How I Met Your Puroresu is a series dedicated to providing background information on matches in hopes of broadening horizons. These matches will be no longer than that of a sitcom as to not overwhelm a first time viewer.
Company: Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling
Show Title: 8th Tokyo Princess Cup Semifinal
Match: Mizuki vs Maki Itoh
Stakes: Tokyo Princess Cup Semifinal
Length: 19 Minutes
Production Date: August 14, 2021
Air Date: August 14, 2021
How far would you be willing to push yourself in order to prove the doubters wrong? Maki Itoh finds herself in the same position as last year – in the Princess Cup semifinal match up against her former Itoh Respect Army partner and looking to erase the narratives of her being all bark, no bite.
Itoh and Mizuki entered Tokyo Joshi Pro in 2017 and after both of them came up short in the 2017 Princess Cup (Mizuki made it to the semifinal while Itoh was eliminated in the first round) they entered a tournament to crown the inaugural TOKYO Princess Tag Team Championship together.
The duo lost to the eventual winners in the semifinal round but continued to team together heading in 2018 where they again came up empty in an opportunity to claim the titles. By the midway point of the year the two went their separate ways and Mizuki found immediate success teaming up with Yuka Sakazaki, winning the 2018 Yeah! Metcha Tag Tournament before heading into a near 300-day reign as the tag team champions.
Still, neither woman was finding success in the singles ranks. 2018 saw both eliminated in the first round of the Princess Cup; Mizuki to eventual partner Sakazaki in the first round and Itoh to first rival turned partner, Miyu Yamashita.
Speaking of Yamashita, Itoh’s first challenge for the top prize in TJPW, the Princess of Princess Championship, came in 2019 where once again, Itoh failed to capture a title. Mizuki on the other hand managed to win that year’s Princess Cup but failed in her challenge to champion Shoko Nakajima. Itoh made it past the first round of the Princess Cup that year before losing to Natsupoi in the second round.
2020 felt like a seismic shift may be under way when Itoh entered the year as the first of the two to win a singles championship, the International Princess, picking up two defenses before losing to Thunder Rosa. For that year’s Princess Cup, Itoh met up with Mizuki in the semifinal round. This was the furthest Itoh had advanced in the tournament but now she was up against last year’s winner and someone she’d never defeated, coming in with a record of 0-2-1.
Mizuki not only defeated Itoh but went on to become a two time winner of the tournament, defeating the champion she came up short against the year before in Shoko Nakajima. In the title match, this ultimately lead to the same result as last year but this time it was her partner Sakazaki that Mizuki couldn’t overcome.
Scratching and clawing her way up the ladder at a glacial but relatable pace, Itoh finally earned the respect of her rival Yamashita in early 2021. With Yamashita by her side, Itoh made her first Princess of Princess challenge since the 2019 match against Yamashita, this time against Rika Tatsumi. As luck would have it, Itoh wasn’t able to succeed in her challenge.
We’re now experiencing deja vu heading into this year’s Princess Cup. Itoh has once again found herself advancing to the semifinal of the tournament and once more it’s Mizuki standing across from her, looking for a three-peat.
Each year we’ve seen growth from Itoh. If she’s able to find a way to continue growing, she has Shoko Nakajima waiting for her in the final. Another two-time winner of the Princess Cup who is now in her fifth tournament final. It’s always been a struggle for Itoh but in order to erase a narrative you must take those steps forward at whatever the cost.
