Wrestle Princess I

## Wrestle Princess

Promotional poster for the event, featuring various TJPW wrestlers

### Tagline(s)

"Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling biggest show in history Wrestle Princess" (Japanese: 東京女子プロレス史上最大のビッグショーWRESTLE PRINCESS, Hepburn: *Tōkyō Joshi Puroresuringu su shijō saidai no biggushō WRESTLE PRINCESS*)

## Information

### City

Tokyo, Japan

**Wrestle Princess** was a professional wrestling event promoted by Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling (TJPW). The show took place on November 7, 2020, at the Tokyo Dome City Hall in Tokyo, Japan. This is the first show promoted under the Wrestle Princess name, which is TJPW's biggest annual event. The event was notable for being Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling's first pay-per-view event.

The event was headlined by Yuka Sakazaki defending the Princess of Princess Championship against the winner of the 2020 Tokyo Princess Cup MIZUKI. Wrestle Princess also featured two other title matches with Daydream (Miu Watanabe and Rika Tatsumi) defending the Princess Tag Team Championship against Bakuretsu Sisters (Nodoka Tenma and Yuki Aino) and the tournament to crown the new International Princess Champion.

Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the event had some restrictions in attendance, following the declaration of the State of Emergency in Japan. The event aired live on CyberFight's streaming service Wrestle Universe and as a pay-per-view.

## Production

### Background

On June 4, 2012, DDT Pro-Wrestling announced the creation of their *Joshi* sub-brand Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling, with the promotion making its debut show on January 30, 2013 at Akihabara Twin Box in Tokyo. Initially running alongside other shows such as live music and other idol performances, it became its own standalone promotion starting on February 28, 2015. Following the promotion's rise in popularity, which was accompanied with TJPW holding shows at Korakuen Hall in the afternoon before NJPW's January 4 Tokyo Dome Show, led to TJPW announcing the show on August 22, 2020, taking place at the Tokyo Dome City Hall, the largest arena run by them to date, marking their first ever pay-per-view event.

The pre-sale for tickets for the event started on September 17, with tickets costing from 2000¥ to 20000¥. Tickets were also sold through E Plus and Ticket Piaka official. The tickets were announced to be sold out on October 8.

#### Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, other wrestling promotions began to cancel or postpone their shows in an attempt to prevent further spreading of the COVID-19 virus. At the end of February, TJPW began holding shows with no audience and only essential staff present. As a consequence of the virus, TJPW limited the capacity of the venue for the show.

### Storylines

Wrestle Princess featured professional wrestling matches that involved different wrestlers from pre-existing scripted feuds and storylines. Wrestlers portrayed villains, heroes, or less distinguishable characters in the scripted events that built tension and culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches.

The event was headlined by Yuka Sakazaki defending the Princess of Princess Championship against the winner of the 2020 Tokyo Princess Cup MIZUKI. On August 29, 2020, MIZUKI defeated Shoko Nakajima in the finals to win the 2020 Tokyo Princess Cup earning his spot the main event for Wrestle Princess. Traditionally, the winners of the tournament have earned a shot at the Princess of Princess Championship. Afterwards, MIZUKI challenged Yuka Sakazaki to a title match at Wrestle Princess, which she accepted.

On September 21, Daydream (Miu Watanabe and Rika Tatsumi) sucessfully defended the Princess Tag Team Championship against BeeStar (Mirai Maiumi and Suzume). Afterwards, Daydream were confronted by Mahiro Kiryu and Yuki Kamifuku, who were ready to challenge them to a title match. However, after Kiryu and Kamifuku completed their challenge, Bakuretsu Sisters (Nodoka Tenma and Yuki Aino) also challenged Daydream to a title match, due to previously unsucessfully challenging them to a title match in January, leading Tatsumi to suggest a match between them to decide their next challengers. On October 3, Bakuretsu Sisters defeated Kiryu and Kamifuku in a #1 contenders match to become the next challengers to the Princess Tag Team Championship, making their match oficial at Wrestle Princess.

On October 7, Thunder Rosa announced that she would relinquished the International Princess Championship, due to being unable to work events in Japan as a consequence of the travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The following day, TJPW announced a tournament to crown the new champion, with the semifinals and finals of the tournament culminating at Wrestle Princess. Later that month, on October 10 and 17, Hikari Noa, Mirai Maiumi, Yuki Kamifuku, and Shoko Nakajima were the participants that reached the semifinals of the tournament.

## Aftermath

On November 7, 2020, TJPW announced Wrestle Princess II, the follow-up event to Wrestle Princess, which would take place on October 9, 2021 at the Ota City General Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan.