ITABASHI SURPRISE ~Aug 26~ Real Anniversary – TOKYO SQUARE in Itabashi
White Shirt Matches for the Entire Card on WAVE’s “Real” Anniversary!
1. ZINBEI wave (15-Minute Time Limit) ◯ Saran (9:34, Dendenmushi) Syan Syan ●
To celebrate wave’s “Real Founding Anniversary,” every match on the card was contested as a Y-Shirt Match. However, as Saran is still a minor, she appeared in a traditional jinbei instead of a dress shirt.
Syan Syan went on the attack early, cornering Saran and demanding to know her age. When Saran replied, “…17,” Syan Syan stepped on her face and followed up with a hair whip.
Saran fired back, twisting Syan Syan’s hair for two consecutive hair whips before stomping her in the corner. She continued the assault by stomping the arm, delivering a hip drop onto the arm using the apron, and hitting a dropkick.
Syan Syan regained control with a bodyslam, a running body press, and a Kama-gatame (scissored armbar). After an elbow exchange, Saran locked in a ground Manji-gatame.
Saran kept the momentum with a 619 and a Casadora followed by three consecutive double foot stomps. She attempted to follow up with a diving double foot stomp, but Syan Syan evaded, hitting a drop toe-hold, a Stunner, and a DDT.
Syan Syan landed a Fisherman’s Suplex Hold for a two-count. Saran attempted a schoolboy, a small package, and her signature ♡Saran-wrap♡, but Syan Syan reversed the pinning attempts. In the end, Saran secured the win by rolling up Syan Syan with the Dendenmushi.
2. Scramble wave (20-Minute Time Limit) ◯ Itsuki Aoki & Kakeru Sekiguchi (14:57, Y-Shirt Strip) Haruka Umesaki & Honoka ●
In addition to pinfalls and submissions, the “Y-Shirt Match” rules allowed for a victory by stripping the opponent’s shirt. Aoki and Sekiguchi started strong, posing after a double low-altitude dropkick.
Honoka and Umesaki responded in kind, hitting a step-up corner dropkick and striking their own pose. Aoki went on the offensive with a shoulder tackle, but Honoka answered with a dropkick before tagging in Umesaki.
Umesaki hit Aoki with a flying neckbreaker and a double foot stomp. The two traded elbows while hurling insults at each other before Aoki nailed a corner double knee attack.
Sekiguchi trapped both opponents in a combination Deathlock and Necklock while performing a dance. Team Aoki attempted a “train” corner attack, but Honoka and Umesaki evaded. The duo tried a tandem Space Rolling Elbow, but the move failed to connect.
Umesaki landed a blockbuster, and Honoka followed with a dropkick, a Space Rolling Elbow, a facecrusher, and the STF. Aoki escaped and tried to withstand a Japanese Leg-Roll Clutch Hold, eventually countering with a thrust kick.
As Honoka attempted a corkscrew headscissors (corbata) from the corner, she ended up suspended in the air. Aoki shouted, “Kakeru, take it off!” and tried to strip the shirt. Umesaki managed to intervene, allowing Honoka to hit the corbata followed by a Japanese Leg-Roll Clutch for a two-count.
Aoki hit a double lariat and a diving body press, shouting “Honoka, get crushed!”, but only got a two-count. Finally, as Honoka went for one more Japanese Leg-Roll Clutch, Aoki showed quick thinking by ripping the Y-shirt off Honoka. Aoki was declared the winner via Y-shirt strip.
3. DUALSHOCK WAVE ~ WAVE Tag Championship Match (30-Minute Time Limit) <Champions> Kaho Kobayashi & ◯ ZONES (13:37, Inside Cradle) Natsu Sumire ● & YuuRI <Challengers> The 45th Champions successfully complete their first title defense.
This marked the first defense for the 45th Champions, “Osso to Sakura” (Kaho Kobayashi & ZONES), who captured the titles in a 3-way match at Korakuen Hall on August 15. Natsu Sumire and YuuRI had stepped up to challenge, resulting in this rare Tag Title match contested under Y-Shirt rules.
