Japan’s most electric women’s wrestling show is finally coming to America

One of Japan’s most exciting and culturally unique sports is making its long-awaited leap to the United States.

Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling (TJPW) — the country’s premier women’s wrestling promotion known for its mix of elite athleticism, pop idol flair and off-the-wall charm — is officially coming to America this July for a historic, multi-city tour across Texas.

This marks the company’s first-ever solo tour in the United States, and a major milestone for fans of joshi puroresu, Japan’s long-running women’s wrestling scene.

A legacy of rebellion and reinvention

While TJPW is a relatively new promotion, the history it carries spans decades. Women’s wrestling in Japan began as a form of cultural defiance. In 1948, a 16-year-old named Sadako “Lily” Igari began wrestling men in front of U.S. soldiers during the postwar occupation — facing hecklers, thrown bottles and societal expectations that women should remain silent.

She didn’t.

Her performances helped ignite what would eventually become a national obsession. By the 1980s, joshi puroresu was a pop culture force. Tag teams like the Crush Gals topped music charts and drew millions of TV viewers, blending powerbombs with pop stardom. For many Japanese girls at the time, these women weren’t just athletes — they were idols and icons, commanding space in a culture that rarely made room for women to be loud, bold, and physical.

TJPW carries that legacy forward, while reimagining it for the modern age.

Where idols and suplexes collide

Founded in 2012, Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling is known for pushing the boundaries of what wrestling can be — pairing high-intensity action with character-driven storytelling, cosplay, comedy, and even live musical performances. Wrestlers often sing their own theme songs before stepping into the ring, and many come from backgrounds in pop culture or entertainment before becoming trained fighters.

The roster includes stars like:

Despite its playful tone, TJPW is built on serious in-ring skill and intense training. Matches routinely balance humor and heart with physical storytelling — from slapstick chaos to cinematic rivalries that span years.

U.S. debut tour details

For the first time ever, TJPW will bring its full roster overseas for a three-event tour in Texas:

Each show will feature a full card of matches, exclusive merchandise, and post-show meet-and-greet opportunities with the wrestlers. Fans can expect an immersive experience that combines everything TJPW is known for — color, charisma, athleticism, and emotional storytelling.

This historic tour is presented by NextShark, the leading Asian American media platform for news, culture, and creative storytelling, in partnership with Queri, a next-generation fan engagement platform focused on East Asian entertainment.