In this entry of the Fightful Joshi Journal, we take a look at TJPW's ALL RISE '22 show, their final major event of the year, as Yuka Sakazaki successfully defended her championship against U.S. indie wrestler Billie Starkz and Miyu Yamashita battled Millie McKenzie with the EVE Championship on the line.
Yuka Sakazaki Earns First Title Defense Against Billie Starkz
Yuka Sakazaki had her first defense of the Princess of Princess Championship and it came in the wild card of Billie Starkz. For anyone who follows the U.S. Indies, you know the name of Billie and her Big Starkz Brand. But TJPW gave her one of the most significant opportunities in her young career to travel to Japan for the first time and not only compete on their tour but challenge Sakazaki for the title in the main event of a show in the legendary Korakuen Hall. The challenge was an intriguing one because these two had only gone head-to-head in a preview tag team match earlier in the week.
Starkz was up for the test against Sakazaki, showing the world that this wasn’t going to be a one-time stay in Japan and that there should be many more opportunities in the future. She brought it to the Princess of Princess Champion as the move that shifted the match was when Starkz planted Sakazaki on the apron with an Electric Chair Driver that’d send shivers down anyone’s spine. Eventually, the perseverant and hard-hitting champion battled back with brutal strikes of her own. The finish came when Sakazaki hit the Magical Merry-Go-Round on Starkz for the win.
The respect that was paid between the champion and the challenger spoke volumes to what Starkz managed to achieve in her TJPW debut and while going for the very top of the promotion is hard, she will hopefully be back to make a mark and improve her craft down the line. A different main event from what we’ve seen in Joshi this year but one that could hint at what’s to come in the future for TJPW.
Miyu Yamashita & Millie McKenzie Bring Friendly Rivalry To TJPW with EVE Championship On The Line
There's something about a big Miyu Yamashita match that leaves everyone on the edge of their seat. Yes, she's a tremendous pro wrestler and one of the best in the world but she's able to face anyone and have a terrific match when the stakes are raised. This time? Millie McKenzie.
The former NXT UK star has made her way back to Japan after being released from WWE earlier in the year and has done nothing but show the world why she is one of the best young wrestlers on it. She had two matches with Yamashita previously this year -- one in RCW in Spain and another at Pro Wrestling EVE's Wrestle Queendom V. The record heading into this EVE Championship match was one apiece, making for a perfect rematch with it being in TJPW.
McKenzie nabbed the victory over Yamashita in their preview tag match, so it's fair to say that she may have been in the head of "The Pink Striker" heading into the bout. Betting against the Ace of TJPW is a tricky game to play, however, as she always shows up in the biggest spots.
This match was no different and these two put on the best of their trilogy. The action was intense, the back-and-forth was engaging, and the closing stretch was "edge of your seat" type of stuff. Yamashita successfully defended the EVE Championship by hitting her signature Skull Kick on McKenzie, who crashed down to the mat.
With McKenzie already being scheduled for another match in TJPW, it's a welcome sign to see her continuing to work in the promotion. She made an impact against the company's ace and should become a major player the more she gets to compete in TJPW and other promotions in Japan.
Yamashita later challenged Sakazaki for the Princess of Princess Championship as she aims to become a double champion on January 4.
Exciting times in the world of TJPW.
Full results for the show are below.
TJPW ALL RISE '22 Results (11/27/22)
- Suzume def. Yoshiko Hasegawa
- Kyoraku Kyomei (Hyper Misao & Shoko Nakajima) def. Haruna Neko, Kaya Toribami & Mahiro Kiryu
- Hakuchumu (Rika Tatsumi & Miu Watanabe) def. Juria Nagano & Moka Miyamoto
- Miu Watanabe vs. Trish Adora was made official for January 4
- Mizuki def. Arisu Endo
- Yuki Kamifuku & Nao Kakuta def. Maki Itoh & Hikari Noa
- EVE Championship: Miyu Yamashita (c) def. Millie McKenzie
- Princess Tag Team Championship: Reiwa AA Cannon (Saki Akai & Yuki Arai) (c) def. Pom Harajuku & Yuki Aino
- Max The Impaler & Heidi Howitzer challenged Reiwa AA Cannon for the Princess Tag Team Championship for January 4
- Princess of Princess Championship: Yuka Sakazaki (c) def. Billie Starkz
- Miyu Yamashita challenged Yuka Sakazaki for a title match on January 4
Matches Worth Checking Out (11/30/22)
- STARDOM
- Utami Hayashishita & Saya Kamitani vs. Syuri & Tomoka Inaba
- TJPW
- Mizuki vs. Arisu Endo
- Miyu Yamashita vs. Millie McKenzie
- Yuka Sakazaki vs. Billie Starkz
Notable results from the week:
Ice Ribbon #1242 (11/26/22)
- Asahi & Riko Kaiju def. Chie Ozora & Saran
- Sumika Yanagawa def. Yura Suzuki
- KISSmeT PRINCESS (Nao Ishikawa & Amin) def. Totora Satsuki & Yuko Sakurai
- Triangle Ribbon Championship: Yuuki Mashiro (c) def. Miyako Matsumoto and Kaho Matsushita
Check out our latest Joshi interviews with Yuzuki Aikawa, Maya Yukihi, and Maria.