Before the bell, Natsu complained about her partner YuuRI’s footwear, shouting, “If you’re going to stand next to me, don’t wear such embarrassing things! Go back and change, take them off!” She then turned her ire toward ZONES’ mysterious body protector.
“You don’t understand Y-Shirt Matches at all!” Natsu proclaimed to a chorus of “Natsu” chants. “A Y-Shirt Match is… about romance!”
Natsu charged at Kobayashi, screaming, “I’ll show you all what a real Y-Shirt Match looks like!” She attempted a Bronco Buster, but Kobayashi evaded, causing Natsu to crash into the turnbuckle.
Kobayashi kicked at Natsu’s bare feet and followed up by relentlessly kicking YuuRI’s legs. ZONES delivered an elbow drop preceded by a “Super Muscle!” shout. Kobayashi maintained the pressure on YuuRI with a Boston Crab combined with a barrage of punches and chops to the legs.
YuuRI fought back with a desperate twisting missile kick. However, Kobayashi and ZONES cut off the momentum with a “Double Muscle Pose” and a series of elbow drops, followed by a “Gashi!” assisted elbow drop.
YuuRI remained trapped in the champions’ corner until Natsu reappeared—now wearing shoes—to deliver a flurry of leg lariats. Natsu immediately flipped her earlier stance, yelling, “YuuRI, it’s impossible to wrestle barefoot!”
A rejuvenated YuuRI followed up with a missile kick and a series of corner low kicks. Natsu hit a front high kick, and YuuRI set up a 619 before landing a low-altitude dropkick.
Suddenly, Kobayashi produced a bottle of protein. “ZONES, drink this!” she urged. ZONES tried to chug it, but ended up spitting it out in a comical spray as the crowd chanted “ZONES!” After finally finishing the drink, both champions ripped off their own shirts.
The champions unleashed a barrage of elbows from “Double Muscle” poses, followed by corner lariats and an Avalanche Hold by ZONES. In the climax, ZONES grabbed Natsu from behind and shredded her Y-shirt. As a flustered Natsu tried to cover up, ZONES rolled her up with a schoolboy for the three-count.
As the champions celebrated, Natsu grabbed the microphone.
Natsu: “This is ridiculous! Me… the Queen of Y-Shirts… losing a Y-Shirt Match? It has to be some kind of mistake! First of all, this was a title match, right? Did the audience even get the message? And today, I realized something. Me and ‘In-Ita’ (Itabashi) just don’t mix! Hey, you two! Using home-field advantage to win is cowardly, you bastards! Listen up—Team Natsu-bar’s home turf is Shinjuku. Therefore, we demand a rematch in Shinjuku! There’s one more Shinjuku WAVE show left, right? I changed my name to Natsu Sumire at Shinjuku FACE. I want to sell that place out one last time. I’ll bring all the Natsu-bar regulars and pack Shinjuku FACE, so please, give us another shot!”
GAMI: “You can really sell it out? Well, this is unusual, but if the challengers are already decided…”
The champions looked flustered.
GAMI: “But we have a Korakuen show two days before that.”
Kobayashi: “Isn’t this a bit too much about your personal circumstances? It’s partly your fault that ‘Osso to Sakura’s’ first defense turned into a Y-Shirt Match anyway. But fine. Muscles are the strongest. We’ll defend the titles through Korakuen and then crush you again with these muscles at the FACE show!”
Natsu: “We’ll be waiting in Shinjuku, anytime, anywhere… as the challengers!!”
Backstage
Kobayashi: “Oi, ZONES! We defended the belts, but those two… aren’t they a bit too selfish? It’s all about what they want!” ZONES: “It’s all personal convenience!” Kobayashi: “We have Korakuen two days before FACE. We might have a title defense there. If we win, we rematch Natsu and her partner. If by some chance we lose, does Natsu challenge the new champions? How does that work? I can’t keep up!” ZONES: “It’s weird…” Kobayashi: “That’s just WAVE for you! But we’ll win because we have muscles—it’s as simple as that. Nice fight today, ZONES!”
