyone the Hamada Driver if she gets angry?

In case you missed the match, you can see the whole thing on YouTube here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikwmUMjIZKU

BTW, note the exchange between Hamada and Tara (my mark out moment) at the beginning that lead to a double kip up and applause from the TNA audience.
Applause during a female wrestling match?
Amazing.

Ayako Hamada Finally at TNA.com

I'm interrupting the Women of Hustle series to let everyone know that Ayako Hamada has finally been acknowledged on the TNA homepage.
You can read a press release about her from TNA here:
http://www.tnawrestling.com/content/view/1647/84/

It looks like TNA will call her just "Hamada".

Just thought I'd pop in with that since a lot of people have been wondering when she'd actually show up.
Now if I can just forgive them for that Cody Deaner crap......

Japanese Female Wrestling: More of the Ladies of Hustle

Luchadora Cynthia Moreno also wrestled for Japanese wrestling promotion Hustle.
Of course Cynthia comes from a big wrestling family including Luchadores Alfonso Moreno (her father) and El Oriental (her brother) and her sisters Luchadoras Esther Moreno, Alda Moreno and Rossy Moreno.



Before retiring, Joshi legend Dump Matsumoto worked for Hustle as well.



I told you Ayako Hamada would show up again, and here she is as heel Dokuron Z (or Dokron Z).
Isn't that La Parka in the background?

Japanese Female Wrestling: Hustle

Pro wrestling in Japan has always been different.
But it doesn't get much different than the Japanese wrestling promotion Hustle.
They used to call the WWE a soap opera with chair shots.
Well imagine the WWE on acid.
You have a pretty good idea of Hustle.

But even as wild as Hustle is, it has had it's share of great wrestlers in their ring.
Some of the female wrestlers are not well known, but some are down right legends.
And some..well you might get a kick seeing what they look(ed) like in Hustle......



Yes, that's legendary Lucha Libre and Joshi star Ayako Hamada as Arisin Z.
This is the first, but not the last time she'll pop up on this list.


And yes another Lucha Libre star, Fabi Apache.
Doesn't look like Hustle remade Fabi much.


Although she's retired now, legendary Japanese female wrestler Devil Masami worked for Hustle under the name Madama Devil.

You can check out Hustle's homepage (In Japanese)here:
http://www.hustlehustle.com/

To be continued......

Ayako Hamada Update

Finally an update on Ayako Hamada in TNA.
The Sun is reporting that Ayako is expected to start at the next set of TV tapings.

As you may recall, on April 8, 2009, it was announced at a press conference that Ayako had signed with TNA.
Of course I have been waiting since then to see just when she would pop up.

I'm still thinking a tag team with her and Sarah Stock (aka Dark Angel, aka Sarita) would be a great idea.
Lucha Libre AND Joshi Puroresu combined.

When Will Ayako Hamada Show Up In TNA?

Now I am really wondering when Ayako Hamada will show up in TNA.
Her signing with them was reported almost a month ago, and I'm wondering if TNA will pull a Sarah Stock and wait months before we see her in the ring.
(Watch, as soon as I post this she'll show up)
I checked TNA's homepage, and neither Sarah nor Ayako are listed there.
I'm also thinking that Sarah and Ayako would make an awesome tag team.
Lucha Libre and Joshi Puroresu together.
Just be glad the WWE didn't sign them, or they'd both debut as valets.

Joshi Puroresu and YouTube

If you just cant get enough Joshi, I have a couple of really good stops for you on YouTube.

The first is nagashimark's channel.
There you can see matches with soon to be TNA star Ayako Hamada, Nanae Takahashi, Kaori Yoneyama, Chikayo Nagashima, Devil Masami, Plum Mariko, Chigusa Nagayo and Cutie Suzuki.
The url is http://www.youtube.com/user/nagashimark
It might be a good idea to subscribe too because new videos get posted on a regular basis.

