Miyu Yamashita was groomed as the top star of Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling (TJPW), becoming the first-ever Tokyo Princess of Princess Champion on January 4, 2016. Today, she is widely recognized as the promotion’s ace.
Yamashita began her training in Kyokushin karate and mixed martial arts at a young age, initially harboring dreams of becoming an idol. Despite participating in numerous auditions, she struggled to find success in the idol industry. Her path took a turn when she was introduced to professional wrestler Kyohei Mikami, who invited her to train for Dramatic Dream Team’s (DDT) new sister promotion, Tokyo Joshi Pro. At just 17 years old, Yamashita moved to Tokyo and began training under Mikami’s guidance.
In its early years, TJPW was a small promotion, often running shows alongside live music and other performances. Despite the promotion’s modest beginnings, Yamashita was quickly positioned as its future star. When TJPW began holding full-scale shows, Yamashita secured her spot at the top of the card. Known for her strong kicks and karate-based offense, she earned the nickname “Pink Striker.”
On January 4, 2016, at TJPW’s biggest show to date, Yamashita defeated her longtime rival Shoko Nakajima to become the first-ever Tokyo Princess of Princess Champion. She held the title until September of that year when she was defeated by Yuu. In August 2017, Yamashita faced Sendai Girls’ Pro Wrestling’s Meiko Satomura in her first singles match outside of TJPW but was defeated. On January 4, 2018, Yamashita reclaimed the Tokyo Princess of Princess Championship by defeating Reika Saiki, marking her second reign. Throughout 2018, she successfully defended her title against formidable opponents such as Yuna Manase, Veda Scott, Priscilla Kelly, Yuu, Maho Kurone, and Rika Tatsumi. By January 4, 2019, she had defeated Maki Itoh to achieve a full year as champion, the longest reign in the title’s history. At WWN Mercury Rising 2019, Yamashita defeated Allysin Kay in a title vs. title match to win the Shine Championship. On May 4, 2021, she won the Tokyo Princess of Princess Championship for the third time, defeating Rika Tatsumi. Recently, Yamashita has been teaming with her friend and rival, Maki Itoh, though their attempt to capture the TJPW Tag Team titles was unsuccessful.
Thank you for reading up to this point. Now, it’s time for what you’re likely here for: the dream matches. As always, I’ll be picking five women from around the world who I would love to see face off against Miyu Yamashita.
Honorable Mentions: Mayu Iwatani and Io Shirai
Let’s face it, folks. Io Shirai and Mayu Iwatani are two of the best women’s wrestlers on the planet today. It’s a given that any fan would want to see Miyu Yamashita, the Ace of TJPW, step into the ring with them. Io Shirai has done it all in her career and is currently on NXT, awaiting WWE’s next move. It’s a shame she’s not being utilized to her full potential, as she’s better than 99% of WWE’s roster, including Charlotte Flair. Then there’s Mayu Iwatani, the Icon of Stardom, who played a pivotal role in saving Stardom after the departures of Kairi Hojo and Io Shirai to WWE. A match between Yamashita and either of these two would be a dream come true.
4. Sarray – NXT
Next up is Sarray, the Strong Style badass of NXT. Sarray recently took a hiatus to return to Japan but is expected to make her way back to the U.S. It’s a shame, as it would have been fantastic to see her stay in Japan and work with TJPW or Stardom, especially in a match against Miyu Yamashita. Sarray can stand toe-to-toe with Miyu. While she may not be on Miyu’s level in striking, she has a versatile skill set that would make her a formidable opponent. Both women are young with bright futures ahead of them, so I can still hope that this match will happen someday.
3. Syuri – Stardom
If there’s anyone in Stardom who could match Miyu Yamashita in martial arts abilities, it’s Syuri. The current SWA Champion and #1 contender for the World of Stardom Championship, Syuri is a former UFC competitor and a legitimate badass. Her recent match with Konami showcased her striking and grappling prowess. A match between Syuri and Miyu would likely end with one, or both, knocked out. These two would kick the ever-living hell out of each other, and it would be exhilarating to watch.
2. Dakota Kai – WWE
Dakota Kai may not be on Miyu’s level when it comes to striking, but the Captain of Team Kick is an intriguing matchup nonetheless. Dakota can hang with anyone in the world. She’s been in the ring with some of the greatest, including Io Shirai and Mayu Iwatani. Dakota Kai would undoubtedly push Miyu to her limit. She’d likely get an even better match out of Miyu than Maki Itoh did, and that was already a match of the year contender. Dakota took Io Shirai to the absolute limit, making her a must-see opponent for Miyu before either retires.
1. Tam Nakano – Stardom
Topping my list is Tam Nakano, the Kung Fu Master of Stardom and the Stardom Dream herself. While Tam may not be as prolific a striker as Syuri, her lethal kicks make her the best match Stardom has to offer for Miyu. Both women could kick each other’s lights out, and they possess the skills to excel in any situation the match might present. Tam’s recent matches with Mayu Iwatani, Unagi Sayaka, and Mina Shirakawa have highlighted her in-ring abilities and her talent for leading a match. Pairing two women of this caliber would undoubtedly result in a match of the year contender, if not the total MOTY winner. I eagerly await the day Tam and Miyu face off in the ring.