4. Y-Shirt Rumble (No Time Limit) ◯ Yumi (25:29, Y-Shirt Strip) Hikari Noa ● Order of elimination: Yuko Sakurai, Maika Ozaki, Cohaku & Momoka Hanazono, Ram Kaicho.
Hikari Noa’s “7-Match Trial (wave style)” was supposed to begin, but the match turned into a Y-Shirt Rumble. Two wrestlers start, with others entering at intervals. Eliminations occur via pinfall, submission, or having one’s Y-shirt removed. Additionally, anyone falling out of the ring is punished with the “Soaking Wet Machine Gun” (water pistols).
The match began with Hikari and Hanazono. Hanazono provoked Hikari, saying, “Don’t underestimate the wave 7-match trial!” before locking up. The third entrant was “Yumi”—Yumi Ohka, who is currently wrestling without her surname after losing it in a storyline.
Maika Ozaki entered fourth, leading to an exchange of “train” attacks in the corner. Cohaku entered fifth and tried a piggyback attack with Hanazono, but it was blocked. Yuko Sakurai entered sixth, and Yumi immediately targeted her with a hair-pulling figure-four necklock.
As the wrestlers were linked together in a submission chain, the seventh entrant, Ram Kaicho, joined the fray. Ozaki gave Ram Kaicho an airplane spin. Chaos ensued as players fell to the floor and the “Soaking Wet Machine Gun” punishment began.
Natsu Sumire escalated the chaos by swinging a wet shirt from a bucket, splashing water everywhere until the ringside area was flooded. Back in the ring, the wrestlers knocked each other down. While they were all tangled in an Estrella (star) submission, a request was made for someone to sing. Ozaki raised her hand.
As “Blue Lagoon” began to play, Referee Ishiguro took over with a “Giant Recital” style performance (horrible singing), drawing massive boos. As punishment, his Y-shirt was stripped, but the referee retaliated with a series of lariats.
Ozaki refused to go down, slapped the ref, and screamed, “Don’t hijack the mic!” She held him for a Yuko Rocket, but Hikari Noa missed a missile kick into empty space. Sakurai was the first eliminated after her shirt was stripped.
Hanazono then called for a “Cavalry Battle” (Kibasen). Ozaki hoisted Cohaku up for an Argentine Backbreaker, but Ram Kaicho seized the opportunity to try and strip Ozaki’s shirt, leading to an argument.
Pretending to set up a double body press, Ram Kaicho betrayed Ozaki by stripping her shirt instead, eliminating her. Ram then taunted Hikari: “This is the first match of your trial, right? Have you left any mark at all? You’re mocking pro wrestling! Come at me!”
Hikari laid in elbows, but Ram Kaicho suddenly collapsed. Ozaki shouted, “The President is dying! Me and the President will kill you!” The two targeted Hikari, but she took both down with a flying neckbreaker.
As Hikari prepared for a tope to the floor, an “Electric Dog” toy appeared on the apron. While Hikari was distracted, Cohaku attacked. Hanazono grabbed a water gun, shouting “Let’s get her!” but missed and accidentally soaked Cohaku. She tried again, only to blast Cohaku in the face a second time. An enraged Cohaku engaged in an elbow and sunset flip exchange, during which the remaining three wrestlers piled on to eliminate both Cohaku and Hanazono.
Ram Kaicho then aligned with Yumi, declaring, “Creamy Mami is the best!” They hit a double dropkick, but Yumi immediately turned on Ram with a backdrop, drawing boos from the crowd.
During a three-way scramble, Ram Kaicho’s shirt was stripped, resulting in her elimination. Hikari and Yumi traded pin attempts before Hikari landed a leg-roll clutch into a thrust kick for a two-count.
