When many pro-wrestling fans hear the words "joshi puroresu", they think of vibrant costumes, dazzling athleticism, and a unique brand of professional wrestling that has captivated audiences worldwide. And in most cases, this is true. However, joshi puroresu is far more than a spectacle; it's an emotional, physically demanding, and historically significant style of wrestling that deserves recognition for its innovation and impact.
Historically, joshi puroresu has played a key role in the global development of women's wrestling. It has been an inspiration and training ground for a great number of female wrestlers around the world, influencing styles and promotions across continents. From the legendary AJW, which dominated the joshi (women's professional wrestling in Japan), landscape for decades, to the modern era, featuring promotions like Stardom, joshi continues to evolve and push the boundaries of women's wrestling. These promotions, and many others, showcase the remarkable talent and dedication of joshi wrestlers, carrying the torch and forging a new path for the future.
Joshi carves its own distinct path within the wider wrestling environment. While it shares some core similarities with men's puroresu, it has evolved its own unique characteristics, blending hard-hitting strikes, high-flying maneuvers, and psychology into an absorbing and unforgettable display, very similar to the male Japanese wrestlers who have embraced the lucha libre style.
One of the defining elements of joshi is that it blends together strong style and the King's Road style. Many joshi deliver stiff kicks/strikes and impressive suplexes, can quickly change strategies and utilize holds and submissions when needed, and also perform amazing aerial maneuvers. In addition, due to toughness and resilience, many of them are also willing to absorb punishment that can rival, and often surpass, the physicality seen in men's matches.
Technical wrestling, with its emphasis on chain wrestling, counters, and submissions, is also an important part, adding another layer of complexity to the in-ring action. This blend of styles creates a dynamic and unpredictable product, keeping audiences on the edge of their seats.
An example of a match that featured all of the elements of a joshi match was the classic encounter between World Of Stardom Champion Io Shirai and Mayu Iwatani at Stardom Gold May 2016 with the championship on the line. Both women can just as easily deliver suplexes and stiff kicks/strikes as they can wrestle the technical style and perform high-flying moves. Meanwhile, they both display that they can take a beating and come back fighting.
This match can be seen in its entirety via the Stardom World streaming service, and although Io Shirai and Mayu Iwatani were tag team partners at the time, their match was intense. This intensity evolved into a deeply personal rivalry six months later, with Shirai betraying Iwatani during a tag team match.
The matches during the rivalry between Io Shirai and Mayu Iwatani were charged with emotion, reflecting the broken trust. They were about more than the World Of Stardom Championship. It's matches that display this type of emotion, alongside excellent athleticism, that sets joshi puroresu apart and demonstrates its true power.
Io Shirai and Mayu Iwatani showed that the best championship rivalries are not always focused solely on a championship. Sometimes, they are also about friendships that are complicated or broken. As the rivalry continues, audiences become invested in the wrestlers and their journey. The emotional aspect elevates joshi matches beyond athletic contests; they become compelling dramas that present themes of loyalty, betrayal, and the human spirit.
Joshi puroresu is a testament to the athleticism, artistry, and toughness of women in professional wrestling. It's a style that deserves to be celebrated not just for its physicality, but also for its emotional depth and its enduring impact on the world of professional wrestling, as we recognize the true power and skill of joshi.
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