My next favorite Joshi channel on YouTube is DoubleMiz.
Lots of Joshi greats here too like Momoe Nakanishi, Ayako Hamada, Mariko Yoshida, Mima Shimoda, Mayumi Ozaki and Megumi Kudo.
The url is http://www.youtube.com/user/DoubleMiz
DoubleMiz also has a Veoh page here: http://www.veoh.com/users/ringmistress
And DoubleMiz's channel is another good one to subscribe to.


technorati tags: female wrestle, japanese female wrestling, wrestling females, wrestler

Ayako Hamada Coming to TNA

Ayako Hamada Coming to TNA

I have written about Ayako Hamada several times here on this blog.
Now the daughter of the legendary Gran Hamada is leaving Japan and Mexico to become a TNA Knockout.
With joshi puroresu on the decline in Japan, now is probably a good time for American wrestling promotions like TNA and WWE to start grabbing some of the talent there.
Ayako's wrestling background is impeccable, and I think it'll be great for her to get exposure here in the US.
It might even help breathe some like into Japan's wrestling scene.
So far there has been no official announcement at TNA Wrestling.com.


You can visit Ayako's website here:
http://ayakohamada.com/

Yumi Fukawa wrestling Ayako Hamada

Yumi Fukawa vs Ayako Hamada

Here is a picture of Yumi Fukawa wrestling Ayako Hamada.
Yumi looks very pleased with the cross face she has locked on Ayako.

More Manami Toyota wrestling Ayako Hamada in Japan.

Heres another photo of Manami Toyota wrestling Ayako Hamada.

technorati tags: pro wrestling ,pro wrestling history ,all japan pro wrestling ,women pro wrestling ,sports wrestling ,wrestling move ,professional wrestling ,wrestling wrestlers ,wrestling moves ,wrestling ,wrestling news ,japanese wrestling

Manami Toyota wrestling Ayako Hamada in Japan

Here's a couple of photos of Manami Toyota wrestling Ayako Hamada in Japan.
It looks like Manami has her pretty well tied up here.

technorati tags: pro wrestling rumors ,pro wrestling news ,pro wrestling ,pro wrestling history ,all japan pro wrestling ,women pro wrestling ,sports wrestling ,wrestling move

More Ayako Hamada wrestling in Japan

More Ayako Hamada wrestling in Japan

First up, Ayako hitting Michiko Ohmukai with a shooting star press.

Then Ayako with a boston crab on Yumi Fukawa.

technorati tags: sexy, japan, sports, pro-wrestling, wrestling, pro wrestling, pro wrestling blog, pro-wrestling, news

Ayako Hamada wrestling Mariko Yoshida in Japan

Here's some photos of Ayako Hamada wrestling Mariko Yoshida in Japan.

Ayako is working that headscissors armbar thing hard on Mariko.

Both of them being the awesome mat technicians that they are, this must have been a great match.

technorati tags: sexy, japan, sports, pro-wrestling, wrestling, pro wrestling, pro wrestling blog, pro-wrestling, news

More Ayako Hamada wrestling Azumi Hyuga in Japan

Here are some more photos of Ayako Hamada wrestling Azumi Hyuga in Japan.

Azumi trying to bridge out of a pin attempt by Ayako.

Throwing the fancy wrestling moves out the window, Azumi tries a good old fashioned choke on the bottom rope.

technorati tags: sexy, sports, pro-wrestling, japan, wrestling, pro wrestling, pro wrestling blog, pro-wrestling, news

Ayako Hamada wrestling Azumi Hyuga in Japan

Some photos of Ayako Hamada wrestling Azumi Hyuga in Japan.
First, Ayako is pushing Azumi into the ropes.....

Next, Ayako with a headscissors armbar (?)

Finally, a good old fashioned sideheadlock.

technorati tags: sexy sports, pro-wrestling, wrestling, pro wrestling, pro wrestling blog, japan, pro-wrestling, news