Hikari rained down mount elbows and climbed the turnbuckle, but Yumi caught her with a deadly drive and stripped her Y-shirt to claim the victory. Yumi took the mic.
Yumi: “I stripped the shirt off the one you all think is so cute! I’m glad I could fulfill everyone’s wishes. Does anyone else want to talk?”
Haruka Umesaki entered the ring.
Umesaki: “Everyone, that main event was incredible! After seeing that, there’s a wrestler I want to face for this belt. Momoka Hanazono! Momoka-san, you were so cool today. I keep losing to you in singles matches, so I want to do this! Whether it’s your sexy vibe or the way you keep fighting even when your feet are bleeding (wry smile)… please let me defend this title against you!”
Hanazono: “I thought I cut my foot on a stone or something, but it turns out I cut it on a shard of glass from the deathmatch they held here earlier… so there’s that. Also, no thanks on the title match. I don’t want to do it.”
Umesaki: “The fans want to see it, right?!”
Hanazono: “Why would they want to see that? Look, if you watched this match and felt inspired, then let’s do it as a Y-Shirt Match. If it’s that, I might concede 100 paces and consider it.”
GAMI: “No Y-Shirts for a title match.”
Hanazono: “Then no deal.”
GAMI: “Momoka, it’s about time you said yes. If you don’t start accepting, you’re going to get blacklisted.”
Hanazono: “Can I give you my answer next time?”
GAMI: “The next show is basically Korakuen.”
Hanazono: “So, no Y-Shirt? Then I’ll just lose. But wait, I’m actually strong against Umesaki. Korakuen…? Fine… I’ll do it. I really want to refuse, but I’d hate to be blacklisted and lose my bookings. But ‘Cho-cho-tan’ (Umesaki), you’re destined to lose. I’ll see you in hell.”
Umesaki: “It’s official! I’ll be defending against Momoka Hanazono at Korakuen in September. Please look forward to it!”
GAMI: “One more thing. Hikari Noa, how was the Y-Shirt Match?”
Hikari: “Well, I said I’d do anything, but… I was surprised by how high the ‘old man ratio’ was in the crowd today…”
GAMI: “We don’t even get this many people on a Sunday. But tell them it’s a Y-Shirt Match, and look at this turnout!”
Hikari: “It was fun, so please let me do it again (wry smile).”
GAMI: “This is just what wave does for its anniversaries, so be prepared.”
Ram Kaicho: “When I first started appearing in wave, I accidentally said, ‘This is OUR wave!’ and apparently GAMI-san liked it, so I’ll close with that. You all cut out of work early just to see some Y-shirts, didn’t you? Did you have fun?! Then let’s finish this—THIS IS OUR WAVE! Thank you very much!”
Translator’s Notes:
“This is OUR wave!”: Ram Kaicho’s closing catchphrase, which she originally blurted out by mistake but became a staple of her appearances in the promotion.
Y-Shirt Match: A popular gimmick in joshi wrestling, particularly in WAVE. The wrestlers wear white dress shirts over their gear. While standard wrestling rules apply, a unique win condition is added where a wrestler wins if they successfully strip the opponent of their shirt.
Jinbei: A traditional Japanese summer garment consisting of a side-tying top and shorts. Because Saran is a minor (17), WAVE opted for this more “modest” traditional outfit instead of the suggestive dress shirt.
Dendenmushi: Saran’s finishing move, named after the Japanese word for “Snail.” It is a specialized roll-up pin.
♡Saran-wrap♡: A pun on the famous brand of plastic wrap and Saran’s name. It is a technical pinning combination.
“In-Ita”: Natsu Sumire uses this slang to refer to the “Itabashi Square” venue.
Giant Recital: A reference to the character Takeshi “Gian” Goda from the anime Doraemon, who is famous for his devastatingly bad singing and forcing others to listen to his “recitals.”
Creamy Mami: A reference to the classic 80s magical girl anime Creamy Mami, the Magic Angel. Yumi Ohka and Ram Kaicho are both fans of the series.